Shock rocker KEITH FLINT is baffled by his reputation as the scariest man in music, insisting he just expresses himself.
The Prodigy frontman's wild hair, eyeliner, piercings and energetic stage routine earned him the tag during the band's 1990s heyday.
The dance group were regular fixtures in the British press and attracted thousands of complaints from parents who considered Flint "too scary" for their kids.
The singer admits the publicity was great for the band, helping them sell 16 million albums worldwide, but he insists he never courted the controversy.
The 39-year-old tells WENN, "To be honest, the scary thing, I don't get it. People being scared of people expressing themselves... That's how I behave when I'm getting off on something I love.
"It's self expression. I think anyone who's willing to be brutally honest with who they are and express themselves is always going to get the oddball label, the pyscho label, the twisted label. That's what happens. We're all taught to blend in and behave. I'm not scary. It's scary for people to see someone being nonconformist.
"I've always been an attention seeker. I've always demanded attention and I'll do anything to get it."
And Flint's bandmate Liam Howlett insists music needs more people like him: "I think Henry Rollins said, 'Every generation needs a 'f**k you guy'. I don't think there is one at the moment."

"I think Henry Rollins said, 'Every generation needs a 'f**k you guy'. I don't think there is one at the moment."

I was expecting a foul-mouthed Londoner who would be an arrogant and difficult subject.

Do you remember touring SA?

"I do," he replies. "It was awesome." Oh, really…

"We're in pre-production at the moment," Flint continues.

"We're preparing for a world tour for our new album, logistics and so on. It's not that interesting doing pre-prod. But for the tour the band's gonna do what it normally does but we also want to make the sound as good as it can be.

"We're just excited about doing the new songs. That's the most important thing."

The new album contains, at times, strange Euro-trash beats which can be gimmicky. It certainly doesn't seem as hard as their previous offerings.

"I don't know, it depends what you are comparing it to," Flint says thoughtfully.

"It's certainly more anthemic and the beats carry our new sound."

The group plan to tour the album for the next two years, playing clubs and festivals. Flint explains that they will start in Australia before doing the festival scene in Europe. They have just come off a tour of the US.

"We have been touring heavily since our Greatest Hits album - and we love it. I can't say whether I prefer club gigs or festivals. That's like saying what your favourite meal is.

"What's interesting about festivals is you can check out your favourite bands as well but it's always good to go back into the clubs and get intimate with the crowd."

After 18 years of performing live does Flint still get nervous before playing? His answer is emphatic: "Never! I never got nervous. I get a huge buzz from it. I get hungry for it. Someone once said that you can only be successful in the music industry for a year. Well, I'm still living that year.

"I've done everything but I get hungry for more every day. Life's never boring."

Well, no one would ever have thought that Keith Flint's life would be boring!

"Look, fame went to my head big time back then. I used it. I abused it. But hey, we're pretty cute guys and fame and this band go together.

"The thing is, I am that person you see on stage and in the videos. I don't become someone else when I perform. But I'm not hyper 24/7 though. It depends what I am triggered by."

One last question. What's happening to the dance music scene that was so big when you started?

"The dance scene is getting back on track. It never went away, it just took a knock when the whole rave culture died. It's here for life.

"But we as The Prodigy are determined not to fit in."

Well, thanks Keith, good luck with your tour.

"Thanks, Therese." he replies. "Nice talking to you. Have a good day." I nearly fell off my chair.