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The Prodigy

Maxim and Liam Howlett (behind) performing in 2009. Keith Flint is out of shot

Maxim and Liam Howlett (behind) performing in 2009. Keith Flint is out of shot

Background information
Origin Braintree, Essex, England
Genres
  • Big beat
  • electropunk
  • alternative dance
  • electronic rock
Years active 1990-present
Labels
  • Take Me to the Hospital
  • Ragged Flag
  • Cooking Vinyl
  • XL
  • Beggars Banquet
  • Mute
  • Maverick
  • Warner Bros.
  • Elektra
  • Shock
  • Disco Mix Club
  • BMG
  • Vertigo
Members
  • Liam Howlett
  • Maxim
Past members
  • Sharky
  • Leeroy Thornhill
  • Keith Flint
Website theprodigy.com

The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music band formed in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by producer, keyboard player and songwriter Liam Howlett. The original line-up also featured dancer and singer Keith Flint and dancer and occasional live keyboard player Leeroy Thornhill, dancer Sharky and MC and vocalist Maxim. They were pioneers of the breakbeat-influenced genre big beat, and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s. Howlett’s rock-inspired drum rhythms infused with electronic rave music beats/breaks were combined with Maxim’s omnipresent mystique, Thornhill’s shuffle dancing style, and Flint’s later modern punk appearance.[1] The Prodigy describe their style as electronic punk.[2][3]

The band emerged during the underground rave scene and achieved early success in 1991 with their debut singles «Charly» and «Everybody in the Place», which reached the UK top five. After their debut album Experience (1992), the band moved from their rave roots and incorporated techno, breakbeat, and rock influences on their follow-up, the critically-acclaimed Music for the Jilted Generation (1994). The band reached their commercial and critical peak with their third studio album The Fat of the Land (1997), which went to No. 1 in 16 countries including the UK and the US, and spawned the UK number one singles «Firestarter» and «Breathe». The album’s third single, «Smack My Bitch Up», was a UK top ten hit and generated considerable controversy over its suggestive lyrics and music video.
In July of 2022, the band completed their first tour since the death of frontman Keith Flint in March of 2019.

The Prodigy remain one of the most successful electronic groups of all time. They have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide,[4] including over 4.7 million albums in the UK, and have scored seven consecutive UK number one albums. They earned titles like «the premiere dance act for the alternative masses» and «the Godfathers of Rave».[5] The Prodigy have won numerous awards during their career, including two Brit Awards for Best British Dance Act, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Kerrang! Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards, and two Grammy Award nominations.[6][7]

History[edit]

Formation and early singles success (1990–1991)[edit]

In 1989, 18-year-old DJ, musician, and songwriter Liam Howlett returned to his hometown of Braintree, Essex after quitting his gig as DJ in the hip-hop group Cut to Kill. He had started to make his own music three years prior, beginning with hip-hop and house music before he focused on the rave scene that was gaining popularity at the time.[8] He preferred the non-confrontational atmosphere that raves brought, and began to work DJ sets in the local area while working on original music at home.[8]

It was in Braintree where Howlett met dancers Keith Flint and Leeroy Thornhill at one of his gigs at The Barn nightclub. Flint requested Howlett make a mix tape for him, to which Howlett obliged and returned a cassette several days later with some of his own songs on the other side.[9] Howlett had scratched the word «Prodigy» onto the cassette, referring to the Moog Prodigy synthesizer which he used to make some of the music.[10][11] The tape was well received by Flint and Thornhill, who developed new dance sequences to the music and suggested to Howlett they begin a group together.[11] The three settled on The Prodigy as their name and enlisted a fourth live member, female dancer and vocalist Sharky, a friend of Flint’s, and on October 5, 1990 the group was officially formed.[12][11] Their first gig was organized by the promoter called Ziggy (who became their first manager) and took place at The Four Aces Club (then called Labrynth) in Dalston, London on Friday night, February 1991, which Howlett described as the roughest venue in the city.[13][14][15][16][11][8] Shortly before the first gig, the group met rapper and MC Maxim, then known as Maxim Reality and Keeti. Flint pitched for Maxim to join the group on the strength of his connections with the reggae scene and the music contacts he had developed. Maxim failed to turn up at a scheduled meeting, but joined The Prodigy unexpectedly at their first gig, where he improvised lyrics on stage.[17]

Shortly after their live debut, Howlett completed a 10-track demo tape on a Roland W-30 sampling keyboard and approached Tam Tam Records with the hope of securing a record deal, but was declined.[18] He turned to XL Recordings, headed by Tim Palmer and Nick Halkes, who agreed to a meeting and subsequently signed the group to a contract that involved the release of four singles.[18] This culminated in their first official release, the EP What Evil Lurks, in February 1991, containing four tracks that Howlett had produced on the demo. Shortly after signing to XL Records, The Prodigy were reduced to a four-piece when Sharky could no longer commit to the band and left.

In August 1991, The Prodigy released their debut single «Charly», which samples dialogue from the Charley Says series of animated films produced by the Central Office of Information.[19] It became a hit in the rave scene,[20] and reached No. 1 on the UK Dance Singles Chart and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, thus catapulting the band into the wider public attention.[21] The success of «Charly» began a trend of mixing dance and rave tracks with cartoon samples, such as «A Trip to Trumpton» by Urban Hype and «Sesame’s Treet» by Smart E’s, which were a hit with clubbers but not to the critics,[22] who dismissed it as «kiddie rave» or «toytown techno».[23] Howlett realised that a follow-up single in the same style «would have been the downfall of us» and wanted to avoid such labels.[8] He spent earnings from «Charly» on new instruments and studio equipment, expanding the group’s sound with a Roland U-220 sound module and TR-909 drum machine.[8] Their second single, «Everybody in the Place (Fairground Edit)», was released in December 1991.[19] It reached No. 2 in the UK, beaten to the top spot by a re-release of «Bohemian Rhapsody» by Queen following the death of their singer Freddie Mercury.[24]

Experience and Music for the Jilted Generation (1992–1995)[edit]

In 1991 and 1992, Howlett recorded the band’s debut full-length studio album Experience at his home facility, Earthbound Studios. The project began after XL Recordings suggested the group make one, and initially Howlett wanted to produce a «rave concept album» inspired by Pink Floyd, but abandoned the idea due to the risk of limiting his musical ideas.[25] Released in September 1992, the album peaked at No. 12 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling over 300,000 copies.[26][27] The album contains many samples of other artists, and closes with a live track featuring Maxim on vocals. It is considered a landmark release in British rave music, and was an influential record for American DJ and musician Moby for his early studio releases. Its third single, «Fire/Jericho», was on track to become the band’s third consecutive UK top ten single, but XL Recordings deleted it from its catalogue and therefore stalled at its peak of No. 11.[8]

By early 1993, The Prodigy had completed their first major nationwide tour.[28] Howlett said that The Prodigy had now become an established act and would continue to produce original dance music as there was still an audience for it.[8] After Experience and the run of singles that accompanied it, the band moved to distance themselves from the «kiddie rave» reputation that had dogged them. The rave scene moved on from its hardcore phase, following the Criminal Justice Act’s anti-rave legislation on the horizon.[29] Later in 1993, Howlett released an anonymous white label vinyl, bearing only the titles «Earthbound I» and «Earthbound 2». Its hypnotic, hard-edged sound won wide underground approval. The songs were officially released as «One Love» and «Full Throttle» in September 1993, and reached No. 8 in the UK.[30] By this time the band performed live at least once a week, and had started performing overseas including Germany, the US, and Japan.[31]

In 1993, Howlett started work on the band’s second album, Music for the Jilted Generation. Much of the new material was written in response to the Criminal Justice Act as exemplified by «Their Law», co-written and performed with alternative rock band Pop Will Eat Itself. The album opens with a spoken introduction: «So I’ve decided to take my work back underground to stop it falling into the wrong hands». Howlett explained that «the wrong hands» represented people who considered The Prodigy as a commercial band, and no longer wanted the group to be seen as purely a rave act.[32] It displays a wider range of musical styles and structures as a result, including big beat and heavy breakbeat-based tracks and the conceptual three-part song «The Narcotic Suite». The Guardian called it a «complex, powerful record that propelled dance music into stadiums with rock’n’roll swagger».[33]

Released in September 1994, the album entered the UK chart at No. 1 and received positive reactions from critics.[5] It was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize, although Howlett had reaffirmed his dedication to making The Prodigy a «hard dance band» commercially successful but without compromise.[34] The band avoided mainstream exposure, declining offers to appear on Top of the Pops and other national television shows in the UK.[35] Their performance of «Everybody in the Place» on the BBC2 television series Dance Energy in 1991 remains their only one on British television. In the ensuing years, their music videos received airplay on MTV Europe which boosted their popularity across the continent.

Following the international success of Music for the Jilted Generation, the band augmented their line-up with guitarist Jim Davies (a live band member who later joined the group Pitchshifter) in 1995 for tracks such as «Their Law», «Break and Enter 95», and various live-only interludes and versions. He was soon to be replaced by Gizz Butt of the band Janus Stark, who remained with the band for the next three years.[36]

The Fat of the Land and Thornhill’s departure (1996–2000)[edit]

The release of «Firestarter» in 1996, featuring vocals for the first time courtesy of a new-look Keith Flint, helped the band break into the United States and other overseas markets, and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.[37] In this year the Prodigy also headlined the prestigious Lollapalooza festival.[38]

The long-awaited third Prodigy album, The Fat of the Land, was released in 1997, just as the band headlined the Glastonbury Festival on its opening night.[38] Featuring simplified melodies, sparser sampling, less rave music influences, and punk-like vocals supplied by a shockingly madeover Flint, the album nevertheless retained the bone-jarring breaks and buzzsaw synths so idiomatic of the band. The album cemented the band’s position as one of the most internationally successful acts in the dance genre, entering the UK and US charts at number one.[37][39]

The Prodigy were getting considerable airplay on rock stations with their controversial track «Smack My Bitch Up»—and also a negative backlash for the song. The National Organization for Women (NOW) criticized the song and its music video. The song’s lyrics consist entirely of the repeated phrase «Change my pitch up, smack my bitch up», which NOW stated are a «dangerous and offensive message advocating violence against women».[40] Howlett responded to the criticism by stating that the meaning of the song and its lyrics were being misinterpreted, and the phrase meant «doing anything intensely, like being on stage—going for extreme manic energy».[40] The band did not actually write the lyric, but rather, sampled it from the hip hop Ultramagnetic MCs’ track «Give the Drummer Some»[41] which also appears on the Dirtchamber Sessions; they had also sampled another Ultramagnetic MCs song «Critical Beatdown» on their earlier «Out of Space» single.[42] The National Organization for Women also believed that the lyrics are in reference to administering heroin (smack) to another person.[43] Several radio stations limited the song’s airplay to nighttime hours.[44] In September 1997, the Prodigy performed «Breathe» at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, and won the Viewer’s Choice Award.[45][46]

During a performance at the Reading Festival on 29 August 1998, the Prodigy and the Beastie Boys had an onstage disagreement over the track, with the Beastie Boys requesting the song should be pulled from their set as it could be considered offensive to those who had suffered domestic abuse.[47] Choosing to ignore the Beastie Boys’ plea, Maxim introduced «Smack My Bitch Up» with the declaration «They didn’t want us to play this fucking tune. But the way things go, I do what the fuck I want».[48][49]

Wal-Mart and Kmart later announced they would pull The Fat of the Land off their shelves. Despite the fact that the LP had resided on their store shelves for over 20 weeks, and the fact that they had sold 150,000 copies of the album in total, the two stores found the marketing campaign for the new single release «offensive».[50] At the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, «Smack My Bitch Up» won two awards; Best Dance Video and Breakthrough Video.[51]

1999 saw the release of the Prodigy’s The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One, a DJ mix album by Howlett, produced as an official record of a successful guest appearance on the British Radio 1.[52] The original session came into being following a conversation between journalism and band biographer Martin James and Breezeblock presenter Mary Anne Hobbs. They are subsequently both thanked on the album sleeve notes. In June of the same year, when the band had arguably reached their commercial peak, they parted company with guitarist Gizz Butt.

