Paul Raven R.I.P.: Tommy Victor (Prong)

2007/11/12

Tommy Victor (Prong)

from BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

PRONG, the pioneering New York City underground act (since relocated to Los Angeles) that saw success in the '80s and '90s with classics like "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" and "Whose Fist Is It Anyway?", will be featured on a special edition of "The CMS Xtreme" program. The show fill feature classic PRONG cuts, new material from PRONG's latest release "The Power of the Damager", and an interview with PRONG mainman Tommy Victor (also of MINISTRY, DANZIG). The interview will include a discussion about "The Power of the Damager", the closing of the historic CBGB club in New York and the passing of former PRONG bassist Paul Raven.

BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
PRONG Mainman To Guest On 'The CMS Xtreme'

from Prong website:

october 20th, 2007 - Paul Raven Passes Away

Ministry Bassist Paul Raven Dies of Heart Attack in Geneva

October 20, 2007 FRANCE - Ministry's bassist Paul Raven was found dead today in a private home in a small French village on the Swiss border. Initial reports indicate Raven's passing was due to a heart attack. Raven (known also for his work with Killing Joke, Prong) was in Geneva working with French recording artists Treponem Pal on their new release, along side drummer Ted Parsons (ex-Prong, ex-Killing Joke) and members of The Young Gods.

Born in Wolverhampton UK on January 16, 1961, Paul Vincent Raven established himself with his work in the seminal post-punk/industrial group Killing Joke when, in 1982 he replaced the original bassist for the band, recording and touring with the group throughout its most commercially successful period, performing on Fire Dances , Night Time and Brighter than a Thousand Suns . Throughout his extensive career, Raven participated in other collaborations including Prong, Murder, Inc., Pigface, Godflesh.

Most recently, Raven was nominated for a 2006 Grammy for Best Metal Performance for his work with Ministry's Al Jourgensen and Prong's Tommy Victor, with whom he had begun working with in late 2005 on the 13 th Planet release Rio Grande Blood. After a 2006 World Tour with Ministry, Raven helped Jourgensen and Prong's Tommy Victor pen the September 18, 2006 Ministry release The Last Sucker , Ministry's final studio release.

Raven's newest project, Mob Research, featuring members of Warrior Soul and The Mission UK, and scheduled for release on 13 th Planet Records in 2008, was in the final mixing and mastering phases at the time of Raven's sudden and unexpected passing.

Tommy Victor has released the following statement:

"Paul Raven was a grand-master of our cult, high up in the inner sanctum sanctorum. His status can never be forgotten, nor his presence replaced. One of our heroes. An unbelievable loss, but we are always going to laugh and smile in remembrance…. exactly how he wanted it."

13th Planet Records and the MINISTRY camp pays homage to the late Raven: visit the memorial.