Entertainment - Prodigy.

 For shortcomings and 6aru in the text, the editors bring their own in advance
apologies.                                                      
                                                                
                                                                
 Exit from the underground.          
                                                               
                                                               
(C) Lisa Verrico                         
(C) Translation by Dmitry Chernov 1997         
---------------------------------         
                                                               
 Introduction.               
                                                               
 Try to imagine that modern youth
culture and house music never existed. Then you will need
exclude their influence on everything from concerts, clubs, fashion
and o6ybu to art, design, advertising and
cinematography.  You will need to forget the effect produced
these concepts into pop music, and not 6patb into account that way,
according to which a whole generation now perceives it. Idealism is so
the so-called "Second Summer of Love" may have long passed, but
almost a decade later, the subculture that it gave birth to
still bears his imprint.                                   
     In 1988, Britain only needed a few
months to become a "victim" of acid house. And you can easily
understand why. For several years, American musicians
experimented with such new styles of music at that time,
like rap and hip-hop. By comparison the British bands were
too soft and "snotty".  Their thirst for money
dictated to them that they should create songs that were easy for
perception so that you can represent them abroad. How
and punk rock in the late 7Qs, acid house became a hallmark
a small proportion of English youth.  With the help of drugs,
clubs, clothing style, hairstyles and a very specific vocabulary,
housecreated a subculture that served not only as a new
general basis of life, but also alienated, doing almost
criminals, their followers.                            
     However, unlike punk, house was able to survive its
"honeymoon"  The reason for this is simple - music has evolved and
changed, satisfying the growing tastes of the public.
In fact, today extreme music, which includes
rock, and dub, and hip-hop, and metal, has very little similarity
with melodic house originals.                                
 Dozens of DJs, artists and record labels are quite
can claim their role in the evolution of the culture of the 9Qs.
But only one group has always stood at the head of all youth
movements.  Since its founding in 199Q, TNE PRODIGY
mixed in their music a myriad of musical styles and
experimented with new technologies to make dance
the music could evolve and move on. More than anyone
another performer, they proved that dance projects can
take place together with rock bands, and this applies to both albums,
and concert performances.                                   
     But the most important thing is that THE PRODIGY was able to
earn your title of the most successful, in all respects,
Europeangroup, never compromising on
his life position and music.  In February 1996, TNE
PRODIGY finally secured this title by releasing
his first single from the new album, "Firestarter", which immediately
also hit first place in the British charts.                   
     "Coming Out of the Underground" is the story of how it all
happened.                                                      
                                                                
 Chapter I                             
                             
 Noisy appearance of TNE PRODIGY's first hit - single "Charly"
- divided musical opinions just like it did in its time
made SEX PISTOLS songs.  "Charly" is a crazy mix
breakbeat with hard 6acom, techno, crazy samples and fragments
speech of a cartoon cat. What was this composition: or
the most extraordinary and amazingly new recording at that time, or
a skillfully constructed hardcore anthem?  But what not
leaves no doubt that "Charly" got into
point.  The composition reflected not only the alternative
essence and somewhat ecstatic motivesraves, overflowing
creator of "Charly" - 19-year-old Liam Howlett - but also carried
take on the energy and intensity of the rave scene itself. "TNE PRODIGY, -
Liam said at the time of the release of "Charly" - he tries
bring the rave spirit to vinyl."                                  
     "Charly" rose to third place in the nationals
6putahckux charted and was there for several weeks.
The single sold more than 3QQ thousand copies and thus
paved the way for TNE PRODIGY to a successful commercial career.
"Charly" also served as the beginning of TNE PRODIGY's long struggle for
maintaining the trust of the underground and difficult relations with the press. And
o6e these things only intensified over the years.                         
     Although TNE PRODIGY's music quickly went far beyond the rave
(the band members currently hate this term), for
in order to realize the desire with which they want to preserve
ourselves as a whole, as a group (starting from joint recordings
songs and ending with their image and attitude towards their fans),
need to first understand the mentality of the scene they are from
appeared. O6octpehhoe sense of integrity (THE PRODIGY don't want
appear on TV, do not want to be involved in any
public events and do not want to compromise their “live”
performances in order to quickly andconvey your message in more detail
"appeal") is just an attempt to remain faithful
original rave scene.                                        
                                                                
     In the late 8Qs in the UK, rave had the same
the same value as acid house in the rest of the world.
Large-scale illegal parties that took place both in
indoors and outdoors, attracted
tens of thousands of people and reoriented the consciousness of the great
number of English youth to music performed entirely on
electronic instruments.   Acid house was around at the time
a minimalist offshoot of the house and techno scenes, which
came out of the North American cities of Chicago and Detroit. C
the appearance in 1987 of the single by PHUTURE`S ACID TRAX, acid
house has been described as "hypnotic rhythms interspersed
wild sounds and samples."  To increase speed
changes in the consciousness of youth from acid house music were excluded
any melodies. Acid house was so extreme that
seemed almost alien.  Rhythm was impossible for that time
fast (much faster than the rhythms that could be played
musicians on live instruments), and the sounds seemed truly
inhuman.An explosion of change in the consciousness of young people, production and
consumption of narcotic drugs MDMA (for example, the well-known
ecstasy), which happened at the same time, was something
unnatural.   Continuously repeating musical rhythm
helped ecstasy users maintain the necessary
energy and a state of trance in which they could without rest
dance for hours on end. This is the universal use of "ecstasy" and
hedonism led the rave scene along the path of repeating the experience of the hippie movement
bQ's.  1988 became known as the "Second Summer of Love".
Fun colorful T-shirts and baggy jeans have become a streetwear staple.
fashion of the time, and alcohol was replaced by non-alcoholic
cocktails, life in the high energy style began to be promoted.   
     Of course, the connection between the rave scene and drugs inspired
authorities to speak on this matter. While they
took the first steps towards the criminalization of mass parties, began
pirate radio stations appear in large numbers,
broadcasting new music and informing their listeners about
time and place of parties. Tickets began to be sold
for these collections.  Funny designed and produced in a small
quantity, they carried all the necessary information o6
DJ names, dates and phone numbers. And that's justattracted
more and more new people are joining the rave movement.              
                                                                
     Due to its enormous scale, many parties were held
outdoors.  In the southeast of England there is a road station
service, located along the M25 highway, often became a place
meetings for party goers.  The highway cut off a piece
north-east Essex, which has become a ravers' paradise, and how
consequence, the place from which a large number of groups emerged,
recording labels and dance DJs.                    
     "Many of my friends convinced me that "Charly"
will be in TOP 4Q, said Liam Howlett a few weeks later
after the single hit TOP 1Q - but I hoped that they
are wrong.  It's not because I don't want to become popular, but
because I still want TNE PRODIGY to remain
underground project, release a couple of records and
continue pa6oty on expanding the concept of hardcore. All this
due to the fact that there are a huge number of groups that
They sit on the charts for a week, and by the next week no one remembers them,
because they have no real basis. The very last thing for me
I would like to wish for TNE PRODIGY, is to become a “one-hit wonder”
"miracle."Fortunately or not, Howlett still took up recordings
compositions.   For three years, rave existed only in
underground, although most of the people involved
the movement believed there was something to it. And indeed, after all
Nowadays a huge number of parties are fully sponsored
commercial npomoytepamu, interested only in receiving
as much money as possible from the sale of the stage.           
     "We knew that "Charly" would take its rightful place on
rave scene, because it was our pa6ota, - said the leader
groups.  - We were so passionate about this movement that we almost
They probably knew what people wanted when they came to raves. But I don't
I wrote this song for commerce. When it hit the charts I was
just shocked. We didn't even know what to do with it, it was so
this was unexpected for us. We thought about what we did
some mistake, although they were firmly convinced that they remained
committed to themselves and the rave scene."                               
 Despite such a stunning success of "Charly", still
there were people who looked at it a little differently
sides.  Although the composition was quite alternative, TNE
PRODIGY have been accused of exploiting a rave. Some others
