List of Venom band members
Venom is an English heavy metal band from Newcastle upon Tyne. Formed in September 1978, the group originally featured drummer Anthony Bray, rhythm guitarist Conrad Lant, lead guitarist Jeffrey Dunn, lead singer Clive Archer and bassist Alan Winston.
The band currently consists of Lant (on bass/lead vocals since 1980, who was absent between 1988 and 1995), guitarist Stuart "Rage" Dixon (since 2007) and drummer Danny "Dante" Needham (since 2009).
History
Early on, bassist Winston left and Lant switched to bass.[1] Each band member soon adopted a stage name for use in Venom – Bray as "Abaddon", Lant as "Cronos", Dunn as "Mantas" and Archer as "Christus".[2] Archer was credited as "Jesus Christ" on the band's first demo tape Demon, released in 1980.[3] Shortly after the demo's release, the decision was made to dismiss the vocalist and continue Venom as a three-piece, as Cronos had begun taking over the role.[2] The band's lineup remained stable for the release of four studio albums between 1981 and 1985, before Mantas left in 1986.[4]
For 1987's Calm Before the Storm, Abaddon and Cronos brought in guitarists Mike Hickey and Jim Clare.[2] The following year, however, the frontman decided to leave Venom and form his own eponymous band, with both new members joining him in the group's initial lineup.[5] Cronos was replaced by former Atomkraft frontman Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan early the following year, as Mantas returned and Al Barnes was added on rhythm guitar and bass.[2] After the release of Prime Evil, Tear Your Soul Apart and Temples of Ice, Barnes left Venom; he was replaced by Steve "War Maniac" White, who joined alongside keyboardist Dave "VXS" Young for 1992's The Waste Lands. Dolan, Mantas and Abaddon continued performing as a trio,[6] before Cronos returned in time for a headlining show at Holland's Waldrock Festival on 24 June 1995.[7]
Abaddon, the only remaining constant member of Venom, left the group in 1999 and was replaced by Cronos' brother Anthony "Antton" Lant.[4] In February 2002, Venom was put on hiatus after Cronos was injured in a climbing accident.[8] The group returned in 2004, with Hickey (now under the name "Mykvs") returning to replace the departed Mantas.[9] Mykvs was later replaced by Stuart "La Rage" Dixon in early 2007.[10] Antton then left to focus on his other band Def-Con-One in 2009,[11] with Danny "Dante" Needham taking his place a month later.[12]
Members
Current
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conrad "Cronos" Lant |
|
|
all Venom releases from Demon demo (1980) to Calm Before the Storm (1987), and from Venom '96 (1996) onwards | |
| Stuart "LaRage" Dixon | 2007–present |
|
all releases from Hell (2008) onwards | |
| Danny "Dante" Needham | 2009–present |
|
all releases from Fallen Angels (2011) onwards |
Former
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey "Mantas" Dunn |
|
|
all Venom releases from Demon demo (1980) to Resurrection (2000), except Calm Before the Storm (1987) | |
| Dave Rutherford | 1978–1979 | rhythm guitar | none | |
| Dave Blackman | lead vocals | |||
| Dean Hewitt | bass guitar | |||
| Chris McPeters | drums | |||
| Anthony "Abaddon" Bray | 1979–1999 |
|
all Venom releases from Demon demo (1980) to Cast in Stone (1997) | |
| Clive "Jesus Christ" Archer | 1979–1980 | lead vocals | Demon demo (1980) | |
| Alan Winston | bass guitar | none | ||
| Mike "Mykvs" Hickey |
|
|
| |
| Jim Clare | 1986–1988 |
|
Calm Before the Storm (1987) | |
| Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan | 1989–1995 |
|
| |
| Al Barnes | 1989–1991 | rhythm guitar |
| |
| Steve "War Maniac" White | 1991–1992 | rhythm guitar | The Waste Lands (1992) | |
| Trevor "VSX" Sewell | keyboards | |||
| Anthony "Antton" Lant | 1999–2009 |
|
|
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Timeline
- Guillotine/Venom
- Album Graecum/Dwarf Star/Oberon
Lineups
| Period | Members | Releases | |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1978 – July 1979 |
|
none | |
| August – November 1979 |
|
||
| November 1979 – February 1980 |
|
||
| February – mid-1980 |
|
| |
| Mid-1980–August 1986 |
|
| |
| September 1986 – November 1988 |
|
| |
| January 1989 – 1991 |
|
| |
| 1991 – November 1992 |
|
| |
| December 1992 – 1995 |
|
none | |
| 1995 – 1999 |
|
| |
| 1999 – February 2002 |
|
| |
| Band on hiatus February 2002 – March 2004 | |||
| March 2004 – January 2007 |
|
| |
| January 2007 – April 2009 |
|
| |
| May 2009 – present |
|
| |
References
- ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (16 June 2015). "Venom's Cronos Reflects on the Band's Career and New Album, 'From the Very Depths'". Guitar World. NewBay Media. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 Barton, Geoff (5 January 2005). "Venom: Centuries Of Sin". TeamRock. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ↑ Demon (Media notes). Venom. Venom. 1980. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - 1 2 Rivadavia, Eduardo (10 January 2017). "Venom Albums Ranked". Loudwire. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Cronos: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Venom: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ↑ McIver, Joel (4 March 2010). Extreme Metal II. London, England: Omnibus Press. p. 332. ISBN 978-0857122247. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ↑ "Venom Frontman Out Of Commission After Climbing Accident". Blabbermouth.net. 25 February 2002. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ↑ "Venom Announce New Lineup". Blabbermouth.net. 21 March 2004. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ↑ "Venom Parts Ways With Guitarist, Announces Replacement". Blabbermouth.net. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ↑ "Venom Drummer Quits". Blabbermouth.net. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ↑ "Venom Announces New Drummer". Blabbermouth.net. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2017.