Tommy Victor – Prong – Uber Rock Interview Exclusive
Written by Johnny H
Sunday, 14 February 2016 04:00
Earlier this month Prong released their superb new record ‘X-No Absolutes’ on the rock world. I got to catch up with singer/guitarist and general all round nice guy Tommy Victor to talk about the band’s upcoming 55 date headline tour, how ‘X-No Absolutes’ came into existence and what he thinks of a certain Donald Trump. Read on to find the answers to these questions and a whole lot more besides.
Hi Tommy I just wanted to start by saying thanks for taking the time to talk with me today.
Hey no problem.
You must be really pleased with how ‘X-No Absolutes’ has turned out. It sounds fantastic.
I was just happy to get it done on time and within budget. But yes it came out nice. It was a great effort between everyone involved.
How do you go about starting to record an album like this?
Having the right schedule is important. Figuring out a serious financial agenda that has to be honored has to be implemented, as well. Creatively, I start with documenting lyric ideas and riffs. Whether it be at home messing around with guitar or on the road, I’ll record potential riffs either on my phone or on my computer or iPad. I’ll use my actual notebook or phone notepad for titles I come up with. Chris Collier had some riffs and I consulted them as well. Then it’s just picking the decent ones: mixing and matching and making a few changes in tunings or adding new parts. I’ve learned that writing is sometimes like solving a puzzle of sorts. Melody lines are important and inevitably the biggest issue. I probably spend more time on finding vocal lines and finishing lyrics than anything. But even at that point we started having to make decisions on where the material was going. I was concerned with the whole “album rock” point of view, where the whole record should build and slow down. That’s where we designed the opening track ‘Ultimate Authority’ and a slower mood track like ‘Do Nothing’. And on top of that it was in our attention that streamers give songs like 20 seconds to draw an opinion. Immediacy is important to look at in the creation of songs.
And of course you co-produce the band as well. How does that dynamic work with Jason and Art? You do appear very close as a band.
Chris Collier and I produced this record, yes. Chris does a lot. I trust him dearly and let him make a lot of calls. I like to focus on my own performances. Same with the other guys. They just do what they want because I trust them too. There’s not a hell of a lot of questioning these days. We just get it done. Art is so amazing and has so many great ideas why the hell would I interrupt that? Jason, he kicks ass, he knows what to do. I’m probably the guy that needs more direction than anyone in the whole process.
Sonically you somehow manage to keep the riffs and rhythms tight whilst allowing the choruses to lift the song to a different plane. How do you do that?
Well that’s Prong. (Laughing) That’s one of the things we try to do at least. I think that motif started on the ‘Cleansing’ record. I would be lying to you if I said that wasn’t by design. We needed to set ourselves apart from other artists. Sometimes we accomplish this formula, sometimes not. We got lucky on the last three records. I would attribute that a lot to be imbedded into a Killing Joke mentality, even though we venture into thrash metal. They always have these great choruses and crunchy undeniable riffs.
Talking of thrash this album seems to possess a real thrashy undercurrent, was that deliberate this time around? It does give the record a quite brutal edge at time…’Sense Of Ease’ for example.
I wanted to have some representation or reference to all the Prong releases. That wasn’t too difficult. To pull out the best parts of Prong that were done in the past can be fairly obvious. Making it happen, well, again we got lucky. I see ‘Sense Of Ease’ as a modernised throwback to something that would have been on ‘ForceFed’ or ‘Beg To Differ’. What’s good too is that I had a fresh lyric that has that old hardcore mentality to it. A lot of NYHC had as sentiment of taking personal responsibility. That’s a theme that never dies, really.
On an album full of great songs ‘Ice Runs Through My Veins’ is a particular highlight for me, I was wondering if you had any songs you feel deserve be singled out, and if so why?
Yeah ‘Do Nothing’ is one of them. It’s a totally classically arranged and composed song. I think any good artist could take that song and do it right. Whether it be on acoustic guitar or totally electronic, I think it would work, even for a female singer. From older records I would say ‘Rude Awakening’ is one of those unique songs. It doesn’t rely on anything complicated riff wise or structurally, it’s just a song. It’s too bad the production on that tune doesn’t quite honour that. A lot has to do with the treatment of a song. But I think we nailed it on ‘Do Nothing’. I always wanted to do something like that one, just didn’t have the balls.
Your lyrics have always intrigued me, they seem to deal with all aspects of the human condition but what is it that influences you to write a song like ‘Belief System’ for example?
Our minds are really like computers. You have to fill it with the right stuff for them to work properly. Even if some info seems crazy rationally, or to our egos, or emotionally, it’s good or maybe necessary to plant some healthy seeds in our brains. For instance I think it’s beneficial to wake up in the morning and instantly say, “I don’t give a fuck, I’m going to have a good day”. Or even, “I don’t care about what the result is, I’m going to do this and accept the consequences”. There’s plenty of opportunities to talk yourself out of things, it’s a challenge not to.
I’m not sure how much you aware of the press Donald Trump is getting in the UK right now, he’s certainly provoked a strong reaction and discussion around his Presidential campaign. As a fellow native of New York I was just wondering what you thought of him? I mean does he really represent what the people on the street are thinking in one of the most cosmopolitan cities I’ve ever visited?
