The Prodigy is an English industrial hardcore techno band formed in the early 1990s, though their music has embraced elements of many genres during its lifetime. The current members are Liam Howlett (composer/keyboards), Keith Flint (vocalist) and Maxim (MC/vocalist).
The Prodigy first came to life when Howlett put together a demo which was picked up by XL Recordings who released What Evil Lurks in 1991. "Charly" was released a few months later and became a hit within the rave scene, crossing over in the mainstream UK charts, reaching No.3. Experience (1992), their debut album reached No.12 in the UK album charts.
The second album was Music for the Jilted Generation and it entered the UK charts at No.1. With this album the band had expanded their music repertoire, making an album with broader appeal. The single 'Firestarter" was a hit and so was the follow up single "Breathe".
The Fat of the Land (1997) entered the charts at No.1 in the UK and the US. Their success as an international act now assured, though they ran into trouble with the controversial single "Smack My Bitch Up" with its potentially inflammatory lyrics (which had been sampled from "Give The Drummer Some" by Ultramagnetic MCs) and its shocking but intriguing video.
The next studio album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned was not released until 2004, though there had been a remix album Dirtchamber Sessions Volume 1 (1999) and a single release "Baby's Got A Temper". The album, in time honoured fashion, hit the top of the UK charts.
Invaders Must Die was their most recent offering, released in 2009.
