Keith Flint: 1969-2019

This is without doubt the hardest post I will ever have to do on TAKING\REASONABLE+STEPS and why I have waited a few days before saying anything about the loss of enigmatic vocalist and The Prodigy frontman, Keith Flint, who died last week after taking his own life at the age of 49.

Much has been written already and I don't wish to try and retread the sentiments and views of those who knew him personally, nor do I wish to discuss the possible reasons behind his premature departure.

Instead I'd like to share a story that will forever make me smile.

It was at Wembley Arena many years ago when the band were on one of their many live tours, and I was fortunate to be in the crowd and rolling along to the stream of tunes and heavy beats. Keith was on form, spitting from the mic and dancing around the stage, sticking out his tongue a la Johnny Rotten and generally being the mascara-eyed menace he'd so aptly painted himself as after the ubiquitous Firestarter video had catapulted him further to the front of the band.

About half way through the set, Keith launches himself into the crowd, still singing, and promptly disappears amongst the sea of people whilst trying to crowd-surf. He was obscured from view for several minutes and nobody seemed to know where he'd gone. Stewards stepped in, the music continued and Keith was still absent.

What seemed like an age later, I was jostled heavily in the back by what I thought was a group of revellers - let's face it, you never get much space in the front 25 rows of a Prodigy gig - only to see Keith push past me through the crowd. He turned briefly and - given the situation we were in rather ludicrously - looked me in the eye and said "sorry mate", smiled, and continued to fight his way back to the stage. He climbed on, let out a roar and continued with the set.

Done.

My night was complete.

I am pretty sure I didn't stop smiling all the rest of the evening or all the way home, and to this day that will be my abiding memory of Keith Flint.

My final thought on him is from last year's headline set at Victorious Festival in Portsmouth, where I was privileged to dance to Nasty (amongst other tunes) with my now 4-year-old daughter. It's her favorite track, and having watched Firestarter on YouTube countless times since at her request, I haven't had the heart yet to explain to her she won't be able to see the "man with the spiky hair" in concert ever again.

RIP Keith...