Liam Howlett, the musical mastermind behind The Prodigy, celebrates 53
With a career that has spanned over three decades, Howlett has been instrumental in shaping the sound of electronic dance music, particularly the big beat genre that emerged in the 1990s
Liam Howlett, the musical mastermind behind The Prodigy, celebrates 53
The British musician, composer, and producer Liam Howlett, best known as the creative force behind the electronic music group The Prodigy, was born Liam Paris Howlett on August 21, 1971, in Braintree, Essex, England. Howlett’s musical career began at an early age. He grew up in a musical household and started playing the piano as a child. By his teenage years, he had developed an interest in hip-hop and became a DJ, honing his skills on the turntables and experimenting with different sounds. Howlett’s early influences included artists like Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, which inspired his passion for mixing and producing music.
In 1990, Howlett formed The Prodigy after meeting dancer and vocalist Keith Flint at a local rave. Alongside Maxim Reality and Leeroy Thornhill, the group quickly gained a reputation for their high-energy performances and innovative sound, blending elements of rave, techno, and breakbeat with punk rock attitude. Howlett’s ability to fuse different genres and create intense, adrenaline-pumping tracks became the hallmark of The Prodigy’s music.
The Prodigy’s debut album, Experience (1992), was a critical and commercial success, solidifying the band’s status as pioneers of the rave scene. However, it was their second album, Music for the Jilted Generation (1994), that truly propelled them to international stardom. The album, which reflected the growing anti-establishment sentiments of the time, featured hit tracks like “Voodoo People” and “No Good (Start the Dance),” and showcased Howlett’s innovative production techniques.
The band’s third album, The Fat of the Land (1997), became a global phenomenon, topping the charts in several countries, including the UK and the US. The album’s singles, “Firestarter,” “Breathe,” and “Smack My Bitch Up,” became anthems of the 1990s, with their aggressive beats and edgy lyrics. Howlett’s production on this album cemented his reputation as one of the leading figures in electronic music.
Throughout the 2000s and beyond, Howlett continued to evolve The Prodigy’s sound, releasing several more albums, including Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2004), Invaders Must Die (2009), and The Day Is My Enemy (2015). Despite the death of Keith Flint in 2019 and changes in the music industry including the rise of new electronic genres, Howlett and The Prodigy remained relevant, consistently delivering powerful and innovative new music.
Liam Howlett married Natalie Appleton, a member of the British-Canadian girl group All Saints, in 2002. The couple has a son, Ace, born in 2004. Howlett’s marriage to Appleton, a fellow musician, has been a stable and supportive relationship, allowing him to balance his career with family life. Today he celebrates 53.
Look back at the 1996 music video “Breathe” by The Prodigy
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