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Prong (band)

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Prong
Prong performing live at Wacken Open Air 2017. L-R: Tommy Victor, Art Cruz and Jason Christopher.
Prong performing live at Wacken Open Air 2017. L-R: Tommy Victor, Art Cruz and Jason Christopher.
Background information
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1986–1997
  • 2002–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Websiteprongmusic.com

Prong is an American heavy metal band formed in New York City in 1986. The band is fronted by guitarist/vocalist Tommy Victor, Prong's sole constant member. To date, they have released 13 studio albums (including a covers album), one live album, four EPs, one DVD and one remix album.

Prong had two independent releases, Primitive Origins (1987) and Force Fed (1989), which attracted the attention of Epic Records, who signed the band in 1989. Their first two albums on Epic, Beg to Differ (1990) and Prove You Wrong (1991), were released to critical acclaim and garnered attention on MTV's Headbangers Ball.[1] The band's 1994 album Cleansing was also successful,[2] and included their best-known song, "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck". After releasing one more album (Rude Awakening in 1996), Prong disbanded in 1997, but reformed in 2002 and has continued to tour and record since then.

History

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Early days (1986–1989)

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The band was founded in 1986 by singer/guitarist Tommy Victor (then a sound engineer for the New York City music club CBGB) and bassist Mike Kirkland (doorman at CBGB), who recruited ex-Swans drummer Ted Parsons shortly after.[3][1] Prong independently released an EP, Primitive Origins, and a studio album, Force Fed, in the late 1980s, which were noted for their very raw sound.[1]

Major label signing and underground success (1989–1995)

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Prong signed with Epic Records in 1989.[3] Their major label debut album, Beg to Differ, was released in 1990.

In the following year, Kirkland left the band and was replaced by bassist Troy Gregory.[1] Prong issued their fourth release, Prove You Wrong,[4] which saw the band experiment with programming and electronic samples while still retaining an aggressive yet melodic sensibility.

By 1993, Troy Gregory was out of the band and was replaced by Paul Raven and John Bechdel, both from Killing Joke and Murder, Inc.[4] The new line-up released Cleansing (Prong's fifth major release) in 1994.[4] With a slight industrial metal influence, 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 Headbangers Ball.[5] The band toured America with Sepultura and Pantera as an opener for their respective Chaos A.D. and Far Beyond Driven tours. They also undertook a headlining European tour with Life of Agony and The Obsessed as their support.

Demise (1996–2002)

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Prong's 5th album Rude Awakening was released in 1996.[4] It entered the charts at No. 107[6] and sold 10,000 units in the United States in its first week.[7] Despite the good sales, Epic Records released the band from their contract three weeks after the album's release.[5] Shortly thereafter, Raven left prior to a tour supporting Type O Negative and was replaced by Rob "Blasko" Nicholson. Mike Riggs later joined on guitar so Victor could focus more on vocals. This line-up later disbanded, with Victor joining Danzig as their guitar player,[5] and Ted Parsons joining Godflesh. Parsons also played with Jesu and toured with Paul Raven in Killing Joke.

Interim (2002–2006)

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In 2002, Victor reformed Prong with bassist Brian Perry (Dirty Looks, Jake E. Lee), drummer Dan Laudo and guitarist Monte Pittman (Madonna). In 2002, after a 42-date American tour that was recorded for a live CD (100% Live, Locomotive Music) Prong entered the studio and recorded their first studio album in seven years, Scorpio Rising (2003), which was received with mixed responses.

Victor played on and off again with Glenn Danzig from 1998 to 2005 in between time with Prong. His final goal of playing and writing on a Danzig record was met with Circle of Snakes in 2004.

Prong released a live two-disc DVD in 2005 entitled The Vault which features performances from the Hulstsfred and With Full Force festivals and a full show in Amsterdam. This disc has Brian Perry and Mike Longworth on bass as Longworth replaced Perry after his departure in 2003. Dan Laudo left the band in 2005 and the band enlisted Aaron Rossi, who used to be in the bands Strife (Victory Records), Shelter (Century Media Records), John 5 (Shrapnel Records), and Ankla (Bieler Bros. Records)

Victor and Rossi joined Ministry in 2005 to write and tour in support of their 2006 album Rio Grande Blood. The two also appear on Ministry's follow-up album The Last Sucker (2007), although in a more limited capacity.

Reformation (2007–present)

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Frontman Tommy Victor performing in 2020

In 2007, Prong signed to Al Jourgensen's 13th Planet Records, who released Power of the Damager on October 2, 2007. The band embarked on the "Slicing Across America" and "Slicing Across Europe" tours supporting the album in 2007 and early 2008. Joining Tommy Victor for the tour were Monte Pittman and drummer Aaron Rossi; bassist Paul Raven had died of a heart attack in his sleep on October 20, 2007, at the age of 46.[8]

Rossi joined Ministry as their new drummer on the "C U LaTour" which started in March 2008.

Alexei Rodriguez and Tony Campos from Static-X were on the lineup with Tommy supporting Soulfly on the "Blood Fire War Hate" tour in the fall of 2009. They were replaced by Jason Christopher (bass) in 2011[9][10][11] and Art Cruz (drums) in 2012.

The band supported Fear Factory on their tour which ended on June 6, 2010. Prong released a new album, Carved into Stone, on April 23, 2012, with Long Branch Records/SPV. It was produced by Steve Evetts. The band toured as a headliner and with acts such as Crowbar in the US, and in May 2012 performed Beg to Differ in its entirety during a two-week tour in Europe.[12][13]

In the summer of 2013, the band performed an extensive European festival and headline run and also recorded a self-released "Official Bootleg" entitled Unleashed in the West – Live in Berlin via Bandcamp.com.[14]

After spending November and December 2013 in the studio, Prong released their ninth album, Ruining Lives, on Steamhammer/SPV in April 2014 and toured extensively in its support. Blabbermouth.net called the album "Tommy Victor's personal liberation."[15] The album was produced by Victor and mixed by Steve Evetts.

The band started a second wave of touring behind Ruining Lives in July 2014, with European festivals and headline shows. They also toured in North America, both as headliners and as support to Overkill, followed by a tour in Europe as main support to Overkill in October and November.[16][17]

In 2015, the band released the cover album Songs from the Black Hole, followed a year later by their eleventh studio album X – No Absolutes. Another album, Zero Days, was released in 2017.[18] In 2017, at the beginning of August, they played a concert in Polish Woodstock Festival. Prong's next release was the EP Age of Defiance, released on November 29, 2019.[19]

The band's most recent studio album, State of Emergency, was released on October 6, 2023.[20]

Musical style, influences and legacy

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Prong has been described as groove metal,[21][22][23] industrial metal,[24][25] and thrash metal,[26][1] while their early work has been characterized as crossover thrash.[27][23] Emerging from the New York hardcore scene,[26] Prong, along with bands such as Pantera, Sepultura and Machine Head, is one of the bands of the groove metal movement of the 1990s.[21] Prong have cited several bands as influences, including Metallica,[28] Warzone, Cro-Mags,[29] Killing Joke, Chrome,[30] Die Kreuzen,[31] and the Sisters of Mercy.[6]

They have influenced many notable musicians such as Korn's Jonathan Davis, Demon Hunter's Ryan Clark and Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor,[32][33] as well as bands such as Pantera and White Zombie.[34]

Members

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Current members

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Tommy_Victor_mit_PRONG_(cropped).jpg
 Tommy Victor 1986–present
  • guitars
  • lead vocals
 all releases
Prong_-_Reload_Festival_2018_03.jpg
 Jason Christopher
  • 2012–2016
  • 2017–present
  • bass
  • backing vocals
Tyler Bogliole
  • 2023–present
  • drums
 none

