TPi

Nostalgia meets innovation on The Prodigy: Army of the Ants Tour

11th March 2024
Alicia Pollitt

The Prodigy and their loyal crew return to arena touring with their biggest production to date.

It felt fitting to cover The Prodigy for one of my first features at TPi, as they often echoed through the walls of my childhood home thanks to my parents. Now, 33 years after the band’s formation, it feels like a full circle moment for their staunch crew too, many of whom have spent decades bringing the bands vision to life. The Prodigy isn’t just bringing nostalgia but is introducing themselves to a new world of video content and a new generation of fans, paying homage to the rave-scene with lasers, colour, and lighting. While the loss of the legendary Keith Flint looms large among band, crew and fans alike, they work hard to create a befitting tribute for the ’90s icon.

Greeting TPi at Manchester’s AO Arena for the second date of The Prodigy’s first arena tour since 2018 were Production Manager, Tyrone Brunton and Production Coordinator, Jennifer Quinn. “The ethos of The Prodigy is electronic punk rock,” Brunton began. Starting with the band in 2012, Brunton has remained a loyal member of the crew for this latest run, he brought on suppliers 4Wall Entertainment for lighting and video, DART Rigging; Solotech for audio and TAIT for set. BPM SFX, Hangman, Sarah’s Kitchen, Fly By Nite, Phoenix Bussing, TAG, Mission Control, Radiotek, Observatory, John Fairs of JCF Management, and Steve Whiting of Incognito Security were also on board alongside Solomon Parker, the band’s Agent.

Loyalty is prominent when talking to Brunton. He tells of the years the majority of crew on this campaign have spent with the band and how many came back to this production at the drop of a hat. Another common theme in conversations with Brunton and the crew was returning to live shows after the loss of Keith Flint. With his loss felt heavily among the crew, this is not a tour that is about just continuing The Prodigy without Flint but rather one that honours him posthumously, among both band and crew.

“The core crew we have on this all stopped everything they were doing to get back together,” Brunton commented. Other crew members show TPi their crew laminate passes which memorialise core crew members who passed away in 2023, Ray Whelan and James Brennan who are missed fondly.

Words: Alicia Pollitt

Photos: Joe Okpako and 4Wall Entertainment

theprodigy.com

www.europe.4wall.com

www.flybynite.co.uk

www.phoenix-bussing.co.uk

www.tag.live

www.missioncontrolltd.com