Liam Howlett, a producer, keyboard player, and composer, founded the English electronic dance music band The Prodigy in Braintree, Essex, in 1990. In addition to dancer and singer Keith Flint, dancer and sometimes live keyboard player Leeroy Thornhill, dancer Sharky, and MC and vocalist Maxim were part of the initial lineup. They were the forefathers of the breakbeat-influenced genre big beat, which became prominent in the 1990s. Maxim’s voice, Thornhill’s shuffle dance style, and Flint’s later modern punk look were merged with Howlett’s rock-inspired drum rhythms laced with electronic rave music beats/breaks. The Prodigy’s sound is described as electronic punk.
The Prodigy is one of the most popular electronic bands of all time. They have sold an estimated 25 million records globally, including over 4.7 million albums in the United Kingdom, and have seven straight number-one albums in the United Kingdom. They were dubbed “the Godfathers of Rave” and “the premiere dance act for the alternative masses.” Throughout their history, The Prodigy have received several honors, including two Brit honors for Best British Dance Act, three MTV Video Music Awards, and two Kerrang! Five MTV Europe Music Awards, as well as two Grammy Award nominations.