Former members

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Ted Parsons 1986–1996
  • drums
  • backing vocals
 all releases from Primitive Origins (1987) to Rude Awakening (1996)
Mike Kirkland 1986–1991
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 all releases from Primitive Origins (1987) to Live at CBGB's (1990)
Troy_Gregory_Artist.jpg
 Troy Gregory 1991–1993
Paul Raven 1993–1996 (died 2007) bass
  • Snap Your Fingers, Break Your Back (1993)
  • Cleansing (1994)
  • Rude Awakening (1996)
John Bechdel.jpg
 John Bechdel 1993–1995 (session 1992)
  • keyboards
  • programming
  • Whose Fist Is This Anyway? (1992)
  • Snap Your Fingers, Break Your Back (1993)
  • Cleansing (1994)
Charlie Clouser by Gage Skidmore.jpg
 Charlie Clouser 1995–1996 Rude Awakening (1996)
Mike Riggs 1996–1997 guitars none
Ozzy en Chile 2011 (4).jpg
 Rob "Blasko" Nicholson 1996 bass
Patrick and Cavanagh.jpg
 Frank Cavanagh 1997
John Tempesta 2021 (cropped).png
 John Tempesta drums
Dan Laudo 2002–2005
Brian Perry 2002–2003 bass
  • 100% Live (2002)
  • The Vault (2005)
Monte_Pittman_2018.jpg
 Monte Pittman 2002–2009
  • guitars (2002–2006)
  • bass (2006–2009)
  • backing vocals
 all releases from 100% Live (2002) to Power of the Damn Mixxxer (2009)
Mike Longworth
  • 2003–2006
  • 2016–2017
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 Zero Days (2017)
ARossi.jpg
 Aaron Rossi
  • 2005–2009
  • 2018–2021
 drums
Soulfly,_Tony_Campos,_2012.jpg
 Tony Campos 2009–2012
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 Carved into Stone (2012)
3IoB_drummer.jpg
 Alexei Rodriguez 2009–2013
  • drums
  • backing vocals
  • Carved into Stone (2012)
  • Unleashed in the West: Live in Berlin (2014)
Prong_Eier_mit_Speck_01.jpg
 Art Cruz 2014–2018 drums
  • Songs from the Black Hole (2015)
  • X – No Absolutes (2016)
  • Zero Days (2017)
  • Age of Defiance (2019)
Griffin McCarthy 2022–2023 State of Emergency (2023)

Live musicians

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Image Name Years active Instruments Notes
Joseph Bishara 1994 keyboards Bishara briefly toured with the band.[35]
Vince Dennis 1996 bass Dennis covered for Paul Raven when the bassist injured himself.[36][37]
Crowbar @ Mod, 05.jpg
 Matthew Brunson 2012 Brunson and Pybus covered for Tony Campos who was touring with Soulfly.[38]
Cradle of Filth 05 - 3491653704.jpg
 Dave Pybus
Fred Ziomek 2019–2020
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 Ziomek toured with the band in 2019 and 2020.[39][40]
Overkill Party.San Metal Open Air 2017 13.jpg
 Jason Bittner 2023 (European tour) drums Bittner covered for Griffin McCarthy who had other commitments in 2023.[41]

Timeline

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Discography

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Main article: Prong discography

