Keith Flint, frontman of iconic British electronic band The Prodigy, has died by suicide, aged 49.

Liam Howlett, who formed the group in 1990, released a statement via the band’s social media confirming the artists death.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this but our brother Keith took his own life over the weekend, I’m shell shocked , f***in angry, confused and heart broken ….. r.i.p brother Liam,” Mr Howlett wrote on Instagram.

The British vocalist who sang hits like Firestarter and Breathe was found dead by authorities at his London home in Essex shortly after 8.10am on Monday.

“We attended and, sadly, a 49-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene,” a police spokesman said.

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

Mr Flint became regarded as one of the UK’s most iconic musical figures in the 1990s and one of the best known faces of British electronic music.

He joined the Prodigy as a dancer and became well known for his apparently random moves and eccentric hair cuts. He later became the band’s lead vocalist alongside rapper Maxim.

“I’m a firestarter, twisted firestarter,” he sang in the 1996 hit. “I’m the self inflicted, mind detonator, yeah.”

In a statement, the group paid tribute to a “true pioneer, innovator and legend.”

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

Tributes have flowed for the innovative rock star who led one of the most successful British pop bands to emerge during that time.

Singer Beverley Knight tweeted: “I just heard, and I am heartbroken. Once the most innovative, fearless, ballsy bands to grace a stage and Keith was perfection up front. We have lost a Titan.”

J Jo Whiley wrote: “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.”

All of the band’s seven albums topped UK’s music charts, the most recent being No Tourists, released in November 2018.

Mr Flint grew up with dyslexia and dropped out of school aged 15, working as a roofer in Essex before joining the Prodigy.

He was addicted to painkillers for a short time but became sober, and married Japanese DJ Mayumi Kai in 2006. The couple later separated.

Outside of the Prodigy, Mr Flint also founded the successful motorcycle racing outfit Team Traction Control, which made its debut in 2014, and went on to win multiple Supersport TT titles.

Richard Russell, head of the XL Recordings label that first signed the group, said: “Devastated Keith Flint is gone. not just a great performer. he had total integrity & an incredible sense of humour. one of the sweetest people I’ve ever worked with. what a beautiful energy. what a gentleman. privileged to have known him. miss u keith.”

-With AAP