Following 1999, Thornhill departed from the group after splitting up with Sara Cox; the band’s website was replaced with their logo and the words «We will be back…» set against a black background, which would remain until 2002.[53]

The band’s website after Thornhill left in 2000.

Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2001–2004)[edit]

After the group performed some live shows in 2001, their single «Baby’s Got a Temper» was released in July 2002 to critical disappointment. The original version of the song was written by Flint’s sideband Flint, and was called «NNNN». The Prodigy version was a total reworking of Flint’s track with only a few of the lyrics and melody remaining from the original and produced by Howlett. The song also featured Jim Davies. Once again, the band courted controversy by including references to the «date rape» drug Rohypnol in the song’s lyrics.[54] The song’s music video was also controversial, which featured barely covered women milking cows in a suggestive fashion. The complete, unedited video was aired on MTV2 in 2002 as part of a special late-night countdown showing the most controversial videos ever to air on MTV.[55] In the same year, however, Q magazine named the Prodigy one of the «50 Bands to See Before You Die».[56]

Liam Howlett live in August 2005.

The Prodigy’s fourth studio album, Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, was released on 23 August 2004, and 14 September 2004 in the US. A precursory and experimental single, «Memphis Bells», was released in very limited numbers, followed by the traditional release of the single «Girls». The US version of the studio album contained a bonus track; a remix of «Girls», entitled «More Girls». The album, which topped the UK Albums Chart in its debut week,[26] was promoted by a two-year-long tour.

5,000 digital copies of «Memphis Bells» were sold over the Internet. Each copy was a combination of customer-chosen instrumental, rhythmic, and melodic options, of which 39,600 choices were available. Five mixes were sold in three file formats, WAV, two audio mixes in MP3, and a 5.1 DTS surround sound mix, and all were free of digital rights management.[55]

In 2005, they released a compilation, Their Law: The Singles 1990–2005, which spawned a single containing new remixes of the songs «Out of Space» («Audio Bullys Remix») and «Voodoo People» (the «Pendulum Remix»). The artwork represented drawn versions of the front covers of the «Out of Space» and «Voodoo People» single releases. The latter was also followed by a music video filmed in Romford Market, Essex, which featured on the DVD release of the compilation. Sharky, the group’s only female member, is shown running and winning the race depicted in the video. Also in 2005, the song «You’ll be Under my Wheels» from the Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned album was added to the soundtrack of Need for Speed: Most Wanted. The cover artwork included an extended essay by band biographer Martin James.

The Prodigy’s first two albums, 1992’s Experience and 1994’s Music for the Jilted Generation, were re-released in expanded, deluxe editions on 4 August 2008.[57] As well as being remastered, the new packages featured a bonus disc including mixes, rarities, and live tracks. The two albums also featured expanded artwork in addition to the new musical content.

About the re-release process, Howlett said, «We didn’t actually want to do the Greatest Hits, we were ready to start our new record—until the record company pointed out that it was in the contract. But then we got into it, and tried to be creative with it as much as [we could]. And, you know, we ended up being really proud of it. You have to have a different brain when you’re doing a record like that. It’s more about [saying] ‘this is your achievement’; I could hold in one hand all the records we’ve released, so that was cool. We’re moving on now, and getting on with the new record.[55]

Invaders Must Die (2008–2010)[edit]

The Prodigy tested a few of the new tracks at Rainbow Warehouse Birmingham and Plug in Sheffield in May 2008.
The Prodigy showcased three new songs at the Oxegen Festival in the early hours of 13 July 2008. Among the tracks previewed were «Worlds on Fire», «Warriors Dance», and «Mescaline».

On 5 November 2008, it was announced that the band’s fifth studio album would be called Invaders Must Die and would be released on the band’s new label, Take Me to the hospital. It was released in the U.S. on 3 March 2009, and was the first Prodigy album since 1997’s The Fat of the Land to feature all three members of the band.[58][59]

The album featured Dave Grohl on drums for «Run with the Wolves». The top five hit «Omen» and «Invaders Must Die» were co-produced with Does It Offend You, Yeah? frontman James Rushent.[60] The band said that the album would go back to their «old-school but cutting edge» roots.[citation needed] The album was released as a CD, CD-DVD set, double vinyl, digital download, and a luxury 7-inch vinyl box set including five 7-inches, CD-DVD, bonus CD, poster, stickers, and stencils.[61]

Invaders Must Die was released on 21 February 2009 in Australia and in Europe on 23 February 2009, charting at number one in the U.K. with week one sales of over 97,000—a higher figure than for either Always Outnumbered or their singles collection.[37] The album also reached the top five in Germany and Australia and top 10 in Norway and several other European countries.

Maxim performing in 2009.

To coincide with the release of the album, the band embarked on a nine-date UK arena tour, with support from Dizzee Rascal, Noisia, Herve, and DJ Kissy Sell Out. The tour included the first edition of the band’s own annual dance gig, the Warriors Dance Festival. The single «Omen» debuted at number 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart the week of 25 February 2009 and won the Kerrang! Award for Best Single. The initial critical response to Invaders Must Die was somewhat mixed. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 60, based on 20 reviews.[62] However, the album was well received by the fans, who welcomed it in a positive light compared to Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned.[63] Two singles followed, «Warrior’s Dance» and «Take Me to the Hospital», which were released on 11 May and 31 August 2009 respectively. The former song peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart,[37] while the latter included a VHS-filmed music video that premiered on VidZone.[64] A fourth single, «Invaders Must Die (Liam H Reamped Version)», from the Special Edition of the album, was released.[64] Howlett would later describe the album as «more of a celebration. We’d come back together and were like, ‘Yeah! We’re here, we’re really buzzing!»[33]

In the same year, Howlett co-produced the song «Immunize» on Pendulum’s third album, Immersion.[65]

They also played Glastonbury in 2009.[66]

The Day Is My Enemy (2010–2015)[edit]

In May 2011, the band released World’s on Fire, their first live album and concert film documenting their 24 July 2010 show at the Milton Keynes Bowl as part of that year’s Warriors Dance Festival.[67] The film screened to select theatres across Europe for one night.[68] On 16 November 2010, Howlett announced that after their American tour with Linkin Park, the Prodigy were to re-enter the studio to record new material.[69]

On 6 August 2011, the Prodigy headlined the Przystanek Woodstock in Poland,[70] while at their two final shows of 2011 in Brazil, they premiered two new tracks: «A.W.O.L» and «Dogbite».[71] They headlined the 2012 Download Festival on 8 June playing a regular setlist, with the addition of three new songs, «Jetfighter», «Dogbite» and «A.W.O.L»,[72] accompanied by on-stage imagery of jet aircraft.[73] Howlett has confirmed this album will not be dubstep, but that it will feel «fresh» whilst darker.[74] In April 2012, to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of The Fat of the Land, the album was re-released alongside a remix EP, The Added Fat EP,[75] featuring remixes from multiple groups such as Major Lazer, Noisia, and Zeds Dead.

On 3 May 2012, the Prodigy announced the working title of their new album How to Steal a Jetfighter.[76] In December 2012, a new track titled «The Day» was debuted at Warrior’s Brixton[citation needed] and in June 2013, a new track titled «Rockweiler» was debuted at Rock am Ring.[citation needed] The band headlined the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth in 2014.[77] On 2 July 2014, the band revealed their upcoming album would have a different name and a «violent sound».[78] In August 2014, they signed to the Three Six Zero Group for the United States,[79] returning to Warner Music for the first time since 2004. Maxim indicated in September 2014 that the new Prodigy album would be released in the first quarter of 2015.[80] It was later announced on 6 January 2015 that the next Prodigy album would be releasing 30 March 2015 and that it had been given the title The Day Is My Enemy.[81]

On 12 January 2015, the Prodigy released «Nasty» as the lead single off their upcoming album along with the title track on 26 January 2015. Howlett found that «violent is the word that keeps on coming up» when describing the album. The entire recording process took almost six years taking in a number of studios and a few restarts to establish that «angry, energetic sound».[33] Unlike previous efforts The Day Is My Enemy became a band-album where Flint and Maxim worked in tandem with Howlett. This created a degree of friction although Flint noted that «four years ago we sat down and talked about where the next album was gonna go, and we knew we had to bust out the most ‘band’ album we could create».[33]

The band played at Future Music Festival Australia in February–March 2015 and toured Germany and France in April 2015[82] and the UK in May 2015.[83] They also performed at the Rock Werchter, Rock am Ring/Rock im Park, Benicàssim and Isle of Wight festivals.

On 23 February 2015, the Prodigy released «Wild Frontier» as the second single off their upcoming album The Day Is My Enemy after announcing it three days earlier. The Stop-motion animation was directed by the Dutch filmmaker Mascha Halberstad[84] and animator Elmer Kaan.[85] The Cover Art was designed by Austrian artist and designer Moritz Resl.[86] In May 2015, the Prodigy announced a winter 2015 UK and mainland Europe tour, with Public Enemy as support.[87]

No Tourists, Flint’s death, and return to touring (2016–present)[edit]

The Prodigy’s seventh studio album, No Tourists, was released on 2 November 2018 under a new recording deal with BMG Rights Management.[88] The deal reunited the group with Howlett’s song publishing, which BMG had acquired from EMI Music Publishing in 2012 as part of the Virgin Music catalogue.[89]

On 4 March 2019, Flint was found dead at his home in Essex,[90] weeks after the band had toured Australia and New Zealand.[91][92] The rest of the Prodigy’s tour dates were cancelled.[93] Following Flint’s death, fans began using the Twitter hashtag «Firestarter4Number1» on various social media platforms to get «Firestarter» to number one on the UK singles chart out of respect for Flint and to raise awareness of suicide among men.[94] In August 2020, Howlett said that the Prodigy will continue.[95] That Christmas Day, he confirmed that new music will be released at some point in 2021.[96] Former member Leeroy Thornhill said that Howlett had been working on a new Prodigy album at the time of Flint’s death, and wishes to complete it as a tribute to Flint.[97] On 10 February 2021, the band announced their plans to begin production on a documentary film about the band’s history, with a now unknown title and release date. It will be directed by long time collaborator Paul Dugdale and produced by Pulse Films.[98]

On 7 March 2022, The Prodigy announced a return to the stage with a 10-date tour of the UK in July to coincide with the 25th anniversary of The Fat of the Land, also hinting that new material would be performed on the tour.[99]

On the 28 October 2022, the band announced they would be returning to live shows outside of the UK for the first time in four years, stating that in 2023 new dates will be added, including the festival circuit, with a June date in Austria confirmed. Further tour dates would be announced in due course.