I would say yes, he does. But I would also say that most people are smart enough not to take him completely serious enough to have him in a position like the President. He’s sort of like a cheerleader, but no one would have a cheerleader as a quarterback. He’ll never get in there because he’s outside the gate. In any case, I don’t care because they’re all patsies for some hidden group that run everything. The elections are a show for the masses. It’s retarded. I personally don’t take him serious and I don’t think he takes himself seriously. He’s playing a game. He’s showing what a farce the whole thing is. We are totally powerless over what these 50 rich bastards want for us all.
Okay, getting back to ‘X-No Absolutes’ there are something like 55 headline shows lined up in support of it. However you’re only playing one show in the UK at Camden Underworld on March 26th. Why only one show this time? Can we expect you to return anytime soon?
Maybe. It’s not up to me, I certainly have no control over what goes on with our popularity. Supply and demand, that’s what it’s based on. If the UK audiences want us, then it may happen.
So what can fans expect to hear set list wise this time around?
Oldies but goodies, firstly. I love playing them. ‘Broken Peace’, ‘Revenge Best Served Cold’, anything that people can groove to and shout the lyrics out to. We’ll do a few new ones. we did ‘Ultimate Authority’ on our last tour a few months back before it even came out as a single and people were going crazy over it. I like some of the covers too. Anything fun. It’s just a party as far as I’m concerned.
I saw you guys a few years back at Hellfest and I have to admit I promptly went out and bought ‘Carved Into Stone’ off the back of it. I’m interested to know your thoughts on if you think festivals actually work records harder than say a 55 date headline tour?
I’ve never been posed that question. I’ll have to ask my manger, the statistician that. I haven’t a clue. I’m a crappy businessman. I don’t know anything about the business side. I’m wrong a lot. (Laughing)
At that same festival you also played a set with Danzig. What was that like playing all those old Misfits songs and looking over to see both Glenn and Doyle stood alongside you?
Let’s put it this way. I love playing the Misfits songs. ‘Walk Among Us’ is still one of my favorite records from that period. Believe it or not, some of those Misfits songs are a challenge to play, when you downstroke only. I’d really have to concentrate on playing them. So I really didn’t get into the hype of the whole event as much as doing my job as a guitarist.
The thing I found most intriguing at that Hellfest show was that the classic Danzig songs were actually received better than some of the Misfits tracks. I was staggered by just how much of a hero’s welcome the solo material received….
That’s good to know. Those first three Danzig records are classics in their own right. I’m glad we were able to pull them off. Glenn really, really tries his best to deliver and he does 99 percent of the time.
Whilst we are talking Danzig, did he lift the idea of doing eclectic covers for ‘Skeletons’ from you guys and ‘Songs From The Black Hole‘ record? (Laughing)
I doubt it. Glenn has on his own agenda. I think we started doing the covers thing around the same time. Glenn works totally differently from most artists. We started working on three different records as Danzig at the same time, so I can’t recall time wise too clearly. The Elvis covers record, the classic covers record and the new Danzig record were all started about the same time. Somehow they got mixed up a bit. We are still working on the new Danzig record. He likes to take time off to do his other projects and allow me to do Prong and whatnot as well.
With your covers record, ‘Songs From The Black Hole‘, were there any songs you tried that didn’t make the cut or some you would have loved to have tried but they didn’t work? I really liked the mix of goth, punk and straight ahead rock and you still got it to all sound like Prong.
Some of my suggestions got cut because Jason and Art didn’t like them or we eventually agreed they didn’t fit. There weren’t many. I know I wanted to do a Dark Angel song ‘Merciless Death’, a Buzzcocks song ‘Something Goes Wrong Again’ and Motorhead’s ‘Dancin’ On Your Grave’. I think if we had had more time we may have been able to do those. They just didn’t make the cut. Years ago we’d have these band management, A&R meetings all day and think about it for a week. Now these decisions take like three minutes. It’s always “Fine, whatever” (Laughing)
Just to finish off then ‘X-No Absolutes’ was released in the UK on February 5th. Now I’ve already told our readers already they should go out and buy it. Why do YOU think they should go out and invest in the record?
Well that’s easy. IT’S THE BEST PRONG RECORD OF ALL TIME! It is the most efficiently produced and compiled venture we have ever done. The level of professionalism that exists now surrounding this project is of heights never reached before. There’s no fooling around. We are just performing in all aspects like a well-oiled machine. That includes Chris Collier and our art director Sebastian Rhodes, who put together a package in direct conjunction with the lyrics that in unparalleled. I’ve never personally been involved with a record where every issue in quality control has been measured and diagnosed. The production standards are competitive with any modern release. And then ultimately, there’s the strength of the songs. There’s no filler; every song could be released as a single. They are all anthems in their own right. The words and lyrics involve issues that everyone in society can relate to and identify with. It’s just a crushing, powerful venture. ‘X-No Absolutes’ will surely blow your eardrums and mind.
Anything else you’d like to say to your fans?
We have a lot of touring coming up. Say hello! Our dates are posted on our website www.prongmusic.com.
Also check out the following links https://www.facebook.com/prongmusic, https://twitter.com/prongmusic, https://www.instagram.com/prongtheband/
… PRONG!
