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".
Not Of This Earth
Prong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's known to teach you time again a something
Not of this earth that something not of this earth.
12 o'clock time for bed say no to waking up again
Feeling not of this earth that's not of this
Earth brings all comfort to no reason never
Know where you go what if the intangible
That something to earth not of earth
The lyrics of Prong's song Not Of This Earth seem to delve into the feelings of discomfort and unease that come with facing mortality. Death is personified as a teacher, urging the singer to sit down and learn something "not of this earth," perhaps a greater understanding of the universe and the afterlife. The line "12 o'clock time for bed say no to waking up again" suggests a reluctance to face another day of mortal existence, as though the singer longs for a release from the struggles and frustrations of life on earth. The repeated refrain of "not of this earth" emphasizes the idea that death offers something beyond our earthly experience.
Ultimately, the song may be seen as a meditation on the nature of existence and the human condition. The singer is haunted by a sense of disconnection from the world, as though there is something missing or beyond reach. Death is presented as a kind of salvation, offering comfort and release from the never-ending cycle of life and death. However, there is also a sense of uncertainty and dread, as the singer considers the possibility that the afterlife may be just as intangible and perplexing as the world they are leaving behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Just sit down and talk to death
Take some time to contemplate the inevitable concept of death.
It's known to teach you time again a something
Death has a way of teaching us important lessons through repetition.
Not of this earth that something not of this earth.
The lessons taught by death are otherworldly, beyond our earthly realm.
12 o'clock time for bed say no to waking up again
The finality of death is akin to going to bed at midnight and never waking up again.
Feeling not of this earth that's not of this
The unsettling feeling of facing our own mortality and the unknown is beyond this world.
Earth brings all comfort to no reason never
The compassion and comfort of the world cannot provide a clear reason or explanation for death.
Know where you go what if the intangible
We cannot know for certain where we go after death, as it is intangible and beyond our current understanding.
That something to earth not of earth
The experience and knowledge gained from facing death is both of this world and beyond it.
That something all comfort no reason some reason
The understanding gained from facing death provides some solace and comfort, even though there may be no clear reason or explanation for it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PARSONS, VICTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind