Keith Flint the former frontman of The Prodigy touched the hearts of thousands of people around the world with his music and persona. The news of Keith’s suicide, on 4th March 2019, shook the world but especially his family, friends and local residents. One person impacted by this sudden loss was Adrian Weaver, a close friend of Keith’s and fellow musician.
Adrian explains his process behind the charity single, The Fire is Out. “It was a few days after I attended Keith’s funeral, I penned some lyrics as a way of expressing my emotions. Whilst the lyrics reflect the way I was feeling at the time of Keith’s death, the sense of loss of those who are left behind is universal. I never really had any intention of doing anything with them, but about a year later, I showed them to one of the members of my band. It was him who suggested that ‘I should put them to music and release the track for charity’ and here we are.”
There have been many involved with making this single a tremendous tribute to Keith Flint’s memory. One of which is Marcella Detroit of Shakespears Sister, one of Keith’s favourite singers and performers. Adrian Weaver recalls the moment he listened to Marcella with Keith, “I was sitting in Keith’s house one evening, on the sofa with one of his many dogs sprawled across my lap whilst Keith was on the other sofa trying out new flavours for his vape!”
“The television was on and with the strong scent of caramel and coconut drifting through the air, we watched a concert which was recorded back in the early nineties. Marcella Detroit of Shakespeare Sister was performing. Keith slumped back on his sofa and expressed how much he ‘loved Marcella’s voice!’. Remembering this evening, I contacted her to see if she’d be interested in recording the song with me? She promptly agreed.”
Due to Keith’s suicide I really wanted the charity to focus on mental health and supporting the local area to where Keith lived, this is when I contacted Mind in West Essex. Mind in West Essex supports people in Uttlesford, Harlow, Epping Forest and beyond with services to help the local communities mental health.
Jade Bolton, Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator at Mind in West Essex says, “ We are privileged to be involved with this project. A few of us here at Mind in West Essex are either fans of The Prodigy or personally knew Keith. This initiative provides us with exactly the kind of opportunity we need to start a conversation with people on suicide awareness and prevention, supporting people with their personal experience of suicide and to eliminate stigma around the subject.”
“We want West Essex to be a place where people can speak openly and positively about mental health within our local community and this is the exact avenue to which we can start a conversation.”
All proceeds of the single will go to Mind in West Essex and we’re asking for a £5 donation for the download and a £7 donation for the CD which are limited to 100 copies. You can purchase the CD single from, Saffron Walden Tourist Information Centre.
To download the track or purchase the CD online please visit www.mindinwestessex.org.uk
If you would like to make a donation to Mind in West Essex, please visit https://www.mindinwestessex.org.uk/fundraising/donate-to-mind-in-west-essex/
