Prong (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Tommy Victor, Mike Kirkland, Ted Parsons |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live albums, EPs, DVDs |
| Website | www |
Prong is a heavy metal group from the United States, established in New York City in 1986. The band is fronted by guitarist and vocalist Tommy Victor, who remains its only continuous member. Their discography includes 13 studio albums—one of which is a covers album—alongside a live album, four EPs, a DVD, and a remix album.
Following two self-released projects, Primitive Origins (1987) and Force Fed (1988), characterized by an unrefined sound, Prong secured a contract with Epic Records in 1989. Their initial releases under Epic, Beg to Differ (1990) and Prove You Wrong (1991), garnered critical praise and gained visibility through MTV's Headbangers Ball. The 1994 album Cleansing, which includes their most recognized song "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck," also enjoyed commercial acclaim. After releasing Rude Awakening in 1996, the band dissolved in 1997 but reunited in 2002 and has maintained an active schedule of recording and touring since then.
Formation and early years (1986–1988)
The band was formed in 1986 by vocalist and guitarist Tommy Victor, who was working as a sound engineer at New York’s CBGB, along with bassist Mike Kirkland. Soon after, former Swans drummer Ted Parsons joined the lineup. They independently issued the EP Primitive Origins in 1987 and followed with the studio album Force Fed in 1988, both noted for their gritty sonic style.
Signing with major label and rise in underground scene (1989–1995)
In 1989, Prong signed to Epic Records, releasing their major label debut Beg to Differ the following year. After bassist Kirkland’s departure in 1991, Troy Gregory took over bass duties. Their fourth release, Prove You Wrong, incorporated electronic programming and sampling while preserving their aggressive yet melodic sound.
By 1993, both Gregory and other members were replaced by Paul Raven on bass and John Bechdel on keyboards, both previously associated with Killing Joke and Murder, Inc.. This ensemble produced the 1994 album Cleansing, which fused industrial metal elements with tracks such as "Broken Peace" and the enduring hit "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck." This album represents Prong’s peak commercial success, with significant airplay on MTV's Headbangers Ball. The band supported tours across the United States alongside Sepultura and Pantera, as well as headlining European tours featuring acts like Life of Agony and The Obsessed.
Breakup period (1996–2002)
The group’s fifth studio effort, Rude Awakening, released in 1996, entered the charts at number 107 and sold approximately 10,000 copies during its first week stateside. Despite respectable sales figures, Epic Records terminated their contract just three weeks post-release. Subsequently, Raven exited before a tour backing Type O Negative, with Rob "Blasko" Nicholson stepping in on bass. Guitarist Mike Riggs was added to enable frontman Tommy Victor to concentrate solely on vocals. This lineup eventually dissolved; Victor went on to join Danzig as guitarist, while drummer Ted Parsons pursued projects including Godflesh, Jesu, and toured alongside Raven in Killing Joke.
Interim Period (2002–2006)
In 2002, Victor revitalized Prong by assembling a lineup featuring bassist Brian Perry (known for his work with Dirty Looks and Jake E. Lee), drummer Dan Laudo, and guitarist Monte Pittman (associated with Madonna). Following a 42-date tour across the United States, which was captured on the live album 100% Live released by Locomotive Music, Prong returned to the studio after a seven-year hiatus to produce Scorpio Rising in 2003. This album received a range of critical responses.
Between 1998 and 2005, Victor maintained an intermittent partnership with Glenn Danzig, culminating in co-writing and performing on the 2004 release Circle of Snakes.
In 2005, Prong issued a two-disc live DVD titled The Vault, showcasing performances from the Hulstsfred and With Full Force festivals as well as a complete concert recorded in Amsterdam. After Perry's departure in 2003, Mike Longworth took over bass duties. That same year, drummer Dan Laudo exited the band and was succeeded by Aaron Rossi, who previously played with Strife, Shelter, John 5, and Ankla.
Victor and Rossi joined forces with Ministry in 2005 to contribute to writing and touring for Ministry’s 2006 album Rio Grande Blood, also participating in their subsequent 2007 release The Last Sucker.
