Shannon Larratt discusses tongue splitting. 1998. (Patreon)

Tongue splitting, as a documented modification, is a relatively recent phenomenon.(1)
I can remember discussing the theory as early as 1993 with piercers Jack Yount and Brian Skellie, but despite rumors of the procedure being done over the years, we wouldn't see documentation until 1997- which would be the year that would see photos of an Italian body mod fan's split tongue on BME, Erik Sprague having his tongue split via argon laser, Dustin on the cover of BODY PLAY & MODERN PRIMITIVES QUARTERLY (with accompanying photos of her tie-off procedure) and Shannon Larratt putting the weight of BME/Extreme behind the switch from discrete surgical modifications like subincision to the more public facing forked tongue. 

This video was shot a year later, at a hotel in Detroit, MI. I'd met Shannon via rec.arts.bodyart in 1995, but wouldn't meet him in person until this meeting. We spent all night talking- unfortunately only partially recording- and left the next day having set in motion what would become the MODCON- the first organized extreme surgical 'convention' which would be held in 1999 after the 1998 event didn't get off the ground. 

This clip- where Shannon discusses having his tongue surgically split by Dr. Lawrence Busino in Albany- and a clip where he discusses team building masturbation by straight male hockey players- is all that remains from that first meeting. 

(1) https://news.bme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/pubring/lizardman/20050726.html