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Keith Flint

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Keith Flint
Flint in 2009
Flint in 2009
Background information
Birth nameKeith Charles Flint
Born(1969-09-17)17 September 1969
Redbridge, London, England
Died4 March 2019(2019-03-04) (aged 49)
North End, Essex, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • dancer
  • motorcycle racer
Years active1990–2019
Formerly of
SpouseMayumi Kai

Keith Charles Flint (17 September 1969 – 4 March 2019) was an English singer and a vocalist of the electronic dance act The Prodigy. Starting out as a dancer for the group, he became the vocalist and performed on the group's two UK number-one singles, "Firestarter" and "Breathe", both released in 1996. He was also the singer of his own band, Flint.

Flint owned a motorcycle racing team, Team Traction Control, which won four Isle of Man TT races in 2015 and 2016, and competed in the British Superbike Championship.

Early life

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Flint was born in Redbridge, London, to Clive and Yvonne Flint, on 17 September 1969.[1][2] Clive Flint worked as an engineering consultant.[3] Keith Flint was initially raised in East London, but in the mid-1970s his parents moved out to a quiet suburban cul-de-sac in Springfield, in Chelmsford, Essex. His childhood was described as unhappy, and he feuded with his parents, who parted when he was young.[4] He attended the Boswells School in Chelmsford and moved to Braintree after leaving school.[5] Flint was described as being a "bright boy with dyslexia" and was disruptive in class. He was expelled from school at the age of 15. Flint then worked as a roofer and later enthusiastically embraced the acid house scene of the late 1980s.[4] Musically, Flint was a childhood fan of The Jam,[6] and in the late 1980s he listened to bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees.[7]

In 1989, he appeared as the boy running in the video for the new beat act 101's video for Just As Long As I Got You.[8]

Music career

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Flint with Prodigy guitarist Rob Holliday

Flint met DJ Liam Howlett at local rave club the Barn in Braintree, Essex,[9] and said he liked Howlett's taste in music.[10] After receiving a mixtape from Howlett, Flint came back with great enthusiasm, insisting that Howlett should be playing his tracks up on stage and that Flint, along with friend Leeroy Thornhill, would dance to them.[11] Flint, Howlett and Thornhill were joined by MC Maxim Reality and became the successful electronic dance act The Prodigy.

In 1996, just prior to the release of The Prodigy's third album, Flint moved from being a dancer for the group to being its frontman when he performed vocals on the hit single "Firestarter"; the accompanying video showcased Flint's new and soon-to-be iconic punk look.[12] This trend continued with the next Prodigy single, "Breathe", on which Flint sang lead vocals, with Maxim backing him up.[13]

The 1997 album The Fat of the Land also featured Flint's vocal contributions on the tracks "Serial Thrilla" and "Fuel My Fire".[14] In 2002, the non-album single "Baby's Got a Temper" was released, which was written by Flint.[15]

Flint did not perform vocals on the next Prodigy album—Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2004)—but reappeared on the "Hotride (El Batori Mix)", included on the "Hotride" single.[16]

The Prodigy album Invaders Must Die was released on 23 February 2009 and featured vocals by Flint on multiple tracks.[17] Flint released a single titled "War" with dubstep artist Caspa in 2012.[18]

Flint experimented with solo projects, including his punk rock band Flint, which included remixes by Steven "Stitch" Held at The Recovery Room and Clever Brains Fryin'. Flint's debut album, Device #1, was cancelled before its release, leaving "Aim4" as their only single to be commercially released.[19]

Motorcycle racing

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Flint was a keen motorcyclist. He rode 2,400 kilometres (1,500 mi) from England to southern Spain to attend the 2007 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix and also raced in club competitions. He rode with Lee Thompson of the band Madness. He had his own motorcycle team, Team Traction Control, which competed in the British Supersport Championship as part of the British Superbike Championship before stepping up to the British Superbike Championship in 2017.[20] In 2015, Team Traction Control machines won two Isle of Man TT races, ridden by Ian Hutchinson.[21] The team and Ian Hutchinson repeated their two victories again in 2016.[22]

Personal life

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Flint dated television presenter Gail Porter; the couple split in 2001.[3][23] In 2006, Flint married Mayumi Kai.[3][24][25] The couple were separated at the time of Flint's death.[3]

Flint had a tattoo across his stomach of the word "Inflicted", a reference to a lyric in "Firestarter".[3] Flint was difficult on transatlantic flights; on one occasion he had to be restrained from kicking down the door to the cockpit.[3] Prior to his marriage, Flint suffered from depression and an addiction to prescription painkillers.[4][13] Flint kept fit by boxing and practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu.[6]

