Keith Flint ‘suicide’ – The Prodigy legend famed for Firestarter and wild haircut dead after ‘taking his own life’ aged 49

THE Prodigy's Keith Flint has been found dead in a suspected suicide at his home, aged 49.

The iconic Essex singer, who was married to Mayumi Kai, was discovered at around 8am this morning after police and paramedics were called to the property.

Rex Features 22 The Prodigy's Keith Flint was found dead at the property this morning

Officers remain outside the £1.5m rural home this afternoon but his death is not being treated as suspicious.

The Prodigy's co-founder Liam Howlett said Keith Flint had 'taken his own life'.

Famed for his devil-horns haircut and intense stage performances - the iconic 90s musician was performing just last month in New Zealand on a world tour set to run until May.

The Essex boy, who once dated Gail Porter, was the face of the rave band and took centre stage on their best-known hit Firestarter, the single which launched him as an icon.

Howlett, who founded The Prodigy with Flint in their hometown of Braintree, Essex, wrote: "The news is true. I can't believe I am saying this but our brother Keith took his own life over the weekend.

"I'm shell shocked, f****** angry, confused and heart broken r.i.p brother."

PA:Press Association 22 Police outside Keith Flint's home in Dunmow today

22 The Prodigy star became a household name following the release of 1996 hit Firestarter

Matt Henry Photography NZ 22 The Prodicy frontman performed his final gig in Auckland, New Zealand, last month

22 Keith Flint pictured with wife Mayumi Kai

In an official statement, the group said: "It is with deepest shock and sadness that we can confirm the death of our brother and best friend Keith Flint.

"A true pioneer, innovator and legend. He will be forever missed.

"We thank you for respecting the privacy of all concerned at this time."

Keith's wife, Japanese DJ Mayumi Kai, is believed to have been in Japan at the time of his death.

The star's devastated family asked for privacy at the star's rural home, where they are being supported by police today.

I'm shell shocked, f****** angry, confused and heart broken r.i.p brother Liam Howlett of The Prodigy

Tributes have poured in for the frontman, with broadcaster Jo Whiley tweeting: "Oh this is sad news. The death of Keith Flint.

"Whenever our paths crossed he was an absolute sweetheart. Really lovely. Incredible iconic frontman with a soft centre. #RIPKeithFlint."

Rapper Dizzee Rascal wrote: "I remember when this video came out and I thought f*** this guy is a lunatic!

"Then I opened up for the @theprodigyofficial in 2009 at Wembley and he was was one of the nicest people I've met and always was every time I met him, the whole band were.

"When it comes to stage few people can carry a show like him I'm proud to say I've seen it for myself. Iconic and a gentleman Rest in peace @keithflintofficial."

22 Bandmate Liam Howlett wrote an emotional statement on Instagram

Keith Flint wows crowds at The Prodigy gig in New Zealand in last performance for his death

Ed Simons of The Chemical Brothers tweeted: "Oh gosh, so sad to hear about Keith Flint, he was always great fun to be around and very kind to Tom and I when we first started doing shows together.. great man."

A post from electronic music duo Chase and Status said: "Absolutely devastated to hear the tragic news that the legend Keith Flint from @the_prodigy has passed away.

"Our thoughts & condolences are with all his friends and family. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Keith and the life changing music they made and championed. RIP."

An Essex Police spokesman told The Sun Online: "We were called to concerns for the welfare of a man at just after 8.10am on Monday.

"We attended and, sadly, a 49-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner."

An East of England Ambulance spokeswoman said: "We were called at 8.08am with reports of a man who was unconscious in Dunmow.

"We sent an ambulance officer, Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and one ambulance. Sadly a man in his forties died at the scene."

Flint had spoken candidly about his drug use and battles with depression, claiming 'when I'm done, I'll kill myself'.

In an interview with FHM in 2015, he said: "I’m not saving up for anything. I’m cashing it all now.

"I’ve always had this thing inside me that, when I’m done, I’ll kill myself.

"I swear to God that’s not suicidal – it’s definitely a positive thing. The moment I start s******* the bed is when you’ll see me on the front of a bus.

"I just want to look back and know that I’ve lived what I consider a fulfilled life."

I’ve always had this thing inside me that, when I’m done, I’ll kill myself Keith Flint speaking in 2015

In another interview with The Times he hinted that he had considered taking his own life.

