TheProdigy

I would like fans out there to help clarify an important part of Prodigy History.

My question is , "when did Keith and Prodigy first perform Firestarter live?"

I believe it was at The Island, Ilford Essex on 28th October 1995.

Why should I doubt or seek clarification?

This is very important to me, not just because I was there that night and have (and am) still convinced that I was privileged to witness a moment of pure prodigy history, as well as being treated to a rare encore which included Charly that night!! but also becuse I suspect the biography on this web site is wrong.

Firstly, if you check the web site band biography (page 3) it says they debuted it "later in the year" of 1994. Now it is true they played Ilford Island later that year BUT they also played The Island in 1995 (when I went). So the Biography is, I suggest wrong.

Also, the Biography quite rightly says this was "debuted" about 6 months before its release. Now we know it was released in March 1996, don't we? So, I think the biographer has got the Island year dates confused. Agree?

Secondly, I had the good fortune to meet the band recently and asked Keith myself "wasn't it at the Island Ilford when you first did Firestarter?"

Keith replied "No, I think it was Australia".

That must be wrong bless him. Still at the time I never quizzed him further on this, who would without checking their facts? I respectfully made a mental note and thought I would check it out. Prodigy never did Australia until January 1996, according to the gig list, so it is quite likely they did do Firestarter on that tour, BUT not for the first time!

The Biography, by the way, is the same blurb that has gone out in the Singles album and DVD sleeve. So, I think it is kinda important.

Oh, and Keith sorry to quote you on this man, and you never said "definitely", but may be this is an important point for the Band's history? hence my urge to clarify.

Answers or comments on the back of a forum post it please!!

:shock:

not too sure it matters a fuck mate. you're your own man, but to be honest i couldn't give a shit if i was at a gig where a tune was debuted. once it's on my cd rack, i'm happy as robbie williams in a bath full of shepherds pie man

you should wait until tomorrow when our walking encyclopedia will be online , i dunno either, but what i know is that they played australia way b4 '96.

I heard "firestarter (alpha version)" @ Leicester De Montfort Hall , UK March 1995 if that counts ?
obviously not the proper version of it

sure it does colostomy,

look I am not a huge firestater fan BUT this was a defining moment in Prodigy's history and I was proud to be there. I remember thinking at the time "Oh my God, Keith has got the mike, he's singing, fuck this takes the band into a new dimension" you know it changed the face of the Prodigy!

I mean the biographer clearly agrees it was an important event!

Oh, and Dirt I was also at Leicester that night (when Keith came on in plastic ball to 'break and enter', top gig that was!!) but the "Firestarter" I am talking about is the one obviously where Keith took to the mike. He had never done anything like that before!

so can anyone sort this out, what does the biographer, Martin James, think?

was an awesome gig at that i have it on mp3
i see what you mean tho keith wasnt singing at that gig cos it was an early version of it so guess it wouldnt count

you got the early keith singing on mp3 ? Any good ?

chuppitman,

secondly, defining moment in the prodigy's history?? are you on crack or summat? dont you think that a slightly more defining moment would be when liam wrote the track??

/edited by afro
i love you vk man...but please don't be so unnecessarily hostile...or your posts will be edited from here on

Backup voodookilla, u r scaring off all the users lol

chuppitman..i reckon you are 100% correct.

If anyone has live versions of breathe or break and enter from the end of 2005....please let me know.
I remember jim davies was doing some really mental shit at that time...but lost the tape recording years ago

i have full audio recording of the osaka gig in feb 2006, B&E as the first track, great gig. nothing from the end of 05 though.

arent we talking about 95 and keith first time singing, then 05 with b&e ? I am confused

When Prodigy played the Point Depot in 1995 Dublin Ireland New Years, Keith sang Firestarter and I was amazed to see him singing a track, cause he never did before

Here is the Prodigy playing Firestarter in Romania November 25th 1995


This shows that it was defenitly before 1996

fLiNtY wrote:


there was a fight and noone told me ?

first thanks Tomas, I appreciate you have obviously "paid close attention" and respect!

voodakilla, you are angry about something, don't know what, but you missed the point anyway :shock: I am talking about the "performance" !!

jungle vibes, thanks for that the Bucharest gig must have been only the 4th time ever Keith did this, and the Dublin gig was also after that , end December 1995. I, like you, was amazed. This so far backs up what I am saying. THEN they went to australia.

Oh and sorry to confuse with the Break and Enter anecdote, I was just sharing a memory with Dirt.

Any how given what has been "written" in the biography, you know these things tend to be accepted as fact unless someone who remembers otherwise speaks up!

so yes it is important.

Can we all agree now and be friends?