NEWS
“We are proud of this tune and proud of it for Keef”
The Prodigy have marked the 30th anniversary of their iconic single ‘Firestarter’, reflecting on how the track’s impact seemed to “explode from nowhere”.
First released in March 1996, the song went on to become one of the group’s defining tracks and played a key role in taking underground rave culture into the mainstream. It was also the first single to feature the late Keith Flint as a vocalist after previously being known mainly as a dancer. The song also became their first Number One on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained at the top for three weeks.
Looking back three decades later, Liam Howlett and Maxim reflected on the song’s journey and how unexpectedly it took off.
“Firestarter is 30 years old,” they wrote while sharing part of the famous black and white music video on Instagram. “I can remember so clearly every moment writing this tune. Keef coming into the studio and hearing it for the first time, jumping off the walls and then grabbing the mic to record his first ever vocal.”
“It was totally spontaneous the way it happened, same with the video,” they continued, also referencing the early criticism the song received because of its dark and aggressive visual style. “People refused to play it on the radio and support it at first but it just found its own way, own momentum, then exploded from nowhere. So yeah, we are proud of this tune and proud of it for Keef.”
The song included samples from The Breeders, Art of Noise and Ten City, while its famous music video was shot inside the disused Aldwych Underground station. Directed by Walter Stern, the video also set a record for the most complaints sent to Top Of The Pops after it aired in March 1996. A total of 102 viewers contacted the show to criticise Flint’s intense performance, his distinctive horn like hairstyle and the video’s unsettling tone.
NME were present during the filming of the video in 1996, where the band spoke about how the track came together.
“I recorded it as an instrumental,” Howlett explained. “And as usual, all of the others came round to have a listen. Keith happened to be the first, and I said to him, ‘We need one more element’. Now I’d have been happy with a good sample, but Keith said, ‘I’d really like to try some vocals on that’. And I’m like, ‘Whaaaaaaat?!”
Flint added: “We had no idea how it was gonna sound, because the only singing Liam had ever heard from us was me and Leeroy singing U2 songs on the way home. We always harmonise on ‘One,’ and instead of lighters, we put up our mobile phones and wave them in the air!”
The band also spoke about the decision to push Flint into the spotlight. “People say Keith looks insane these days,” Howlett said. “But he’s been insane for five years. He was insane the day I met him dancing in The Barn in Braintree. People only started to notice when he dyed his hair. And obviously the press and the fans are going to latch onto him now. But it was always going to be like that. It’s a natural progression.”
Flint passed away in 2019 after taking his own life. In a tribute, NME described him as being responsible for one of the most unforgettable images of 1990s pop culture. Following his death, fans also attempted to push ‘Firestarter’ back up the charts. Although it did not reach Number One again, it did see a major resurgence and returned to the Top 100.
In 2023, Howlett spoke to NME about the 25 year anniversary of their album ‘The Fat Of The Land’, which included ‘Firestarter’ along with major tracks ‘Breathe’ and ‘Smack My Bitch Up’. He said that while the band knew they had created something unique, they did not realise just how influential it would become.
“We were touring a lot so we were always busy, bizniz as usual, just writing the album,” he said. “I knew ‘Firestarter’ was something that people hadn’t heard before for sure, also ‘Breathe’. We were just on fire really and properly on the attack.”
He also spoke about how different they felt compared to the Britpop scene that dominated at the time. “It fuelled us, we thrived off it. We always loved to be the underdogs because we knew we could destroy any band on stage.”
In 2024, Howlett spoke again to NME about the decision to perform live again without Flint. “After losing Keith we couldn’t even think or talk about the band. I think it was two years after his death that me and Maxim started bringing it up. ‘Could we play live again? Did we even want to? Why? How?’ All that shit”.
“We realised the only possible real way to know how we would feel was to do it, get back on stage and do a bunch of gigs,” he added. “It was so hard to walk onto that stage without our brother, but we really felt the crowd with us. Those gigs were highly emotionally charged but we came out the other end with our answer”.
Next month, Howlett and Maxim will begin their UK and Ireland arena tour, a 12 date run that sold out quickly and includes two nights at London’s Wembley Arena. They are also scheduled to perform large outdoor ‘Warrior’s Dance’ shows this summer, marking some of their biggest performances since Flint’s passing. Visit here for any remaining tickets.
Howlett also told NME in November that fans can expect an even more intense live experience this time, while also hinting at new music he described as “fuckin’ evil rave”.
“Every time we go out for a new tour or big shows like this, we spend a lot of time talking about what is possible, how can we make it better,” he said. “We always try to make sure things are different and moving forward, but always delivering the punch, which it will.”
APRIL
15 – GLASGOW OVO Hydro
16 – MANCHESTER Co-op Live
18 – BIRMINGHAM Utilita Arena
19 – CARDIFF Utilita Arena
21 – BOURNEMOUTH BIC
22 – LEEDS first direct Arena
24 – LONDON OVO Arena Wembley
25 – LONDON OVO Arena Wembley
27 – BELFAST SSE Arena Belfast
28 – DUBLIN 3Arena
MAY
01 – NOTTINGHAM Motorpoint Arena
02 – NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Utilita Arena
AUGUST
20 – DUBLIN IMMA
22 – MILTON KEYNES National Bowl
29 – EDINBURGH Royal Highland Showgrounds
30 – MANCHESTER Wythenshawe Park