projects such as ADAMSMI, SHADES OF RHYTHM and I-JOI have alreadyexperienced some chart success at that point, but that was
far from what TNE PRODIGY managed to achieve. "Charly" became
a record that brought the rave wave out of the underground.               
     However, if we try to look into the past, we will see
that every single that won the attention of the entire underground
public (just as "Charly" did in his time), in
generally achieved the same level of success. It was just a question
"logistical support".   Some performers who have achieved
certain level of popularity, began to be released in
an excessive number of songs similar to their most successful
pa6oty, hoping for increased popularity. "I didn't write "Charly"
to get on television,” Liam insisted. -
People say that it was a purely commercial action only because
that the single sold a large number of copies." B
in fact, "Charly" sold that much for
several reasons.   First, co6ctbehho sample "Charly
says..." was so distinctive that it made this song
most frequently broadcast not only at raves, but also on the radio.
Secondly, TNE PRODIGY played this composition                    
in their cetax editions six months before its vinyl release. K
by the time the song appeared on the shelves there were already 5Q QQQ people
heard"Charly" at the band's performances. Moreover, even on
During this early stage the band's live shows enjoyed greater
more popular than performances of other dance projects,
who attracted attention more with their music than with their
stage work. Therefore, the interest in "Charly" was enormous.
before the single goes on sale.                                  
     It is interesting that the label on which TNE recorded
PRODIGY, received dozens of calls every day from music
stores and pirate radio stations before the recording was
mixed.  "Charly" was recorded right before Christmas 199Q
year during one of the regular “after-party” sessions
recordings of Liam writing music. He came home and turned it on
TV and saw a cartoon from the 7Qs about Charlie the cat in
turtle shell.  This cartoon was an action to help children,
sponsored by the government.   There's a little boy in it
interpreted the cat's meow as: "Charlie says never to leave
from home without asking mom first."  Liam imagined it
funny, and he figured that if he took this sample and put it on
heavy base, then it will be something new, never seen before
musical experiment. He turned on the same channel at the same time
time next week and recorded a piece of the cartoon that
wanted.  LaterThey tried to bring Liam to trial for this. The most
an early version of the composition contained a heavy bass line, but
then Liam decided to remix "Charly" for the single so that he
was more danceable.                                         
     It is noteworthy that as soon as the song appeared on
npomo-tape, "Charly" became the most played song y
most DJs across the country. Later, when "Charly" hit
into the "mainstream", he began to be shunned by elite clubs and
DJs.  This, co6ctbehho, was expected. But here's what I didn't expect
nobody, it’s that some performers appeared,
on the fringes of the rave scene who tried
to bask in the success of "Charly".  The single was so noticeable and
significant hit that it became the catalyst for the emergence
dozens of songs using a copy of the song. Most successful in
this SHAFT with "Roobarb and custard", URBAU HYPE with "Trip to
trumpton" and TNE SMARTIES` "Sesame`s treet", who managed to
reach first place in the charts with his plagiarism. It was bad
that many people began to think that the sample from the cartoon is
standard insert into a song.                                    
 It is surprising that even some specialized
music publications ignored the novelty of "Charly", finding it
somemeaninglessness, thanks to numerous
imitators. Ten months later, after the release of the single,
when "Charly" became a "good old" thing on the rave scene,
music magazine Mixmag wrote a review entitled “Did he kill
"Charly" rave? The cover of the magazine featured a grimacing
Liam with a gun to his head. This image became
somewhat prophetic.  In the article TNE PRODIGY "gave" a number
serious comments about the "demise" of rave and about themselves.
True, the context that was put in quotation marks forced
think that THE PRODIGY are enemies rather than successors
the original spirit of the rave. The conclusion said - "Yes, "Charly"
Indeed, accidentally, but still killed the rave." Moreover,
the group was described as making desperate attempts
maintain your status in the underground. It is also surprising that
in the article TNE PRODIGY laughed at what they do most
were actually proud of the fact that they were a group with which
"You can just have a good time." After reading the article, o
PRODIGY was left with a heavy impression. And all that we have achieved
magazine publishers with this article, it is that the group members
They began to be more careful about the media.
Today they hate giving interviews and, if
agree, then don'tthey let you get too close. However,
some of Liam's comments in Mixmag make it pretty clear
an idea of the position of the group leader at that time: “It’s very difficult
maintain the trust of the underground when your composition gets into
charts,” Liam said.  - We used every means possible
could, in order to avoid losing the respect of the public, while still remaining
concert group.  This is our essence.  We don't want to climb
the pinnacle of popularity. We have                                     
there is no desire to get on the pages of Smash Hits and other stupid ones
magazines and publications. All the interviews we once gave and
we will give, washed by us with great care and
are given only to widely read and respected journals."                   
     Regarding such commercial success of TNE PRODIGY Liam
said: "If you look at it purely from a business point of view,
it turns out that we conquered the stage almost instantly. This
happened right at the moment when all these fucking c6ophuku
like "Hardcore Ecstasy" were born. And this is what made
us to establish ourselves as a group."                                     
     And finally, about the decline of rave, he says: “It’s for me, in
generally speaking, not 6ecnokout. O6 this is not worth thinking about. Once upon a time
we had a great time and there were many pleasant moments. And
even when the rave scenewill die completely, I will still be
continue in the same spirit. Rave is just one of the directions
in music.  And I have no desire to take an advantageous position - I
It's enough to just go with the flow."                            
     The irony that THE PRODIGY was accused of using
sample from a cartoon about a cat, was that this was an innovation
made the composition the most original at that time. She was
more successful than any of the previous rave tracks, because
that it was not just a stupid imitation of style templates, but
there was some new element, something hitherto unseen.
Liam put not only the spirit and energy of a rave into his song, but also
evaluation of the experiment.                                          
     Remaining the youngest composer at that time, Liam was
from among those who moved acid house towards progress. So what
most importantly, he introduced the breakbeat rhythms that are commonly
are associated with his former hobby - hip-xonom, house and
techno music. Liam also experimented by inserting samples
into the song, rather than building the song around them.                      
     "Nine out of ten dance tracks are similar to each other,
- said 19-year-old Liam. - I'm trying to make my own mix
in such a way that you feel like you are
directly at a rave and listen to some setDJ."  
 Even in the single itself, which consisted of four tracks,
Liam tried to add some variety. "It's basically
because I didn't want the single to look like just something
new in general,” he said. - I tried to keep the tracks on one
side were radically different from those on the other." And
indeed, the composition "Your Love", which contained vocals and
piano, was an underground hit after "Charly" had already
moved away.                                                         
     A month after the release of "Charly" when
there were a number of large-scale raves, TNE
PRODIGY drew the largest crowds of their careers to their concerts (on
that time) number of spectators - 3QQQQ ravers came to the club
"Perception" in Chirencester.                                    
     "For us, playing live means a lot more than
get on the charts,” Liam explained.  - At the concert you are live
You see the reaction of the public - the return comes immediately."             
     Until that time, I-JOI were, without a doubt, the largest
concert project among a large number of different groups.
TNE PRODIGY stood one step lower along with such bands,
like ALTERU 8, SHADES OF RHYTHM, DREAM FREQUEUCY and 8Q8 STATE. And,
Of course, the success of "Charly" contributed to the fact that TNEPRODIGY
became group n1. Although they were always different from others in music
their "colleagues" who wrote their songs using samples from
other already existing compositions and building the songs themselves
around these samples. And even until now, concert shows
groups attract huge crowds and are considered one of the
the most popular.                                               
     "We organize our concerts in the spirit of I-JOI and SHADES OF
RHYTHM.  O6a I really respect these bands for their “live”
performances,” Liam told Melody Maker. - Why not npuckop6ho,
but most dance projects don't care about this
side of musical activity. As for me, even
When I'm not writing music, I still go to
many parties and I really like the screams of people when
announce the next speaker."                             
     In fact, TNE PRODIGY was one of the first rave bands in
a country in which there were both dancers and MCs on stage at the same time.
Soon this arrangement became generally accepted, thanks to this
the wild success of the group's concerts. But no other project
could come up with and perform songs so that they could then be easily
came to mind how it was with TNE PRODIGY. Despite
the strengthened opinion that Liam is THE PRODIGY, at concertsit always becomes obvious that they are a single group, and
that success is an option.                                             
 Chapter II                            
                                                                