Musical style and influences[edit]

Along with the Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, the Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s.[1] The Prodigy is not considered entirely representative of the genre, as their production «often reflected the more intelligent edge of trip-hop, and rarely broke into the mindless arena of true big beat» according to AllMusic.[1] The Prodigy are also considered techno,[100][101][102] alternative dance,[103][104] electronic rock,[105][106] electropunk,[4][107] rave,[108][109] dance-rock,[110] electronica,[100] breakbeat hardcore,[111] industrial,[106] rap rock,[112] and rock.[113]

Liam Howlett cited early electro as a big influence, mentioning tunes like «Clear» by American music group Cybotron and «Al Naafiysh» by Hashim. He also cited the Bomb Squad, Public Enemy, and Rage Against the Machine as influences.[114]

Band members[edit]

Current members

  • Liam Howlett – keyboards, synthesizers, programming, production, sampling, sequencing, turntables, drum machine, guitars, bass, drums (1990–present)
  • Maxim – vocals, beatboxing (1991–present)

Current live musicians

  • Rob Holliday – guitars, bass (2005–2006, 2008–2017, 2022–present)
  • Leo Crabtree – drums, percussion (2008–present)

Former members

  • Keith Flint – dancing (1990–2019); vocals (1996–2019)
  • Leeroy Thornhill – dancing (1990–2000); occasional live keyboards, synthesizers (1994–2000)
  • Sharky – dancing (1990–1991)

Former live musicians

  • Jim Davies – guitars (1995–1996, 2002–2004)
  • Gizz Butt – guitars (1996–1999)
  • Kieron Pepper – drums, percussion, occasional guitars (1997–2007)
  • Alli MacInnes – guitars (2001–2002)
  • Rev – guitars (2007)
  • Snell – drums, percussion (2007)
  • Brian Fairbairn – drums, percussion (2007)
  • Olly Burden – guitars (2017–2019)
  • Ben Weinman – guitars, bass (2017)

Timeline

Awards and nominations[edit]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums

  • Experience (1992)
  • Music for the Jilted Generation (1994)
  • The Fat of the Land (1997)
  • Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2004)
  • Invaders Must Die (2009)
  • The Day Is My Enemy (2015)
  • No Tourists (2018)

References[edit]

Specific

  1. ^ a b c «Big Beat». AllMusic. Archived from the original on 4 December 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  2. ^ «Liam Howlett: Punk and disorderly». The Independent. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  3. ^ «The Prodigy interview: ‘Calvin Harris? That’s just waffle. That isn’t real’«. inews.co.uk. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b Roach, Martin (2010). The Prodigy : electronic punks : the early years 1988-1994. Church Stretton: Independent Music. ISBN 978-1-906191-17-7. OCLC 1100929625.
  5. ^ a b John Bush. «Music for the Jilted Generation – The Prodigy». Allmusic. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  6. ^
    The Brit Awards: Prodigy Archived 1 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2012
  7. ^ The Prodigy Archived 13 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine Rock on The Net. Retrieved 12 February 2012
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Robinson, David (February 1993). «Prodigious talent». Future Music. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  9. ^ Roach 2010, p. 22.
  10. ^ James 2002, p. 44.
  11. ^ a b c d Roach 2010, p. 23.
  12. ^ «30 years ago on 5th October 1990…» 5 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  13. ^ «The Prodigy On Tour — First Gig». Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  14. ^ «‘Experience’ 30th Anniversary». 28 September 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  15. ^ «The Prodigy was born Thirty years ago». Retro World News. October 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  16. ^ Emma Warren, «From the Dug Out and dreads to DMZ and dubstep: 10 classic club nights» Archived 12 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  17. ^ Doran, John (27 August 2008). «The Prodigy Talk to The Quietus About Experience and Jilted Generation». The Quietus. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  18. ^ a b Roach 2010, p. 30.
  19. ^ a b James 2002, p. 280.
  20. ^ Schiller, Mike (23 December 2005). «The Prodigy: Their Law: The Singles 1990–2005». PopMatters. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Songs like «Out of Space» and «Charly» turned into massive club hits
  21. ^ «PRODIGY». The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  22. ^ Gilman, Ben. «A short history of Drum and Bass». globaldarkness.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  23. ^ Inskeep, Thomas (8 May 2006). «The Prodigy – Their Law: The Singles 1990–2005». Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  24. ^ «Official Singles Chart Top 75 12 January 1992 — 18 January 1992». Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  25. ^ Roach 2010, p. 56.
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Books

  • 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.

External links[edit]

  • Official website Edit this at Wikidata

The Prodigy

Maxim and Liam Howlett (behind) performing in 2009. Keith Flint is out of shot

Maxim and Liam Howlett (behind) performing in 2009. Keith Flint is out of shot

Background information
Origin Braintree, Essex, England
Genres
  • Big beat
  • electropunk
  • alternative dance
  • electronic rock
Years active 1990-present
Labels
  • Take Me to the Hospital
  • Ragged Flag
  • Cooking Vinyl
  • XL
  • Beggars Banquet
  • Mute
  • Maverick
  • Warner Bros.
  • Elektra
  • Shock
  • Disco Mix Club
  • BMG
  • Vertigo
Members
  • Liam Howlett
  • Maxim
Past members
  • Sharky
  • Leeroy Thornhill
  • Keith Flint
Website theprodigy.com

The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music band formed in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by producer, keyboard player and songwriter Liam Howlett. The original line-up also featured dancer and singer Keith Flint and dancer and occasional live keyboard player Leeroy Thornhill, dancer Sharky and MC and vocalist Maxim. They were pioneers of the breakbeat-influenced genre big beat, and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s. Howlett’s rock-inspired drum rhythms infused with electronic rave music beats/breaks were combined with Maxim’s omnipresent mystique, Thornhill’s shuffle dancing style, and Flint’s later modern punk appearance.[1] The Prodigy describe their style as electronic punk.[2][3]

The band emerged during the underground rave scene and achieved early success in 1991 with their debut singles «Charly» and «Everybody in the Place», which reached the UK top five. After their debut album Experience (1992), the band moved from their rave roots and incorporated techno, breakbeat, and rock influences on their follow-up, the critically-acclaimed Music for the Jilted Generation (1994). The band reached their commercial and critical peak with their third studio album The Fat of the Land (1997), which went to No. 1 in 16 countries including the UK and the US, and spawned the UK number one singles «Firestarter» and «Breathe». The album’s third single, «Smack My Bitch Up», was a UK top ten hit and generated considerable controversy over its suggestive lyrics and music video.
In July of 2022, the band completed their first tour since the death of frontman Keith Flint in March of 2019.

The Prodigy remain one of the most successful electronic groups of all time. They have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide,[4] including over 4.7 million albums in the UK, and have scored seven consecutive UK number one albums. They earned titles like «the premiere dance act for the alternative masses» and «the Godfathers of Rave».[5] The Prodigy have won numerous awards during their career, including two Brit Awards for Best British Dance Act, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Kerrang! Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards, and two Grammy Award nominations.[6][7]

History[edit]

Formation and early singles success (1990–1991)[edit]

In 1989, 18-year-old DJ, musician, and songwriter Liam Howlett returned to his hometown of Braintree, Essex after quitting his gig as DJ in the hip-hop group Cut to Kill. He had started to make his own music three years prior, beginning with hip-hop and house music before he focused on the rave scene that was gaining popularity at the time.[8] He preferred the non-confrontational atmosphere that raves brought, and began to work DJ sets in the local area while working on original music at home.[8]

It was in Braintree where Howlett met dancers Keith Flint and Leeroy Thornhill at one of his gigs at The Barn nightclub. Flint requested Howlett make a mix tape for him, to which Howlett obliged and returned a cassette several days later with some of his own songs on the other side.[9] Howlett had scratched the word «Prodigy» onto the cassette, referring to the Moog Prodigy synthesizer which he used to make some of the music.[10][11] The tape was well received by Flint and Thornhill, who developed new dance sequences to the music and suggested to Howlett they begin a group together.[11] The three settled on The Prodigy as their name and enlisted a fourth live member, female dancer and vocalist Sharky, a friend of Flint’s, and on October 5, 1990 the group was officially formed.[12][11] Their first gig was organized by the promoter called Ziggy (who became their first manager) and took place at The Four Aces Club (then called Labrynth) in Dalston, London on Friday night, February 1991, which Howlett described as the roughest venue in the city.[13][14][15][16][11][8] Shortly before the first gig, the group met rapper and MC Maxim, then known as Maxim Reality and Keeti. Flint pitched for Maxim to join the group on the strength of his connections with the reggae scene and the music contacts he had developed. Maxim failed to turn up at a scheduled meeting, but joined The Prodigy unexpectedly at their first gig, where he improvised lyrics on stage.[17]

Shortly after their live debut, Howlett completed a 10-track demo tape on a Roland W-30 sampling keyboard and approached Tam Tam Records with the hope of securing a record deal, but was declined.[18] He turned to XL Recordings, headed by Tim Palmer and Nick Halkes, who agreed to a meeting and subsequently signed the group to a contract that involved the release of four singles.[18] This culminated in their first official release, the EP What Evil Lurks, in February 1991, containing four tracks that Howlett had produced on the demo. Shortly after signing to XL Records, The Prodigy were reduced to a four-piece when Sharky could no longer commit to the band and left.

In August 1991, The Prodigy released their debut single «Charly», which samples dialogue from the Charley Says series of animated films produced by the Central Office of Information.[19] It became a hit in the rave scene,[20] and reached No. 1 on the UK Dance Singles Chart and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, thus catapulting the band into the wider public attention.[21] The success of «Charly» began a trend of mixing dance and rave tracks with cartoon samples, such as «A Trip to Trumpton» by Urban Hype and «Sesame’s Treet» by Smart E’s, which were a hit with clubbers but not to the critics,[22] who dismissed it as «kiddie rave» or «toytown techno».[23] Howlett realised that a follow-up single in the same style «would have been the downfall of us» and wanted to avoid such labels.[8] He spent earnings from «Charly» on new instruments and studio equipment, expanding the group’s sound with a Roland U-220 sound module and TR-909 drum machine.[8] Their second single, «Everybody in the Place (Fairground Edit)», was released in December 1991.[19] It reached No. 2 in the UK, beaten to the top spot by a re-release of «Bohemian Rhapsody» by Queen following the death of their singer Freddie Mercury.[24]

Experience and Music for the Jilted Generation (1992–1995)[edit]

In 1991 and 1992, Howlett recorded the band’s debut full-length studio album Experience at his home facility, Earthbound Studios. The project began after XL Recordings suggested the group make one, and initially Howlett wanted to produce a «rave concept album» inspired by Pink Floyd, but abandoned the idea due to the risk of limiting his musical ideas.[25] Released in September 1992, the album peaked at No. 12 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling over 300,000 copies.[26][27] The album contains many samples of other artists, and closes with a live track featuring Maxim on vocals. It is considered a landmark release in British rave music, and was an influential record for American DJ and musician Moby for his early studio releases. Its third single, «Fire/Jericho», was on track to become the band’s third consecutive UK top ten single, but XL Recordings deleted it from its catalogue and therefore stalled at its peak of No. 11.[8]

By early 1993, The Prodigy had completed their first major nationwide tour.[28] Howlett said that The Prodigy had now become an established act and would continue to produce original dance music as there was still an audience for it.[8] After Experience and the run of singles that accompanied it, the band moved to distance themselves from the «kiddie rave» reputation that had dogged them. The rave scene moved on from its hardcore phase, following the Criminal Justice Act’s anti-rave legislation on the horizon.[29] Later in 1993, Howlett released an anonymous white label vinyl, bearing only the titles «Earthbound I» and «Earthbound 2». Its hypnotic, hard-edged sound won wide underground approval. The songs were officially released as «One Love» and «Full Throttle» in September 1993, and reached No. 8 in the UK.[30] By this time the band performed live at least once a week, and had started performing overseas including Germany, the US, and Japan.[31]

In 1993, Howlett started work on the band’s second album, Music for the Jilted Generation. Much of the new material was written in response to the Criminal Justice Act as exemplified by «Their Law», co-written and performed with alternative rock band Pop Will Eat Itself. The album opens with a spoken introduction: «So I’ve decided to take my work back underground to stop it falling into the wrong hands». Howlett explained that «the wrong hands» represented people who considered The Prodigy as a commercial band, and no longer wanted the group to be seen as purely a rave act.[32] It displays a wider range of musical styles and structures as a result, including big beat and heavy breakbeat-based tracks and the conceptual three-part song «The Narcotic Suite». The Guardian called it a «complex, powerful record that propelled dance music into stadiums with rock’n’roll swagger».[33]

Released in September 1994, the album entered the UK chart at No. 1 and received positive reactions from critics.[5] It was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize, although Howlett had reaffirmed his dedication to making The Prodigy a «hard dance band» commercially successful but without compromise.[34] The band avoided mainstream exposure, declining offers to appear on Top of the Pops and other national television shows in the UK.[35] Their performance of «Everybody in the Place» on the BBC2 television series Dance Energy in 1991 remains their only one on British television. In the ensuing years, their music videos received airplay on MTV Europe which boosted their popularity across the continent.

