PRO-PAIN was founded in New York City by CRUMBSUCKERS refugees vocalist / bassist Gary Meskil and drummer Dan Richardson in 1991. Meskill post CRUMBSUCKERS founded HEAVY RAIN in union with erstwhile band colleagues Dan Richardson and Chuck Lenihan prior to creating PRO-PAIN. The original plan was to have M.O.D. and S.O.D.'s larger than life frontman Billy Milano to lead the band, but this never materialized and Meskill took over the vocalist's role.

With the release of 1992's 'Foul Taste Of Freedom' through Energy Records, produced by Alex Perialas and engineered by ex-RAVEN drummer Rob 'Wacko' Hunter at Pyramid Sound Studios in Ithaca, New York, guitarist Tom Klimchuck departed in favour of Nick St. Denis, previously a member of ex-FORBIDDEN and TESTAMENT guitarist Glen Alvelais act BIZARRO. Heavy touring followed including shows with BODY COUNT.

For second album 'The Truth Hurts', released in 1994 and recorded by the same Perialas / Hunter team again at Pyramid Sound, PRO-PAIN added ex-POSSESSED rhythm guitarist Mike Hollman. ICE T. guests on the track 'Put The Lights Out'. The cassette version of 'The Truth Hurts' had added extra tracks 'Death On The Dancefloor', 'Pound For Pound' and 'Foul Taste Of Freedom'. Two versions of album artwork were released, the more common garbage in the street varianty and a rarer cover depicted a woman post-autopsy. Touring across Europe in January 1994 saw the band supported by THE SPUDMONSTERS and LIFE OF AGONY.

The band pulled in erstwhile LÄÄZ ROCKIT and M.O.D. drummer Dave Chavarri as Richardson exited. The ex-drummer joined up with LIFE OF AGONY before creating STEREOMUD for two albums in league with the STUCK MOJO credited bass player Corey Lowery and ex-LIFE OF AGONY guitarist Joey Z.

Klimchuck made a return to the band during 1995 as PRO-PAIN shuffled their line-up yet again also drafting former M.O.D. guitarist Rob Moschetti. However, Chavarri would decamp to found ILL NIÑO with ex-MERUADER frontman Jorge Rosado, deputize on a two month stint for SOULFLY then forge Latin Metal band ILL NINO. Former member Nick St. Denis would team up with SYSTEMATIC and later PRIMATE.

Switching to Concrete Records, the band released their third album set, 'Contents Under Pressure', in June 1996. The self-titled fourth opus of 1998 witnessed yet another change in label to Mayhem Records for the USA and High Gain Records for Europe.

PRO-PAIN toured Europe in early 1998 with support from GURD, FURY OF FIVE and PISSING RAZORS. Their efforts paid off as the band were then invited to open for BÖHSE ONKELZ, one of Germany's biggest bands, which saw PRO-PAIN playing to huge arena audiences. High Gain Records released 'Act Of God' in February 1999. Early versions hosted the bonus track 'F.S.U. (Fuck Shit Up)'.

The group's success in Germany generated interest from major independent Nuclear Blast Records, who contracted the band for August 2000's 'Round 6'. This effort was released by Spitfire Records in the USA. The 'Road Rage' live album followed in June 2001. During January of 2002 members of PRO PAIN would hook up with DOG FASHION DISCO and MUSHROOMHEAD personnel to create side project band THE ALTAR BOYS. That April PRO-PAIN were back in stores with the album 'Shreds Of Dignity'.

Live work in Europe during 2003, as part of the 'No Mercy' festivals, found the band having severed ties with longtime drummer Eric Matthews. The IN COLD BLOOD and RUN DEVIL RUN credited Rich Ferjanic was the new man on the drum stool. Upon their return to the USA guitarist Eric Klinger cut the debut album of his side project BUILT UPON FRUSTRATION whilst his fellow six stringer Tom Klimchuck took time out to act as producer for Florida Hardcore act STRUGGLE.

PRO-PAIN's August 2003 'Run For Cover' album provided fans with an insight into the forces that drove the band, comprising a collection of cover material. Included would be takes on traditional Metal fare such as CELTIC FROST's 'Circle Of The Tyrants', SLAYER's 'South Of Heaven' and MOTÖRHEAD's 'Iron Fist' alongside DISCHARGE's 'Never Again', LIFE OF AGONY's 'Weeds', NEGATIVE APPROACH's 'Nothing', OPERATION IVY's 'The Crowd', BLACK FLAG's Damaged II' and the AGNOSTIC FRONT track 'Your Mistake'. Gary Meskil's prior act CRUMBSUCKERS also came in for attention with a re-worked 'Just Sit There'.

PRO-PAIN, pulling in J.C. Dwyer of PAINGOD, GONEMAD, ICARUS WITCH and Pittsburgh's SOULBENT on drums, engaged in a mammoth bout of European headlining running March and April 2004. Dubbed the 'Fistful Of Hate' tour the group would be supported on various legs by DISBELIEF, PX-PAIN, EKTOMORF and DARK DUNGEON. That year Eric Klinger also made time to act as producer for the ICARUS WITCH EP 'Roses On White Lace'.

The album 'Fistful Of Hate' featured a guesting Stephan Weidner of BȪHSE ONKELZ on the track 'Godspeed'. September European dates had the group partnering with Sweden's CARNAL FORGE and France's DISTURB. The band formed up a package billing comprising CROWBAR, ENTOMBED, and THE MIGHTY NIMBUS for US tour dates in February 2005. In April PRO-PAIN hooked up with KREATOR, VADER and THE AUTUMN OFFERING but would drop off these dates after a few shows. Returning to the European concert trail, the group hooked up with Brazilians SAYOWA in November.

PRO-PAIN drummer J.C. Dwyer acted as stand in for the CRUMBSUCKERS February 2007 tour dates. The March 2007 PRO-PAIN album 'Age Of Tyranny / The Tenth Crusade' featured a guesting Matt Bizilia from ICARUS WITCH on the track 'Beyond The Pale'. European headliners, commencing April 25th at the Munich Metropolis in Germany, saw the support slot allocated to Swiss act GURD.

PRO-PAIN's 11th album, 'No End In Sight', entered the national German Media Control chart at no. 98 in 2008. The band subsequently signed a deal with Regain Records for the release of 'No End In Sight' in North America. 

Garry Sharpe-Young