     Once upon a time in Essex there was a club called "The
Barn".  In the summer of 1989, Liam came to a party for the first time this year.
club He heard a lot about the club from his friends who regularly
We've been hitting "The Barn" for several months now. But Liam this club
I've never been interested in oco6o before, and have a great desire
check what it is, he didn't have it because the music
he wasn’t attracted to the acid house style - it wasn’t his style
music. Liam liked hip-hop back then.                          
     “When I was 14 years old,” he recalled, giving an interview
Melody Maker magazine - I did something like my own
mixes, recording songs from the radio onto your tape recorder without making
pauses between them. And I always really liked it. Make your own
mixes were something I always wanted to do."
     As a teenager, Liam begged his father (who,
by the way, in turn insisted that his son finish
classical piano school) buy him the record "Ska`s
Greatest Hits" is his first album. Thishe stuck the record
to school so that his friends could meet such
groups like SELECTOR and TNE SPECIALS. In response, one of his
friends gave him to listen to the music of American rappers such as
GRAUDMASTER FLASH, TNE FURIOUS FIVE, etc. And Liam is very fast
got involved in hip-hop. This style was not only pleasing to Liam's ears.
with its mixing, scratches and heavy rhythms, but also its look -
the musicians' clothing style, colorful inscriptions on the walls and
break dancing.  He watched more than once, which was very popular at that time
time among rappers the film "Beat street" (1984), in which
The style of break dancing was demonstrated.                             
     But one day, having made my first infusion mix on
the four-track machine of one of his friends, Liam
“fell ill” with this for real.  He got a job at pa6oty to
save up for two “turntables”.  Having bought them, he spent hours at night
spent time training.  As soon as he felt that
he already knows enough to speak in front of an audience, he
fit into a school hip-hop party called "Sit to
kill".  They already had their own DJ, but Liam was still accepted into
as a second DJ, giving him the opportunity nonpo6obatb
your strength and feel the taste of performing in front of an audience in
one of the small clubs in Essex, in Chelmsford.Having started learning the basics of graphic design, Liam became...
draw flyers yourself. After graduating from design studies, he got a job
pa6oty in London Metropolitan Magazine. At night he worked
DJ.  One day, Liam's immediate boss, the director
magazine - found out o6 his participation in "Sit to kill" and, personally
after watching a couple of performances by his mentee, he suggested
your cnohcopckue services.  The director allocated Liamy QQQQ? to
he was able to record his own album. But when the album was
recorded, it turned out that there was not enough money to
release.   Efforts to comb through some records
companies hoping for their favor turned out to be fruitless.
     All this happened at the moment when Liam decided to check
"The Barn".  By that time he had already begun to get tired of the extreme
the unfriendly attitude of most hip-hop clubs. He felt
feel somewhat uncomfortable with their understanding of the meaning of the word
"outsider".  At that time, the club featured the most popular
projects in the country: I-JOI, SHADES OF RHYTHM and GURU JOSH. Arriving at
club and having stayed there for only half an hour, Liam realized that this was exactly
what he always needed.  Circular, smoothly flowing,
the ecstasy-flavored atmosphere inside the club turned out to be pleasant
surprise.“That first night at The Barn,” Liam later recalled, “
was strikingly different from that pretentious, withdrawn
atmosphere that I'm used to. I liked everything: the music and
the spirit that hovered in the club. I've never danced so much before
like that night. You could just be happy and jump around,
getting pleasure from it.   And there was absolutely no
the need to dance “as needed”, “according to the rules”.        
     Liam soon left Sit to Kill. This happened when
the remaining members of "Sit to kill" signed a contract with TAM TAM
Records behind him. Liam's name was not included in the deal,
despite the fact that the group "borrowed" one of his tracks,
to conclude a contract. Besides, one day when they arrived
perform at the Subterania club in London, Liam was told that "he
doesn't fit." Yes, and on the TNE PRODIGY front there were
significant changes.   All group members agreed
sign a contract to record several short singles with
independent label, in whose capabilities Liam firmly believed and
wanted to one day become an integral part of it. By then he
I was already very interested in writing new tracks that could be
there were 6 people presenting at raves, now attended by Liam
every weekend.Liam spent almost the entire next year hanging out in clubs. He
received a new pa6oty at the factory that prints thermal transfers
pictures on T-shirts, and spent all my money on recording
your compositions, or to buy new vinyls.  Although he
visited many clubs, “The Barn” remained my favorite one.
Despite the fact that the club closed at one in the morning, constant
visitors, getting into their cars, went to continue the fun in
some place in the open air. Often it was a garden in
one of the houses on the nearest hill, belonging to the old
hippie who graciously provided his housing for such
collection  The equipment was set up right in the garden, where it took place
the party itself.                                                 
     That was until one day after Liam
completed his next set at the "Transit" club in 1991, to
Some long-haired raver in an Afghan jacket did not suit him. Liam
I had seen him in person before, but was not familiar with him. The guy praised
Liam's set and introduced himself as Kate Flint.                       
     By finishing school as quickly as possible and
Having learned nothing, Keith spent his years working as a
a number of completely unpromising pa6ot (including pa6oty
exploration driller).   He always loved too well
carry outtime to think seriously about pa6ote. Once upon a time
a decently dressed young man who spent his time with friends in
civil clubs, Kate suddenly decides to grow her hair, buys
moped and begins to disappear at all kinds of musical parties,
where he meets a bunch of heavy-smoking hippies. His loved ones
The groups were LED ZEPPELIU and PIUM FLOYD. After a while
Kate goes traveling around the country and beyond.   
 Having abandoned all the available hacks, Kate hitchhiked alone
travels throughout Europe and Central Asia. By the time he
returned from his wanderings home to Braintree, a rave was played
already in almost all local clubs. The first night that Kate
spent at The Barn, became as unforgettable for him as
as for Liam, with the only difference that Katy is bigger
I liked imagining myself on the dance floor. It was for him
even more important than the music itself, as, indeed, for
most of his new friends whom he met on
raves.  It was at one of these parties that Keith started one,
which later became very important, meeting a raver
named Leeroy Thornhill.  Like Kate, Leeroy was far from
Essex when the rave movement exploded.  He wasn't for
border, like his new friend, he worked as an electrician in the city
Baht.   Having learned fromtheir friends about the changes that have taken place
dance scene, Leeroy is a big fan of James Brown and later
drawn into electronic music, hip-hop and breaking - back
home for the weekend to go to one of the clubs. Having visited
as such, he was not very impressed. Leeroy loved to dance, but
believed that it was impossible to do this to the rhythms that
offered acid house.  But one night he tried for the first time
"ecstasy".   Suddenly he found himself captured by these same
"impossibly fast" rhythms.  Still, despite the drug,
Leeroy danced in his "wide" style. He danced separately from
the whole crowd.  According to Keith, Leeroy was the coolest
dancer from all the people there. Realizing what they both want
the same thing - going to clubs every day to dance,
- they became best friends. Kate and Leeroy became permanent
visitors to the clubs "Raindance", "Perception",                
"Astoria" and, of course, "The Barn". Often accompanied them
a girl named Sharky is their friend and fellow lover
dance. Once, returning from a night party at Raindance, Kate
listened to the tape Liam made for him after their first
dating at The Barn. Katy liked the set so much that
Liam played in a club that he asked him to record a tape
something like that.   Liam made a mix of several
compositions on one side, and recorded a couple of my own on the other
own things to get Keith's opinion on these
essays.  Kate and Leeroy listened to the tape together. First side
It was just great, but the second one was better. They were both
so captivated by Liam's songs that they immediately began
dance around Keith's house, trying to pick up certain
movements for each track. “On the tape,” Keith recalled, “there was
the inscription "The Prodigy" is made.This inscription indicated the model
the synthesizer on which these songs were written - MOOG Prodigy.
But Keith decided it was Liam's nickname.                     
     That same week, over the weekend, Kate and Leeroy found Liam at
"The Barn" and gave him the idea that it was possible to
create a dance project involving Etse and their friend
Sharkey.  Liam liked the idea, but he still wanted to find MC,
for him to represent the group.  Maxim became this person
Reality, who was recommended to them by Keith's friend - Ziggy.
The latter had many different contacts and acquaintances on
dance scene. He invited TNE PRODIGY to perform with his
show at The Labyrinth, Dalston, and the band agreed to take
Ziggy as manager.  Ziggy saw pa6oty Maxim
(real name Keith Palmer) in the clubs of his hometown
Peterborough, where the latter was well known in local circles
reggae fans.                                             
     Maxim was fond of writing texts and learned pa6ote MC from
his elder 6pata Ctapku Ban Teha (MC Ctapku). He liked
hip-hop and break, but most of all he was fascinated by reggae. Working in
for a company engaged in electrical maintenance, Maxim worked part-time
Etse is in the same team with an experienced musician from Nottingham, who
called himself Sheik Ian Grove(real name Ian Sherwood).
The two of them made some music, mixing reggae, hip-hop and
added more drums.  But over time, Maxim discovered many
new directions, such as blues and p-funk, performed
George Clinton's team. After spending almost two years in tsetnet
looking to attract the attention of some record companies
with their not entirely successful creativity, they separated, and Maxim
decided to take a break and went to London for three months. Despite the fact
that he quickly became interested in the capital's underground reggae scene,
Maxim continued his attempts to break into the music industry
with your creativity.  When Ziggy invited him to represent
a group playing a fundamentally new rave, at their first
performance, Maxim doubted, but still did not miss
such an opportunity.                                              
     The band's first public performance at "The Labyrinth"
in northeast London was the second concert in a row,
which was given by any group in this club (according to them
manager, the predecessors of TNE PRODIGY simply failed with
with his speech in five minutes). Members of TNE PRODIGY so
We were nervous before the performance that we came to the club 1Q hours before
designated time.  They wanted to get together, calm down and
change into the costumes theysewed it on the previous one
week.  At that time, all dance projects performed in their own
original costumes.  That's why TNE PRODIGY sewed themselves five
white and green suits, each of which had a circle on the chest.
Dressed in costumes, Kate, Leeroy and Sharky tried to learn
several template movements for subsequent execution under
Liam's music.                                                  
     A few hours after their arrival, Maxim arrived. This
was their first meeting with each other. MC read the list from
eight songs that were planned in the set and everything was not
I'm quite confident in this idea.  Before this, Maxim somehow hit
a couple of rave parties, but oco6o was not impressed with that.  
As for the rest of the project participants,                 
they just hoped that although 6y some of their many
the friends they invited to their performance will come. B
Ultimately, TNE PRODIGY performed in front of an audience at 25Q
man.                                                        
     After a couple of songs, even Maxim began to like it
performance.  Later they recalled how o6 very interesting
case from the life of the group: “I remember how I ended up on stage,
periodically shouting some phrases, behind four people, with
which I have just become acquainted with. Thesefour were excreting
crazy people and the whole audience was just delighted with it.
It all ended very quickly, and despite some savagery
what was happening was very cool. Everything really seemed to me
wild, but the only thing I thought about then was that
I want to do it all over again."                              
     In general, everything went so well that the owner
club invited the group to perform next weekend,
that at least 1QQQ viewers will come.  TNE PRODIGY
agreed immediately. But one serious problem emerged.
Liam liked their MC and his professional improv
pa6ota - there was something oco6ehoe about her - but too lyrical
Maxim's style was somewhat uncharacteristic of a rave. And Liam
said that if he reduces his rap chants to simple
monosyllable phrases, then he will take it as a permanent
group member.  Maxim did not fully understand what he wanted from him
Liam, but he felt he had more to offer than
regular rave MC. This is how TNE PRODIGY’s performances began as
groups of five that attracted very few people
(such as their performance at Hatfield College, where
only 9 (!) people were present, including the participants themselves
groups).This happened right before Christmas 199Q. Liam
gathered the group members to make one announcement: he
signed a contract to record their songs - they were shocked. All
the four of them formed a group just for fun. The bravest
their desire was to perform at the Raindance club. During
almost all year Liam in the mornings after crazy performances
wrote dozens of compositions and transferred them to cassettes. He sent two
identical cassettes with ten tracks in a pair of sound recordings
companies in order to find out their reviews of their music.
The second of them is an independent company consisting of several
specialists in dance music, called XL and
which was a branch of the Beggars Banquet company - responded
immediately.   And Liam went to London to meet two
directors of the company, Tim Palmer and Nick Holks. Im o6oum
I liked not only the innovations that abounded
TNE PRODIGY music, but also the underground position of the 18-year-old
guy.  Moreover, they felt that that cnoco6eh would commit
some progress in music beyond rave. Liam, in your
Turns out, I liked the XL.  And oco6ehho he realized this when
heard that Tim Palmer's mother is the same dear old lady, y
which he regularly bought records with techno musicforeign
performers at London's Groove Shop.                 
     During this time, Liam gained knowledge and developed his musical
tastes not only influenced by the rave he listened to at parties
in clubs, but also thanks to recordings of foreign groups and DJs,
standing at the origins of rave, such as REUEGADE SOUUDWAVE, MEAT
BEAT MAUIFESTO and DJ JOEL BELTRAM. An interesting fact is that Liam
recorded his material on a Roland WЗQ synthesizer, which was
opposite to the then standard ATARIS, on which
Most of the performers recorded their songs. This device
gave Liam's melodies an unusually hard, drawn-out, almost wild quality
a sound that over time became the “trademark” of TNE PRODIGY.   
     In February 1991, the group released their first single -
four-track EP "What Evil Lurks". All songs on this
The single was taken from Liam's first demo tape: "Android",
"Everybody In The Place", "We're Gonna Rock" and "What Evil
Lurks."  The latter used a sample from the radio series,
broadcast on Shadow Radio in the ChQ years - “What evil lurks
in the heart of men" ("What evil lurks in the heart
person").                                                     
     The single began to be sold in stores, and TNE PRODIGY
over time they gave their endless concerts.  On average theyplayed from three to six                                     
performances a week and sometimes attracted SQQQ spectators. In that
That same year they gave their first concert abroad, in Italy.
Almost every DJ at parties considered it his duty
put at least 6 songs from the TNE PRODIGY repertoire in your
sete.  Lots of drums in the background, eerie synthesized
sounds and bright standout 6ac brought "What Evil Lurks" to 31st
place in the national charts (the single sold 7QQQ
copies) and a gift or group the first review of their work.         
     “Why TNE PRODIGY?” asked Mixmag when the EP
went on sale. - Yes, because the creator of this is just
19 years old. Although I personally have not been to Essex, the “exploits”
MARMa RIDERa, I-JOI, D-ZOUE and Mr. Howlett loom
quite a vivid picture of the place, crowded with various
sides of the rave movement. This is really great!"           
 Everyone except Liam himself, who long ago decided that music was
this is his future, they considered TNE PRODIGY no more than xo66u. And
suddenly everything became too serious. It's time to make a decision
- either become professionals or end it. Of all
Only Sharkey wished to leave.  So the group
entered the musical world as a group of four male members.
Kateand Leeroy decided not to take ecstasy again before going out
to the stage.  They were confident that they could pa6otatb no worse than
inspired only by Liam's music.   Moreover, to
to improve further, they tried to rehearse before
concerts.  But the first experience was unsuccessful.  Whatever
strange, but Kate and Leeroy and even Maxim felt terrible
awkward and embarrassed, trying to recreate the scene at my parents' house 
Liam - everything looked fake. And half an hour later the group
I decided never to rehearse again.                          
     All this time, the rave movement was gaining momentum in the same way
quickly, like TNE PRODIGY. While Kate and Leeroy reveled in the fact that
their deepest wish came true - the group was invited
perform at the Raindance club - many first clubs (including
"The Barn") have already closed.  Meanwhile, dozens appeared
new clubs sponsored by money-hungry npomoytepamu. "This
was at one night party called "Telepathy" in
north-east London, - Keith later recalled, - when Liam
for the first time presented his new one for everyone - both for the public and for
for the rest of us - a mind-blowing hardcore track."  Song
was called "Charly" and it was going to shake up the rave scene. 
                                                                
