6 Prong Paw

6 Prong Paw is a metal band from Hastings, MI. Their name derived from a friend whom worked at the dog pound. He learned that dogs have a sixth claw removed shortly after birth. This claw (prong) can cause serious injury in an attack to humans and other animals if not extracted. Sessions started in February 1998 by drummer Chad Johncock and singer/guitar player Nick Williams. Band members came and went for a couple of years. Dustin Cook strapped on a bass and joined 6 Prong Paw.

Sessions started in February 1998 by drummer Chad Johncock and singer/guitar player Nick Williams. Band members came and went for a couple of years. Dustin Cook strapped on a bass and joined 6 Prong Paw.

In 1999 (Mike Smith/guitar"98-00", Dustin Cook/bass, Nick/guitar, vocals, Chad/drums) recorded and released a four song demo entitled "Window of Opportunity." The sole purpose of the CD was to get gigs at local clubs and to give people something to go home with, really just to start some sort of buzz about the band in the Michigan area.

However, for the next couple of years the band endured much internal conflict and many promises that were made to them, from people outside the band, went unfulfilled. In 2000 they began an extensive search for a studio to record a full length CD. Much of 2001 and 2002 were spent recording the full length. They wanted it to be perfect. But after hearing one of the songs mixed and mastered they realized it was not up to their expectations. So, after much time and money they decided to take all the tracks to a different studio to have a fresh ear try to fix someone else's mess. That's when they met Jason Suecof of Audio Hammer Studios. Suecof had just recorded the new disc from Michigan natives and long time friends Summon and 6pp was very impressed with the recording. While all this was going on, 6pp approached guitarist Sean Austin to join the band. They wrote a couple of new songs with Sean, put the 10 song full length on the shelf and went to Florida to record 4 new tracks. Luckily they were able to salvage one of the tracks from the full length sessions entitled "World Without" which became the third track on the disc.

In May 2003 they released a 5 song, self-titled disc without drummer Chad Johncock, whom left the band shortly after they arrived back home from Florida. They all knew it was coming and replaced him with Summon drummer and long time friend Josh Moore. With a much needed jump start in the rhythm department and a new CD to push they play lots of show in the Michigan area. They sent out over 400 discs to college and internet radio. They also had entered 3 local battle of the bands competitions in which they won the semi-final rounds each time. That allowed them to play in the final rounds. Each final round was a sold out show and allowed maximum exposure for a small town band in a big city.

Then in January 2005 6pp got to go back and record a 6 song CD entitled Victim of Mainstream America with Suecof who has now made a name for himself. He has worked with Century Media's God Forbid and has also recorded Roadrunner recoding artist Trivium's new album Ascendancy. 6pp has since won the 2006 WKLQ Heavyweight Battle of the Bands and is currently searching for a second guitarist to add to the band.