The Prodigy have celebrated the 30th anniversary of their single 'Firestarter', describing its success as exploding from nowhere. Bandmates Liam Howlett and Maxim shared memories of its creation on Instagram. The track, released in March 1996, was their first UK Number One.
The Prodigy marked the milestone of their classic track ‘Firestarter’ reaching 30 years since its release in March 1996. In an Instagram post, Liam Howlett and Maxim reflected on the song's origins, noting, “I can remember so clearly every moment writing this tune. Keef coming into the studio and hearing it for the first time, jumping off the walls and then grabbing the mic to record his first ever vocal.” They added, “It was totally spontaneous the way it happened... it just found its own way, own momentum, then exploded from nowhere. So yeah, we are proud of this tune and proud of it for Keef.” Keith Flint provided the vocals, marking his first time singing lead on a Prodigy single after previously serving as a dancer. The song held the top spot on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks and introduced underground rave culture to mainstream audiences. It incorporated samples from The Breeders, Art of Noise, and Ten City. The black-and-white music video, directed by Walter Stern and filmed in the abandoned Aldwych Underground station, drew 102 complaints to Top Of The Pops for Flint’s intense performance and distinctive hairstyle. A 1996 NME interview captured Howlett recalling Flint volunteering for vocals: “Keith happened to be the first, and I said to him, ‘We need one more element’... Keith said, ‘I’d really like to try some vocals on that’.” Flint died in 2019. The band has continued touring, with Howlett and Maxim set to begin a 12-date UK and Ireland arena tour in April 2026, followed by outdoor Warrior’s Dance shows in August.