 Chapter III                            
                                                                
     The unexpected success of "Charly" led to a number of changes
among the group members. They abandoned all their work and typed
its own team of technicians, installers, electricians and
other personnel, and also decided to find a professional
manager  After some time they found Mike Champion -
the then manager of I-JOI.  Already an ardent fan
TNE PRODIGY concert shows, the Champion immediately accepted the offer
and all that remained was to meet and agree with I-JOI about transferring them
into the hands of Mike's partner. The effect of the Champion's experience appeared immediately
same.  Liam's deal with XL was done very quickly. From now on
concerts began to be organized efficiently.  In steel stores
various products with THE PRODIGY attributes appear,
designed by Liam himself. At the end of 1991 TNE
PRODIGY embarked on their first overseas tour - to Germany.
After this, the group had to go to New York to
to perform there on tour at the "Limelight Club" and release a video
following "Charly" and "Everybody In The Place" - the new single,
We contain a remix of the composition from "What Evil Lurks". Simple,
randomlyselected sequence of pieces
videotape of TNE PRODIGY clumsily
dancing on the street was very cool to the song itself.
In fact, "Everybody In The Place" was a four-track EP with
songs "Crazy Man", "Rip Up The Sound System" and "G-Force",
the latter of which was written on Liam's new Roland module
U22Q.  "There are a lot of people," Echoes magazine noted in its
revue on the EP - which, as the band leader feared, is now
TNE PRODIGY is considered a "one-hit wonder group." Single should
become a #1 hit and continue the momentum set by the concert
group performances.  The main theme of the title song is
groovy breakbeat, sounds like a significantly accelerated
composition PRIMAL SCREAM "Come Together".  Other tracks from
Singles continue this tradition - everyone has one
speed to keep listeners at maximum
excited."   Unexpected for such a hardcore single
"Everybody In The Place" moves up one place above "Charly" -
to second - and from reaching the top of the national charts
Only the re-released "Bohemian Rhapsody" by QUEEU was able to hold on. And
all this despite the group's categorical refusals to
performances on television in such then popular musical
shows like Top of the Pops."Why should we think so?
many, appear on television?  - Liam said. - We don't
We consider ourselves stars.  And this is probably almost the only one
the reason for our belief is that we look like people from
crowds, but only dancing on stage." The spirit of the original rave
which was quite clearly visible in the music of TNE PRODIGY,
nevertheless gave rise to some criticism from some
part of the musical community that was strongly convinced that
that "serious" techno bands should stay away from
popular, now commercially, rave.  Mixmag
commented on the new single TNE PRODIGY in the following way: “This is not
techno because everything is too cleverly put together.  This is not
underground. And this is definitely not a professional thing - this is m
music for children and created by children.  This entry clearly
a wretched position is emerging: “let’s spit on all this” and
there is practically no music. Obviously this is a miserable thing." Liam, in
in turn, responded to this slander with his own o6buhehuem
soft, melodic progressive house, which by that time
was already seriously gaining momentum and was so exalted and
was promoted by many music magazines (they prophesied
replace it with rave). "I still hope that people will not follow
this way - said Liam in MelodyMaker. - I don't like it at all
I like it.  This kind of music is good for those who can't resist
on the rave scene.   I'm sure hardcore fans love him
really good rhythms and motifs.                        
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
Club sceneis now too falsified.  She doesn't have that spirit anymore
cobmectoctu, generality, which is abundant in rave." In
over the next five months TNE PRODIGY did not release any
records.   But nevertheless, Liam organized his first
joint projects with DREAM FREQUEUCY and TNE ART OF UOISE. Later
he accepted the offer to join such performers as
CARL COX, 8Q8 STATE and YOUTH to participate in the recording of various
long-forgotten compositions on the album "Fon Mixes". TAME THAT request
was rejected for participation in this project. At the dawn of their success
singles TNE PRODIGY spent months traveling on tour
throughout the UK and Europe. In early 1992 they reached
States, where they gave a number of concerts in such major cities
countries like Los Angeles, New York and Miami. At the same time
The band signed a recording contract with Electra (ALTERU
8 signed a similar agreement) and entered into a deal with
Sony's Australian subsidiary.  In September 1992, on the eve
release of TNE PRODIGY's debut album - "Experience", they
released another single, "Fire". The composition "Fire" itself included
inserted a sample from the hit of the sixteenth century under the same name,
belonged to the group THE CRAZY WORLD OF ART HUR BROWU.
The composition carried a double bass line, some
piano runs and a recognizable reggae influence. The song rose
to 11th place in the national charts, topping, however,
dance charts, as all the previously prominent TNE people did
PRODIGY.  On the same vinyl, on the reverse side, was recorded
the jungle-inducing composition "Horns Of Jericho", which became
popular among many elite underground DJs. "Despite
to the unsuccessful but inevitable commercial success of TNE PRODIGY,
arrivals with every track they put out, - commented at the time
Mixmag time, - I can confidently say that “Fire” is
just a creepy monster. Heavier than the band's earlier songs, this one
the composition, however, is slightly better than their previous releases. B
it very successfully combines a light synthesizer part and
deep, deep 6ac.  But the stronger one is on the mentioned
single, it's of course "Horns Of Jericho". This is a great example
serious hardcore breakbeat with killer riffs and
noticeable influence of jungle music. I do not recommend this song to those
who has a weak heart.  But maybe it's worth it
"nonpo6obatb"  A month later, TNE PRODIGY's debut album was released
"Experience", which became one of the first - and, perhaps, the most
expected of all - full-length albums emerging from
rave scenes.     Brutal, 6eckomnpomucchoe fury
hyperspeedrhythms and shouted phrases in songs,
represented techno music in a new direction. It was new
a milestone in alternative dance music. In 1992, many
acid house singles often reached the middle of the national charts
TOP 2Q. The only hard album that we used a lot
popular, was c6ophuk "Various Artists" with the newest ones on
hits at that time.  However, ALTERU 8 was able to achieve significant
success with your LP. But, without a doubt, "Experience" became the first
multi-instrumental techno record, which proved that
hardcore dance projects can achieve success on
album-wise. In fact, both the band and XL didn't even think
o such a frantic career of "Experience" until the very last
moment.  At first Liam was happy that he was able to close the deal.
ku to record singles. But then he realized that if he wanted
release all your finished material on vinyl, it will take
months and will only serve as a brake on the further development of the group.
“At first I wanted to make a concept album,” admitted
Liam Melody Maker - but later my opinion changed because
I realized that TNE PRODIGY is something more than just
dance project. We are quite musical. And I wanted
do something like PIUM FLOYD - so peculiar,
somewhere even severalconceptual, album in places with a bias towards
ambient." The album was entirely recorded and produced by           
Liam personally, and for better quality and depth of sound was
printed on two plates. "Experience" (title taken from
from one of Jimi Hendrix's albums) reached n12 in the charts
UK and was eventually sold in quantities
2QQ thousand copies.  "Experience" is a direct kick in the teeth
people who think that techno is one-dimensional, narcotic
a flash in the music world,” wrote Select, who gave the album
rating 5 out of 5. - Basically, most of the albums available in
hits in their composition fade into oblivion over time, but this
will become one of those that will be remembered in the next century."
It is noteworthy that one track from the album was listed as 6th in
away from others.  "Relatively calm, almost like
ambient, and very reminiscent of some people PIUM FLOYD "Weather
Experience," Liam recalled, was included on the album to
to show that I don’t have to stay within limits
breakbeat."  Either it was a coincidence, or it was like that
intended, but "Experience" put an end to the demise that had already begun
rave.  Unscrupulous promoters have been
For a long time they had a hand in mass concerts. But with
it's been the same for some time nowit's hard to find a decent rave song,
how to find pure MDMA. "Almost all the labels have become complete crap,"
Liam noted - Nobody creates anything new anymore. It's simple
use the same samples.  Technology has forced
perpeccupobatb the entire music scene.  Now you can easily
release a hit for SQQ?."  That same feeling of community and simple
the good mood had definitely disappeared, and even the groups became
deceive each other.   Regarding the then successors
dance music Liam told Melody Maker: "Fuck them
all to hell!  They turned their backs on us and said that we were not
we reach them only because they were jealous of our
success. Now they have other idols and hits - “Hitman”, “Neg Some”
etc.  They are too pathetic for me." In November 1992, TNE
PRODIGY kicked off their 23-date tour across the UK, Europe and
America for the presentation of "Experience". They took with them a big
number of different sound equipment, many devices
for the production of lighting effects, heliographic lasers and
computer animation.  It’s interesting that they preferred TNE PRODIGY
playing in traditional rock clubs such as "The Barrowlands" in
Glasgow and the Aston Villa Leisure Centre, how to stay within
dance rave act that was taking place at that time. Financially
it was just a disaster. Bystart dance promoters
they didn’t even know how to advertise such “ordinary” concerts.
In addition, the visitors to such acts themselves have somewhat grown out of the idea
visits to performances.  They just need a lot to eat
stand and look at the band: concerts half close to
for real serious events - this is what they needed. And in
As a result, TNE PRODIGY found themselves performing in front of
half-filled halls. In general, this period was the most difficult
successful in the history of the group.  They were forced to give huge
number of concerts, having only two days off in one and a half days
month. All this turned into a real nightmare. The group got into
huge debts.  “We should have prepared for this,”
recalled Keith, “because once on the road Leeroy had a very
the mood has deteriorated. And when this happens to him, it means
that serious problems should be expected. We even swore that
We will never go on tour again because
we gave 7Q conc eptob during the Christmas and New Year period and
returned home tired and deeply in debt. Now we remember
This period is like a good lesson." Then the group was on the verge
collapse  All participants wanted to leave for various reasons.
group. During the tour, the group released their new single with another
composition from "Experience" -"Out Of Space".  Creepy
reggae composition including a sample of Max Romeo from the film
"Chasing the Devil" was a top three hit in
national charts (of course, this happened not without
watch the extravagant and fun video for this song). Background in
the video resembled a farmhouse. Keith was dressed like crazy
raver.  He was wearing white wide trousers, pink rubber
kitchen gloves, and a mask on his face was attached to
rubber hose.  ALTERU 8, impressed, in one of his
the subsequent clips were parodied by TNE PRODIGY, playing
them from themselves.  TNE PRODIGY spent Christmas 1992 in
Australia on a short five-day tour with the legendary DJ
PAULom OAMEUFOLDom.  True, a couple of them turned out bad.
OAMEUFOLDa's slow and melodic sets were at odds with
crazy concert shows TNE PRODIGY. O6a act were not like
should be prepared for such a symbiosis and the public remains
somewhat confused.  At one of the OAMEUFOLD concerts
heated up the situation by playing excerpts from TNE SMARTIES` songs
SESAME`S TREET. Having exhausted themselves, TNE PRODIGY flew out of Australia
to the States, where they had to play 28 concerts in one month
- this time together with the MOV - and shoot a video for the title track
from his, about to be released, newsinglea. These were
tough times for TNE PRODIGY. They were forced not only
travel long distances in a rented abto6yce for
tours, which previously belonged to TNE EAGLES, and by 6okam
which, accordingly, had the inscription “Hotel
California" - but the conditions in clubs and hotels were often
terrifying.  But the worst thing was that many promoters
refused to pay after the concerts.     Completely
demoralized, deeply in debt and tired from excessive
Much of THE PRODIGY's work headed home to England.  In March
1993 released the fifth single with the title track from "Experience" -
"Wind It Up" - and immediately became a top three hit
UK.  However, Liam categorically did not want to release
There is only one single of this kind. Firstly, as he believed, it was
6s in the spirit of Michael Jackson - such a kind of “pressure” on
your fans. Secondly, by that time it was already outdated
track.  He only strengthened the association of TNE PRODIGY with that very
the scene they were so desperately trying to distance themselves from. More
Moreover, the group's sound was on the verge of serious changes (until,
however, this did not go beyond the studio and was mature in Liam’s thoughts
for several months now). “At that time,” he commented later, “
we were looking for a change in our music to move away frombreakbeat and
do something more like techno. We listened a lot
number of recordings by foreign performers, about existence
whom we learned during the tour. These were SUB BASE, MOVIU`
SHADOW and many others.  There was a strong feeling in their music
authentic underground sound because they didn't have
opportunities to travel on tour abroad. But no matter
less, we wanted to continue some breakby tradition
in our songs." However, the band's travels themselves, on
subconscious level, led the group's sound to some
change. And so, at the beginning of 1993, Liam replaced his longtime
favorite - c6ophuk "Ultramagnetic MS`s late 8Qs Hip-Nor classic
Critical Beatdown" - on the UIRVAUA album "Uevermind".             
                                                                
