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".
Rude Awakening
Prong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The hard life that's been our school.
More of a cruel day's reckonings.
Our prime time used up too soon.
There is no kindness to waste
Why help those crying for more?
It spins you around, takes you for a ride.
What is the point to even try?
The tired thoughts from troubling.
A weary mind from worrying.
Your constant fears upon wakening.
Your real life left in your dreams.
The lyrics of 'Rude Awakening' by Prong could be interpreted in different ways, but one interpretation could be the sense of disillusionment with life that comes with age and experience. The song seems to describe a feeling of being jaded with the world, maybe because of too many "hard knocks" or disappointments. The metaphor of life as a "school" suggests that the band has learned some tough lessons along the way. The line "our prime time used up too soon" could be referring to the idea that youth is fleeting, and the opportunities that come with it tend to disappear too fast.
The lyrics talk about the struggle to remain optimistic despite feeling overwhelmed and defeated. The band seems to be questioning the point of trying to make a difference or improve the world when the effort seems futile or unappreciated. The line, "why help those crying for more?" suggests a sense of frustration with those who seem to demand too much without making any efforts towards self-improvement or self-reliance. The song concludes by describing the burden of waking up each day with "tired thoughts" and "constant fears", and a sense of separation or disconnection from the "real life" the band members dream of.
Line by Line Meaning
Another rude awakening.
We are once again faced with the harsh reality of life after being unaware or avoiding it for some time.
The hard life that's been our school.
We have experienced many difficulties and hardships, which have taught us valuable lessons like in a school.
More of a cruel day's reckonings.
Today holds more unpleasant consequences and outcomes to be dealt with.
Our prime time used up too soon.
Our youth and opportunity to achieve success have been wasted or passed by too quickly.
There is no kindness to waste
Being generous and empathetic takes effort, and should not be offered to those who do not appreciate it or use it wisely.
Why help those crying for more?
Some individuals are never satisfied, and it is fruitless to assist them as they will never be content.
It spins you around, takes you for a ride.
Life can be unpredictable and chaotic, leading one on journeys and adventures with unknown outcomes or consequences.
What is the point to even try?
Sometimes the circumstances and obstacles in life feel insurmountable and not worth the effort to overcome.
Somehow got to learn to accept the rejection.
Rejection and disappointment is inevitable in life, and it is important to learn how to handle and move on from it.
The tired thoughts from troubling.
Constantly thinking about problems and worries can cause exhaustion and fatigue.
A weary mind from worrying.
The mind can become fatigued and drained from constantly fretting and stressing over problems and anxieties.
Your constant fears upon wakening.
Upon waking up, anxieties and fears can flood the mind and create a negative start to the day.
Your real life left in your dreams.
The subconscious mind can create an idealized or unrealistic version of life that is vastly different from reality.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL RAVEN, TED PARSONS, THOMAS VICTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Rodriguez
1996
15. Next In Line- Nevermore
14. Adidas- Korn
13. Burden In My Hand- Soundgarden
12. Love You To Death- Type O Negative
11. Aenima- Tool
10. To Bid You Farewell- Opeth
09. Redemption City- COC
08. Floods- Pantera
07. Tourniquet- Marilyn Manson
06. Roots Bloodly Roots- Sepultura
05. Stinkfist- Tool
04. Bleeding Me- Metallica
03. Rude Awakening- Prong
02. Bulls On Parade- Rage Against The Machine
01. Trippin On A Hole In A Paper Heart- Stone Temple Pilots
d3frost
Again: Underrated track, underrated album, a criminally underrated band.
SuperNovaThomas
+d3frost Yes definitely
Francesco Costa
maybe their best album and very inspiring for later bands
Room 237
Daniel Curran saw them open for clutch. Epic show!
Terry Thompson
This album was MONUMENTAL. It was too far ahead of its time to be appreciated. The old school metal people shat all over it. To hell with those guys. This was amazing. Catchy as hell beats, awesome electronic sounds, heavy ass guitar and bass, heartfelt and intelligent lyrics. Legacy.
Mr. Johnson
Look how many views this video has. Not criminally underrated. It's only for those who get it! :)
Brynn Jones
25 yrs later my son is stripping the paint off his bedroom wall playing this song.Power music never dies. ....it just cleans out the generational cobwebs.
Shaft
Mom n Dad want the bushes done...Blast this and 12 pack it's Done!!!...Lol thanks
Jay
I strongly feel this band is criminally underrated.
Samuel Wetz
Yeah definitely