Prong was founded in 1986 by singer/guitarist Tommy Victor who was a sound man for the famous club CBGB and bassist Mike Kirkland (doorman at CBGB's). Ex-Swans drummer Ted Parsons joined a few month's later. Prong released two independent albums that were noted for their brutal hardcore punk sound. The recordings were released on Southern Records in the U.K. in the late 1980's.
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. Prong toured in the fall of 1997 with a new lineup that included Dan Laudo (drums) Riggs (guitar) Frank Cavanaugh from Filter (bass) and B. Rettie (keyboards). The band dissolved after a six week US tour. As the band Prong sat idle, Tommy Victor worked with legends of the rock world, including Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and Glenn Danzig.
In 2002, Victor re-formed Prong with bassist Brian Perry, drummer Dan Laudo and touring guitarist Monte Pittman. After the success of 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, Scorpio Rising.
Prong have a back-to-basics new album, Carved Into Stone, released on April 23rd 2012. Produced and mixed by Steve Evetts (Dillinger Escape Plan, Suicide Silence), Carved Into Stone picks up where Prong's classic albums left off, fueled by drummer Alexei Rodriguez and bassist Tony Campos' formidable rhythm section.