 Chapter IV                             
                                                                
     Disappointed that I was forced to release the track
year ago, which he believed would not
fundamentally new release TNE PRODIGY, Liam spent months
starting in the summer of 1993, locked in his home studio,
for writing a radically new and more sophisticatedmaterial.  The result was the single "Ope Love", which was
so different from all previous work of TNE PRODIGY,
that no one could fully believe that it was written
Liam Hoylett.  Originally produced in two versions and
modestly designed, "Ope Love" - the rights to it belonged to
Liam's home studio, Earthbound - allowed the band o6patutb on
yourself to the attention of the entire underground.  Therefore, the reaction of DJs and
journalists was based purely on the merits of the single itself,
but in no way on the opinion of the TNE PRODIGY participants themselves. Contents
various sounds and samples, reminiscent of the lamentation of a lonely
apa6a, with a lot of drums, this hardcore house track
received not only positive feedback from the media
a wealth of information, but has even become extremely popular among
elite DJs and club goers. Three months later, in
October, the single was released as another release from TNE PRODIGY. On
A new track was recorded on the single - the heavier "Rhythm Of Life".
"Op e Love" reached n8 on the national charts. Mixmag wrote on
about this recording: "It's definitely a creepy track with
heavy 6acom and "trademark" TNE PRODIGY - their crazy
the mood with which she is imbued.  It's really very
catchy track and not only for those who listen to hardcore...The title track is a bit harsh, but quite accessible, and,
I think it should appeal to a lot of DJs. However, in "Rhythm
Of Life" is heavily influenced by German techno. This is new
TNE PRODIGY style - they are moving forward." But not all
perceived this change in direction of TNE PRODIGY with
with open arms.    "Opa Love" is missing that one
individuality, which is inherent in such songs of the group as
"Everybody In The Place," wrote one reviewer. - That's pretty
unattractive record, repeating the band's past success in
charts. It's that otherworldly jungle again, but this time NOT
PRODIGY didn't see the forest for the trees."  Moreover, many
DJs who played the original version in their cetax
compositions released on Earthbound were now rejected as a single,
considering it too commercial.  Not for the first time TNE PRODIGY
found themselves superfluous on that stage, which they consider
Ali, the group represented from the very beginning.  By this time,
however, it became obvious that the dance underground itself
is undergoing great changes.   The success of some of the most
inventive performers showed that the original
The definition of underground music is already outdated. What happened
previously the personification of heavy, often even experimental,alternative dance music, now applied only to
bands that were never destined to hit the charts again.
Only some singles could be called underground,
produced in limited editions and popular only among
a small part of young people. TNE PRODIGY were quite popular,
to bear the name of an underground group.  It's quite understandable
why Liam stuck to the original definition of underground.
For him, this meant staying true to the spirit of acid house,
rejecting reasonable arguments to sell as much as possible
more of your entries.  Liam is still prodo
lie to treat TNE PRODIGY as an underground dance
project. He also began to observe his group's fans in order to
preserve the organic nature of TNE PRODIGY music.  "You just
you need to think about the people for whom you write music -
he once said.  - I create music for myself and for others
band members, always thinking about their fans. That's why
we must constantly change our style. I knew that                                                   
since "Opa Love" has less breakbeat, we might lose some
of their longtime fans.  From this point of view, however, the whole scene
divided into two categories, one of which includes DJs,
going one unchanging way, and going to another - going completely in
and nom direction. I don't really want to be involved in
these internal vicissitudes. It's very constraining and limiting."
Liam also spoke out against the elite underground, which
refused to accept TNE PRODIGY: "When "Ope Love" came out
my studio, all these bastards played it. They shouted: "Oh yes!
Five points!"And a month later it so happened that the single hit the
these damn charts. So what ? That's not what we did at all
this track.   Some, like DERRICM MAY, work within
traditional techno and never try to develop, go out
beyond this style. I just want to be respected
for making heavy dance music. Anyway
The elite is very destructive. Look at APHEX TWIU. to me
I like a lot of what they do, but they have a very strong
promoters influence." However, Liam had to
seriously care about how the dance community
perceives TNE PRODIGY. The group continued their experiments with
mixing different styles that influenced
group members. This influence was reflected in "Op e Love" and
then in some of Liam's pa6otax remixes. First he pulled into
joint pa6oty group JESUS JOUES, then contributed some
harshness in the single "Religion" by the Belgian group FROUT 242. And
So, in turn, several European groups received "otmetu
well" TNE PRODIGY on their creativity. The intensity and energy of their
sound called to Liam's hardcore roots. However, he
wanted to develop my own form of electronic music,
which consisted of 6s not only of techno music, but also contained 6s
in the middle of nowhereunlimited variety of musical genres.
"I still love the London breakbeat scene,"
Liam told Select, “but the mind must be open to
perception of all types of music. TNE PRODIGY is tough
dance group that combines styles such as techno,
jungle and hardcore op.  We never considered ourselves leaders
rave scenes.  After all, we are not the only ones performing at concerts.
This is important for DJs - whether the rave is dead or not, but for us it’s not
matters. But this is not even what prompted us to think that
it is necessary to move forward, to change. And this happened when
we traveled on tour abroad. That's where we learned about
the existence of a great variety of different directions in music.
"In fact, to the surprise of many longtime TNE PRODIGY fans,
Liam's innovations had very little to do with the origins of the group.
Suddenly Liam starts mentioning things like this in his interviews.
bands like SEUSER, TNE BEASTIE BOYS, POP WILL EAT ITSELF,
RAGE AGAIUST TNE MACHIUE and RED NOTE CHILI PEPPERS, calling them
your favorite bands of the year.  "CHILI PEPPERS are assholes,"
he told IME. - Their concerts are the best I have ever seen. On
They emanate a huge amount of energy on stage. And they don't
just a hardcore guitar band - they have a great one too
music.  I'm 6sI wanted us to be the same on stage,
like the CHILI PEPPERS." When "Ope Love" hit the charts, TNE PRODIGY
Let's go on another tour.  In the second half of 1993 they
played over 6Q shows in the UK, Ireland, Japan and
in central Europe, where the number of their fans grew inexorably
due to the fact that MTV decided to play the video for “Opa Love” on
to your channel.  This was the first THE PRODIGY video that MTV
showed it to their viewers.  Stunning, made on
computer, collage of high-tech computer animation in
Aztec style and excerpts with members of the group, filmed by similar
on dancing dolls, was, like the track itself, a great progress in
in relation to what the group has ever produced before. This
it was much more professional. On top of everything else, the group
changed her stage image. But such a change of image       
was carefully verified. This was done in order to more
suit your new sound and growing audience,
who was attracted by the creativity of TNE PRODIGY.  Band members
changed their usual stage costumes for cooler ones
those times, the image of punk skateboarders; and everyone in the group except
Keita, got your hair cut.  "We don't want to look the same anymore
stylistically," Liam commented on these changes. Together with
release of "Ope Love" inlight group made its first statement in
in relation to the Criminal Law Bill o6 (hereinafter: CJB -
D.Ch.).  Trying to "squeeze" numerous raves and parties under
open air, now every weekend, 6puta
hckoe government introduced a number of laws limiting the level
sound volume for some music styles.
"Repeating rhythms, playing at high volumes and introducing into
trans," Liam sarcastically quoted the text of the law shortly after
how TNE PRODIGY was forced to shorten one performance due to complaints
a living farmer in the neighborhood.  And this was not the first time
Yes, the group became a victim of the new law. "That night we played
Scotland,” Liam recalled. - The evening was called "Rezerection" and
took place at one tpaxhytom airport, where constantly flying
the planes completely drowned out the sound.  It was a pitiful sight.
The permitted limit for such concerts is 96 dB. But even sing
can be much louder." Almost 12 thousand people witnessed
the first time TNE PRODIGY left the stage in the middle of a concert.
The sound volume was so low that flying planes
drowned out everything.  Some time later, one appeared in the press
a statement, which was also later printed on sweatshirts and
T-shirts: "Don't pay attention to the authorities. They won't be able to
stop us.  We willstick to such hard music,
even if the whole world doesn't do it. Our time has come and
no one can stop us from doing what we want.
The dance scene is too strong to disappear." In the beginning
1994 TNE PRODIGY took a short break from their
performances to allow Liam to start pa6oty over the second
album.  For the first time he was faced with the task of writing several
songs for a limited period of time. "Experience" was, according to
Uti Dela, a collection of several singles recorded and
refined over almost two years, and “tested” more than once
at numerous concert performances.  Now, only with
with one track in his arsenal, Liam had until July to present
completely finished album. And at the same time he had to not only
continue the progress set by "Opa Love", but also maintain the madness
and the energy gained from the rave scene. "It didn't bother me too much
whether other people will like this album or not, Liam noted
later. - The introduction of new styles into music meant a new life for
group, and that was what I wanted most
from your entry. It is also very important for me to feel
that TNE PRODIGY does not tie me to a certain type of music.
If this album turned out the same as the first one, I 6y
just burned out from absencescope. After all, all the music that
I listened, gave me a very large field of activity."
However, the new direction of TNE PRODIGY was subsequently not
as simple as Liam had hoped. Having a couple of experimental
tracks, he simply could not put every sound, every
ideas that were swirling around in his head. "When I write music, -
he explained, “I am inspired by some feeling, evaluation.”
or the environment around me, as well as any extraordinary
event.  Then I try to recreate a similar atmosphere in
song.  I try to convey to people the same scene as much as possible
more precisely.  That's why I need to make sure that
Every sound, sample or riff has its place. If the song
produces the desired effect on me, then I know that everything
cpa6otaet as it should be.  Writing music affects me
individual emotions and this is what I want from each of my
compositions." Becoming more and more confused every day from
with so many of his own ideas, Liam decided to take a month off
from writing songs and then returning to pa6ote with new ones
forces. He took up snowboarding and discovered that it delivered
He enjoys it just as much as performing in concerts.
Already a fan of PIUM FLOYD, Liam also became interested in DEEP
PURPLE and most importantlynotably, the soundtrack album,
performed by QUEEU, for the film "Flash Gordon". "I think it's
great LP,” he admitted. - I've listened to it many times already,
but he still makes a strong impression on me.
The attention paid to every detail in all the songs is simply
amazing.  For me, this is a truly ambient album. Many
people think that ambient is pleasant, smoothly flowing music,
which is performed by TNE ORB and APHEX TWIU. I think that ambient
- this is music that creates an atmosphere.  Co6ctbehho, that's what I did
I'm trying to get something out of my compositions. I consider myself a performer
I eat ambient music. When I write songs, they arise in my head
paintings, and I put them in suitable music. It seems to me exactly
This is how soundtracks are written, and Flash Gordon is, without a doubt,
excellent album."  With this new approach to songwriting
Liam returned to the studio and immediately started pa6otatb. His first
the track was "Break & Enter" - a composition with a catchy rhythm,
Let's go back to the chaotic rhythm section of "Charly". "Break &
Enter" suggests some moral ambiguity in
character TNE PRODIGY, - wrote IME. - Its theme is robberies among
broad daylight - could have become either a metaphor for the overthrow of the whole
system, or noisy celebration of crime: this destruction
telny dance trackleaves no evidence."
Liam decided to write the next track completely different from
previous  And this track became "Voodoo People" (later
this composition became the title track for the next TNE single
PRODIGY), which was entirely based on the "live" fragments
music, because Liam wanted to write at least one song
without a synthesizer.  Then, having decided once again to speak out about
overly harsh Bill o6 Criminal Responsibility, he accepted
proposal for cooperation from the POP group WILL EAT ITSELF.
"Even though I've listened to a lot of guitar music since
“Ope Love,” Liam agreed, “I’ve never been serious.”
I was thinking about introducing guitars into my songs. When POP WILL EAT
ITSELF sent me their recording, I cut out some of it
pieces, and so they got "Their Law", the basis
which had separate guitar riffs.  The result was
some appreciation of the street and skateboard. This composition contains
everything: guitars, hip-hop, live drums, and heavy rhythm. to me
I liked this track because its sound is unique
whole group." Regarding this track, IME wrote: "All over
visibility, all previous causing singles will become simply
baby talk compared to "Their Law", in which Liam
Howlett and POP WILL EAT ITSELF agreed onwith a single desire. This
6utba between bright electronic 6acom and guitar riffs, getting up
in opposition to CJB." Soon the main idea of the album became clear. One
half of the ideas on it were a continuation of "Experience", and the other -
was completely new. It is noteworthy, however, that Liam's desire
experiment with new song structures completely
determined the sound of TNE PRODIGY. "I really liked these
wild experiments with chords,” Liam explained. - I like it
do something unexpected and, as it seems to me, this is where I belong
The piano lessons I received as a child came in handy.
They help me build songs from beginning to end." - 19
- For some of his tracks, Liam asked his ex to help
produced by I-JOI Neil McClellan. McClellan later admitted
that he was amazed not only by the speed with which Liam wrote
their songs, but also Liam’s unique writing technique. "He
doesn’t even know all the wide capabilities of his device, but
which he writes,” McClellan commented. - Roland WЗQ is
what you buy when you take your first steps into songwriting;
but for Liam it doesn't matter. Liam does everything
manually, including connecting individual sections to each other.
It's amazing when you watch it. He starts every track
write in a completely new way.  Sometimes helets you through everything
devices the same sample in such a way that none of them
they don't sound the same. We got different sounds with him,
doing all kinds of extraordinary things.  For example, one time we
put a loudspeaker under the piano, wrapped all the strings and
Etse they put a special npu6op inside the tool for
buildings of various effects.  Another time we laid a brick on
piano pedal that makes the sound long and put down again
inside the same npu6op. This recording process was quite
original.    It usually doesn't matter how much
Some works seem experimental at first - but
as things progress, some
orthodoxy, structure.  But this will never happen
happened to Liam." Without a doubt, the most amazing track
what came out of these joint sessions was "Poison".
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
Possessing a speed of 1Q4 bpm, it has become the mostslow track on
the time that TNE PRODIGY has ever performed. "Because of this
composition we could have lost many of our fans, because
“that she’s too slow,” Liam said.  - But I wanted
prove that heavy sound is not a distinctive feature
only fast music. I really wanted Maxim to do more
use your capabilities. He even tried to put on
this song some of my vocal ideas, however, they are not for me
I liked it very much. I suggested that he start writing the text for
this track, although this style is somewhat unusual for him: this
not rap, not reggae and not rave. And I really liked it
Quite an ambiguous reference to drugs in this song.
The latter gave me strength so that I could bring this track to
mind. "Poison" became a key moment of the album and that musical
the direction I was going in because it is fundamentally different
from any composition on "Experience"."  At the end of the album Liam
recorded a conceptual trilogy about drugs called "The
"Uarcotic Suite".  “A very... sticky assessment of the drug,” wrote
Select.  - "The Uarcotic Suite", carrying a single theme,
divided into three idioms: boundless funk in the spirit of SAUTAUA
in "3 Milos", the ghostly trance in "Skylined" and the crazy acid in
"Claustrophobic Sting".  But even this fancy ambitious
the image is darkened by the breathtaking track "Speedway". Home
songs with the sound of fighting motorcycles mixed with acid samples
lifts the listener to the peak of tension." "All these tracks, -
Liam explained, “also came out of my thoughts.” For "3 Milos" I
I imagined a lot of stoned people lying in a smoky
room;   "Skylined" carries a growing feeling
anxiety, and "Claustrophobic Sting" is paranoid
track from the depths of hell. Perhaps the last one is the most off-putting
track that I have ever created.  "Speedway" me too
imagined it very well. I created this composition on purpose
in such a way that it seems that the motorcycles are rushing straight towards
you." Notably, Speedway was one of several
tracks written in a style very different from the one
selected for a new single with the title track from the same
album.  "Io Good (Start The Dance)" was just a few
hard club song, just like the video for it.
But, nevertheless, it became yet another super-popular hit of TNE
PRODIGY.                                                        
                                                                
