13-02-2025
The Prodigy's Liam Howlett Calls for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nod
The Prodigy's Liam Howlett has spoken out about the group's absence from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, urging for their inclusion in the prestigious institution.
Speaking ahead of the band's upcoming Disrupta Tour in Australia, Howlett admitted that the Hall of Fame hadn't been on his radar—until now. 'It's not something I've ever thought about, but yeah, as you spoke about it we should be up there. Make it happen!' he told Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
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While The Prodigy didn't make the 2025 class, which features fellow British acts like Oasis, New Order, and Billy Idol, the Essex-born electronic pioneers make a strong case for future recognition. Their 1997 album The Fat of the Land became a landmark moment for electronic music, breaking barriers in the U.S. by debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200—an unprecedented achievement for a band in their genre at the time.
Two of the group's defining singles, 'Firestarter' and 'Smack My Bitch Up,' cracked the Billboard Hot 100 in an era when electronic music wasn't widely embraced by the mainstream American industry.
'I've said before, I never gave a f* about the charts,' Howlett recalled. 'But somehow Fat of the Land going to No. 1 in the USA felt different. It had an extra 'f*** you-ness' about it as only a few British bands had ever done that. So yeah, you could say it gave me a certain cheeky pride for a while.'
In their home country, The Prodigy have dominated the U.K. charts, racking up seven No. 1 albums, including their most recent studio effort, No Tourists, in 2018. Their career tally also includes 11 top 10 hits on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, with 'Firestarter' and 'Breathe' both reaching No. 1 in 1996.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame requires nominees to have released their first single or album at least 25 years before the induction year. The Prodigy, who first hit the U.K. charts in 1991 with 'Charly,' easily meet the eligibility criteria, making them potential contenders for future classes.
As the group gears up for their first Australian tour in five years, fans are eager to see Howlett and Maxim back on stage. The Disrupta Tour, which kicks off Feb. 13 in Sydney, is also their first major run since the passing of frontman Keith Flint in 2019.
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