Following the international success of Music for the Jilted Generation, the band augmented their line-up with guitarist Jim Davies (a live band member who later joined the group Pitchshifter) in 1995 for tracks such as «Their Law», «Break and Enter 95», and various live-only interludes and versions. He was soon to be replaced by Gizz Butt of the band Janus Stark, who remained with the band for the next three years.[36]

The Fat of the Land and Thornhill’s departure (1996–2000)[edit]

The release of «Firestarter» in 1996, featuring vocals for the first time courtesy of a new-look Keith Flint, helped the band break into the United States and other overseas markets, and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.[37] In this year the Prodigy also headlined the prestigious Lollapalooza festival.[38]

The long-awaited third Prodigy album, The Fat of the Land, was released in 1997, just as the band headlined the Glastonbury Festival on its opening night.[38] Featuring simplified melodies, sparser sampling, less rave music influences, and punk-like vocals supplied by a shockingly madeover Flint, the album nevertheless retained the bone-jarring breaks and buzzsaw synths so idiomatic of the band. The album cemented the band’s position as one of the most internationally successful acts in the dance genre, entering the UK and US charts at number one.[37][39]

The Prodigy were getting considerable airplay on rock stations with their controversial track «Smack My Bitch Up»—and also a negative backlash for the song. The National Organization for Women (NOW) criticized the song and its music video. The song’s lyrics consist entirely of the repeated phrase «Change my pitch up, smack my bitch up», which NOW stated are a «dangerous and offensive message advocating violence against women».[40] Howlett responded to the criticism by stating that the meaning of the song and its lyrics were being misinterpreted, and the phrase meant «doing anything intensely, like being on stage—going for extreme manic energy».[40] The band did not actually write the lyric, but rather, sampled it from the hip hop Ultramagnetic MCs’ track «Give the Drummer Some»[41] which also appears on the Dirtchamber Sessions; they had also sampled another Ultramagnetic MCs song «Critical Beatdown» on their earlier «Out of Space» single.[42] The National Organization for Women also believed that the lyrics are in reference to administering heroin (smack) to another person.[43] Several radio stations limited the song’s airplay to nighttime hours.[44] In September 1997, the Prodigy performed «Breathe» at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, and won the Viewer’s Choice Award.[45][46]

During a performance at the Reading Festival on 29 August 1998, the Prodigy and the Beastie Boys had an onstage disagreement over the track, with the Beastie Boys requesting the song should be pulled from their set as it could be considered offensive to those who had suffered domestic abuse.[47] Choosing to ignore the Beastie Boys’ plea, Maxim introduced «Smack My Bitch Up» with the declaration «They didn’t want us to play this fucking tune. But the way things go, I do what the fuck I want».[48][49]

Wal-Mart and Kmart later announced they would pull The Fat of the Land off their shelves. Despite the fact that the LP had resided on their store shelves for over 20 weeks, and the fact that they had sold 150,000 copies of the album in total, the two stores found the marketing campaign for the new single release «offensive».[50] At the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, «Smack My Bitch Up» won two awards; Best Dance Video and Breakthrough Video.[51]

1999 saw the release of the Prodigy’s The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One, a DJ mix album by Howlett, produced as an official record of a successful guest appearance on the British Radio 1.[52] The original session came into being following a conversation between journalism and band biographer Martin James and Breezeblock presenter Mary Anne Hobbs. They are subsequently both thanked on the album sleeve notes. In June of the same year, when the band had arguably reached their commercial peak, they parted company with guitarist Gizz Butt.

Following 1999, Thornhill departed from the group after splitting up with Sara Cox; the band’s website was replaced with their logo and the words «We will be back…» set against a black background, which would remain until 2002.[53]

The band’s website after Thornhill left in 2000.

Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2001–2004)[edit]

After the group performed some live shows in 2001, their single «Baby’s Got a Temper» was released in July 2002 to critical disappointment. The original version of the song was written by Flint’s sideband Flint, and was called «NNNN». The Prodigy version was a total reworking of Flint’s track with only a few of the lyrics and melody remaining from the original and produced by Howlett. The song also featured Jim Davies. Once again, the band courted controversy by including references to the «date rape» drug Rohypnol in the song’s lyrics.[54] The song’s music video was also controversial, which featured barely covered women milking cows in a suggestive fashion. The complete, unedited video was aired on MTV2 in 2002 as part of a special late-night countdown showing the most controversial videos ever to air on MTV.[55] In the same year, however, Q magazine named the Prodigy one of the «50 Bands to See Before You Die».[56]

Liam Howlett live in August 2005.

The Prodigy’s fourth studio album, Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, was released on 23 August 2004, and 14 September 2004 in the US. A precursory and experimental single, «Memphis Bells», was released in very limited numbers, followed by the traditional release of the single «Girls». The US version of the studio album contained a bonus track; a remix of «Girls», entitled «More Girls». The album, which topped the UK Albums Chart in its debut week,[26] was promoted by a two-year-long tour.

5,000 digital copies of «Memphis Bells» were sold over the Internet. Each copy was a combination of customer-chosen instrumental, rhythmic, and melodic options, of which 39,600 choices were available. Five mixes were sold in three file formats, WAV, two audio mixes in MP3, and a 5.1 DTS surround sound mix, and all were free of digital rights management.[55]

In 2005, they released a compilation, Their Law: The Singles 1990–2005, which spawned a single containing new remixes of the songs «Out of Space» («Audio Bullys Remix») and «Voodoo People» (the «Pendulum Remix»). The artwork represented drawn versions of the front covers of the «Out of Space» and «Voodoo People» single releases. The latter was also followed by a music video filmed in Romford Market, Essex, which featured on the DVD release of the compilation. Sharky, the group’s only female member, is shown running and winning the race depicted in the video. Also in 2005, the song «You’ll be Under my Wheels» from the Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned album was added to the soundtrack of Need for Speed: Most Wanted. The cover artwork included an extended essay by band biographer Martin James.

The Prodigy’s first two albums, 1992’s Experience and 1994’s Music for the Jilted Generation, were re-released in expanded, deluxe editions on 4 August 2008.[57] As well as being remastered, the new packages featured a bonus disc including mixes, rarities, and live tracks. The two albums also featured expanded artwork in addition to the new musical content.

About the re-release process, Howlett said, «We didn’t actually want to do the Greatest Hits, we were ready to start our new record—until the record company pointed out that it was in the contract. But then we got into it, and tried to be creative with it as much as [we could]. And, you know, we ended up being really proud of it. You have to have a different brain when you’re doing a record like that. It’s more about [saying] ‘this is your achievement’; I could hold in one hand all the records we’ve released, so that was cool. We’re moving on now, and getting on with the new record.[55]

Invaders Must Die (2008–2010)[edit]

The Prodigy tested a few of the new tracks at Rainbow Warehouse Birmingham and Plug in Sheffield in May 2008.
The Prodigy showcased three new songs at the Oxegen Festival in the early hours of 13 July 2008. Among the tracks previewed were «Worlds on Fire», «Warriors Dance», and «Mescaline».

On 5 November 2008, it was announced that the band’s fifth studio album would be called Invaders Must Die and would be released on the band’s new label, Take Me to the hospital. It was released in the U.S. on 3 March 2009, and was the first Prodigy album since 1997’s The Fat of the Land to feature all three members of the band.[58][59]

The album featured Dave Grohl on drums for «Run with the Wolves». The top five hit «Omen» and «Invaders Must Die» were co-produced with Does It Offend You, Yeah? frontman James Rushent.[60] The band said that the album would go back to their «old-school but cutting edge» roots.[citation needed] The album was released as a CD, CD-DVD set, double vinyl, digital download, and a luxury 7-inch vinyl box set including five 7-inches, CD-DVD, bonus CD, poster, stickers, and stencils.[61]

Invaders Must Die was released on 21 February 2009 in Australia and in Europe on 23 February 2009, charting at number one in the U.K. with week one sales of over 97,000—a higher figure than for either Always Outnumbered or their singles collection.[37] The album also reached the top five in Germany and Australia and top 10 in Norway and several other European countries.

Maxim performing in 2009.

To coincide with the release of the album, the band embarked on a nine-date UK arena tour, with support from Dizzee Rascal, Noisia, Herve, and DJ Kissy Sell Out. The tour included the first edition of the band’s own annual dance gig, the Warriors Dance Festival. The single «Omen» debuted at number 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart the week of 25 February 2009 and won the Kerrang! Award for Best Single. The initial critical response to Invaders Must Die was somewhat mixed. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 60, based on 20 reviews.[62] However, the album was well received by the fans, who welcomed it in a positive light compared to Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned.[63] Two singles followed, «Warrior’s Dance» and «Take Me to the Hospital», which were released on 11 May and 31 August 2009 respectively. The former song peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart,[37] while the latter included a VHS-filmed music video that premiered on VidZone.[64] A fourth single, «Invaders Must Die (Liam H Reamped Version)», from the Special Edition of the album, was released.[64] Howlett would later describe the album as «more of a celebration. We’d come back together and were like, ‘Yeah! We’re here, we’re really buzzing!»[33]

In the same year, Howlett co-produced the song «Immunize» on Pendulum’s third album, Immersion.[65]

They also played Glastonbury in 2009.[66]

The Day Is My Enemy (2010–2015)[edit]

In May 2011, the band released World’s on Fire, their first live album and concert film documenting their 24 July 2010 show at the Milton Keynes Bowl as part of that year’s Warriors Dance Festival.[67] The film screened to select theatres across Europe for one night.[68] On 16 November 2010, Howlett announced that after their American tour with Linkin Park, the Prodigy were to re-enter the studio to record new material.[69]

On 6 August 2011, the Prodigy headlined the Przystanek Woodstock in Poland,[70] while at their two final shows of 2011 in Brazil, they premiered two new tracks: «A.W.O.L» and «Dogbite».[71] They headlined the 2012 Download Festival on 8 June playing a regular setlist, with the addition of three new songs, «Jetfighter», «Dogbite» and «A.W.O.L»,[72] accompanied by on-stage imagery of jet aircraft.[73] Howlett has confirmed this album will not be dubstep, but that it will feel «fresh» whilst darker.[74] In April 2012, to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of The Fat of the Land, the album was re-released alongside a remix EP, The Added Fat EP,[75] featuring remixes from multiple groups such as Major Lazer, Noisia, and Zeds Dead.

On 3 May 2012, the Prodigy announced the working title of their new album How to Steal a Jetfighter.[76] In December 2012, a new track titled «The Day» was debuted at Warrior’s Brixton[citation needed] and in June 2013, a new track titled «Rockweiler» was debuted at Rock am Ring.[citation needed] The band headlined the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth in 2014.[77] On 2 July 2014, the band revealed their upcoming album would have a different name and a «violent sound».[78] In August 2014, they signed to the Three Six Zero Group for the United States,[79] returning to Warner Music for the first time since 2004. Maxim indicated in September 2014 that the new Prodigy album would be released in the first quarter of 2015.[80] It was later announced on 6 January 2015 that the next Prodigy album would be releasing 30 March 2015 and that it had been given the title The Day Is My Enemy.[81]

On 12 January 2015, the Prodigy released «Nasty» as the lead single off their upcoming album along with the title track on 26 January 2015. Howlett found that «violent is the word that keeps on coming up» when describing the album. The entire recording process took almost six years taking in a number of studios and a few restarts to establish that «angry, energetic sound».[33] Unlike previous efforts The Day Is My Enemy became a band-album where Flint and Maxim worked in tandem with Howlett. This created a degree of friction although Flint noted that «four years ago we sat down and talked about where the next album was gonna go, and we knew we had to bust out the most ‘band’ album we could create».[33]

The band played at Future Music Festival Australia in February–March 2015 and toured Germany and France in April 2015[82] and the UK in May 2015.[83] They also performed at the Rock Werchter, Rock am Ring/Rock im Park, Benicàssim and Isle of Wight festivals.

On 23 February 2015, the Prodigy released «Wild Frontier» as the second single off their upcoming album The Day Is My Enemy after announcing it three days earlier. The Stop-motion animation was directed by the Dutch filmmaker Mascha Halberstad[84] and animator Elmer Kaan.[85] The Cover Art was designed by Austrian artist and designer Moritz Resl.[86] In May 2015, the Prodigy announced a winter 2015 UK and mainland Europe tour, with Public Enemy as support.[87]

No Tourists, Flint’s death, and return to touring (2016–present)[edit]

The Prodigy’s seventh studio album, No Tourists, was released on 2 November 2018 under a new recording deal with BMG Rights Management.[88] The deal reunited the group with Howlett’s song publishing, which BMG had acquired from EMI Music Publishing in 2012 as part of the Virgin Music catalogue.[89]

On 4 March 2019, Flint was found dead at his home in Essex,[90] weeks after the band had toured Australia and New Zealand.[91][92] The rest of the Prodigy’s tour dates were cancelled.[93] Following Flint’s death, fans began using the Twitter hashtag «Firestarter4Number1» on various social media platforms to get «Firestarter» to number one on the UK singles chart out of respect for Flint and to raise awareness of suicide among men.[94] In August 2020, Howlett said that the Prodigy will continue.[95] That Christmas Day, he confirmed that new music will be released at some point in 2021.[96] Former member Leeroy Thornhill said that Howlett had been working on a new Prodigy album at the time of Flint’s death, and wishes to complete it as a tribute to Flint.[97] On 10 February 2021, the band announced their plans to begin production on a documentary film about the band’s history, with a now unknown title and release date. It will be directed by long time collaborator Paul Dugdale and produced by Pulse Films.[98]

On 7 March 2022, The Prodigy announced a return to the stage with a 10-date tour of the UK in July to coincide with the 25th anniversary of The Fat of the Land, also hinting that new material would be performed on the tour.[99]

On the 28 October 2022, the band announced they would be returning to live shows outside of the UK for the first time in four years, stating that in 2023 new dates will be added, including the festival circuit, with a June date in Austria confirmed. Further tour dates would be announced in due course.

Musical style and influences[edit]

Along with the Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, the Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s.[1] The Prodigy is not considered entirely representative of the genre, as their production «often reflected the more intelligent edge of trip-hop, and rarely broke into the mindless arena of true big beat» according to AllMusic.[1] The Prodigy are also considered techno,[100][101][102] alternative dance,[103][104] electronic rock,[105][106] electropunk,[4][107] rave,[108][109] dance-rock,[110] electronica,[100] breakbeat hardcore,[111] industrial,[106] rap rock,[112] and rock.[113]

Liam Howlett cited early electro as a big influence, mentioning tunes like «Clear» by American music group Cybotron and «Al Naafiysh» by Hashim. He also cited the Bomb Squad, Public Enemy, and Rage Against the Machine as influences.[114]

Band members[edit]

Current members

  • Liam Howlett – keyboards, synthesizers, programming, production, sampling, sequencing, turntables, drum machine, guitars, bass, drums (1990–present)
  • Maxim – vocals, beatboxing (1991–present)

Current live musicians

  • Rob Holliday – guitars, bass (2005–2006, 2008–2017, 2022–present)
  • Leo Crabtree – drums, percussion (2008–present)

Former members

  • Keith Flint – dancing (1990–2019); vocals (1996–2019)
  • Leeroy Thornhill – dancing (1990–2000); occasional live keyboards, synthesizers (1994–2000)
  • Sharky – dancing (1990–1991)

Former live musicians

  • Jim Davies – guitars (1995–1996, 2002–2004)
  • Gizz Butt – guitars (1996–1999)
  • Kieron Pepper – drums, percussion, occasional guitars (1997–2007)
  • Alli MacInnes – guitars (2001–2002)
  • Rev – guitars (2007)
  • Snell – drums, percussion (2007)
  • Brian Fairbairn – drums, percussion (2007)
  • Olly Burden – guitars (2017–2019)
  • Ben Weinman – guitars, bass (2017)

Timeline

Awards and nominations[edit]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums

  • Experience (1992)
  • Music for the Jilted Generation (1994)
  • The Fat of the Land (1997)
  • Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2004)
  • Invaders Must Die (2009)
  • The Day Is My Enemy (2015)
  • No Tourists (2018)

References[edit]

Specific

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Books

  • 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.

External links[edit]

  • Official website Edit this at Wikidata

The Prodigy

Maxim and Liam Howlett (behind) performing in 2009. Keith Flint is out of shot

Maxim and Liam Howlett (behind) performing in 2009. Keith Flint is out of shot

Background information
Origin Braintree, Essex, England
Genres
  • Big beat
  • electropunk
  • alternative dance
  • electronic rock
Years active 1990-present
Labels
  • Take Me to the Hospital
  • Ragged Flag
  • Cooking Vinyl
  • XL
  • Beggars Banquet
  • Mute
  • Maverick
  • Warner Bros.
  • Elektra
  • Shock
  • Disco Mix Club
  • BMG
  • Vertigo
Members
  • Liam Howlett
  • Maxim
Past members
  • Sharky
  • Leeroy Thornhill
  • Keith Flint
Website theprodigy.com

The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music band formed in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by producer, keyboard player and songwriter Liam Howlett. The original line-up also featured dancer and singer Keith Flint and dancer and occasional live keyboard player Leeroy Thornhill, dancer Sharky and MC and vocalist Maxim. They were pioneers of the breakbeat-influenced genre big beat, and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s. Howlett’s rock-inspired drum rhythms infused with electronic rave music beats/breaks were combined with Maxim’s omnipresent mystique, Thornhill’s shuffle dancing style, and Flint’s later modern punk appearance.[1] The Prodigy describe their style as electronic punk.[2][3]

The band emerged during the underground rave scene and achieved early success in 1991 with their debut singles «Charly» and «Everybody in the Place», which reached the UK top five. After their debut album Experience (1992), the band moved from their rave roots and incorporated techno, breakbeat, and rock influences on their follow-up, the critically-acclaimed Music for the Jilted Generation (1994). The band reached their commercial and critical peak with their third studio album The Fat of the Land (1997), which went to No. 1 in 16 countries including the UK and the US, and spawned the UK number one singles «Firestarter» and «Breathe». The album’s third single, «Smack My Bitch Up», was a UK top ten hit and generated considerable controversy over its suggestive lyrics and music video.
In July of 2022, the band completed their first tour since the death of frontman Keith Flint in March of 2019.

The Prodigy remain one of the most successful electronic groups of all time. They have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide,[4] including over 4.7 million albums in the UK, and have scored seven consecutive UK number one albums. They earned titles like «the premiere dance act for the alternative masses» and «the Godfathers of Rave».[5] The Prodigy have won numerous awards during their career, including two Brit Awards for Best British Dance Act, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Kerrang! Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards, and two Grammy Award nominations.[6][7]

History[edit]

Formation and early singles success (1990–1991)[edit]

In 1989, 18-year-old DJ, musician, and songwriter Liam Howlett returned to his hometown of Braintree, Essex after quitting his gig as DJ in the hip-hop group Cut to Kill. He had started to make his own music three years prior, beginning with hip-hop and house music before he focused on the rave scene that was gaining popularity at the time.[8] He preferred the non-confrontational atmosphere that raves brought, and began to work DJ sets in the local area while working on original music at home.[8]

It was in Braintree where Howlett met dancers Keith Flint and Leeroy Thornhill at one of his gigs at The Barn nightclub. Flint requested Howlett make a mix tape for him, to which Howlett obliged and returned a cassette several days later with some of his own songs on the other side.[9] Howlett had scratched the word «Prodigy» onto the cassette, referring to the Moog Prodigy synthesizer which he used to make some of the music.[10][11] The tape was well received by Flint and Thornhill, who developed new dance sequences to the music and suggested to Howlett they begin a group together.[11] The three settled on The Prodigy as their name and enlisted a fourth live member, female dancer and vocalist Sharky, a friend of Flint’s, and on October 5, 1990 the group was officially formed.[12][11] Their first gig was organized by the promoter called Ziggy (who became their first manager) and took place at The Four Aces Club (then called Labrynth) in Dalston, London on Friday night, February 1991, which Howlett described as the roughest venue in the city.[13][14][15][16][11][8] Shortly before the first gig, the group met rapper and MC Maxim, then known as Maxim Reality and Keeti. Flint pitched for Maxim to join the group on the strength of his connections with the reggae scene and the music contacts he had developed. Maxim failed to turn up at a scheduled meeting, but joined The Prodigy unexpectedly at their first gig, where he improvised lyrics on stage.[17]

Shortly after their live debut, Howlett completed a 10-track demo tape on a Roland W-30 sampling keyboard and approached Tam Tam Records with the hope of securing a record deal, but was declined.[18] He turned to XL Recordings, headed by Tim Palmer and Nick Halkes, who agreed to a meeting and subsequently signed the group to a contract that involved the release of four singles.[18] This culminated in their first official release, the EP What Evil Lurks, in February 1991, containing four tracks that Howlett had produced on the demo. Shortly after signing to XL Records, The Prodigy were reduced to a four-piece when Sharky could no longer commit to the band and left.

In August 1991, The Prodigy released their debut single «Charly», which samples dialogue from the Charley Says series of animated films produced by the Central Office of Information.[19] It became a hit in the rave scene,[20] and reached No. 1 on the UK Dance Singles Chart and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, thus catapulting the band into the wider public attention.[21] The success of «Charly» began a trend of mixing dance and rave tracks with cartoon samples, such as «A Trip to Trumpton» by Urban Hype and «Sesame’s Treet» by Smart E’s, which were a hit with clubbers but not to the critics,[22] who dismissed it as «kiddie rave» or «toytown techno».[23] Howlett realised that a follow-up single in the same style «would have been the downfall of us» and wanted to avoid such labels.[8] He spent earnings from «Charly» on new instruments and studio equipment, expanding the group’s sound with a Roland U-220 sound module and TR-909 drum machine.[8] Their second single, «Everybody in the Place (Fairground Edit)», was released in December 1991.[19] It reached No. 2 in the UK, beaten to the top spot by a re-release of «Bohemian Rhapsody» by Queen following the death of their singer Freddie Mercury.[24]

Experience and Music for the Jilted Generation (1992–1995)[edit]

In 1991 and 1992, Howlett recorded the band’s debut full-length studio album Experience at his home facility, Earthbound Studios. The project began after XL Recordings suggested the group make one, and initially Howlett wanted to produce a «rave concept album» inspired by Pink Floyd, but abandoned the idea due to the risk of limiting his musical ideas.[25] Released in September 1992, the album peaked at No. 12 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling over 300,000 copies.[26][27] The album contains many samples of other artists, and closes with a live track featuring Maxim on vocals. It is considered a landmark release in British rave music, and was an influential record for American DJ and musician Moby for his early studio releases. Its third single, «Fire/Jericho», was on track to become the band’s third consecutive UK top ten single, but XL Recordings deleted it from its catalogue and therefore stalled at its peak of No. 11.[8]

By early 1993, The Prodigy had completed their first major nationwide tour.[28] Howlett said that The Prodigy had now become an established act and would continue to produce original dance music as there was still an audience for it.[8] After Experience and the run of singles that accompanied it, the band moved to distance themselves from the «kiddie rave» reputation that had dogged them. The rave scene moved on from its hardcore phase, following the Criminal Justice Act’s anti-rave legislation on the horizon.[29] Later in 1993, Howlett released an anonymous white label vinyl, bearing only the titles «Earthbound I» and «Earthbound 2». Its hypnotic, hard-edged sound won wide underground approval. The songs were officially released as «One Love» and «Full Throttle» in September 1993, and reached No. 8 in the UK.[30] By this time the band performed live at least once a week, and had started performing overseas including Germany, the US, and Japan.[31]

In 1993, Howlett started work on the band’s second album, Music for the Jilted Generation. Much of the new material was written in response to the Criminal Justice Act as exemplified by «Their Law», co-written and performed with alternative rock band Pop Will Eat Itself. The album opens with a spoken introduction: «So I’ve decided to take my work back underground to stop it falling into the wrong hands». Howlett explained that «the wrong hands» represented people who considered The Prodigy as a commercial band, and no longer wanted the group to be seen as purely a rave act.[32] It displays a wider range of musical styles and structures as a result, including big beat and heavy breakbeat-based tracks and the conceptual three-part song «The Narcotic Suite». The Guardian called it a «complex, powerful record that propelled dance music into stadiums with rock’n’roll swagger».[33]

Released in September 1994, the album entered the UK chart at No. 1 and received positive reactions from critics.[5] It was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize, although Howlett had reaffirmed his dedication to making The Prodigy a «hard dance band» commercially successful but without compromise.[34] The band avoided mainstream exposure, declining offers to appear on Top of the Pops and other national television shows in the UK.[35] Their performance of «Everybody in the Place» on the BBC2 television series Dance Energy in 1991 remains their only one on British television. In the ensuing years, their music videos received airplay on MTV Europe which boosted their popularity across the continent.

Following the international success of Music for the Jilted Generation, the band augmented their line-up with guitarist Jim Davies (a live band member who later joined the group Pitchshifter) in 1995 for tracks such as «Their Law», «Break and Enter 95», and various live-only interludes and versions. He was soon to be replaced by Gizz Butt of the band Janus Stark, who remained with the band for the next three years.[36]

The Fat of the Land and Thornhill’s departure (1996–2000)[edit]

The release of «Firestarter» in 1996, featuring vocals for the first time courtesy of a new-look Keith Flint, helped the band break into the United States and other overseas markets, and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.[37] In this year the Prodigy also headlined the prestigious Lollapalooza festival.[38]

The long-awaited third Prodigy album, The Fat of the Land, was released in 1997, just as the band headlined the Glastonbury Festival on its opening night.[38] Featuring simplified melodies, sparser sampling, less rave music influences, and punk-like vocals supplied by a shockingly madeover Flint, the album nevertheless retained the bone-jarring breaks and buzzsaw synths so idiomatic of the band. The album cemented the band’s position as one of the most internationally successful acts in the dance genre, entering the UK and US charts at number one.[37][39]

The Prodigy were getting considerable airplay on rock stations with their controversial track «Smack My Bitch Up»—and also a negative backlash for the song. The National Organization for Women (NOW) criticized the song and its music video. The song’s lyrics consist entirely of the repeated phrase «Change my pitch up, smack my bitch up», which NOW stated are a «dangerous and offensive message advocating violence against women».[40] Howlett responded to the criticism by stating that the meaning of the song and its lyrics were being misinterpreted, and the phrase meant «doing anything intensely, like being on stage—going for extreme manic energy».[40] The band did not actually write the lyric, but rather, sampled it from the hip hop Ultramagnetic MCs’ track «Give the Drummer Some»[41] which also appears on the Dirtchamber Sessions; they had also sampled another Ultramagnetic MCs song «Critical Beatdown» on their earlier «Out of Space» single.[42] The National Organization for Women also believed that the lyrics are in reference to administering heroin (smack) to another person.[43] Several radio stations limited the song’s airplay to nighttime hours.[44] In September 1997, the Prodigy performed «Breathe» at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, and won the Viewer’s Choice Award.[45][46]

During a performance at the Reading Festival on 29 August 1998, the Prodigy and the Beastie Boys had an onstage disagreement over the track, with the Beastie Boys requesting the song should be pulled from their set as it could be considered offensive to those who had suffered domestic abuse.[47] Choosing to ignore the Beastie Boys’ plea, Maxim introduced «Smack My Bitch Up» with the declaration «They didn’t want us to play this fucking tune. But the way things go, I do what the fuck I want».[48][49]

Wal-Mart and Kmart later announced they would pull The Fat of the Land off their shelves. Despite the fact that the LP had resided on their store shelves for over 20 weeks, and the fact that they had sold 150,000 copies of the album in total, the two stores found the marketing campaign for the new single release «offensive».[50] At the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, «Smack My Bitch Up» won two awards; Best Dance Video and Breakthrough Video.[51]

1999 saw the release of the Prodigy’s The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One, a DJ mix album by Howlett, produced as an official record of a successful guest appearance on the British Radio 1.[52] The original session came into being following a conversation between journalism and band biographer Martin James and Breezeblock presenter Mary Anne Hobbs. They are subsequently both thanked on the album sleeve notes. In June of the same year, when the band had arguably reached their commercial peak, they parted company with guitarist Gizz Butt.

Following 1999, Thornhill departed from the group after splitting up with Sara Cox; the band’s website was replaced with their logo and the words «We will be back…» set against a black background, which would remain until 2002.[53]

The band’s website after Thornhill left in 2000.

Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2001–2004)[edit]

After the group performed some live shows in 2001, their single «Baby’s Got a Temper» was released in July 2002 to critical disappointment. The original version of the song was written by Flint’s sideband Flint, and was called «NNNN». The Prodigy version was a total reworking of Flint’s track with only a few of the lyrics and melody remaining from the original and produced by Howlett. The song also featured Jim Davies. Once again, the band courted controversy by including references to the «date rape» drug Rohypnol in the song’s lyrics.[54] The song’s music video was also controversial, which featured barely covered women milking cows in a suggestive fashion. The complete, unedited video was aired on MTV2 in 2002 as part of a special late-night countdown showing the most controversial videos ever to air on MTV.[55] In the same year, however, Q magazine named the Prodigy one of the «50 Bands to See Before You Die».[56]

Liam Howlett live in August 2005.

The Prodigy’s fourth studio album, Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, was released on 23 August 2004, and 14 September 2004 in the US. A precursory and experimental single, «Memphis Bells», was released in very limited numbers, followed by the traditional release of the single «Girls». The US version of the studio album contained a bonus track; a remix of «Girls», entitled «More Girls». The album, which topped the UK Albums Chart in its debut week,[26] was promoted by a two-year-long tour.

5,000 digital copies of «Memphis Bells» were sold over the Internet. Each copy was a combination of customer-chosen instrumental, rhythmic, and melodic options, of which 39,600 choices were available. Five mixes were sold in three file formats, WAV, two audio mixes in MP3, and a 5.1 DTS surround sound mix, and all were free of digital rights management.[55]

In 2005, they released a compilation, Their Law: The Singles 1990–2005, which spawned a single containing new remixes of the songs «Out of Space» («Audio Bullys Remix») and «Voodoo People» (the «Pendulum Remix»). The artwork represented drawn versions of the front covers of the «Out of Space» and «Voodoo People» single releases. The latter was also followed by a music video filmed in Romford Market, Essex, which featured on the DVD release of the compilation. Sharky, the group’s only female member, is shown running and winning the race depicted in the video. Also in 2005, the song «You’ll be Under my Wheels» from the Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned album was added to the soundtrack of Need for Speed: Most Wanted. The cover artwork included an extended essay by band biographer Martin James.

The Prodigy’s first two albums, 1992’s Experience and 1994’s Music for the Jilted Generation, were re-released in expanded, deluxe editions on 4 August 2008.[57] As well as being remastered, the new packages featured a bonus disc including mixes, rarities, and live tracks. The two albums also featured expanded artwork in addition to the new musical content.

About the re-release process, Howlett said, «We didn’t actually want to do the Greatest Hits, we were ready to start our new record—until the record company pointed out that it was in the contract. But then we got into it, and tried to be creative with it as much as [we could]. And, you know, we ended up being really proud of it. You have to have a different brain when you’re doing a record like that. It’s more about [saying] ‘this is your achievement’; I could hold in one hand all the records we’ve released, so that was cool. We’re moving on now, and getting on with the new record.[55]

Invaders Must Die (2008–2010)[edit]

The Prodigy tested a few of the new tracks at Rainbow Warehouse Birmingham and Plug in Sheffield in May 2008.
The Prodigy showcased three new songs at the Oxegen Festival in the early hours of 13 July 2008. Among the tracks previewed were «Worlds on Fire», «Warriors Dance», and «Mescaline».

On 5 November 2008, it was announced that the band’s fifth studio album would be called Invaders Must Die and would be released on the band’s new label, Take Me to the hospital. It was released in the U.S. on 3 March 2009, and was the first Prodigy album since 1997’s The Fat of the Land to feature all three members of the band.[58][59]

The album featured Dave Grohl on drums for «Run with the Wolves». The top five hit «Omen» and «Invaders Must Die» were co-produced with Does It Offend You, Yeah? frontman James Rushent.[60] The band said that the album would go back to their «old-school but cutting edge» roots.[citation needed] The album was released as a CD, CD-DVD set, double vinyl, digital download, and a luxury 7-inch vinyl box set including five 7-inches, CD-DVD, bonus CD, poster, stickers, and stencils.[61]

Invaders Must Die was released on 21 February 2009 in Australia and in Europe on 23 February 2009, charting at number one in the U.K. with week one sales of over 97,000—a higher figure than for either Always Outnumbered or their singles collection.[37] The album also reached the top five in Germany and Australia and top 10 in Norway and several other European countries.

Maxim performing in 2009.

To coincide with the release of the album, the band embarked on a nine-date UK arena tour, with support from Dizzee Rascal, Noisia, Herve, and DJ Kissy Sell Out. The tour included the first edition of the band’s own annual dance gig, the Warriors Dance Festival. The single «Omen» debuted at number 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart the week of 25 February 2009 and won the Kerrang! Award for Best Single. The initial critical response to Invaders Must Die was somewhat mixed. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 60, based on 20 reviews.[62] However, the album was well received by the fans, who welcomed it in a positive light compared to Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned.[63] Two singles followed, «Warrior’s Dance» and «Take Me to the Hospital», which were released on 11 May and 31 August 2009 respectively. The former song peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart,[37] while the latter included a VHS-filmed music video that premiered on VidZone.[64] A fourth single, «Invaders Must Die (Liam H Reamped Version)», from the Special Edition of the album, was released.[64] Howlett would later describe the album as «more of a celebration. We’d come back together and were like, ‘Yeah! We’re here, we’re really buzzing!»[33]

In the same year, Howlett co-produced the song «Immunize» on Pendulum’s third album, Immersion.[65]

They also played Glastonbury in 2009.[66]

The Day Is My Enemy (2010–2015)[edit]

In May 2011, the band released World’s on Fire, their first live album and concert film documenting their 24 July 2010 show at the Milton Keynes Bowl as part of that year’s Warriors Dance Festival.[67] The film screened to select theatres across Europe for one night.[68] On 16 November 2010, Howlett announced that after their American tour with Linkin Park, the Prodigy were to re-enter the studio to record new material.[69]

On 6 August 2011, the Prodigy headlined the Przystanek Woodstock in Poland,[70] while at their two final shows of 2011 in Brazil, they premiered two new tracks: «A.W.O.L» and «Dogbite».[71] They headlined the 2012 Download Festival on 8 June playing a regular setlist, with the addition of three new songs, «Jetfighter», «Dogbite» and «A.W.O.L»,[72] accompanied by on-stage imagery of jet aircraft.[73] Howlett has confirmed this album will not be dubstep, but that it will feel «fresh» whilst darker.[74] In April 2012, to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of The Fat of the Land, the album was re-released alongside a remix EP, The Added Fat EP,[75] featuring remixes from multiple groups such as Major Lazer, Noisia, and Zeds Dead.

On 3 May 2012, the Prodigy announced the working title of their new album How to Steal a Jetfighter.[76] In December 2012, a new track titled «The Day» was debuted at Warrior’s Brixton[citation needed] and in June 2013, a new track titled «Rockweiler» was debuted at Rock am Ring.[citation needed] The band headlined the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth in 2014.[77] On 2 July 2014, the band revealed their upcoming album would have a different name and a «violent sound».[78] In August 2014, they signed to the Three Six Zero Group for the United States,[79] returning to Warner Music for the first time since 2004. Maxim indicated in September 2014 that the new Prodigy album would be released in the first quarter of 2015.[80] It was later announced on 6 January 2015 that the next Prodigy album would be releasing 30 March 2015 and that it had been given the title The Day Is My Enemy.[81]

On 12 January 2015, the Prodigy released «Nasty» as the lead single off their upcoming album along with the title track on 26 January 2015. Howlett found that «violent is the word that keeps on coming up» when describing the album. The entire recording process took almost six years taking in a number of studios and a few restarts to establish that «angry, energetic sound».[33] Unlike previous efforts The Day Is My Enemy became a band-album where Flint and Maxim worked in tandem with Howlett. This created a degree of friction although Flint noted that «four years ago we sat down and talked about where the next album was gonna go, and we knew we had to bust out the most ‘band’ album we could create».[33]

The band played at Future Music Festival Australia in February–March 2015 and toured Germany and France in April 2015[82] and the UK in May 2015.[83] They also performed at the Rock Werchter, Rock am Ring/Rock im Park, Benicàssim and Isle of Wight festivals.

