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How have the reactions and the audiences on the tour been so far? I noticed you drew a pretty old crowd tonight.
"Good, I think. We’ve done about twenty shows in Europe. Prague, Vienna and some shows in Germany. We do draw an older audience. Kind of logic, because we’re talking about a band that has records going back to 1990. When we’ll have our new studio record out, there will be younger people coming to our shows. The new record sounds modern, you know, but I have no expectations. Young kids could hate us for all I know. In the States we have more younger people coming down. I think because a lot of older brothers or parents bring their kids."
What about your live album 100%? Can it be considered a "best of record" that has the purpose of reaching new kids?
"Of course, if that happens that’s fine. There are a couple of reasons why we put out that record. First of all to re-introduce Prong to new fans. I think the Rude Awakening record didn’t get much promotion and we got dropped really fast after it. Still some of the songs on that record sound pretty current. This is a chance for those songs to be re-released. It’s an awareness record. The songs that are the most popular are the ones that we play live."
Is it difficult for you to make a set list nowadays?
"I’d rather play the songs that people know more, the ones that had videos. That’s just the kind of person I am. I’m not saying that is the best way to be or whatever. Some of the guys suggest “Why don’t we do a song like 'Irrelevant Thoughts'?”, which is on the Prove You Wrong album. For my recollection, every time we played it in the years past, people were like “What the fuck is this?” It’s sort of a weird song. I get a bad taste in my mouth from songs that have not gone over that good in the past."
In other interviews you’ve claimed that Prong has been an inspiration for lots of new-metal bands.
"I’ve never claimed that, it was the journalists who did that. That statement was always posed to me and I’m like ‘If Prong hadn’t done it somebody else would.'. It was just the natural progression of the way hard stuff was going. Electronics and tools were only beginning to get available back then, unlike today. When I started detuning guitars, trying to go lower, there weren’t strings to do that. And the amplifiers couldn’t handle it. Nowadays there are many different companies that make guitars that can sound that low."
How do you manage to create such a great sound on stage? Your show tonight sounded better than most studio albums do.
"Thanks! Some stuff has tape running with it, like a backing track, but most of it is live. I’ve been doing this for years so I know what I want to sound like. It’s nice to hear the sound was good though, ‘cause a lot of times I really don’t know how we sounded. I use all basic amps; they’re just stock Valvestate Marshall heads. And there’s also a hush in my rack for the harsh gating the Prong sound needs. Then there are specific picks-ups, guitars and strings I like, but there’s no voodoo involved or anything."
What is your personal opinion on most new-metal bands?
"Personally, I think it’s cool the way bands have progressed. They are very song-oriented and use a lot of beats in their music. I’m not really a hip-hop fanatic, and some people say that is a condition for new metal. I’m pretty distorted about new metal. I don’t really know what it is. Static-X is called a new metal band and they are definitely in the vein of Prong. If new metal is the most modern type of metal there is, you might say Prong has always been a new metal band. I don’t like to play stuff that is really dated, that’s why we moved away from thrash. It’s all very subjective. Electronic freaks claim that anything with a guitar in it is outdated."
Don’t you think a fair share of new metal bands drive on fake frustrations?
"Yeah, I totally agree. What they’re frustrated about is all very immature. That’s all part of it. But I don’t like to judge. Generations today are not into rebelling as much as they are into conforming, being cool and selling a lot of records. It’s not like the underground. When we were into hardcore we didn’t want to have anything to do with major labels or the regular rock scene. Eventually, the rock scene came to the underground and bands like Nirvana, Prong and Soundgarden broke out from the underground. These kids today, they want to get a big deal. They don’t even want to be different. They want to sound the same to get on the radio. They play the game, you know. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but it reflects the way people are today."
There’s a big difference between alternative music in the States and in Europe. Over here, alternative music barely gets airplay, whereas alternative music in the US seems to be a mainstream event. The term alternative has no meaning anymore…
"No, absolutely not. In America, alternative music has become almost a classic rock format. It’s just a label. Alternative stations generally play Pearl Jam and Nirvana, which isn’t that alternative. Americans spend a lot of time in their cars so radio is much bigger of a deal over there. There are like hard rock stations coming in and moving out, but its not what is should be. Eventually, things are gonna change because of satellite radio. A lot of people are into that and it’s gonna to break open a whole bunch of shit. On the other hand radio programmers are buddies with people from labels and play lists are all about politics and money. Nobody cares what people want to hear. It’s all in the hands of the powers that be."
What's the new record going to be like?
"It’s almost written in stone already. We didn’t record it yet but we pretty much know what we are going to do. It’s sort of a no-brainer. A lot of material was written over the last couple of years and. Monte and worked out some of the guitar shit together, which is very basic. It makes another statement on simplicity, which is where my head is at right now. There’s not a hell of a lot going on. The lyrics are important to me, they make the song…tell you what it has to say."
What are the lyrics gonna be about than?
"A lot of it is about coping skills, reflections on daily life. The last couple of years have been a roller coaster ride for me. Rude Awakening was almost a flat-out complaint….like whining. Now, I think I have some answers and solutions. There’s a little more light in the lyrics. I’m not naïve anymore about certain things. There was a period in my life where nothing made any sense and everything was just negative. Your relationships are bad, you’re getting ripped off, your career isn’t going well…you’re questioning life and everything is just black. I’ve gone to long periods of being down. I’m a back-slider though. I’ll do the solutions and then I’ll go back again. What’s good about being able to write a song is that it is a reminder for me. Sort of a dairy. That’s why I like opening the set with Dark Signs. To me that lyric is like “Okay, you’re totally responsible for whatever happens to you and those around you.”"
What have the past five years been like?
"I went through a lot of problems. I’ve been playing with Danzig for a while and did something with Rob Zombie but basically I was just trying to get Prong back together. Because of many set backs and disappointments that took me a really long time. We had the band together two and a half years ago and then Monte split to play with Madonna. I wasn’t even happy for him as I was completely convinced I was doomed. When I finally found a replacement for him -Pat Lockman- he went out to play for Halford. I couldn’t keep guys around and I was also running out of money. There have been a lot of frustrating experiences going on in my life the last couple of years. When I finally finished the demo up, with the help of Pat and Monte inspiring me, I got stuff done again. It was hard for me to get off my ass but in the end all, be all it’s very good to laugh about yourself. I realize now that I hate not being on the road because I’ve got nothing to go back to at home.
People seem to want more and more, you know, a partner, kids a house…But if you keep life simple, there’s less to worry about. Also, I feel I can handle what’s thrown at me a little bit better now. I live for the moment. It makes no difference to me whether I’m playing in front of 20 or 20.000 people. I still play the same stuff."
http://www.kindamuzik.net/interview/prong/prong-back-on-track/2169/
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