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".
Prove You Wrong
Prong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lessons of nonsense shall cast the first stone
Pontifical preachings past now quick to forget 'em
I'm depending on no one I distrust and oppose
Prove you, prove you wrong
You can bet on it, I'll prove you wrong
Prove you, prove you wrong
Depend on it, I'll prove you wrong
You ain't gonna get one here
Why waste my breath upon the ears of the deaf man
Skeptic acceptance caution
Fraudulent cause
Dependence on no one best distrust and oppose
The lyrics of Prong's song "Prove You Wrong" serve as a proclamation of self-reliance, skepticism, and non-conformity. The opening line, "Diggin' for answers you fall in a hole," suggests that the singer has discovered that searching for answers in a conventional way will lead to disappointment and failure. Instead, the singer chooses to oppose those who preach nonsensical or outmoded doctrines and depends only on himself. The chorus, "Prove you, prove you wrong, you can bet on it I'll prove you wrong, depend on it I'll prove you wrong," expresses the singer's conviction that he will always challenge and overcome the expectations of others.
The second verse of the song continues this theme of skepticism and distrust. The singer acknowledges that the search for solutions is difficult and unlikely to provide easy answers. He questions the value of speaking to those who are deaf to his ideas and stresses the importance of exercising caution in accepting fraudulent causes. The repeated line, "dependence on no one best distrust and oppose," reinforces the singer's self-reliance and his rejection of conformity.
Overall, "Prove You Wrong" can be understood as a call to reject the opinions and expectations of others, and instead to rely on oneself and one's own judgments. It is a song that celebrates skepticism, independence, and the value of making one's own path in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Diggin' for answers you fall in a hole
Your search for answers has led you astray and caused you to be trapped in a bad situation.
Lessons of nonsense shall cast the first stone
People who spout nonsense and hypocrisy are often the first to criticize others.
Pontifical preachings past now quick to forget 'em
People who used to preach about their beliefs quickly abandon them when they become inconvenient or no longer serve their interests.
I'm depending on no one I distrust and oppose
I don't trust anyone else and I am always prepared to contradict and oppose them.
Prove you, prove you wrong
I will demonstrate that your beliefs or assumptions are mistaken by taking action and achieving success, despite your doubts or skepticism.
You can bet on it, I'll prove you wrong
I am completely confident that I will succeed in disproving your beliefs or doubts and will go to great lengths to do so.
Quest for solutions
I am always searching for solutions to problems, but I won't waste time on things that are unlikely to work or aren't worth pursuing.
You ain't gonna get one here
You won't find any helpful solutions or answers from me, so don't waste your time asking.
Why waste my breath upon the ears of the deaf man
I don't see the point in trying to explain something to someone who won't listen or understand, so it would be a waste of time and effort.
Skeptic acceptance caution
I am open to new ideas, but I am also careful and cautious in accepting them, since there may be hidden risks or drawbacks.
Fraudulent cause
I am suspicious of people or groups who claim to have a noble or just cause, but may actually have selfish or dishonest motives.
Dependence on no one best distrust and oppose
It's better to depend on yourself and be skeptical of others, because they may have ulterior motives or be untrustworthy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREGORY, VICTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gabe Franco
Diggin' for answers you fall in a hole
Lessons of nonsense shall cast the first stone
Pontifical preachings past now quick to forget 'em
I'm depending on no one I distrust and oppose
Prove you, prove you wrong
You can bet on it, I'll prove you wrong
Prove you, prove you wrong
Depend on it, I'll prove you wrong
Quest for solutions
You ain't gonna get one here. Why waste my breath upon the ears of the deaf man
Skeptic acceptance caution
Fraudulent cause. Dependence on no one best distrust and oppose
75zoran
Digging for answers, you fall in a hole
Lessons of nonsense shall cast the first stone
Pontifical preachings past, now quick to forget 'em
Dependent on no one, I distrust and oppose
[Chorus]
Prove you, prove you wrong
You can bet on it, I'll prove you wrong
Prove you, prove you wrong
Depend on it, I'll prove you wrong
[Verse 2]
Quest for solutions
You ain't gonna get one here
Why waste my breath upon the ears of the deaf man?
Skeptic acceptance, caution, fraudulent cause
Dependence on no one, best distrust and oppose
[Chorus]
Prove you, prove you wrong
You can bet on it, I'll prove you wrong
Prove you, prove you wrong
Depend on it, I'll prove you wrong
[Bridge]
I'll prove you wrong
I'll prove you wrong
[Chorus]
Prove you, prove you wrong
You can bet on it, I'll prove you wrong
Prove you, prove you wrong
Depend on it, I'll prove you wrong
Prove you, prove you wrong
You can bet on it, I'll prove you wrong
Prove you, prove you wrong
Depend on it, I'll prove you wrong
Ken Hotaling
Diggin' for answers you fall in a hole
Lessons of nonsense shall cast the first stone
Pontifical preachings past now quick to forget 'em
I'm depending on no one I distrust and oppose
Prove you, prove you wrong
You can bet on it, I'll prove you wrong
Prove you, prove you wrong
Depend on it, I'll prove you wrong
Quest for solutions
You ain't gonna get one here
Why waste my breath upon the ears of the deaf man
Skeptic acceptance caution
Fraudulent cause
Dependence on no one best distrust and oppose
krunchy Clown
One of the most underrated songs in history.
Ocean Sage
Weirdest song Prong ever recorded. I love it! It's like Les Claypool walked in and wrote a Prong song and left.
Mottahead
Yeah, they're ripping off a Led Zeppelin yet they sound a lot grungier (even though they were labeled as a Metal band - labels are shit anyway).
Retrobution
Mottahead haha zep? NO. The mid song guitar pre-solo part is extremely surf sounding too.
Mottahead
Retrobution Well, the way I heard it, it sounds like someone was having a hard time playing Led Zeps Celebration Day riff.
Mottahead
Retrobution Well, perhaps that's where Jimmy Page got his riff from. You nailed it. My comment? Well, it comes from a guy used to listening to a lot of Led Zep material (and perhaps not enough Ventures, Dick Dale and Link Wray music).
Thanks for your retrobution (that was lame, I know).
Arlin Mayer
My brother in law turned me on to Prong in the early 90’s when I was 30 and here I am at 62 and still love these guys
jimbo88 superglide07
I never understood why these guys weren't huge. Love this band.
Kaseb Mohamed
for me they are huge, not as much as some other very famous bands, but among the metalheads they have reached the level of legends, including me ;)
Ya got any Beeman's?
Saw them at Studio1 North Newark, NJ way back.