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".
Whose Fist Is This Anyway?
Prong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shut out, cut out of the mainstream
If you like to play victim
You play your part so well
That's how we'll treat you
If it suits you so well
Watch your world burn
Hey now, it's all burning
Watch your world turn
Playing on the hate team
Shut out, cut out of the mainstream
Playing for the hate team
Hate team
Hey now, it's all burning
Watch your world turn
Hey now, it's all turning
Watch your world burn
If you never felt decent
And you feel rather mean
Don't wear your hurt so pathetic
Let your mind set you free, yeah
Playin' on the hate team
Shut out, cut out of the mainstream
Whose fist is this anyway?
Whose fist is this anyway?
Whose fist is this anyway?
Whose fist is this anyway?
Whose fist is this anyway?
Whose fist is this anyway?
Whose fist is this anyway?
Whose fist is this anyway?
The lyrics of Prong's song Whose Fist Is This Anyway? speak about being an outsider, shut out and cut out of the mainstream. The lines Playing for the hate team, Shut out, cut out of the mainstream, imply that the person is part of a group that is marginalized and excluded by society. If you like to play victim, You play your part so well, That's how we'll treat you, If it suits you so well, suggests that society often labels people as victims and treats them accordingly. It is as if society has a tendency to see people who don't fit into a certain mold as inherently flawed and deserving of their outsider status.
The chorus of the song - Whose fist is this anyway? - further highlights the theme of powerlessness and the sense of being at the mercy of forces beyond one's control. The lines Hey now, it's all turning, Watch your world burn and Hey now, it's all burning, Watch your world turn, could be interpreted as a warning or a message of empowerment - either way, they suggest that the world is changing, and that one should be prepared for whatever comes next. The final lines of the song seem to imply that the person who has been shut out and excluded may be searching for answers or meaning in their situation, as if asking whose fist is this anyway? is a way of seeking out the cause of their outsider status.
Line by Line Meaning
Playing for the hate team
Being a part of a group that thrives on animosity and negativity
Shut out, cut out of the mainstream
Excluded from popular culture and mainstream society
If you like to play victim
Delighting in being oppressed or disadvantaged
You play your part so well
Acting out your role flawlessly
That's how we'll treat you
Responding according to your expectations and behavior
If it suits you so well
If being a victim or outcast is what you truly desire
Hey now, it's all turning
A realization that things are changing or coming to a head
Watch your world burn
Witnessing the destruction of your world or way of life
Hey now, it's all burning
Acknowledging the imminent destruction of everything
Watch your world turn
Seeing the world transform in unexpected ways
Playing on the hate team
Being a part of a group that thrives on animosity and negativity
Shut out, cut out of the mainstream
Excluded from popular culture and mainstream society
Playing for the hate team
Being a part of a group that thrives on animosity and negativity
Hate team
A sarcastic comment about the group's name
If you never felt decent
If you don't believe that you're worthy of respect or dignity
And you feel rather mean
If you're consumed by negative emotions or hostility
Don't wear your hurt so pathetic
Don't let your pain be your defining characteristic
Let your mind set you free, yeah
Become mentally liberated and overcome your personal struggles
Whose fist is this anyway?
A question about the identity or ownership of the violent actions referenced in the song
Whose fist is this anyway?
A question about the identity or ownership of the violent actions referenced in the song
Whose fist is this anyway?
A question about the identity or ownership of the violent actions referenced in the song
Whose fist is this anyway?
A question about the identity or ownership of the violent actions referenced in the song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PARSONS, VICTOR, Ted Parsons, Thomas Victor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eric Matchstick
Playing for the hate team
Shut out, cut out of the mainstream
If you like to play victim
You play your part so well
That's how we'll treat you
If it suits you so well
Hey now, its all turning
Watch your world burn
Hey now, its all burning
Watch your world turn
Playing on the hate team
Shut out, cut out of the mainstream
Playing for the hate team
Hate team
Hey now, its all burning
Watch your world turn
Hey now, it's all turning
Watch your world burn
If you never felt decent
And you feel rather mean
Don't wear your hurt so pathetic
Let your mind set you free, yeah
Playin' on the hate team
Shut out, cut out of the mainstream
Whose fist is this anyway?
Dewey Tucker
I saw Prong open for Sepultura and Pantera in the 90s . I sang every lyric to the lead singer and tried to get the crowd involved. The singer pointed at me in appreciation. It was incredible. Prong!!
egon kuber
Saw that tour. Was one of the best metal shows I ever went to.
Bonechip
blokes name is Tommy Victor lol
Rednek Illa
When I seen slayer a few years back in west palm, Tom pointed to me when I yelled out "SLAYER" As they were finishing the last song of the night. It looked like he did anyway. I mean....I kinda stood out in the crowd. Who wears a white t shirt to a slayer concert?
But after barking out the lyrics to every Lamb of God and Slayer song from that night, at the very end, I growled w every bit of what was left in the tank, like the howl of a barbarian....going rage mode....."SLAYER" as loud and hard-core as anything ever! And I'm pretty sure he pointed at my dumbass right before I fell to the ground exhausted.
😆fucking great times!😆
metalfisher76
Been to hundreds of shows over the year. That is still my favorite show to have witnessed. 🤘 Summer of 1994 10 days before Metallica Suicidal Tendencies. Good year, great times
Steven Dennis
Saw that tour in Dayton Ohio
Festus Haggen
Cleansing is one of the all time great metal albums. It just rocks from start to finish. Prong is also criminally underrated.
Bad Medicine!
So fucking true!
djfixed
just so
Dan Banks
yes ...but what the hell is this song about?I been wondering fer few years now