On 23 February 2015, the Prodigy released «Wild Frontier» as the second single off their upcoming album The Day Is My Enemy after announcing it three days earlier. The Stop-motion animation was directed by the Dutch filmmaker Mascha Halberstad[84] and animator Elmer Kaan.[85] The Cover Art was designed by Austrian artist and designer Moritz Resl.[86] In May 2015, the Prodigy announced a winter 2015 UK and mainland Europe tour, with Public Enemy as support.[87]

No Tourists, Flint’s death, and return to touring (2016–present)[edit]

The Prodigy’s seventh studio album, No Tourists, was released on 2 November 2018 under a new recording deal with BMG Rights Management.[88] The deal reunited the group with Howlett’s song publishing, which BMG had acquired from EMI Music Publishing in 2012 as part of the Virgin Music catalogue.[89]

On 4 March 2019, Flint was found dead at his home in Essex,[90] weeks after the band had toured Australia and New Zealand.[91][92] The rest of the Prodigy’s tour dates were cancelled.[93] Following Flint’s death, fans began using the Twitter hashtag «Firestarter4Number1» on various social media platforms to get «Firestarter» to number one on the UK singles chart out of respect for Flint and to raise awareness of suicide among men.[94] In August 2020, Howlett said that the Prodigy will continue.[95] That Christmas Day, he confirmed that new music will be released at some point in 2021.[96] Former member Leeroy Thornhill said that Howlett had been working on a new Prodigy album at the time of Flint’s death, and wishes to complete it as a tribute to Flint.[97] On 10 February 2021, the band announced their plans to begin production on a documentary film about the band’s history, with a now unknown title and release date. It will be directed by long time collaborator Paul Dugdale and produced by Pulse Films.[98]

On 7 March 2022, The Prodigy announced a return to the stage with a 10-date tour of the UK in July to coincide with the 25th anniversary of The Fat of the Land, also hinting that new material would be performed on the tour.[99]

On the 28 October 2022, the band announced they would be returning to live shows outside of the UK for the first time in four years, stating that in 2023 new dates will be added, including the festival circuit, with a June date in Austria confirmed. Further tour dates would be announced in due course.

Musical style and influences[edit]

Along with the Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, the Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s.[1] The Prodigy is not considered entirely representative of the genre, as their production «often reflected the more intelligent edge of trip-hop, and rarely broke into the mindless arena of true big beat» according to AllMusic.[1] The Prodigy are also considered techno,[100][101][102] alternative dance,[103][104] electronic rock,[105][106] electropunk,[4][107] rave,[108][109] dance-rock,[110] electronica,[100] breakbeat hardcore,[111] industrial,[106] rap rock,[112] and rock.[113]

Liam Howlett cited early electro as a big influence, mentioning tunes like «Clear» by American music group Cybotron and «Al Naafiysh» by Hashim. He also cited the Bomb Squad, Public Enemy, and Rage Against the Machine as influences.[114]

Band members[edit]

Current members

  • Liam Howlett – keyboards, synthesizers, programming, production, sampling, sequencing, turntables, drum machine, guitars, bass, drums (1990–present)
  • Maxim – vocals, beatboxing (1991–present)

Current live musicians

  • Rob Holliday – guitars, bass (2005–2006, 2008–2017, 2022–present)
  • Leo Crabtree – drums, percussion (2008–present)

Former members

  • Keith Flint – dancing (1990–2019); vocals (1996–2019)
  • Leeroy Thornhill – dancing (1990–2000); occasional live keyboards, synthesizers (1994–2000)
  • Sharky – dancing (1990–1991)

Former live musicians

  • Jim Davies – guitars (1995–1996, 2002–2004)
  • Gizz Butt – guitars (1996–1999)
  • Kieron Pepper – drums, percussion, occasional guitars (1997–2007)
  • Alli MacInnes – guitars (2001–2002)
  • Rev – guitars (2007)
  • Snell – drums, percussion (2007)
  • Brian Fairbairn – drums, percussion (2007)
  • Olly Burden – guitars (2017–2019)
  • Ben Weinman – guitars, bass (2017)

Timeline

Awards and nominations[edit]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums

  • Experience (1992)
  • Music for the Jilted Generation (1994)
  • The Fat of the Land (1997)
  • Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2004)
  • Invaders Must Die (2009)
  • The Day Is My Enemy (2015)
  • No Tourists (2018)

References[edit]

Specific

  1. ^ a b c «Big Beat». AllMusic. Archived from the original on 4 December 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  2. ^ «Liam Howlett: Punk and disorderly». The Independent. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  3. ^ «The Prodigy interview: ‘Calvin Harris? That’s just waffle. That isn’t real’«. inews.co.uk. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b Roach, Martin (2010). The Prodigy : electronic punks : the early years 1988-1994. Church Stretton: Independent Music. ISBN 978-1-906191-17-7. OCLC 1100929625.
  5. ^ a b John Bush. «Music for the Jilted Generation – The Prodigy». Allmusic. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  6. ^
    The Brit Awards: Prodigy Archived 1 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2012
  7. ^ The Prodigy Archived 13 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine Rock on The Net. Retrieved 12 February 2012
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Robinson, David (February 1993). «Prodigious talent». Future Music. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  9. ^ Roach 2010, p. 22.
  10. ^ James 2002, p. 44.
  11. ^ a b c d Roach 2010, p. 23.
  12. ^ «30 years ago on 5th October 1990…» 5 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  13. ^ «The Prodigy On Tour — First Gig». Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  14. ^ «‘Experience’ 30th Anniversary». 28 September 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  15. ^ «The Prodigy was born Thirty years ago». Retro World News. October 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  16. ^ Emma Warren, «From the Dug Out and dreads to DMZ and dubstep: 10 classic club nights» Archived 12 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  17. ^ Doran, John (27 August 2008). «The Prodigy Talk to The Quietus About Experience and Jilted Generation». The Quietus. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  18. ^ a b Roach 2010, p. 30.
  19. ^ a b James 2002, p. 280.
  20. ^ Schiller, Mike (23 December 2005). «The Prodigy: Their Law: The Singles 1990–2005». PopMatters. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Songs like «Out of Space» and «Charly» turned into massive club hits
  21. ^ «PRODIGY». The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  22. ^ Gilman, Ben. «A short history of Drum and Bass». globaldarkness.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  23. ^ Inskeep, Thomas (8 May 2006). «The Prodigy – Their Law: The Singles 1990–2005». Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  24. ^ «Official Singles Chart Top 75 12 January 1992 — 18 January 1992». Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  25. ^ Roach 2010, p. 56.
  26. ^ a b «UK Top 40 Hit Database». everyHit.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2011. Note: User must define search parameters as «Prodigy».
  27. ^ «Certified Awards Search». British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011. Note: Reader must type «Prodigy» into the Search box and hit Go.
  28. ^ Goodcare, Martyn (12 December 1992). «Licensed to Ilford». NME. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  29. ^ Martin Bate. «Review». theprodigy.info. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  30. ^ «Promo». theprodigy.info. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  31. ^ Davies, David (September 1993). «Rave’s last hope?». Mix Mag. pp. 39–40. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  32. ^ Hamacher, Adriana (July 1994). «Prodigy: Guitar Hero». Mix Mag. pp. 63–64. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  33. ^ a b c d McQuaid, Ian (17 January 2015). «The Prodigy: ‘we should be as important as Oasis or Blur’«. theguardian.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  34. ^ «Books». theprodigyfanboy.com. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
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  38. ^ a b «Essex Boys Come First». Q. No. December 1997.
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  41. ^ The Fat of the Land liner notes.
  42. ^ Liner notes from «Out of Space» single and Experience album.
  43. ^ «Music group, Prodigy, causing controversy with its new song and video». The Ottawa Citizen. 12 September 1997.
  44. ^ «Music: The Prodigy». Metropolis. No. 409.
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  63. ^ «Invaders Must Die User Reviews at Metacritic». Metacritic. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
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  66. ^ «Glastonbury 2009». Glastonbury Festivals. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
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  68. ^ «World’s on Fire». theprodigy.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
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  70. ^ «News – Woodstock Festival Poland Safety Level Discussion». en.wosp.org.pl. 11 August 2011. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  71. ^ «LH blog». Theprodigy.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  72. ^ «The Prodigy Concert Setlist at Download 2012 on June 8, 2012». setlist.fm. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  73. ^ «Newsbeat – Prodigy announced as final Download Festival headliners». BBC. 18 November 2011. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
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  75. ^ «The Prodigy re-release The Fat of the Land alongside remix EP». Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  76. ^ «The Prodigy name their new studio album How to Steal a Jetfighter«. NME. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  77. ^ «The Prodigy announce they will be headlining at Sonisphere Festival in the UK». The Prodigy. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  78. ^ «The Prodigy reveal that ‘violent-sounding’ new album will be released this year». The Prodigy. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
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  98. ^ «The Prodigy working on their first-ever music documentary». NME | Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Pop Culture News. 10 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021..
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  101. ^ Herzogenrath, Bernd (2000). «Stop Making Sense: Fuck ’em and Their Law». Postmodern Culture. Archived from the original on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  102. ^ McComber, Martin J. (15 January 1993). «Prodigy’s Liam Howlett: Battling With Success : Pop music: As techno music catches the ear of the mainstream, the songwriter struggles to hang on to the genre’s longtime faithful». Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  103. ^ Harrington, Richard (24 August 1997). «A Spark in Electronica? The Alternative Dance Genre Isn’t Saving the Music Industry—Yet». The Washington Post. p. G5.
  104. ^ Roach, Martin (2010). The Prodigy: The Official Story. Music Press Books. ISBN 9781906191016.
  105. ^ «The Prodigy Announce First Live Shows Since Keith Flint’s Death». Loudwire.
  106. ^ a b «The Prodigy sets Baltics on fire».
  107. ^ «Beastie Boys, Prodigy to Rock U.K. Reading Festival». MTV.
  108. ^ Harrison, Andrew (21 May 2011). «The Prodigy didn’t kill rave, they reanimated rock’n’roll». The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  109. ^ Borthwick, Stuart (2002) [1999]. «Rave culture». In Childs, Peter; Storry, Mike (eds.). Encyclopedia of Contemporary British Culture. London and New York: Routledge. p. 449. ISBN 9781138006997.
  110. ^ «The Prodigy keep the fire burning».
  111. ^ Muggs, Joe (13 June 2014). «20 Years On, The Prodigy’s ‘Music for the Jilted Generation’ Is a Relevant Explosion of Madness». Vice. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  112. ^ Aaron, Charles (17 February 2009). «The Prodigy, ‘Invaders Must Die’ (Cooking Vinyl)». Spin. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  113. ^ Kirka, Danica (4 March 2019). «Keith Flint, singer of electronic band The Prodigy, dies at 49». PBS. Retrieved 23 April 2022. Keith Flint of British rock band «The Prodigy» performs on stage during a concert in Vienna, in 1997. The Prodigy performed in front of some 15,000 spectators during the «Sundance ’97» open-air festival.
  114. ^ Murphy, Tom (26 August 2015). «The Prodigy’s Liam Howlett on Public Enemy and Electronic Music». Westword. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.

Books

  • 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.

External links[edit]

  • Official website Edit this at Wikidata

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На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать разговорную лексику.

