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The Prodigy: formed 1990 in Braintree, Essex, UK. Current members: Liam Howlett (synthesizers, drum machine, keyboards, programming), Keith Flint [aka Keef] (vocals, dancer), Maxim Reality [birthname: Keeti Palmer] (MC, backing vocals).
former members: Leeroy Thornhill (dancer; 1990-2000), Sharky (dancer, backing vocals; 1990–1991); live members: Leo Crabtree (drums, percussion; 2008-), Rob Holliday (guitar, bass; 2005–2006, 2008–present).
'Band' is really a difficult term when referring to The Prodigy. Basically, it's Liam Howlett who's in charge of making the music. He composes, programs, and he mixes everything. Keith Flint, Maxim, and Leeroy were the up front faces and performers for live concerts as well as for videos, and Keith has been the most used lead vocalist for the music by The Prodigy, whereas Maxim and Leeroy primarily shared roles as dancers with backing vocals. The Prodigy were among the pioneering artists of the big electronic dance explosion in Europe with the introduction of breakbeat, big beat and rave / hardcore rave (together with Fat Boy Slim and The Chemical Brothers) that took place in the early 1990s. The music has evolved a lot since the debut with hardcore breakbeat into more melodic breakbeat and big beat sound (when they were most popular) to progress in to industrial hip hop and techno house and dub. I came across the Prodigy in 1994 as they had just released Music for the Jilted Generation. The music totally blew my mind. I was so amazed, and of course listened to the album over and over again, and mostly at maximum volume, so I often had my neighbors banging on the wall. I still think that particular album is brilliant, it's a musical masterpiece that The Prodigy most likely will never equal.
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