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".
The Book of Change
Prong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But from other entities
When you step back and see
You can keep on questioning
In a state of calm
Contemplate the source
It's very wise to pause
Attack on reason
Distract your thoughts
A total lack of reason
Abandoning it all
In a state of receptivity
With all the potentialities
When you get back to need
Go ahead submit your inquiry
In a state of calm
Contemplate the source
It's very wise to pause
A deviation from the norm
Attack on reason
Distract your thoughts
A total lack of reason
Abandoning it all
Rejecting influential praise
Embracing existential fate
You will begin to perceive
What is possible for you to achieve
Consult the book of change
See what it brings
Reveal your position
in the scheme of things
Consult the book of change
Seeing what it means
Reveal your theme, with an -
Attack on reason
Distract your thoughts
A total lack of reason
Abandoning it all
A total deviation from the norm
The lyrics to Prong's song The Book of Change speak to the importance of questioning and contemplation in the face of distraction and a lack of reason. The first verse suggests that while one can profit from others, it's important to step back and question one's actions. The chorus repeats the importance of being in a state of calm and contemplating the source, deviating from the norm of constant motion and distraction.
The second verse addresses the attack on reason and the need to reject influential praise and embrace existential fate. It's only then that one can truly begin to perceive what is possible to achieve. The post-chorus repeats the importance of consulting the book of change, seeing what it brings and revealing one's position and theme.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that taking time to pause and question the world around us can lead to a greater understanding of our place in it, and ultimately lead to greater achievement.
Line by Line Meaning
You can keep on profiting
You can continue advancing materially and financially
But from other entities
Not necessarily from your own company or enterprise
When you step back and see
When you take a bigger picture view
You can keep on questioning
You can continue to inquire and learn
In a state of calm
Being tranquil and peaceful
Contemplate the source
Reflect on the origin or root cause of things
It's very wise to pause
It is highly recommended to take a break and reflect
A deviation from the norm
A departure from the usual or customary
Attack on reason
An assault on logic and rationality
Distract your thoughts
Divert your mind from important topics
A total lack of reason
A complete absence of rationale
Abandoning it all
Giving up and leaving it behind
In a state of receptivity
Being open and willing to receive information
With all the potentialities
With all the possibilities and opportunities
When you get back to need
When you focus on what is essential
Go ahead submit your inquiry
Ask your questions and seek answers
Rejecting influential praise
Refusing admiration from notable entities
Embracing existential fate
Accepting one's essential destiny and purpose
You will begin to perceive
You will start to comprehend and understand
What is possible for you to achieve
The potential attainable by you
Consult the book of change
Refer to the classic Chinese text I Ching
See what it brings
Observe what it reveals
Reveal your position
Disclose your place or status
in the scheme of things
In the larger context
Seeing what it means
Understanding its significance
Reveal your theme, with an -
Disclose your essence or nature with a dash of mystery
A total deviation from the norm
A complete departure from the expected or customary
Contributed by Mia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.