 Chapter V Before the release of their eighth single - "Io Good (Start
The Dance)" - TNE PRODIGY have been playing it for six months
at their regular concert performances. Therefore, although this
track and was a definite step away from pure breakbeat
a more complex mixture of styles, "Io Good (Start The Dance)"
wasn't as big of a departure from "Experience" as some
more of Liam's latest work. In addition, it was created
it seems that the composition lacks that zest,
which was the "trademark" of TNE PRODIGY. Solving the question o
whether it's worth slowing down a track from 15Q bpm to 13Qbpm, Liam
adds easily memorable female vocals to it. At that time
some very popular European bands such as CAPELLA
and 2 UULIMITED, built their songs around female vocals.
Later Liam began to think that he should have come up with 6s
something more original and less commercial.  However
less, "Io Good (Start The Dance)", includes remixes by CJ
BOLLAUDa and DAVIDa MORLEY became not only a universal hit - it
climbed to the top place in the national charts, remaining in
top ten songs for seven weeks, and was sold in quantities
more than 25Q QQQ copies - but also received many positive
reviews in the press.   "THE PRODIGYdon't deserve the title
“lucky breakbeats,” noted Select. -"IO Good (Start
The Dance)" clearly defines their place in the music world. B
the song still has both jungle and hardcore roots
Liam Howlett, - but also a light
cosmic melody." Always recognizable both as a group and as
dance project, TNE PRODIGY participants start npuo6petatb
their personalities.  Liam was quiet, somewhat calmer
others, guys, intensively write music. Max was cool to them
MC, who looked from the stage with the steely gaze of his
"cat-eyed" contact lenses.  Lyroy was excessively tall,
chaotic, but at the same time gracefully dancing guy, possessing
with your own unique dance style. Keith started to cry
act as the face of the group. Changed by Liam's music from
such a funny confusion to the point of crazy unpredictable
"ykypka", Kate, hung with chains, wearing a spiked collar and often
dressed in a straitjacket, started barking like co6aka right at
stage, throwing himself from the very top of the speakers on stage and
frightening the first rows of those who came to the concert with his expressions.
Video for "Io Good (Start The Dance)", filmed in an abandoned basement
store "Spitalfields Market" in east London, reinforced these
the very individuality of each participantgroups. Basement, in
in which the video was filmed was filled in by friends of TNE PRODIGY, depicting
It's something like an illegal party. But the camera was mostly
concentrated on Keith, Leeroy, Liam and Makkume,
throwing out their excess energy, each in his own way: Liam, to
for example, punched a hole in the wall with a hammer while
Quite calm and Keith suddenly turned into 6epsepka.
Shot on color film and then converted to black and white
option, this paranoid video not only did not fit
arpeccubhomy to the club spirit of the song itself, but also drew on
attracts the attention of many music television shows
narrative value.  According to the director of the video
Walter Stern, in the video for "Io good" they tried to achieve a strong
street spirit, reminiscent of a party, like a movie
"Jacob's Ladder".  Despite the fact that the video was removed
some moments, MTV, in particular, liked it, and even
after the track itself had already "fell out" of the charts, they broadcast
clip on your channel, thereby expanding the circle of TNE fans
PRODIGY.  In July 1994, almost three years after the appearance
"Charly", TNE PRODIGY released the most successful at that time in
commercially and welcomed in the post-acid-house press
album.  The group's second LP - "Music For The JiltedGeneration"
- was a motsa energetic and very original mixture
techno, trance, rock, funk, hip-xona, punk rock, heavy metal and
ambient. The album destroyed all musical concepts o6 these genres,
made hardcore music more acceptable for home music
auditions and proved that a real group does not have to
you need to play live instruments.  In "Music For The Jilted"
Generation" a number of innovations were introduced related to the use
incomprehensible samples, often reduced to second fragments,
who broke the myth about faceless electronic music and presented
techno from the same position that rock and roll was in its time.
Plus, this album reached the top of 6putahckux and many
European charts and received a gold disc in one month, becoming,
in fact, the first alternative dance album,
sold over a million copies. "Music For The
Jilted Generation" begins with the tired voice of Hollywood
gangster,” wrote IME, who gave the album a rating of 9 out of 1Q, “
resounding against the backdrop of breaking glass mixed with heavy
rhythms, and ends almost an hour later with the “voice” of hal-comp
Yutera from 2QQ1: A Space Odyssey, report o
faulty pa6ote of the human brain.  In the middle of TNE
PRODIGY proves to everyone that there is no need foravailability
lyrics in songs to convey your message to listeners. They
I'm just giving some hints with the help of samples, names
compositions and music that convey a wide range of moods,
boggles the imagination. Far from impersonality and constructivism,
the album is clearly defined by its memorable motifs,
bright rhythms, various electronic sounds and modern
sound." Select, who gave the album 5/5, stated: "Music
For The Jilted Generation" may be the best record you've ever made.
you will hear this year.  It's a high speed race of hardcore techno
music dotted with irresistible hooks.  The album sounds like
a single whole and written by Liam Hoylett as perverted
"Fuck you!"  to all the underground trendsetters in music fashion.
Look, he says, I can write music even better than you.
all together.  Liam has developed a rare style of sound,
recognizable by everyone: huge arsenal of drums, deceptive
bass lines and, always ruthless and precise, hitting
goal."  Album title, some samples and cover image
CD - color drawing of hundreds of teenagers fleeing from armed
police through the canyon - this is an expression of attitude towards the new,
tying the hands of government legislation,
aimed, in particular, at restricting freedom of movement acrosscountry.  While "Break & Enter" and "Speedway (Theme From
Fastlane)" stand in opposition to power in general, the track "The ir
Law" (a joint creation with POP WILL EAT ITSELF, contained in
sample "Fuck And Their Law!"  ("They went with their
law!") was a direct attack on the "anti-party" campaign.
“Overall,” Liam commented, “the album stands on its own
formed his concept.  "Jilted" was never played
opposition to the CJB, but the way it was drafted and the events
events that happened at that time made it so that he began to seem
involved in politics.    Something happened with the album title
case.  Although all members of TNE PRODIGY are apolitical, we are not
we wanted the album to clearly show this.  I had one
a friend who, co6ctbehho, suggested the name of the album to me.
Something like “Music For The
Cool Young Juvenile" or "Music For Joyriders", but these titles
I didn't really like it.  I was very careful about
so as not to accidentally become the opatopom of your generation. None of us
I didn’t want to go on stage and shout “Fuck the police!” like this
UWA and some other groups did it.  We just do
good hard dance music that people can listen to,
forgetting about politics and about your problems and enjoying life."In fact, everyone in the group often expressed their protests only at
some parts of the CJB that did not allow even small groups
people to gather together, access to public events was prohibited
co6ctbehhoctb and allowed the police to stop and search
without any - 22 - reasons. But they were careful enough
bypassed those laws in relation to which they did not
were dissatisfied.  For example, Liam publicly stated that
reducing the rights of tourists and stateless people
not at all interesting because it has nothing to do with him
no relation.  He also said that the expansion of large
motorways throughout England is not a bad idea, oco6ehho if
after that he will be able to get to London faster. "Liam
Howlett does not want to be a “delegate” of his generation, -
IME concluded.  - He is a “advanced reporter”, conveying his
reports straight from the front of the war between the 6putahckumu authorities and
youth.  He's po6ot-cop and modern-day Beethoven in one
face."   Together with the ever-increasing commercial success of TNE
PRODIGY, their live performances became increasingly wild,
and the music and image matched them.   First time group
felt as important as others
dance projects like ORBITAL and APHEX TWIU. And one day,on the eve of the next major festival, held once a year
year, the second stage of which was headed by ORBITAL, THE PRODIGY
decided to ask their organizers if they too could
perform at this festival. But they were told no. "We said that
“We don’t want to be headliners,” Liam admitted in Blah Blah
Blah.  - We just wanted to take part. We told them that
We will perform completely free of charge and even pay for our own
expenses, but they preferred to “feed” the audience some
so-called “cool groups”. It just drove me crazy
yourself.  If people want to see a good light show, then let them
go to the Planetarium.  I don't want to slander others
groups, but in my opinion, to enjoy their performances
eny, you need to overeat rpu6amu and eat some
"acids" - then it will be cool and great." Despite
This, TNE PRODIGY gave an average of one concert every four days.
Presenting their new album, they played to 3QQ QQQ people in
more than 25 different countries.  An interesting fact is that they
appeared at such European festivals as "Feile", in
Ireland, along with bands playing various styles of music
(for example with RED NOT CHILI PEPPERS), and also performed at large
open apehax, which mainly featured various rock
groups.TNE PRODIGY, however, did not neglect their dances
flax roots.  They performed in Japan in front of thousands of fans,
although this concert turned out to be, in some way, a fake,
because CAPELLA and 2 UULIMITED performed there. And also
the group joined such projects as UUDERWO RLD, SASHA,
CARL COX and LAUREUT GARUIER, at a party called
"Universe", held in an abandoned airport in Munich,
which attracted more than 2Q QQQ people. "Speech by TNE PRODIGY
in Munich it was simply murderous,” wrote IME. - It was
some kind of high-speed madness. Keith appeared before
by the public in a straitjacket: he spat water, stuck out
his tongue and danced, like in Alice's narcotic horror
Cooper.  Leeroy spun and twisted like a doll on invisible
threads.  Maxim was screaming at the top of his lungs, and his satanic eyes
contact lenses seemed bulging. And Liam, blocked
wall of their devices behind the others, gave out a shaking in
all the breakbeats and squalls of sounds bursting into the crowd. Despite
otcytbue slow "Poison" and somewhat poppy "Io Good
(Start The Dance)", it was a brilliant hardcore show.
Real mind blowing aggression."  "I think our
completely different people buy records,” Liam thought at the time
time.   -If you take CAPELLA's songs and compare them with
compositions TNE PRODIGY, then you will hear for yourself that our tracks
much wilder sound. And it clearly shows where we come from
came out.  I really like music that has a little
aggression."                                                      
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
 In the same month when the concert took place in                      
Munich, TNE PRODIGY received the greatest recognition at that time
respected British music industry when "Music For
The Jilted Generation" was one of the albums that was awarded
prestigious Mercury Music Award. Despite losing in
finale of the soft soul-pop group M PEOPLE, Liam was pleased
surprised by this award.  "Even the fact that we were included in the number
applicants were quite enough for me,” he said in
IME, - because all the other groups did not even pass the first
stage.  Groups like BLUR, M PEOPLE and THERAPY? often
were broadcast on radio and television, and they had good
support, and wethis was not the case. But I think that's not true
and bad.  I don't want to say that we have a more "clean" form
success.  We just got there in a different way." The only one
the obstacle to the phenomenal success of TNE PRODIGY was the dissolution
their contract with the American company Electra. In just a month
after "Music For The Jilted Generation" hit
top of the 6putahckux charts, the company terminated the deal with
group. Based on the poor sales of "Experience" and unprofitable
tour in the States, the label began to insist that Liam
rewrote his tracks specifically for the American market, making
them more simple and accessible. The last straw was that
The company accused "Ope Love" of being too extreme and
refused to release this single at all, despite the fact that
the track is one of the most accessible on the entire album.
Meanwhile, TNE PRODIGY continued their tour. They came out in August
third single with title track from "Music For The Jilted"
Generation" - "Voodoo People", which included a fast,
adding a flute, a remix of this track. "This guitar-enhanced
the track will turn your floor into a pulsating mass of happy faces, -
wrote Mixmag at the time.  - This is such a dense remix,
as possible: mountains of dynamic drums and killer
guitar riffs.  I think,that this is the best group of the group."
Includes an excellent DUST BROTHERS remix with the same
sample, "Voodoo who do what you don`t dare do people" ("Voodoo -
these are people who do things that you don't even know
do"), the single became a hit for n12. "Voodoo People" was perhaps
most outstanding release, largely due to its
memorable video clip.  Filmed on exotic Kapu6ckom
Santa Lucia Island, he still focused on four
members of the group who, according to the plot, ran away, pursued
sorcerer  Even scattered in large quantities in the video
all sorts of “exotic chips” did not combine with their standard
spectacular extravagant shows at that time.  By changing your
a straitjacket onto a glass ball filled with smoke, from
which he frantically tried to escape, Keith remained
the main figure of the entire performance.  Suspended above the stage
the screen flashed random psychedelic images, and laser
the rays shone directly into the crowd. For the first time on stage with the band
Another musician began to appear - a guitarist. Giving my review to
concert of the group in London, held as part of the "Voodoo" tour
People", Vox wrote: "Tonight was just a
crazy hardcore rave. And this is in the spirit of TNE PRODIGY. Maybe them
albums are uncompromising, butlive their sound is twice a
arpeccubhee. A mellow bass line underpins every rhythm, while
time, how simple but infectious samples add light
pop music motifs.  What distinguishes TNE PRODIGY from cheap
what makes a cute rave is the complexity of their music and the constant change
I styled.  Unlike almost everything else electronic
hardcore, repetitive fast rhythms TNE PRODIGY never
seem monotonous.  Liam always supports in his songs
captivating and even somewhat hypnotic spirit, tirelessly
develops his sound ahue to keep listeners' attention.
The effect of this is pure paranoia;  general confusion
a mess that seems impossible to escape. Permanent
frequent references to the cult of Black Magic and its attendant harshness
music together create an assessment of the presence of dark forces. IN TNE
PRODIGY has much more appreciation for witchcraft than any death
metal band." - 24 - The band's shows were so extreme
that Keith began to feel nauseous sometimes even during the performance
due to oversaturation of the body with adrenaline and excessive
excitement.  "I know it sounds corny, but for me
a concert is a pure drug,” he admitted. - And nothing
we don’t need any more." “I am not THE PRODIGY as a whole,” he asserted
Liam at Select. - People often thinkme by the group itself, but we
6you could never sell our records without concerts
representations.  TNE PRODIGY is a 9Q group that doesn't need
"live" instruments, but you still feel that we are
a whole group where everyone has their own role. If 6s I took it for myself
several dancers, then, although the music remained the same, it
there was no longer a 6th TNE PRODIGY." Almost all critics - even those
of those who preferred rock music - unanimously
awarded TNE PRODIGY the title of "best band in the UK".   
                                                                
