THE PRODIGY frontman Keith Flint has reportedly passed away, aged 49.
According to The Sun, the vocalist and dancer was found dead at his home in Essex today (Monday, March 4th).
An Essex Police spokesperson told the NME:
“We attended and, sadly, a 49-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
An East of England Ambulance spokesperson also confirmed: “We were called at 8.08am with reports of a man who was unconscious in Brook Hill, Dunmow.
“We sent an ambulance officer, Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and one ambulance. Sadly a man in his forties died at the scene.”
His bandmates, including Liam Howlett, have paid tribute to a "true pioneer, innovator and legend".
In an Instagram post, Howlett said he was "shell-shocked, confused and angry" after Flint "took his own life over the weekend".
In a statement the band said: "It is with deepest shock and sadness that we can confirm the death of our brother and best friend Keith Flint.
"A true pioneer, innovator and legend.
"He will be forever missed."
One of the most striking and iconic performers of the 1990s, Flint’s music career began in the late 1980s when he met Howlett, a DJ, at a rave in Braintree.
The pair shared a mutual appreciation of dance music and, after encouraging Howlett to share and perform more of his music live, Flint team up with Howlett, serving as an MC and on-stage performer alongside his friend Leeroy Thornhill.
The Prodigy was born with Flint’s role in the group eventually evolving to help the collective become one of the biggest dance acts on the planet.
In 1996, Howlett could think of no one better to provide the vocals for their latest single Firestarter, which was co-written by Flint and went on to top the singles charts in the UK and hit no.2 in the Irish charts.
Flint’s status as the face of The Prodigy was further cemented with the release of follow-up single Breathe, which he also co-wrote, with the song topping the charts in the UK and Ireland.
The group’s subsequent album, The Fat of the Land was a commercial and critical success selling over 10 million copies worldwide and earning a Mercury Music Prize nomination.
Though Flint would continue to provide vocals on several tracks for The Prodigy, his role in the band was reduced in the years that followed, save for their memorable live performances.
His incredible music and striking on-stage persona will be fondly remembered by all. RIP.
