Prong (band)
Prong | |
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 Prong performing live at Wacken Open Air 2017. L-R: Tommy Victor, Art Cruz and Jason Christopher. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active |
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| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Past member(s) |
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| Website | prongmusic |
Prong is an American heavy metal band formed in 1986. They are based out of Brooklyn, New York City. The band is fronted by guitarist and vocalist Tommy Victor. He is their sole constant member. To date, Prong 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 (1988). They are noted for having a very raw sound. After signing to Epic Records in 1989, they released Beg to Differ (1990) and Prove You Wrong (1991). Both albums were well-received and popular on MTV's Headbangers Ball.[1] The band's 1994 album Cleansing was also successful.[2] It included their best-known song, "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck." After releasing one more album (Rude Awakening in 1996), Prong disbanded in 1997. They reformed in 2002, continuing to tour and record.
Musical style
Prong's early work has been described as crossover thrash,[3] hardcore punk[1] and post-hardcore.[4] They emerged from the Lower East Side hardcore scene, along with bands like Bad Brains, Carnivore, and Cro-Mags. They also played alongside industrial and noise bands like Swans. After signing to Epic Records, the band moved towards traditional thrash metal.[3] However, they focused more on groove and melody, with occasional bursts of speed. This is evident on their major label debut, Beg to Differ (1990).
Prong has subsequently been described as groove metal,[5][6][7] industrial metal,[8][9] and alternative metal.[10] Their contemporaries include Pantera, Sepultura, Machine Head and White Zombie.[11]
Members
Current members
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Victor | 1986–present |
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all releases | |
| Christopher Dean | 2023–present |
|
Live and Uncleansed (2026) | |
| Tyler Bogliole | drums |
Former members
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Parsons | 1986–1996 |
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all releases from Primitive Origins (1987) to Rude Awakening (1996) | |
| Mike Kirkland | 1986–1991 |
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all releases from Primitive Origins (1987) to Live at CBGB's (1990) | |
| Troy Gregory | 1991–1993 |
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| Paul Raven | 1993–1996 (died 2007) | bass |
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| John Bechdel | 1993–1995 |
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| Charlie Clouser | 1995–1996 | Rude Awakening (1996) | ||
| Mike Riggs | 1996–1997 | guitars | none | |
| Rob "Blasko" Nicholson | 1996 | bass | ||
| Frank Cavanagh | 1997 | |||
| John Tempesta | drums | |||
| Dan Laudo | 2002–2005 |
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| Brian Perry | 2002–2003 | bass |
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| Monte Pittman | 2002–2009 |
|
all releases from 100% Live (2002) to Power of the Damn Mixxxer (2009) | |
| Mike Longworth |
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| Aaron Rossi |
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drums |
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| Tony Campos | 2009–2012 |
|
Carved into Stone (2012) | |
| Alexei Rodriguez | 2009–2013 |
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| Art Cruz | 2014–2018 | drums |
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| Griffin McCarthy | 2022–2023 | State of Emergency (2023) | ||
| Jason Christopher |
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Live musicians
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Bishara | 1994 | keyboards | Bishara briefly toured with the band.[12] | |
| Vince Dennis | 1996 | bass | Dennis covered for Paul Raven when the bassist injured himself.[13][14] | |
| Matthew Brunson | 2012 | Brunson and Pybus covered for Tony Campos who was touring with Soulfly.[15] | ||
| Dave Pybus | ||||
| Fred Ziomek | 2019–2020 |
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Ziomek toured with the band in 2019 and 2020.[16][17] | |
| Jason Bittner | 2023 (European tour) | drums | Bittner covered for Griffin McCarthy who had other commitments in 2023.[18] | |
Timeline
Discography
- Force Fed (1989)
- Beg to Differ (1990)
- Prove You Wrong (1991)
- Cleansing (1994)
- Rude Awakening (1996)
- Scorpio Rising (2003)
- Power of the Damager (2007)
- Carved into Stone (2012)
- Ruining Lives (2014)
- X – No Absolutes (2016)
- Zero Days (2017)
- State of Emergency (2023)
References
- 1 2 "Prong - Biography by Eduardo Rivadavia". AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
- ↑ "Prong Hot 100 Chart History". Billboard.
- 1 2 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.
- ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Beg To Differ Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Martins, Jorge (31 January 2024). "10 Essential Bands to Get Into Groove Metal". Ultimate Guitar. Archived from the original on 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Jeffries, David. "Prong - Songs from the Black Hole". AllMusic. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- ↑ "Exclusive Performance: Guitarist and Songwriter Monte Pittman". AllMusic. February 28, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Going Into the Further With Joseph Bishara". Score It Magazine. 2018-04-25. Archived from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- ↑ "Prong | Encyclopedia.com". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
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.
- ↑ "Chris Cornell's Guitar Tech Remembers Musician's Final Show: 'You Could Tell Something Was Up'". Ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- ↑ "CRADLE OF FILTH Bassist Joins PRONG On Stage In U.K.; Video Available". Blabbermouth.net. 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- ↑ Ferreira, Emanuel (October 26, 2019). "PRONG: "End Of Sanity" [estreia] • LOUD!" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- ↑ Ziomek, Fred (7 March 2020). "Some more shots from tour with @prongtheband". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- ↑ "PRONG Taps OVERKILL Drummer JASON BITTNER For European Tour". Blabbermouth.net. 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2023-09-25.