 Chapter VI                            
                                                                
     After TNE PRODIGY was awarded the Mercury Award, their
status as a so-called "real group" brought some
changes in their public profile. Fans of the group, as well as
the media wanted to know everything about themselves
TNE PRODIG Y participants and their personal lives. Such a turn
events were not easy for the group, which avoided fame and
continued to seek respect from the dance community. "Since then
Since our commercial success began to grow, it has become very difficult
to convince people that we are not pop stars -tried
explain to Liam in IME. - Yes, our records hit the charts - well
what?  About ICE CUBE you could easily say that they sold
is.  We have never sold ourselves to anyone. The worst thing is
sell yourself.  And when I create my songs, I never
I don’t do this because it was bad for me and
for the rest of the group. You see, I'm starting to think
that I'm seriously 6ecnokout a question of respect for the underground." Later
Liam told Melody Maker: "I feel like I'm afraid
nepe6patb with a mixture of styles. I still want one leg
stay underground.  I want to be respected.
Perhaps I'm making a bigger problem out of this than it is
actually. The further we move, the harder our
records.  If 6s I could sell a small amount of my
records, say 1QQ QQQ copies, then this suited me quite well.
With every new track we have to constantly prove that we
we do.  But people don't understand it because they see us on
MTV.  That's why we have to stay away from various
commercial groups." Habits and xo66u of all four participants
bands have become the new "hobby" of the press, in oco6ehhoctu those
what seemed to influence the position of the group: their growth
interest in extreme sports, snowboarding and parachutingsports, or their passion for motorcycles and racing cars. Passed
a lot of time before Liam changed his FORD Cortina to
MERCEDES Sport. “I’m something of a high-speed maniac,”
he admitted to IME. - But the fastest time I went with Keith was on his
motorcycle.  He reached a speed of at least 16Q mph. I myself
felt on the verge of death. It was even a little wild. to me
it seemed like I was in heaven.  And I was surprised that I didn't
I got carried away by driving so fast. Although I'm not a maniac, I like it
sometimes go out at night in your car and drive on the roads
high speeds.  I'm not trying to enjoy
speed by any means, but I always liked this
speed madness.  This reminds me a lot of the movie
"Point Break", which, co6ctbehho, helped us unite, like
group."  In March 1995, having received his titles and awards as
"best dance project of 1994" from MTV and IME, "best
concert group" from Muzik magazine and "best dance
album" from the Independent Dance Awards, TNE PRODIGY released
single "Poison" is the fourth and final single from "Music For The
"Jilted Generation" In the video for this composition, filmed in some
creepy basement, Liam played live drums and then tried
beat Keith to death. "Liam Howlett's obvious concern
o thatthat he is not taken seriously was not justified -
Melody Maker noted in his review of the single. - He should
continue to release new tracks as good as "Poison"
and not pay attention to the so-called "civilized image
life."  You'll be dancing to this single for weeks:
fast 6ac and surprisingly slow hard rhythm. Looks like
With this record Liam pays tribute to all those vinyls like
"Ultramagnetic MC's" from the distant 8Qs.  This is just as great
instrumental hip-hop, like many of MO`WAX's songs. TNE PRODIGY
- this is a great modern band." - 26 - Tour
Great Britain, with the aim of presenting a new single, presented
Keith as one of the best concert performers. Having done
giving yourself a short “horned” haircut, and constantly coloring it
various light colors, he continued to wear a dog collar and
apply bright black makeup around your eyes. His new idea
which consisted of appearing on stage in a descending transparent
plastic ball, intended for a spectacular start
representations.   "It starts out as the best show ever,
that you have ever imagined, - wrote Melody Maker o
the band's concert in Leicester. - Keith was spinning in a glowing ball,
showered the audience with “stars” of light (which makes TNE PRODIGY
like thisWhat makes them great is their constant diversity). Because of
the walls of his equipment Liam produced whole squalls of sound, and
sometimes it seemed as if his hands simply disappeared. Like TIM SIMEUOU and
TRICMY, he is that rare master performer who does not allow
not a single sound evaporates from his composition. He's deep
understands music and plays great in all styles, combining them
into one perfect musical hit.  Yes it really is
performance of the year." "Kate is a victim of music who has tied herself
to Liam's devices and turned into a kind of electronic
gargoyle,” IME concluded.  - The introduction is simply perfect: he
descends in a huge plastic tank, wriggling like
mental prisoner, and then he breaks out and starts
do your crazy tricks. He climbs onto the station        
oation on                                                        
speakers on stage and throws himself from them straight into the crowd, looking like
as rpoteckho as possible. With my
he achieved this without difficulty with his new shocking hairstyle." At the beginning
long hot summer of 1995, TNE PRODIGY take part in
a number of non-stop festivals and appear as headliners at the very
the biggest ever official music event "Tribal
Gathering". They were accompanied by ORBITAL, MOVU, BAUDULU and CHEMICAL
BROTHERS.The event was recognized as the concert of the year.  Later TNE
PRODIGY claimed that despite all the officiality of this
event, it fully preserved the spirit of the old raves.  Less than
a month later, Keith gave his first individual interview in
press.  He appeared on the pages of IME, giving advice on how
survive in Glastonbur.  Invited as headliners at
second stage of the festival, TNE PRODIGY performed at the same time as
OASIS, who were, by and large, the most popular band in
country.  However, TNE PRODIGY's set turned out to be more exciting and
more popular.  And rock fans literally fled from the main
stage, where OASIS performed, to take a closer look at
phenomenal show TNE PRODIGY.  "Seeing thousands of fans
OASIS 6eryt on our field, it was a waking dream, he admitted later
Kate in Blah Blah Blah. - Performing live is what we
simply necessary.  We have dedicated the last five years to this
occupation. And we don't even need such politeness as
applause at the end of the speech. We want to bring people to
so that after our concerts they are carried out on stretchers."
All the critics unanimously said that the TNE PRODIGY performance
became the highlight of the entire festival. "Liam and his band showed up
on stage with a guitarist in order to enhance the atmosphere of his
speeches, -wrote Select, who gave the concert 11 out of 1Q. - TNE
PRODIGY are perfect for 9Qs. Keith was spinning inside
giant transparent plastic ball, and Leeroy appeared on
stage, dressed in a silk shirt-chainmail.  Being in good health
sanity, Keith jumped into the crowd and, like a surfer, swam over the heads,
disappearing into the crowd and appearing on stage safe and sound through
2Q minutes. Only one knows what your mother said if
6 you saw this on TV.  Liam gave out on his
synthesizers such a symbiosis of rave and rock that made 5Q QQQ
spectators jump non-stop for an hour and a half, like
established." - 27 - TNE PRODIGY spent the rest of the summer giving a number of
concerts at "open" festivals in Britain and central
Europe, as well as in Russia, Macedonia, Romania, Israel and America.
Most of the people who witnessed their amazing shows in both
live and on TV, we saw how the number of fans of the group
expanded in six months to the size of an entire stadium, and this
provided that THE PRODIGY has not released any recordings. B
one memorable weekend in August, on Friday, TNE PRODIGY gave
concert at "T In The Park" in Glasgow, at cy66oty - at the festival
"Ireland`s Feile Festival" and on Sunday they performed the head
group in the event "Iceland`s Uxi". All three performances
were theatricaland characteristically energetic. At the festival
"Lollipop" in Sweden Keith took to the stage with CHEMICAL
BROTHERS, who later admitted they would never have
own dancers, because no one can repeat what
what Kate is doing. In October, TNE PRODIGY played a concert before
1QQQ people at home in Ilford (Essex). Metal magazine
“Merrang!”, who gave the concert 5 out of 5, said about this:
"Ot6pocbte all your stupid musical prejudices and
imagine a band playing so loud that the bass line
lifts a layer of dust from the floor.  Imagine that in these songs
bands have guitar riffs that can y6utb your grandma and
make everyone listening dance like their feet are on fire.
Believe it or not, you are imagining NOT
BPRODIGY.  That night there were moments that could frighten the most
Satan.  Several years ago there was a dispute about whether our magazine would
to write about grunge or not. We started doing it anyway, and the world didn’t
turned over.  TNE PRODIGY won't be able to change the world either, but
they can change your mind. TNE PRODIGY is the best
group in the UK."  At the Ilford show TNE PRODIGY
presented their most extreme concert at that time.
                                                                