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Prong - Biography by Eduardo Rivadavia". AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  2. ^ "Prong Hot 100 Chart History". Billboard.
  3. ^ a b "PRONG BRINGS ITS SOUND TO DV8 MONDAY". Deseret News. October 13, 1994. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 353. ISBN 0-7535-0257-7.
  5. ^ a b c "PRONG – 'Blood Out Of Stone'". The Metal Channel. October 7, 2019. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Prong". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 18, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  7. ^ "Interview with Tommy Victor of Prong | The Midlands Rocks". Themidlandsrocks.com. April 22, 2014. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  8. ^ Brandle, Lars (October 22, 2007). "Killing Joke/Ministry Bassist Paul Raven Dies". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  9. ^ "OVERKILL And PRONG Live in Cleveland, OH With Photos!" By Geoff Ketler, KNAC September 26, 2014
  10. ^ "Prong – Songs From The Black Hole". Music Mixdowns, May 2, 2015.
  11. ^ "PRONG Live In Dublin, Ireland" By Larry Petro, News Monkey, Friday, August 8, 2014 via KNAC
  12. ^ "Prong: 'Carved Into Stone' Track Listing, Cover Art Unveiled". Blabbermouth.net. February 9, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  13. ^ "Crowbar And Prong Announce US Tour Dates Together". Metal Insider. February 14, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  14. ^ "PRONG: 'Unleashed In The West: Live In Berlin' Official Bootleg Released". Blabbermouth.net. March 17, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  15. ^ "CD Reviews - Ruining Lives". Blabbermouth.net. June 10, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  16. ^ "Overkill To Tour Europe With Prong, Enforcer, Darkology". Blabbermouth.net. May 5, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  17. ^ "Ruining lives: It's the name of Prong's latest effort". ABQ Journal, by Rozanna M. Martinez September 12, 2014
  18. ^ "PRONG: 'Zero Days' Album Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. May 18, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  19. ^ "PRONG To Release 'Age Of Defiance' EP In November". Blabbermouth.net. September 15, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  20. ^ "PRONG Announces 'State Of Emergency' Album, Shares 'Non-Existence' Single". Blabbermouth.net. August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  21. ^ a b coyled (August 12, 2015). "Rediscovering The '90s Post-Thrash Groove Metal Scene". VH1. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  22. ^ Steel, Jackson (July 13, 2016). Das Lexikon der Musikrichtungen - Was ist eigentlich Metal ?: Von Heavy Metal über Death Metal bis White Metal (in German). neobooks. ISBN 978-3-7380-7718-6.[permanent dead link‍]
  23. ^ a b Martins, Jorge (January 31, 2024). "10 Essential Bands to Get Into Groove Metal". Ultimate Guitar. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  24. ^ Edmondson, Jacqueline (2013). Music in American Life: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories that Shaped our Culture [4 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories That Shaped Our Culture. ABC-CLIO. p. 706. ISBN 9780313393488.
  25. ^ Jeffries, David. "Prong - Songs from the Black Hole". AllMusic. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  26. ^ a b Bukszpan, Daniel (2003). The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal. Barnes & Noble Publishing. p. 188. ISBN 9780760742181. Starting out in the New York City hard-core scene, Prong was a basic thrash metal band with hard-core overtones.
  27. ^ Prat, Greg (April 24, 2012). "Prong - Carved into Stone". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  28. ^ "Prong". Threatening Society Fanzine. 2020. Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  29. ^ "Interview: Tommy Victor, Prong". Invisible Oranges. January 27, 2009. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  30. ^ Prato, Greg (August 26, 2014). "Tommy Victor of Prong". Songfacts. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  31. ^ "An Interview with Tommy Victor of Prong". Smells Like Infinite Sadness. April 24, 2013. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  32. ^ "The Industrial Nuance of Prong". Disquiet.com. April 12, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  33. ^ "MTV.com: Korn: The Untouchables". Mtv.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2002. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  34. ^ "Every Prong Album Ranked From Worst To Best By Tommy Victor". Kerrang!. November 27, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  35. ^ "Going Into the Further With Joseph Bishara". Score It Magazine. April 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  36. ^ "Prong | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023. During the tour, bassist Paul Raven was injured and could not continue to perform with the band in 1996. He was temporarily replaced by World of Pain bass player Vince Dennis until he could return.
  37. ^ "Chris Cornell's Guitar Tech Remembers Musician's Final Show: 'You Could Tell Something Was Up'". www.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  38. ^ Blabbermouth (May 16, 2012). "CRADLE OF FILTH Bassist Joins PRONG On Stage In U.K.; Video Available". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  39. ^ FERREIRA, EMANUEL (October 26, 2019). "PRONG: "End Of Sanity" [estreia] • LOUD!" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  40. ^ Ziomek, Fred (March 7, 2020). "Some more shots from tour with @prongtheband". www.facebook.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  41. ^ Blabbermouth (December 12, 2022). "PRONG Taps OVERKILL Drummer JASON BITTNER For European Tour". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
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