The Prodigy vs Beastie Boys incident at Reading (1998)

The Prodigy and Beastie Boys were involved in a war of words at the 1998 Reading Festival. The Beastie Boys asked the Prodigy not to include Smack My Bitch Up in their set, claiming that it is offensive but the Prodigy did play the song and Maxim shouted to the crowd: I do what the fuck I want. Later the Beasties Ad Rock commented, From where Im from, it isnt cool..

[@sienc74]

This was the first time I saw The Prodigy. They were so fired up over this incident, it's probably the only time I've seen headliners get upstaged. The Beasties didn't stand a chance after this

[@ditamanson2222]

i was at this one to awesome night

[@lavielemond]

Agree 110%, my friend...have long told friends down here in Oz the EXACT same thing re: how the Saturday night's headliners worked out...

[@andyterry9366]

As far as I remember the Beasties only headlined because Phoenix festival got cancelled so they added phoenix artists to Reading lineup.

[@sienc74]

@@andyterry9366 that's right. Prodigy were big enough to headline, the crowd was noticeably smaller for the Beasties

[@MissyP166]

I remember this! Damn, wish the song followed on from this. RIP Keith. Xx

[@iAMChrisCC]

I was there too and remember this - brilliant 😀

[@raymond4199]

wow everyone samples the beastie boys for that "biiiitch!" and this happened.

[@DarknessUnresolved]

Necro. Immortal Technique, for starters.

[@thachubbmonster9013]

Let’s go maxim

[@bostavely204]

I was there front row .
I was 30

[@insortediaboli]

viva la "the prodigy". in whole respect to the legendry "beastie boys", but popolizam should be out of music.

[@DarknessUnresolved]

No way. Prodigy were and are way better! At least THEY kept it real!

[@ViolentVegan]

This was the night I realized I didn't like the Prodigy anymore. Not because of this... they just stopped being the Prodigy of the first to albums that night and became the angry guitar-punk-big-beat Prodigy.

[@matthewpaynter3846]

It was a win win for me, my 2 fav bands but 100% beasties might as well have not of turned up...ruined

[@jaykayadrock]

@jonquil4000 pioneers of hip-hop would be a more accurate term

[@daliend]

@jaykayadrock run DMC's jew-caucasian ripoffs is the proper term ;)

[@DarknessUnresolved]

Actually, G'nR are one of the fucking worst bands there ever was. AC/DC are one of the most boring, bloated, and over-rated. Kravitz is pretty decent by comparison. But even HE got to a point where he was just doing commercial so-so 'meh' product - as oppose to genuinely good music. And that change seemed to start the moment his agent ordered him to cut all his dreads off.

[@sophiew1967]

Both sets were fucking incredible! The bass during the Prodigy's set was that loud that I' m amazed the entire audience didn't lose control of their bowels..you could feel the floor shake !! lol

[@johnord684]

I was there. The best thing about it the beasties sampled Tom Sawyer by RUSH lol

[@MrTinsel]

I was there and remember this well. Can't believe how bloody long ago it was, though.

[@evechandler3388]

Me too! Seems so very long ago now: I was 17 at the time and I’m 39 now! Crazy shit

[@sophiew1967]

Me too..I was 32 & I' m 55 next birthday !..scary or what 😮😮

[@indicablue7450]

I was there!!!! Awesome!!!!

[@Martin85666]

We do what we want.
🐜🐜🐜
The Prodigy = Pure madnesss

[@Joe-kt7zp]

25 years later and they are not saying SMB anymore lol

[@Kholaslittlespot1]

I remember this... somehow!

[@bentaylor2390]

I was in that crowd, aged 13. Prodigy were amazing, and Beastie Boys were the biggest disappointment ever!

[@vespertimshady5510]

Agreed, I was there and was my 18th bday, prodigy were great....so were Rancid...

[@ViolentVegan]

I was about 17. I was bored by them both.

[@Peterjoc1983]

Ben Taylor
I was 14 and Supergrass, Foo Fighters and Prodigy were amazing on the day. I walked away for a Pot Noodle after 20mins of Beastie Boys.

[@ViolentVegan]

Peterjoc1983
Supergrass were amazing. I got half crushed to death during the Foos and had to bail

[@bentaylor2390]

Yup, all those bands were in their hayday back then. We'll never have those late 90's line ups again!

[@griff9899]

@jonquil4000 the prodigy had some good tunes,but compared to the beastie boys not even close

[@deaner410]

I lost respect for The Beastie Boys after this. Trying to censor another bands music? GTFOH

[@ThePerformula]

@gliderama LOL she married the wrong dude. You can't erase millions of records.

[@ExecuteOrder.66]

@ExtremeEnigma28 Thats funny.... :') Very funny

[@Jamesp1972]

Prodigy were shit compared with the Beasties

[@NiKOliDANBURSKi]

and how didn't the beasties?!

[@DarknessUnresolved]

Fine. I'll admit that to some people such groups apparently do hold a special place for them. Not for me, but for them.