Prong was founded in 1986 by singer/guitarist Tommy Victor (then a soundman at New York City's renowned CBGB's). With bassist Mike Kirkland (formely of NYHC band Damage and doorman at CBGB’s) and ex-Swans drummer Ted Parsons, Prong released two independent CDs that were noted for their brutal hardcore sound.
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.
Prong's sixth album Rude Awakening was released in 1996. The album was not as successful as the last three albums. Shortly thereafter Parsons left the band to join Godflesh. Tommy Victor left New York and moved to Los Angeles. As the band Prong sat idle, Tommy Victor worked with legends of the rock world, including Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, celldweller and Glenn Danzig.
In 2002, Victor re-formed Prong with bassist Brian Perry, drummer Dan Laudo and guitarist Monte Pittman (Madonna). In 2002, 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 played on and off again with Glen Danzig from 1998 -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 2-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 Mike Longworth on bass as well, who later replaced Perry. As a result of the drum performance on Scorpio Rising , band members Tommy Victor and Monte Pittman decided a change needed to be made. This resulted in the firing of Dan Laudo and the enlistment 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 Raven joined Ministry in 2005 to write and tour in support of their album Rio Grande Blood (2006). They were nominated for a Grammy in 2007 for the song Senior Peligro in the "Best Metal Performance" category. The two also appear on Ministry's follow up album The Last Sucker (2007), although in a more limited capacity.
On June 4th, 2007, Prong posted a MySpace bulletin stating that they were recording in El Paso, Texas. The band left Locomotive Music, and were signed to Al Jourgensen's 13th Planet Records, who released their latest album Power of the Damager on October 2, 2007.
The band embarked on the "Slicing Across America" and "Slicing Across Europe" tours supporting Power of the Damager in 2007 and early 2008. Joining Tommy Victor in the current live membership of the band is bassist Monte Pittman and drummer Aaron Rossi.
Paul Raven died of an apparent heart attack in his sleep on October 20, 2007 at the age of 46. He was recording with French recording artists Treponem Pal on their new album with Ted Parsons at the time of his death.
Aaron Rossi was joining Ministry as their new drummer on the "C U LaTour" which started in March 2008.
In February 2008, Headbanger's Ball premiered the video "Power Of The Damager".
Keep On Living In Pain
Prong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without potential for success?
Keep hoping that I will persist
To apathy I will admit
I used to keep wracking my brain
Doing everything the same
To the question of attitude renewed
For what? Keep on living in pain
So what? Keep on living in pain
For what? Keep on living in pain
To that no reason we are living in pain
For what? Keep on living in pain
So what? Keep on living in pain
For what? Keep on living in pain
To that no reason we are living in pain
For what I reach in then I pay?
With more delusion I invest (further into the unknown)
Into a world that will not last (no time to give yourself hope)
No desires to enhance (now we have the overload)
A new deflection, an attitude renewed
I never wanted to know
I never knew you could have it this way
Everything has got to go
For what? Keep on living in pain
So what? Keep on living in pain
For what? Keep on living in pain
To that no reason we are living in pain
For what? Keep on living in pain
So what? Keep on living in pain
For what? Keep on living in pain
To that no reason we are living in pain
They told you, you were in control
I never wanted to know
No time to give yourself hope
I tell you: Everything's got to go
For what? Keep on living in pain
So what? Keep on living in pain
For what? Keep on living in pain
To that no reason we are living in pain
For what? Keep on living in pain
So what? Keep on living in pain
For what? Keep on living in pain
To that keep on living, living in pain
The lyrics of Prong's song Keep On Living In Pain explore the theme of hopelessness and resignation to a life of pain and suffering. The singer questions the purpose of their daily struggles, wondering why they persist when there seems to be no potential for success. They express a sense of apathy and disillusionment, feeling weighed down by their efforts to improve their situation.
The second verse speaks to the futility of investing in a world that won't last, with no desires or motivations to enhance their existence. The singer adopts a new attitude of deflection, acknowledging that they never wanted to know the truth about their lack of control or the need for hope. They encourage others to let go of everything, suggesting that it's the only way to move past the pain.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of resignation to a life of suffering with no clear purpose or hope for change. The repeated refrain of "keep on living in pain" reinforces that sense of hopelessness and despair, leaving the listener with a bleak outlook on life.
Line by Line Meaning
For what I do this everyday?
Why do I continue to go through this every day?
Without potential for success?
Without any hope for a positive outcome?
Keep hoping that I will persist
Continuing to hold onto hope that I can keep going?
To apathy I will admit
To acknowledge the feeling of apathy?
I used to keep wracking my brain
I used to keep trying to come up with a solution?
Doing everything the same
Trying the same things over and over again?
To the question of attitude renewed
In response to the idea of a new perspective?
I simply explain:
I can only say this:
For what? Keep on living in pain
What's the point of continuing to live with this pain?
So what? Keep on living in pain
What difference does it make to continue living with this pain?
To that no reason we are living in pain
There seems to be no logical reason we are living with this pain.
For what I reach in then I pay?
Why do I always have to pay for what I reach for?
With more delusion I invest (further into the unknown)
I invest in more illusions and continue to move further into the unknown?
Into a world that will not last (no time to give yourself hope)
I am going into a world that is fleeting and there is no time to hold onto hope?
No desires to enhance (now we have the overload)
There are no passions to make life better and now we are overwhelmed?
A new deflection, an attitude renewed
A new way of looking at things, a fresh perspective?
I never wanted to know
I never wanted to understand?
I never knew you could have it this way
I never knew that this was an option?
Everything has got to go
Everything needs to be eliminated?
They told you, you were in control
Someone had told you that you were in charge?
No time to give yourself hope
There's no time to hold onto hope?
I tell you: Everything's got to go
I am telling you that everything needs to be wiped out?
To that keep on living, living in pain
Despite all of this, we continue to live in pain.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alexei David Rodriguez, Antonio Campos, Thomas Michael Victor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind