Max HeyraudToday, we honour Liam Howlett, the visionary producer, songwriter and architect behind The Prodigy, on his birthday, August 21. Few figures in electronic music have left a mark as deep.
From Firestarter, Breathe and Voodoo People to Smack My Bitch Up and Out Of Space, Howlett’s productions remain some of the most important tracks in UK dance music history.
While The Prodigy’s explosive, high-octane performances often defined the headlines, it was Howlett’s studio wizardry and songwriting genius that powered the group’s sound. His vision turned rave chaos into culture-shifting records.
The story began in 1991, when their debut single What Evil Lurks became a rave classic and a prized piece of vinyl. Soon after came Charly, Everybody In The Place, Fire and Jericho, all culminating in the release of their debut album Experience, widely hailed as the best dance album of the year.
By 1995, Music For The Jilted Generation pushed things further, fusing rave with a raw, grunge edge. Two years later came The Fat Of The Land, a cultural bombshell that hit #1 in 22 countries and introduced The Prodigy’s ferocious sound to the world stage. This was a true turning point for electronic music.
More than three decades on, Liam Howlett’s influence is still everywhere. Today, we celebrate the mind behind the mayhem, the producer who redefined what electronic music could be.