In 2014, he bought and renovated the Leather Bottle pub in Pleshey, Essex, and became a popular landlord.[26] Flint kept a jar in which customers were required to put a pound in if they made a "Firestarter" joke as he lit the pub's fire.[3] He ended his connection with the pub without explanation in 2017.[27][3]

Flint lived in a listed Tudor manor house near Dunmow, Essex.[6] He had a small flat track in his back garden, where he rode some of his motorcycles.[28][29] Flint was a lover of animals and was an enthusiastic twitcher;[3] he built a pond in his garden to attract birds and kept several dogs and horses at his home.[3][30]

Death

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On 4 March 2019, just after 8:10 am, Essex Police were called to Flint's home in North End,[31] near Great Dunmow, Essex, in response to concerns for his welfare.[4][32] Flint was pronounced dead at the scene, aged 49. The police did not treat the death as suspicious. It was later confirmed at an inquest into his death he had died as a result of hanging. The coroner adjourned the inquest until 23 July for a full hearing.[33]

Later that day, bandmate Liam Howlett stated in an Instagram post that Flint's death was a suicide.[4][13] The official band website then went black with an announcement of his death,[34] and the Prodigy cancelled all forthcoming shows.[35]

Flint's funeral was held on 29 March 2019.[36] There was a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) public procession, attended by fans from around the world, followed by a private ceremony at St Mary's Church Bocking, near Braintree in Mid-Essex, attended by family and friends,[36][37] including Flint's wife, Mayumi Kai, and bandmates Liam Howlett, Maxim and Leeroy Thornhill.[37]

It was established by the coroner's inquest on 8 May 2019 that there was insufficient evidence to either conclude a suicide verdict in relation to Flint's death, or conclude his death was an accident.[38]

Legacy

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After Flint's death, fans used the hashtag "#Firestarter4Number1" on social media in a campaign to try to get the song "Firestarter" to Number 1 in the UK Singles Chart as a mark of respect for Flint and to raise awareness for male suicide in the UK.[39]

Following his death, many musical artists and music industry figures from around the world paid tribute to Flint.[40][41][42][43] Many tributes highlighted Flint's gentle temperament, illustrating a personal kindness, politeness and generosity that contrasted with his energetic and sometimes aggressive stage persona.[42][43] Fellow British musician and Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay said, "What bloody tragic news. What a top fella and a great laugh. I hope they've got a quick bike for him up there.. cos he fucking sure knew how to ride one. Keith Flint... always 'balls to the wall'."[44]

In June 2019, fashion designer Donatella Versace dedicated her spring/summer 2020 menswear show in Milan to Flint's memory.[45] Versace, who was a friend of Flint's, dressed male models in clothing reflecting his style and they sported Flint's distinctive "Firestarter" hairstyle.[45]

Whilst performing at Glastonbury Festival in June 2019, Liam Gallagher dedicated "Champagne Supernova" to Flint.[46]

In the 2020 video game Assassin's Creed Valhalla, a bard named Keith whose appearance resembles Flint's can be found in Essex, England, as part of a sidequest titled "The Prodigy". There, the "Bishop of the Ruins" is denouncing his music as unholy. The character says the presence of the player character, Eivor, is "surely an omen", referencing the Prodigy's song of the same name; when the protesting clergyman starts a fistfight with Eivor, Keith encourages the character to "Smack my Bishop".[47] Kristen McGorry, a writer on the game, confirmed on Twitter that these and other references were intentional tributes to Flint and the band.[48]

On 5 August 2021, a Crowdfunder campaign was launched by music and mental wellbeing festival "Headstock" to commission street artist Akse P19 to paint a mural of Flint. The mural, which was unveiled on 9 September 2021, a day ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, is located at Beechwood Road in Hackney, near to where The Prodigy played their first gig at the Four Aces Club in 1990.[49]

Discography

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With the Prodigy

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Main article: The Prodigy discography