Reformation Era (2007–present)
In 2007, Prong inked a deal with Al Jourgensen's label, 13th Planet Records, unveiling Power of the Damager on October 2. The band embarked on tours throughout North America and Europe featuring Monte Pittman on guitar and Aaron Rossi on drums; tragically, bassist Paul Raven passed away from a heart attack in October that year.
By March 2008, Rossi had joined Ministry’s "C U LaTour". Later, in late 2009, Prong welcomed Alexei Rodriguez and Tony Campos from Static-X to their lineup for the "Blood Fire War Hate" tour alongside Soulfly. Jason Christopher stepped in on bass replacing Campos in 2011, with drummer Art Cruz joining the group in 2012.
Prong supported Fear Factory during their tour concluding in June 2010. On April 23, 2012, they released Carved into Stone through Branch Records/SPV, produced by Steve Evetts. The band headlined multiple tours and opened for acts like Crowbar, notably performing the entire Beg to Differ album during a European leg.
During the summer of 2013, Prong engaged in numerous European festival appearances and headline concerts, self-releasing the live album Unleashed in the West – Live in Berlin via Bandcamp.
Following studio sessions later that year, Prong launched their ninth studio effort, Ruining Lives, under Steamhammer/SPV in April 2014. The album was produced by Victor with mixing by Steve Evetts. Extensive touring across Europe and North America followed, including support slots for bands such as Overkill.
In 2015, they delivered a covers collection titled Songs from the Black Hole. This was succeeded by their eleventh studio release X – No Absolutes in 2016 and then Zero Days in 2017. That same year saw them perform at the Polish Woodstock Festival. On November 29, 2019, they issued the EP Age of Defiance.
Their thirteenth studio record, State of Emergency, was released on October 6, 2023.
Musical style, influences and legacy
Prong is widely acknowledged as an influential force within the groove metal, industrial metal, and thrash metal scenes, with their initial output often categorized under crossover thrash. Emerging from the New York hardcore movement, they stand alongside groups such as Pantera, Sepultura, and Machine Head as pivotal contributors to the groove metal surge of the 1990s.
Their sound is shaped by a broad range of inspirations, including bands like Rush, Bad Brains, Killing Joke, Discharge, Celtic Frost, Voivod, Kreator, Destruction, Metallica, Warzone, the Cro-Mags, Die Kreuzen, and the Sisters of Mercy.
Prong’s influence resonates with notable artists such as Jonathan Davis of Korn, Ryan Clark from Demon Hunter, and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, as well as bands including Pantera and White Zombie.
Current members
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:CSS image crop | Tommy Victor | 1986–present |
|
all releases |
| Template:CSS image crop | Christopher Dean | 2023–present |
|
none |
| Template:CSS image crop | Tyler Bogliole | drums |
Former members
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Parsons | 1986–1996 | featured on all releases from Primitive Origins (1987) through Rude Awakening (1996) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Kirkland | 1986–1991 | appeared on all recordings from Primitive Origins (1987) to Live at CBGB's (1990) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Troy Gregory | 1991–1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paul Raven | 1993–1996 | bass | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Bechdel | 1993–1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charlie Clouser | 1995–1996 |
Rude Awakening (1996) |
- |
1996–1997 |
guitars |
no recorded releases |
- |
1996 |
bass |
- |
Frank Cavanagh |
1997 |
bass |
- |
drums |
- |
Dan Laudo |
2002–2005 |
- |
2002–2003 |
bass |
- |
2002–2009 |
contributed to all releases from 100% Live (2002) through Power of the Damn Mixxxer (2009) |
- |
bass, backing vocals | Zero Days (2017) | - |
drums | |
- |
bass, backing vocals | Carved into Stone (2012) | - |
drums, backing vocals | |
- |
drums | |
- |
Griffin McCarthy |
drums | State of Emergency (2023) | - |
Jason Christopher |
bass, backing vocals | |
} Live musicians
Discography
External links |
- Articles with short description
- 1986 establishments in New York City
- Musical groups from New York City
- American groove metal musical groups
- American industrial metal musical groups
- American thrash metal musical groups
- Crossover thrash groups
- Heavy metal musical groups from New York (state)
- Musical groups established in 1986
- Musical groups disestablished in 1997
- Musical groups reestablished in 2002
- Musical trios from New York (state)
- Locomotive Music artists
- Epic Records artists
- Steamhammer Records artists