With:	Tommy Victor
Conducted by:	jupitreas (e-mail)
Published:	24.05.2009
Band profile:	Prong

We managed to get Tommy Victor, founding member and leader of Prong and guitar player in bands such as Danzig and Ministry, to answer a few questions for Metal Storm through e-mail. Hopefully you will enjoy this interview since it turned out pretty funny!

Jerry: Hi Tommy, it's great to talk to you again. Hope you can shed light on a few things by answering a few of my questions for Metal Storm. First of all, tell me, what's on your plate these days?

Tommy Victor: Preparing for another European Prong tour, mainly. We start in a week, May 29th in Germany at the Rockhard  festival. There's a new record out. a remix record "Power Of The Damn MiXXXer", another take on our last record "Power Of The Damager".
 
J: Are we going to see you on tour in Europe anytime soon?

TV: Ha. I just answered that! It's a big tour. We play every night for 5 weeks. Check out the dates on http://www.myspace.com/prong.
 



J: It's a shame Ted Parsons left Prong, what do you think of his more recent endeavors, for example, Jesu?

TV: Not very challenging technically, but I like the guitars, ha. I'd love to do another project with Teddy. He even says, he can't keep up with the metal thing. It's tough, I just barely do it myself.
 
J: I heard elements of various styles of extreme metal in your latest albums. What do you think of genres like death metal, black metal and grindcore?

TV: That's funny because in a recent interview, the writer insisted we abandoned 'extreme' metal. I don't know the definition anymore. To me, Chrome was extreme, but you play that stuff to kids today, they laugh. I'll get more specific if you like. We came out before grindcore, and I firmly believe we influenced what is called grindcore. We influenced 'groove metal' and industrial metal. But now, to keep ahead of the chart it's really hard. I think the next Prong record is going to be like loser rock. Just completely stupid.
 
J: What draws you to metal music? What do you think is the essence of metal?

TV: Being a misfit, a loser, a drunk, or a hooligan maybe. You have to be disgusted with the mainstream. Officially. But now you have Yuppie Metal. Guys that want to be sex symbols or superstars playing "extreme" metal. It's a joke out there. It's all about record sales and how many girls you have. I hate it. I'm not a metal guy anyhow. I'm a phony art rocker. One who wanted to turn others on to Satan. 
 



J: What Prong albums or songs are you most proud of? Any that you think, in hindsight, could have been done better?

TV: "Beg To Differ" is really good. "Cleansing" is still the best. " Power Of the Damager" is up there as well. The rest of them are okay. But "Scorpio Rising " is a disaster. We have Monte Pittman to thank for that one, by insisting that Dan Laudo play drums for Prong. The guy's drumming ruined the songs. Monte also wanted the stupid low tuning as well. I wish we had Aaron Rossi on that one.
 
J: What kind of music can we expect from you on future releases?

TV: I want to do a New York Jets anthem. How about an anti Chicago Black Hawks song? For the most part, the next record will be more math metal: more crazy. I'm tired of writing radio hits.

J: You are an incredibly unique and talented guitar player. Are there any guitarists that you consider to have influenced you the most?

TV: I'm horrible, I can hardly play. But neither can Jimmy Page, and people consider him a genius, right? He's one of my faves, Thunders as well. I used to like Clapton. But I started reading his book, and I decided he was an asshole so fuck him.



 
J: You have a very unique guitar sound, ever thought of making instructional DVDs?

TV: I'm going to do a guitar CD. Instrumental. That will include the instructional DVD. After the next Danzig tour, that's on the schedule.
 
J: You played with many different bands. Do you prefer to play in your own band where you have control over everything or to play guitar in bands like Danzig or Ministry where you can show off your guitar chops?

TV: I prefer to play with Danzig because it's a lot of fun. People get all weird about that for some reason. They think Glenn is an ass or something. Glenn, to me , is one of the coolest guys I've worked with. He's honest and he's not a druggie or a drunk. He's ORIGINAL, something no one knows about anymore.
 
J: What are you most proud of from your time in Ministry?

TV: I'm unhappy about Ministry because it's over. There's no future in it so why even talk about it? Really a shame that a project has to end like that.
 
J: What did you think of Ministry back in the 90's when you were in rivalry with them in a way?

TV: I thought they were cool. But I thought Prong was better. Old Ministry wishes it was S.O.D or Anthrax or Slayer.. They were a  great bubble gum group. Bands that make a lot of success try to emulate bands they like and wind up selling a lot of records accidentally. Like Static X..
 
J: When we were getting wasted at Hellfest, I did notice Al was feeling burned out on touring. Is that the reason why Ministry is over?

TV: Al is too intelligent to tour. He sees through everything. Quite frankly, one must be an idiot to do this. Like me. I'm very stupid to continue this life.
 
J: What do you think of the 'sex, drugs 'n' rock'n'roll' lifestyle? Does it aid creativity?

TV: I despise that lifestyle. I got mixed up with drugs years ago, and it was a huge mistake. I'm lucky to be out of it. It's not worth it! Drink, that's fine. It's legal. Sex is bullshit too. It's all vanity. God hates that stuff. You are working against nature in other words. You shouldn't follow the "cult" in order to be an artist. Stay clean, stay healthy, monogamist, drink some beer, breathe in the air, and you'll be fine.
 
J: What new bands do you enjoy the most?

TV: Phssst. That's a joke right? Yore winding me up?
 
J:What do you think of these bands:

Pantera
TV: They were great, but very suburban.
 
Fudge Tunnel
Huge influence. Probably the most innovative band of our second generation post punk time other than Godflesh.

Helmet
Amazing. I envy them.
 
Killing Joke
THIS IS A JOKE RIGHT! best band of all time.
 
Godflesh
number 2
 
Therapy?
They were good. We should have toured with them. Trios rule!!!
 
Chrome
The sickest band ;so away from the mainstream In an era of new wave with cute little 3 minute songs, they did psychedelic anthems 10 minutes long.

Nine Inch Nails
Bubblegum music
 
KMFDM
Had their moments. I really used to like them. I just have a problem with their album art. It lacks consistency.
 
The Swans
That's hate music. The real deal!!! Not the later stuff, that's too sophisticated. But the early records, compare that with all these "brutal" hardcore bands out now. It's a joke, again. Swans was urban rock. Everything now moved to the burbs, including Prong.


 

J: Is there anything else that you would like to announce regarding your future endeavors?

TV: I'm worried! I don't know how much longer I can keep on with this. I'm going to wind up working at Burger King or something. It pays better.
 
J: Finally, anything that you'd like to say to your fans at Metal Storm?

TV: Check out our stuff at http://www.myspace.com/prong....... We have an AWESOME new website--- completely redone http://www.prongmusic.com. See you on the forum, it's mainly gay sex talk..