Предложения


Prodigy проходит обширный шеститочечный процесс проверки для каждой инвестиции.



Prodigy goes through an extensive six-point vetting process for each investment.


Он наиболее известен своей группой Prodigy.



He is best known for his band, Prodigy.


Он, безусловно, считается prodigy, когда ребенок с энциклопедии знаний и, как и многие другие члены его семьи чрезвычайно талантливый, он изучал право и проявлял интерес к математике.



He was certainly considered a prodigy when a child with an encyclopedic knowledge and, like many other members of his extraordinarily talented family, he studied law and took an interest in mathematics.


Его отец, музыкант, хочет сделать ему ребенка prodigy, и с этой целью он instills жесткого музыкального образования.



His/her father, musician, wish to make of him a child prodigy and to this end a rigorous musical education inculcates to him.


1993 — отправляется в турне по северной америке с prodigy, ричи хотином и джоном аквавива. позже в том же году отправляется в турне с orbital, aphex twin и vapourspace. покидает instinct records и выпускает ‘move’ под лейблом mute records.



1993 — goes on tour with the prodigy and richie hawtin and john acquaviva in north america. later in the year goes on tour with orbital, aphex twin, and vapourspace. leaves instinct records and releases ‘move’ on mute records.


Ему не нравится Prodigy как техно-группа.



He does not regard the Prodigy as a techno group.


Prodigy работал в качестве сольного исполнителя с начала 2000-х годов.



Prodigy has been working as a solo artist since the early 2000s.


Так образовалась группа «Prodigy».



That is how the band Prodigy was created.


Это стало кардинальным поворотом в карьере «Prodigy«.



It was the pivotal turning point in the Prodigy’s career.


4 марта стало известно, что вокалист легендарной группы Prodigy покончил жизнь самоубийством.



On 4 March it became known that singer of the legendary group Prodigy, committed suicide.


Prodigy предлагает только одну стандартную программу погашения, при которой вы делаете те же самые выплаты ежемесячно.



Prodigy only offers one standard repayment plan, where you make the same repayments each month.


Prodigy предлагает варианты инвестиций в большинстве крупных городов для многосемейных, офисных, розничных и гостиничных услуг.



Prodigy offers investment options in most major cities for multi-family, office, retail and hospitality properties.


В 1994 году Prodigy совершили огромную ошибку, предложив нелимитированные чаты без дополнительной платы.



In 1994, however, Prodigy made a huge mistake by offering unlimited chat rooms with no extra fee.


В 1991 году Prodigy решили ограничить использование электронной почты и досок объявлений.



In 1991 Prodigy decided to censor their emails and bulletin boards.


Однако, позже в одном из интервью, он подтвердил, что написал эти твиты, выразив своё разочарование в Prodigy.



However, he later confirmed that he wrote the tweets and expressed his frustrations with Prodigy in an interview with.


Prodigy обрели большую славу, после выхода с рейв-сцены в начале 1990-х годов.



The Prodigy found huge fame after emerging from the underground rave scene in the early 1990s.


Несмотря на подобные раздражающие заявления, Prodigy продолжали прогрессировать.



Despite this irritating setback, the Prodigy continued to progress.


Prodigy родился с серповидноклеточной анемией и страдал от болезни на протяжении всей своей жизни.



Prodigy was born with sickle cell anemia and has suffered from the disease throughout his life.


Ко всему прочему, нахождение Prodigy в госпитале уже стало обычным явлением для него.



To him, Prodigy going to the hospital was a normal occurrence.


Большинство его поклонников знают, Prodigy боролся с этой болезнью с самого рождения.



If your fan you know already that Prodigy has battled the disease since birth.

Ничего не найдено для этого значения.

Результатов: 247. Точных совпадений: 247. Затраченное время: 85 мс

Documents

Корпоративные решения

Спряжение

Синонимы

Корректор

Справка и о нас

Индекс слова: 1-300, 301-600, 601-900

Индекс выражения: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200

Индекс фразы: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200

чудо, одаренный человек, необыкновенно одаренный

существительное

- чудо

prodigies of nature [of valour] — чудеса природы [храбрости]

- необыкновенно одарённый человек (обыкн. ребёнок)

infant /child/ prodigy — чудо-ребёнок, вундеркинд
musical prodigy — необыкновенный /поразительный/ музыкант

- (of) замечательный, изумительный образец чего-л.

that prodigy of learning — этот кладезь премудрости

- редк. (дурное) предзнаменование

Мои примеры

Словосочетания

a new drug that is being hailed as the latest prodigy of the medical world — новый препарат, который преподносится как новейшее чудо в мире медицины  
an absolutely supernal performance of the concerto by a 16-year old prodigy — абсолютно божественное исполнение концерта шестнадцатилетним дарованием  
prodigy violinist — скрипач-вундеркинд  
child prodigy — талантливый и не по возрасту развитой ребёнок; чудо-ребёнок; вундеркинд  

Примеры с переводом

Mozart was a musical prodigy.

Моцарт был музыкальным вундеркином.

The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16.

В шестнадцать лет этот вундеркинд сыграл в Карнеги-холле.

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

…going to a school for gifted students will help him thrive as a musical prodigy…

The line-up included top bands Prodigy and Radiohead.

Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке , напротив примера.

Возможные однокоренные слова

prodigal  — расточительный, щедрый, чрезмерный, мот, повеса
prodigious  — огромный, удивительный, чудовищный, громадный, невероятный, изумительный, чудесный

Формы слова

noun
ед. ч.(singular): prodigy
мн. ч.(plural): prodigies

  • 1
    prodigy

    1) одарённый челове́к;

    2) чу́до

    3)

    attr.

    необыкнове́нно одарённый;

    Англо-русский словарь Мюллера > prodigy

  • 2
    prodigy

    Персональный Сократ > prodigy

  • 3
    prodigy

    [ˈprɔdɪdʒɪ]

    prodigy одаренный человек; an infant prodigy чудоребенок, вундеркинд prodigy одаренный человек; an infant prodigy чудоребенок, вундеркинд prodigy чудо prodigy attr. необыкновенно одаренный; prodigy violinist замечательный скрипач prodigy attr. необыкновенно одаренный; prodigy violinist замечательный скрипач

    English-Russian short dictionary > prodigy

  • 4
    prodigy

    Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > prodigy

  • 5
    prodigy

    [ʹprɒdıdʒı]

    1. чудо

    prodigies of nature [of valour] — чудеса природы [храбрости]

    2. необыкновенно одарённый человек (

    ребёнок)

    infant /child/ prodigy — чудо-ребёнок, вундеркинд

    musical prodigy — необыкновенный /поразительный/ музыкант

    3. (of) замечательный, изумительный образец чего-л.

    4.

    (дурное) предзнаменование

    НБАРС > prodigy

  • 6
    prodigy

    чудо
    имя существительное:

    имя прилагательное:

    Англо-русский синонимический словарь > prodigy

  • 7
    Prodigy

    Чудо
    имя существительное:

    имя прилагательное:

    Англо-русский синонимический словарь > Prodigy

  • 8
    prodigy

    noun

    1) чудо

    2) одаренный человек; an infant prodigy чудо-ребенок, вундеркинд

    3) (

    attr.

    ) необыкновенно одаренный; prodigy violinist замечательный скрипач

    * * *

    1 (a) чудесный

    * * *

    1) знак, предзнаменование 2) одаренный человек

    * * *

    [prod·i·gy || ‘prɑdɪdʒɪ /’prɒd-]
    одаренный человек

    * * *

    вундеркинд

    диво

    чудо

    * * *

    1) редк. знак
    2) одаренный человек (чаще о ребенке)
    3) чудо

    Новый англо-русский словарь > prodigy

  • 9
    prodigy

    [‘prɔdɪʤɪ]

    сущ.

    Syn:

    3)

    уст.

    знак, предзнаменование

    Syn:

    Англо-русский современный словарь > prodigy

  • 10
    Prodigy

    English-Russian electronics dictionary > Prodigy

  • 11
    Prodigy

    The New English-Russian Dictionary of Radio-electronics > Prodigy

  • 12
    Prodigy

    Англо-русский толковый словарь терминов и сокращений по ВТ, Интернету и программированию. > Prodigy

  • 13
    prodigy

    1. n чудо

    2. n необыкновенно одарённый человек

    3. n редк. предзнаменование

    Синонимический ряд:

    1. genius (noun) adept; brain; genius; intellect; marvel; phenomenon; portent; sensation; stunner; wonderment

    2. wonder (noun) child genius; exemplar; freak; miracle; paragon; virtuoso; wonder

    English-Russian base dictionary > prodigy

  • 14
    Prodigy

    Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > Prodigy

  • 15
    prodigy

    1. чудо;

    2. необыкновенно одаренный человек;

    3. замечательный образец чего-либо.

    * * *

    сущ.

    1) чудо;

    2) необыкновенно одаренный человек;

    3) замечательный образец чего-либо.

    Англо-русский словарь по социологии > prodigy

  • 16
    Prodigy

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > Prodigy

  • 17
    prodigy

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > prodigy

  • 18
    prodigy

    [`prɔdɪʤɪ]

    знак, предзнаменование

    одаренный человек

    чудо; чудовище

    Англо-русский большой универсальный переводческий словарь > prodigy

  • 19
    Prodigy

    English-Russian dictionary of computer science and programming > Prodigy

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    prodigy

    Англо-русский словарь по психоаналитике > prodigy

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  • Prodigy — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Prodigy puede referirse a: The Prodigy, una banda de música electrónica, conocida por grandes éxitos como Firestarter y Smack My Bitch Up . Prodigy (rapero), un rapero estadounidense, principal vocalista del dúo hip… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Prodigy — (engl. für Wunder oder Wunderkind ) ist der Name eines Moog Synthesizers einer englischen Band, siehe The Prodigy eines US amerikanischen Rappers, siehe Prodigy (Rapper) Diese Seite ist eine …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Prodigy — puede referirse a: ● The Prodigy, una banda de música big beat electrónica, conocida por grandes éxitos como Firestarter y Smack My Bitch Up . ● Prodigy (rapero), un rapero americano, principal vocalista del dúo hip hop Mobb Deep …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Prodigy — Prod i*gy, n.; pl. {Prodigies}. [ L. prodigium; pro before + (perh.) a word appearing in adagium adage: cf. F. prodige. Cf. {Adage}. ] [1913 Webster] 1. Something extraordinary, or out of the usual course of nature, from which omens are drawn; a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • prodigy — late 15c., sign, portent, something extraordinary from which omens are drawn, from L. prodigium sign, omen, portent, prodigy, from pro forth (see PRO (Cf. pro )) + igium, a suffix or word of unknown origin, perhaps from *agi , root of aio I say… …   Etymology dictionary

  • prodigy — index mastermind Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • prodigy — *wonder, marvel, miracle, phenomenon Analogous words: abnormality (see corresponding adjective at ABNORMAL): monstrosity (see corresponding adjective at MONSTROUS): anomaly, *paradox …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • prodigy — [n] person or thing that is extraordinary brain*, child genius, curiosity, enormity, freak*, genius, intellect, marvel, mastermind, miracle, monster, natural, one in a million*, phenomenon, portent, rare bird*, rarity, sensation, spectacle,… …   New thesaurus

  • prodigy — ► NOUN (pl. prodigies) 1) a person, especially a young one, with exceptional abilities. 2) an outstanding example of a quality. 3) an amazing or unusual thing: omens and prodigies. ORIGIN Latin prodigium portent …   English terms dictionary

  • prodigy — [präd′ə jē] n. pl. prodigies [L prodigium < pro , before + OL * agiom, a thing said < aio, I say: see ADAGE] 1. Rare an extraordinary happening, thought to presage good or evil fortune 2. a person, thing, or act so extraordinary as to… …   English World dictionary

  • Prodigy — NOTOC Prodigy may refer to: * Child prodigy, an individual who is a master of one or more skills or arts at an early age In music * The Prodigy, a British electronic music group ** Moog Prodigy, the synthesiser from which the group got its name * …   Wikipedia

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