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|---|---|
| Origin |  New York City, New York, USA |
| Genre(s) | Hardcore punk Groove metal Industrial metal |
| Years active | 1986-1996 2002-present |
| Label(s) | Spigot Records (1986-1989) Epic Records (1989-1996) Locomotive Music (2002-2005) 13th Planet Records (2007-) |
| Website | Official Website |
| Members | |
| Tommy Victor Monte Pittman Aaron Rossi |
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| Former members | |
| Ted Parsons Paul Raven John Bechdel Troy Gregory Dan Laudo Brian Perry Mike Kirkland |
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Prong is a crossover thrash/thrash metal band and later groove metal/industrial metal formed in 1986. Prong had two independent releases, Primitive Origins and Force Fed. The albums attracted the attention of Epic Records, which signed the trio in 1989. The group disbanded in 1997 after the Rude Awakening tour, but re-formed in 2002. A pioneer of the urban metal scene, Prong is fronted by Tommy Victor. Members of bands such as Korn's Jonathan Davis, Demon Hunter's Ryan Clark, and Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor allegedly cite Prong as an influence to their musical style.
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History
Early career (1986-1988)
Founded by singer/guitarist Tommy Victor who was a sound man for the famous club CBGB and bassist Mike Kirkland (doorman at CBGB’s). Ex-Swans drummer Ted Parsons joined a few months later. Prong released two independent albums that were noted for their brutal hardcore punk sound. The recordings were released on Southern Records in the U.K. in the late 1980s.
Major label signing and mainstream success (1989-1995)
Epic Records saw the band's potential and signed them in 1989. Prong's major label debut album, Beg to Differ, was released in 1990. In the following year, Kirkland left the band and was replaced by Ex-Flotsam and Jetsam bassist Troy Gregory. Prong issued their fourth release, Prove You Wrong, which saw the band experiment with programming and electronic samples while still retaining an aggressive yet melodic sensibility. By 1994, Troy Gregory was out of the band and was replaced by Paul Raven (bassist) and John Bechdel (keyboard), both from Killing Joke and Murder, Inc. The new line up released Cleansing (Prong’s 5th major release). With a strong industrial sound that still managed to be hard and heavy, Cleansing contained songs that are still considered Prong classics ("Broken Peace" and "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck") and is Prong’s most successful release to date. The videos for these two songs became staples of MTV’s legendary Headbangers Ball.
Demise (1996-2001)
Prong's sixth album Rude Awakening was released in 1996. The album was not as successful as the last three albums. Shortly thereafter, Prong's line-up disbanded prior to a tour supporting Type O Negative, as Tommy Victor joined Danzig as a touring guitarist, following which Parsons left to join Godflesh. Victor left New York and moved to Los Angeles. Prong toured in the fall of 1997 with a new lineup that included Dan Laudo (drums), Riggs (guitar), Frank Cavanaugh from Filter (bass) and B. Rettie (keyboards). The band dissolved after a six week US tour. As Prong sat idle, Tommy Victor worked with bands such as Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and Glenn Danzig.
Interim (2002-2006)
In 2002, Victor re-formed Prong with bassist Brian Perry, drummer Dan Laudo and touring guitarist Monte Pittman. After a 42-show American tour that was recorded for a live CD (100% Live, Locomotive Music) Prong entered the studio and recorded a new CD titled Scorpio Rising which was received with mixed responses. Victor said of the release later, "Looking back, I don’t feel like it was an appropriate release under the PRONG moniker. I feel like the best is yet to come." He separately stated in one interview, "We experimented with a different tuning on 'Scorpio' and looking back that was a huge mistake."[1] and in another interview "The last release, Scorpio Rising, I was doing stuff that was just slow and plodding, and not necessarily Prong."[2] Victor played with Danzig from 2002-2005 during which Prong remained inactive, although the Prong fan club released a Music Video Compilation DVD in 2005. Dan Laudo left the band to play with Scum of the Earth featuring Riggs from Rob Zombie's band and record his solo effort Big on Mars (Kooklavu Records) and was replaced by Aaron Rossi, who used to be in the bands Strife, Shelter, John 5 (Shrapnel Records), and Ankla (Bieler Bros. Records). Victor and Raven joined Ministry in late 2005 to write and tour in support of their album Rio Grande Blood (2006). The two also appear on Ministry's follow up album The Last Sucker (2007), although in a more limited capacity. They were both also slated to tour with the band on their final world tour, though the death of Paul Raven has naturally changed this, and it is currently uncertain what Ministry will be doing.
Reformation (2007 and beyond)
On June 4th, 2007, Prong posted a MySpace bulletin stating that they were recording in El Paso, Texas. The band left Locomotive Music was signed to Al Jourgensen's 13th Planet Records, who released their latest album Power of the Damager on October 2, 2007. The band is currently touring in support of this album. Joining Tommy Victor in the current live membership of the band is bassist Monte Pittman and drummer Aaron Rossi. A music video was shot for the title track of the album on October 14, 2007.
Discography
See Prong discography.
In pop culture
- Professional wrestler Justin Credible used the song "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" as his entrance song in (the original) ECW. The band Grinspoon also covered the song for Credible's entrance music.
- Demon Hunter and Dry Kill Logic have released covers of "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck".
- "Lost and Found" and "Beg to Differ" were used as some of the intro music for Headbangers Ball on MTV from 1990-1995 while Riki Rachtman was host.
External links
References
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| Tommy Victor · Mike Longworth · Aaron Rossi Ted Parsons · Troy Gregory · Paul Raven · John Bechdel · Mike Kirkland · Dan Laudo · Riggs · Frank Cavanaugh · B. Rettie · Brian Perry |
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| Studio albums | Primitive Origins · Force Fed · Beg to Differ · Prove You Wrong · Cleansing · Rude Awakening · Scorpio Rising · Power of the Damager |
| Live albums | 100% Live |
| Extended plays | The Peel Sessions · Whose Fist Is This Anyway? |
| Related articles | Discography · Ministry |