He said: "I got bang into coke, weed, drinking a lot. This made me reclusive, boring and shallow.

"I'd line up rows of pills and just take them and take them and I'd lose track of how many until I passed out.

"But you need a lot of balls to kill yourself. I was a coward."

Neighbours in the village of Dunmow said they would regularly spot the star walking his dogs along rural tracks but hadn't seen him in the days before his death.

Jane Addison said: "I don't know how many dogs he had, maybe eight-ish dogs, and he'd go round the fields on his quad, and when he wanted them to come back to him he'd shout 'eggs and bacon'.

"He had lots of birds, canaries... in an aviary. He was friendly, very nice. Always raised a hand and said hello."

FROM UNDERGROUND SCENE TO MUSIC ICON

Keith Flint dead - Montage of iconic Prodigy frontman's most memorable videos

The Prodigy emerged from the underground rave scene of the early 1990s to become one of the UK's biggest bands.

They reached Number 1 in the UK singles charts with Firestarter and Breathe in 1996 and notched up six Number 1 albums.

Flint became an iconic figure in the British music scene with his energetic live performances and distinctive hair and tattoos.

Born in Redbridge, East London, he moved to Braintree, Essex, as a child and met The Prodigy co-founder Liam Howlett at a nightclub in the town.

Flint was originally a dancer for the group but featured as a vocalist on Firestarter.

He wanted to be a country gent and would turn up in his tweed, but when we’d take his hat off you’d see these blue and green devil spikes Dave Kerton, a regular at Flint's Essex pub

The track, known for the lyrics 'I'm a firestarter, twisted firestarter' propelled the band into the mainstream.

His appearance in the video, dancing aggressively in a disused railway tunnel, made him a household name.

The group released their seventh consecutive number one album in November last year.

The frontman dated TV presenter Gail Porter in the 1990s - today she shared news of his death on social media with the caption "heartbroken".

Flint later married Japenese DJ Mayumi Kai in 2006 and last year added her to the deeds of his home, which he purchased for £200,000 in 1997.

In recent years, he also owned a pub in Pleshey, Essex, and became the team owner and manager of motorcycle racing team Traction Control.

The singer often sat and drank with his customers and occasionally came back to the village, which is just a 10-minute drive from his home after handing it over to another landlord in 2017.

Regular Dave Kerton told The Sun Online: "He was a normal bloke. He just wanted to be one of the lads.

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"He wanted to be a country gent and would turn up in his tweed, but when we’d take his hat off you’d see these blue and green devil spikes.

"When he got smashed he just got really bouncy and would jump about the place and sing along to music. He would ring up his bar tab and it would get up to £5,000 or something and he’d just pay it up."

Robert Reilly, 28, who took the pub over from Keith in April 2017, said: "Keith invested a lot of money in the pub and we've made a few changes since he left - we kept the wallpaper in the ladies' toilets - £150 a roll."

Watch lead singer of The Prodigy Keith Flint pull pint of Guinness in local pub Black Tom's Tavern in Wicklow

East News Press Agency 22 Police were called to Flint's home in Dunmow, Essex this morning

Goff Photos 22 Grieving fans left flowers outside the £1.5m country property

WENN 22 Keith pictured as a 13-year-old schoolboy in 1983

Getty - Contributor 22 The Prodigy, pictured in 1994, were formed in their hometown of Braintree, Essex

All Action 22 Flint became one of British music's most iconic figures

2009 Tabatha Fireman 22 The frontman's death is not being treated as suspicious

Getty Images - Getty 22 Bandmates said the star took his own life

AFP 22 Flint was famed for his energetic live performances

Splash News 22 The frontman pictured at Heathrow Airport in November last year

PA:Press Association 22 Flint dated TV presenter Gail Porter in the 1990s

AFP - Getty 22 The band are one of Britain's biggest music acts

Getty Images - Getty 22 Flint pictured with Oasis star Noel Gallagher in 2005

22 The band broke through from the underground rave scene to become one of Britain's biggest bands

JOHN McLELLAN 22 Keith, pictured hiking in the 1990s, was born in East London before moving to Essex

Shaun Ross 22 Flint performing with The Prodigy in Auckland, New Zealand, last month

PA:Press Association 22 In recent years he took over The Leather Bottle pub near his home in Essex

In the UK, The Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14.