James Blunt has paid an emotional tribute to the late Prodigy star Keith Flint, telling a touching anecdote which highlighted the vocalist's kindness.
On Monday morning, 49-year-old Flint was found dead at his home in Essex. When the news broke, it sparked an outpouring of sadness among his music industry peers and fans.
Blunt has now taken to Twitter to praise the late Prodigy icon for showing him warmth when others shunned him.
He wrote: "At the Q Awards years ago, when @NoelGallagher was saying he was leaving Ibiza because I'd moved there, and @DamonAlbarn refused to be in the same picture as me and @PaulWeller HQ was saying he'd rather eat his own s*** than work with me, Keith Flint came over, gave me a hug, and said how thrilled he was for my success".
He added: "Keith, I only met you once, but I shed a tear at the news of your death. In our business, there are no prizes for being kind, but if there was, that Grammy would be yours."
At the Q Awards years ago, when @NoelGallagher was saying he was leaving Ibiza because I’d moved there, and @DamonAlbarn refused to be in the same picture as me, and @PaulWellerHQ was saying he’d rather eat his own shit than work with me, Keith Flint came over, gave me a hug, and
— James Blunt (@JamesBlunt) March 4, 2019
said how thrilled he was for my success.
— James Blunt (@JamesBlunt) March 4, 2019
Keith, I only met you once, but I shed a tear at the news of your death. In our business, there are no prizes for being kind, but if there was, that Grammy would be yours.
Meanwhile, Flint's ex-girlfriend Gail Porter, who dated the music star from 1999 to 2000, simply tweeted the word "heartbroken" after hearing about his death.
Heartbroken
— Gail Porter (@Gailporter) March 4, 2019
Flint started off with The Prodigy - formed in 1990 by keyboard player and songwriter Liam Howlett - as a dancer, but gradually took centre stage as main vocalist on mid-90s hits such as Firestarter and Breathe.
His bandmates reacted to his death on Twitter, writing: "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."
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.
— The Prodigy (@the_prodigy) March 4, 2019
We thank you for respecting the privacy of all concerned at this time. pic.twitter.com/nQ3Ictjj7t
The band were due to play a concert in Norway at the beginning of August and in the UK at the end of August.
Elsewhere, Flint's wife has allegedly broken her silence by retweeting a tweet by the band.
プロディジーのキース・フリント、死去https://t.co/VqnGSQ2MBy#KeithFlint #TheProdigy
— BARKS編集部 (@barks_news) March 4, 2019
