The Most Disgusting Video MTV Ever Aired
The Prodigy Story. This week, we delve into the explosive, terrifying rise and devastating end of The Prodigy — the Essex rave act that weaponized pure noise, pissed off the entire British establishment, and burned down every rule in the music industry. What happened to The Prodigy begins in 1990, when classically trained pianist Liam Howlett sampled a cartoon cat, accidentally ignited a war between underground purists and the mainstream charts, and turned a background dancer named Keith Flint into the most nightmarish frontman MTV had ever broadcast. The “Charly” single hit number three and the underground blamed them for killing rave culture. The British government passed laws to shut down their scene. Their response was to make the music so dark and aggressive that the BBC banned “Firestarter” from television after parents said Keith was giving toddlers nightmares — and it went straight to number one.
Then came The Fat of the Land: ten million copies sold, number one in twenty-three countries, a Grammy nomination, and the single “Smack My Bitch Up” — later voted the most controversial song of all time. Walmart pulled the album. Feminist organizations protested. MTV banned the video after two weeks. The Prodigy didn’t flinch. They doubled down on every controversy, headlined massive festivals for another decade, and remained fiercely independent until March 4th, 2019, when Keith Flint was found dead at 49. Liam announced the band was over — no replacement, no carry-on. The Prodigy died with Keith.
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@lagurl1997
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Loved Prodigy!!
@eyesintheskies
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Poison was the first single i ever bought.
£1.99 on cassette!
(Got the remedy as well 😉)
@nikkiwild4014
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
I saw them live few headlining the festivals. It was a pure challenge ,they literally smacked the crowd
@creepinwhileyousleepin
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
One of the least tragic stories you’ve told so far.
@flywheelshyster
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
In the fat of the Land was one if those essential 90s albums
@brywasiuk
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Liked. Subscribed. You're welcome.
@JCOwens-369
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
This is why I will continue to live & die in the underground. By becoming involved with the mainstream one makes a Faustian Bargain that alnost always ends in one losing control of their art, their message, themselves, etc.
@gengraded
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
I remember downloading smack my bitch up from bearshare and then later buying the dvd for all their music videos. I think it's still buried in a bin somewhere in the studio. The early days were the best days imo. After Jilted the lightning in the bottle was gone. Always tell your mummy before you go off somewhere.
@GaiaMisery
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Man what a time to be alive , I’m 44 now but will never forget the rave days …. Glad I’m still alive 😊 PLUR 4 Life
@dling31
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Add one more sub.
@michaelfarineau6
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
The ’Smack My ..’ video left such an impression that I remember where I was when I first viewed it.
@Skullet
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
RIP Keith Flint. The guy was glorious chaos on stage and a wonderful human in general. There's a video of him climbing through the crowd into the disabled section in the middle of a gig to give several disabled people hugs, that's the sort of guy Keith was, what an absolute legend.
@burtbacarach5034
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
I absolutely HATED the Prodigy when I first heard them.But they kinda grew on me,kinda like a fungus.Smack my bitch up rocks,kinda like this channel.
@Victoria.Peckham
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Not getting to see the OG Prodigy lineup live is one of my biggest regrets. RIP Keith ❤
@Satyr000
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
They basically kicked off a satanic panic for UK dance music. But again the parents and groups pushing back along with everything else, ended up drawing more people to the band. So The Fat of the Land was in my music rotation with Come My Fanatics by Electric Wizard. But in a way I have to thank both Metallica and Megadeath for finding a lot of new bands in the early 90's. Because it was albums like Load and Cryptic Writings that lead to me doing so. I also have to thank the magazine Metal Maniacs since it covered things like sub-genres and trash bands outside of the big 4.
@OPFOR109
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
I was in punk and hardcore bands in my youth. mohawk and "too cool for major label" attitude. a year after I heard Breath I was spinning D&B at warehouse parties. Such a great to be alive in that scene. Prodigy was the bridge. In my old age I still love all this stuff. my playlists are schizophrenic.
@DBSG1976
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
I was visiting my college girlfriend in NYC the summer of 1997 and I heard The Prodigy being blasted at a club thinking that it was just a club/local DJ mix, didn't realize it was an up and coming global act.
@Bobby2Stoned
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Just discovered your channel about a week ago. I've already run through most of your vids, really enjoying them.
@there_is_nothing_here
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
I remember when smack my b** up dropped. The mainstream media lost their minds.😂
@nigel_saxon
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
"I'm trapped in a sewer with a confessed arsonist, Brock! Help me!"
– "Dr." Venture
@mattmiller4821
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Rip keith
@IronWhiskey
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Love your channel my man! LONG LIVE ROCK N ROLL!!!!!!
@umop3plsdn
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
RIP keith there will never be another like him
@SanchoPeas
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Love this, these guys are from my neck of the woods, been a fan since Out of Space when I was a kid, seeing them live this summer for the first time since 2006 (first time without Keef😢)
Keef's funeral in Braintree shut the town down, people travelled from all over. RIP
Btw love the "still owns every stage he ever stood on" line❤
@romangarcia608
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
I saw TooL seven years ago yesterday (coincidentally) at a festival in Chicago with a bunch of cool bands (my introduction to the bad-ass French metal band Gojira) and the Prodigy was slated to go on right before TooL who were headlining and I was crazy excited to see these guys.
Unfortunately Keith killed himself a short while before the festival actually happened and were replaced by the Cult who I love and were great but nothing like the Prodigy would’ve been in terms if a stage show. Bummed is an understatement. R.I.P. KF 🙏🏼
@ryanh3176
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
They remind me of my teenage years. I had many good times at desert parties with prodigy playing in the background. Rip Keith.
@deadinthewater218
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Rip Keith Flint
@familydogg1234
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Never heard of it. I listen to Musicians with Talent
@srhatfield
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
12:35 Dude… I straight up saw Butthead saying line this in my head.. 😂
@Redrum995544
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Can't stand the band, absolutely loved the smbu video
@srhatfield
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Hey guys, if you haven't subbed to this channel, please consider it… he's almost to 100k and a play button!
@Dr.Loomis69
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
What if I told you… That guitar meets science is the best Music You -Tuber we have ever had!
Thanks for the nostalgic time capsule every morning I wake up .
@jamesgeorge4874
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
The 90's was a great time to be 16-26 .
@ThomasGray-f1s
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
I believe they were in countless video games also. Prodigy was everywhere.
@stephenunterberg3222
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Once again, you are an amazing narrator. Thank you for being real.
@raymondmasullo6686
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
I couldn't stand these guys in the 90s (sorry, I'm an 80s Metal guy). However, I never knew they had such an interesting story. I also like their attitude. Great video! Keep 'em coming! 🤘PS Your videos usually pop up first on my feed, but lately, I've had to go look for them. Damned You Tube!
@johngarrett3361
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
I remember seeing this video on MTV during a stretch of insomnia. I remember thinking, right after it finished, "did that just happen"? I wasn't sure it was real for the longest time.
@RK79KR
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
Top notch content as usual.
@xavierdraco33
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
❤️ 🐜
@bree9272
May 21, 2026 at 12:35 am
I love The Prodigy. I listen to their songs everyday. One night I went clubbing back in the late 90s and the DJ played Smack My Bitch Up. The waitresses were dancing on stages and the place was on fire.