With Flint

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References

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  1. ^ England & Wales, Birth Index: 1916–2005, September 1969, vol. 5d, p. 2989
  2. ^ "Keith Flint – The Prodigy.info". theprodigy.info.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Keith Flint obituary". The Times. 4 March 2019. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e Savage, Mark (4 March 2019). "The Prodigy's Keith Flint dies aged 49". BBC News. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Keith Flint biography". The Prodigy. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Sweeting, Adam (4 March 2019). "Keith Flint obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  7. ^ Haynes, Gavin (5 March 2019). "Keith Flint took the rockstar fairy tale and gave it devil hair". Thefader.com. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  8. ^ @RealLordsOfAcid (6 March 2019). "We are sad to hear the news of Keith Flint's passing" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Braintree: The Prodigy back where it all began". Gazette. 2 November 2005. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  10. ^ Roach 2010, p. 22.
  11. ^ Roach 2010, p. 23.
  12. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Limited.
  13. ^ a b c Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (4 March 2019). "Keith Flint: Prodigy singer dies aged 49". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  14. ^ Comeau, Dave (4 March 2019). "Best Keith Flint Prodigy songs as fans pay tribute following singer's sudden death". Surrey Live. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Prodigy single "Tempered" by radio". NME. 16 May 2002. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  16. ^ "The Prodigy – "Hotride"". discogs.org. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Invaders Must Die". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  18. ^ War (Media notes). Virgin Records. 2012. VST2050.
  19. ^ "Keith Flint Glad His Solo Career Flopped". Contact Music. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Great guy who loved his racing: Motorcycle tributes to Prodigy singer and Team Traction Control owner Keith Flint". The Belfast Telegraph. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  21. ^ "Keith Flint confirms Hutchinson Ride For TT in 2016". Isle of Man TT. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Ian Hutchinson Wins Supersport 2 To Equal Hailwood". Isle of Man TT Official website. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  23. ^ "'Babies look at me and stop crying. It's like I'm one of them'". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  24. ^ "Prodigy singer Flint to wed". Irish Examiner. 13 December 2006. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  25. ^ "Japanese DJ Mayumi Kai denies she was married to Keith Flint amid confusion over wife with same name". NME. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Interview with Essex band The Prodigy for new album release The Day Is My Enemy". 27 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  27. ^ Youell, Clare (24 March 2017). "The Prodigy's Keith Flint quits running pub near Chelmsford". Essex Live.
  28. ^ "Keith Flint: My life in bikes". Motorcycle News. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  29. ^ "RIP Keith Flint: The dirt bike fan". MotoHead. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  30. ^ Stubbs, Dan (6 March 2019). "Keith Flint, 1969–2019: the twisted face of rave, the beating heart of The Prodigy". NME. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  31. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (4 March 2019). "Keith Flint: Prodigy vocalist dies aged 49". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  32. ^ "The Prodigy frontman Keith Flint dead aged 49". The Independent. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  33. ^ "Keith Flint: Prodigy singer died from hanging". bbc.co.uk. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  34. ^ "The Prodigy". The Prodigy. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  35. ^ "The Prodigy". The Prodigy. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  36. ^ a b "Prodigy fans from around world gather for Keith Flint's funeral". The Guardian. 29 March 2019. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  37. ^ a b "Fans 'raise roof' at Keith Flint funeral". BBC News. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  38. ^ "Keith Flint: not enough evidence for suicide verdict, coroner rules". The Guardian. Press Association. 8 May 2019. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  39. ^ Colothan, Scott. "Prodigy fans launch 'Firestarter for Number 1' campaign in memory of Keith Flint". Kerrang! Radio. Planet Radio. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  40. ^ Reilly, Nick (4 March 2019). ""My heart is broken for him": Sex Pistols icon Johnny Rotten pays tribute to Keith Flint". NME. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  41. ^ @petetong (4 March 2019). "Sad to wake up to the news that we lost Keith Flint, a true original. The Prodigy have made a huge contribution to dance culture and electronic music around the world. Keith's contribution as the band's iconic front man was immense and he will be dearly missed R.I.P xx" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 March 2019 – via Twitter.
  42. ^ a b Snapes, Laura (5 March 2019). "Stars pay tribute to Keith Flint: 'A powerhouse of energy and attitude'". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  43. ^ a b Savage, Mark (4 March 2019). "Keith Flint: Stars and fans recall the Firestarter's soft side". BBC News. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  44. ^ "Jamiroquai Official IG on Instagram: "What bloody tragic news. What a top fella and a great laugh. I hope they've got a quick bike for him up there.. cos he fucking sure knew…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  45. ^ a b Conlon, Scarlett (17 June 2019). "Donatella Versace pays homage to the Prodigy's Keith Flint in Milan". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  46. ^ "Liam Gallagher dedicates 'Champagne Supernova' to Keith Flint during blistering Glastonbury set". Nme.com. 29 June 2019.
  47. ^ "Assassin's Creed Valhalla Has a Surprising Reference to the Prodigy".
  48. ^ McGorry, Kristen [@The_Gamebird] (21 November 2020). "As the writer this makes me so happy. Glad you found and loved it. A little tribute from all The Prodigy's Bulgarian fans (and this English one)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  49. ^ Eede, Christian (5 August 2021). "Keith Flint mural proposed for London in new CROWDFUNDER". DJ Mag. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  50. ^ "Flint + The Prodigy". Discogs. Retrieved 4 March 2019.

Other sources

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  • James, Martin (2002). The "Prodigy" (Paperback ed.). Sanctuary Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-860-74356-6.
  • Roach, Martin (2010). The Prodigy: The Official Story – Electronic Punks. John Blake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-784-18964-8.
[edit]
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