Punk-inspired crazenupcuhrom made their images more
attractive.  Liam and Maxim, following Keith's example,
pierced their noses, but refrained, unlike the last one,
from inserting a nail into one's tongue. And Keith decided to paint it
their hair in different colors: in Iceland, for example, they were
purple with yellow. “I don’t know whether my hair will fall out or not,”
he told Select, “but it’s cool.” Everyone is very different
react to this.  Some old ladies say it's very
cute, and one even told me that I look exotic
a bird that flew away from the poultry house. Others think they are suitable
my parents and turn their noses up to he6a, thereby expressing their
dissatisfaction. But, in general, this is my first prejudice, and I
I like him."  The end of 1995 was celebrated by TNE PRODIGY with another
touring the UK, performing in private rock clubs. For the first time
their speeches were covered in central daily publications.
The Times wrote about the band's concert at Brixton Academy: "That
there is nothing in the specific style in which TNE PRODIGY play
cerebral  And it seems that the music of the pa6otaet group is the same
the same principle as metal. Recently, after the release of "Music
For The Jilted Generation", they began to play them in preparation for
releasing a new single - "Firestarter", featuring Keith in
the role of a vocalist and proving that TNE PRODIGY is no longerbe
simply an incredibly popular dance group, and they are becoming
one of the heaviest bands in the country." In fact,
"Firestarter", which had long been planned for release in January, did not
appeared even in mid-March. During the winter tour
Liam, who was supposed to be writing material for the new
album, spent all his time riding down the mountains on a board. It was
for him, as he explained, cnoco6om to release excess energy,
relax just like you could do on stage in
during the concert, dancing with the rest of the group. First
TNE PRODIGY spent a month in 1996 in Australia.  They
joined such artists as TRICMY, RAGE AGAIUST
TNE MACHIUE, PORUO FOR PYROS and UICM CAVE, becoming
headliners at the ongoing event "Big Day Out" - the equivalent
American festival "Lollapolooza".  Next month
the group became guests of the first show in a series of programs about snowboarding
"Boardstupid" transmitted by Chanel 4 and then disappeared into
Switzerland on set.  By the time Firestarter is ready
was already on store shelves, Liam managed to write
four tracks for the new album. In his interview Blah Blah Blah
he described them as being like a slow hip-hop track
"Poison". “These songs have a completely different character,” saidHe.  - They are still tough, but they have significantly
less breakbeat.  I continue to improve with help
songs that inspire me. That's why I always go to concerts
and watch the performances of other groups. The only thing that makes me
What I care about now is the progress of my music. I want to surprise people
every time another TNE PRODIGY record comes out. That's what it's about
I think when I write my compositions." About my creation process
music Liam also said on The Face: "I like to think o
to myself, as a composer who has only half a heart, -
he stated. - I don’t want to write full-fledged songs, because
PRODIGY remains a dance group for now, although we have
arsenal of many more compositions than any other
average dance group.  We are right there
halfway between rock and dance music." Liam also
invited journalists from The Face to his home studio, and
played them my new tracks for the upcoming album -
"Come Correct", "Rock`n`Roll" and "Funky Shit" with BEASTIE sample
BOYS - which have been playing at concerts for several months now
groups.  When Select journalists later visited Liam's studio,
they noticed what albums he listens to: RAVEMAAUIA: The First
Generation, ROTTERDAM TECHUO IS HARD HARD HARD, as well as groupsSUPERGRASS, OASIS and SMUUM AUAUSIE. By the time "Firestart"
eg" was already ready and appeared on the shelves, attracting attention
all critics.  Keith's punk vocals were mixed with
samples of TNE BREEDERS and THE ART OF UOISE, and all of this was
hard hip-hop rhythms are superimposed, creating a chaotic
hardcore madness.   In the third week of March 1996
"Firestarter" hit number one on the 6putahckux charts, where
remained for a whole month and sold over a million
copies  "For many," Liam said in Blah Blah Blah, "Kate -
this is a crazy guy who's been squirming on stage for the last five years
years  Now he is also a vocalist. But it happened cleanly
by chance.    "Firestarter" was already ready as good
instrumental track, but I knew it was missing something
the same as all other TNE PRODIGY songs. Kate somehow
came into the studio and said that he wanted nonpo6obatb to sing to this
composition, and left to write the text. What is "Firestarter"?
Isn't it obvious? This is Keith himself, his personality."
“We had no idea what would come of this idea,” said
Kate in IME - because the only singing that Liam is from
ever heard of us, was our performance of U2 songs with Lear,
which we hummed on the way home. Most of the time we performed them
song"Ope", but instead of lighters or candles we turned on ours
mobile phones and swung them in the air." This time
the group's refusal to participate in "Top of the pops" became big
problem.   TNE PRODIGY went to Colorado to do
snowboarding and celebrate your success, and the TV is on full blast at this time
played their video for "Firestarter", which was black and white
any story filmed in the tunnel of one of the abandoned stations
London Underground, overflowing with suffocating clouds
dust. The consequence was the largest number of complaints, which
ever received TV. Parents called and said that the image
Keita scared their children, and the BBC later invited some
eyewitnesses on a talk show, the topic of which was the question of how
This clip is disgusting. Without a doubt, Firestarter attracted
The attention of an entire nation: guitarist from MAUIC STREET PREACHERS
Nicky Wyer appears on the pages of Melody Maker wearing a T-shirt
TNE PRODIGY;  The Sunday Times asked the band to introduce them
top ten songs;  UEW ORDER vocalist Bernard Sumner
named TNE PRODIGY the best group in the UK, and SMASHIUG
PUMPMIUS - one of Liam's favorite bands - played at one of the
of their concerts held as part of their tour of UM, carpet version
"Firestarter".  Meanwhile, Liam was finishing the rest of the material.
for newalbum. At their first concert in 1996, when
TNE PRODIGY were the headliners at the "Essential Music" festival
Festival" in Brighton, the band presented several of their new
compositions.  They started their performance with the hip-xonoboro track with
working title "Smack My Bitch Up", which is in the middle
flowed into the Central Asian vocal sample of SHEILA CHAUDRA. Then
they played the now familiar tracks "Funky Shit" and
"Rock`n`Roll". In another completely new composition - "Breathe",
- includes a synthesized riff by John Barry, Kate and
Maxim sang for the first time in two voices. And at the very end everyone heard
drug track "Minefields". This composition was planned for
release as a single, which was supposed to be released immediately
after "Firestarter", but the band decided to present it only at
album.  In his studio, Liam had already finished two
new tracks. One of them, called "Diesel Power", was a song in
style of the soundtrack to the film "Mission: impossible" and represented
rapper from the "Ultramagnetic MCs" party Cool Keith, performing
vocal part in this song. Another composition - "Skin" -
represented the leader of the group SMUUM AUAUSIE. In his last
interview before the band's appearance at the central festival,
a fixture in Britain every summer, Liam on the pages
The Face magazine,on the cover of which a scream was depicted
Keith, reflecting on the future TNE PRODIGY: "I don't even
I expected "Firestarter" to be so well received by everyone -
he admitted. - I thought people wouldn't like it because
that there are guitars there. I really wanted to let this one out
same track, but I can’t help but think that people will start
consider us a guitar band and will think that we are moving away from
our roots. But we always said that we don’t want to be techno
group."   What kind of band do you want to be? "We want to be
energetic alternative dance group. It's obvious
that we are no longer a club band, but we continue to write good
dance music and start creating clever
rock and roll tracks.   This is what we have at the moment
interests me the most.  Ultimately I want to create
something more anarchic. Many people consider us a punk band. And
despite the fact that we don’t try to be like that, it turns out
all hao6opot.  But there are a huge number of groups,
use guitars in their music, but not at all necessary,
that this is a punk band. We are on our own, and punk is what we are about
We are the closest." Liam's greatest ambition in the future is
break into America with your creativity. Keith's wish
somewhat proce.“This is a real test for TNE PRODIGY now,”
he asserts, is to make dance those people who, like
they themselves think they don’t want to do this. Before
to get into the band, I often hung around with a bunch of die-hard metalheads.
We went to various rock clubs, and when I danced, I
relaxed. You can smoke a ton of weed, drink a ton
various acid hactoeb and fall, but when you try
get up and move, then this will be your end. Now many
metalheads come to our concerts and don’t pay attention to
that they listen to a different type of music. They start jumping
around without even realizing it. Suddenly they say to themselves:
"Oh, my God! What am I doing? I'm dancing!" That's exactly what
has always been and will be THE PRODIGY."                               
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
Lisa Verrico "The Prodigy: Exit the underground"                
Lisa Beppuko "TNE PRODIGY: Coming out of the underground"                
                                                                
Original text:Lisa Beppuko                               
Translation and text ha6op: Chernov D.A.                            
                                                                
Second expanded edition. Q9.Q6.97                            
                                                                
First published in the UK in 1996 by Virgin Books 
         Virgin Books, 332 Ladbroke Grove, London.              
1996, JMP Ltd.                                                  
1997, Zuby Astrologies Co.                                      
Text provided by PAUL PAVLOM.