Prong Signs To Locomotive; Forthcoming Euro & US Tour Dates
By
Sefany Jones,
Contributing Editor
Thursday, August 15, 2002 @ 6:40 PM
| Resurrected Prong Gets New Lab
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For Immediate Release:
PRONG SIGNS WITH LOCOMOTIVE
LOS ANGELES -- On the heels of a successful 42-show American tour, reunited industrial rock pioneers Prong have signed a worldwide recording deal with Locomotive Music. The label will release the band’s first live album on October 15th, to be followed by a new studio record in April.
“We are very excited to have a band such as Prong on our roster,” says Locomotive A&R director Holger Koch. “They are a band that has consistently delivered the type of cutting-edge music that people expect from them, and we know that their new material,
as well as their live performances, will leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that this band means business!"
After a five-year hiatus, Prong returned this spring for a six-week American tour, during which the group’s as-yet-unnamed live CD -- to serve as its first official release since 1996’s Rude Awakening -- was recorded. Mixed by Pat Regan (Kiss, Ritchie Blackmore, Diesel Machine), the album includes one new song, “Initiation,” co-written by long time friend and guitarist Pat Lachman (Halford / Diesel Machine).
Shortly after completing its successful headline tour, Prong joined Danzig for nine weeks of performances throughout the U.S. The band will appear at London’s Camden Underworld on August 22nd and at Belgium’s Pukkelpop Festival on August 23rd before launching a three-week American headline tour on October 16th. Prong will then return to Europe for a month’s worth of shows beginning November 12th; the band pledges to be on the road for a full year following the release of its new studio album next spring.
Founded in 1986 by singer/guitarist Tommy Victor, then a soundman at New York City’s renowned CBGB’s, Prong put the New York hardcore scene on notice with two acclaimed independent releases, Primitive Origins and Force Fed. The albums attracted the attention of Epic Records, which signed the trio in 1989.
On its major-label debut, 1990’s Beg To Differ, Prong showcased a refined approach accented by elements of progressive thrash. The following year, the band issued Prove You Wrong, which saw the band experiment with programming and electronic samples while retaining an aggressive yet melodic sensibility.
But it was 1994’s Cleansing that cemented the group’s reputation as leaders of the burgeoning industrial rock movement. Showcasing a sharper yet more accessible sound, the album included “Broken Peace” and the infectious “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck,” videos for which became staples of MTV’s legendary Headbanger’s Ball.
After the release of 1996’s Rude Awakening, Prong disbanded, and Victor quickly began collaborating with prominent rock figures such as Glenn Danzig and Rob Zombie. But with drummer Dan Laudo, bassist Brian Perry and touring guitarist Monte Pittman, Victor resurrected Prong in early 2002 in order to attend to what he considered “unfinished business.” The mission is only partially accomplished, however, for Victor says the best is yet to come.
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