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List of Venom band members

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Conrad Lant and Stuart Dixon performing with Venom in 2013

Venom is an English heavy metal band from Newcastle upon Tyne. Formed in 1979, the group originally featured drummer Anthony Bray, rhythm guitarist Conrad Lant, lead guitarist Jeffrey Dunn, vocalist Clive Archer and bassist Alan Winston. The band currently consists of Lant (on lead vocals and bass since 1980, who was absent between 1988 and 1995), guitarist Stuart "Rage" Dixon (since 2007) and drummer Danny "Dante" Needham (since 2009).

History

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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

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Current

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Venom, Conrad „Cronos“ Lant at Party.San Metal Open Air 2013 10.jpg
Conrad "Cronos" Lant
  • 1979–1988
  • 1995–present
  • bass
  • lead vocals
  • rhythm guitar (1979)
all Venom releases from Demon demo (1980) to Calm Before the Storm (1987), and from Venom '96 (1996) onwards
Venom @ 70000 tons of metal 2015 02.jpg
Stuart "Rage" Dixon 2007–present
  • guitars
  • backing vocals
all releases from Hell (2008) onwards
Venom, Danny „Danté“ Needham at Party.San Metal Open Air 2013 02.jpg
Danny "Dante" Needham 2009–present
  • drums
  • backing vocals
all releases from Fallen Angels (2011) onwards

Former

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Abaddon - Venom (2016).jpg
Anthony "Abaddon" Bray 1979–1999
  • drums
  • backing vocals
all Venom releases from Demon demo (1980) to Cast in Stone (1997)
Venom Inc. Metal Frenzy 2019 09.jpg
Jeffrey "Mantas" Dunn
  • 1979–1986
  • 1989–2002
  • lead guitar
  • backing vocals
  • rhythm guitar (1979–1986, 1992–2002)
all Venom releases from Demon demo (1980) to Resurrection (2000), except Calm Before the Storm (1987)
Clive "Jesus Christ" Archer 1979–1980 lead vocals Demon demo (1980)
Alan Winston 1979 bass none
Mike "Mykvs" Hickey
  • 1986–1988
  • 2004–2007
  • lead guitar
  • backing vocals
  • rhythm guitar (2004–2007)
  • Calm Before the Storm (1987)
  • Metal Black (2006)
Jim Clare 1986–1988
  • rhythm guitar
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
Calm Before the Storm (1987)
Demolition Man - Mpire of Evil (2013).jpg
Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan 1989–1995
  • bass
  • lead vocals
Al Barnes 1989–1991
  • rhythm guitar
  • bass
  • Prime Evil (1989)
  • Tear Your Soul Apart (1990)
  • Temples of Ice (1991)
Steve "War Maniac" White 1991–1992 rhythm guitar The Waste Lands (1992)
Trevor "VSX" Sewell keyboards
Anthony "Antton" Lant 1999–2009
  • drums
  • backing vocals

Timeline

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Lineups

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Period Members Releases
1979
  • Anthony Bray – drums, backing vocals
  • Conrad Lant – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Jeffrey Dunn – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Clive Archer – lead vocals
  • Alan Winston – bass
none
1979–1980
  • Anthony "Abaddon" Bray – drums, backing vocals
  • Conrad "Cronos" Lant – bass, backing vocals
  • Jeffrey "Mantas" Dunn – guitars, backing vocals
  • Clive "Jesus Christ" Archer – lead vocals
  • Demon demo (1980)
1980–1986
  • Abaddon – drums, backing vocals
  • Cronos – bass, lead vocals
  • Mantas – guitars, backing vocals
1986–1988
  • Abaddon – drums, backing vocals
  • Cronos – bass, lead vocals
  • Mike "Mykvs" Hickey – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim Clare – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
1988–1991
  • Abaddon – drums, backing vocals
  • Mantas – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan – bass, lead vocals
  • Al Barnes – rhythm guitar, bass
1991–1992
  • Abaddon – drums, backing vocals
  • Mantas – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Demolition Man – bass, lead vocals
  • Steve White – rhythm guitar
  • Trevor "VSX" Sewell – keyboards
1992–1995
  • Abaddon – drums, backing vocals
  • Mantas – guitars, backing vocals
  • Demolition Man – bass, lead vocals
none
1995–1999
  • Abaddon – drums, backing vocals
  • Mantas – guitars, backing vocals
  • Cronos – bass, lead vocals
1999–2002
  • Mantas – guitars, backing vocals
  • Cronos – bass, lead vocals
  • Anthony "Antton" Lant – drums, backing vocals
Band on hiatus 2002–2004
March 2004 – January 2007
  • Cronos – bass, lead vocals
  • Antton – drums, backing vocals
  • Mike "Mykvs" Hickey – guitars, backing vocals
January 2007 – April 2009
  • Cronos – bass, lead vocals
  • Antton – drums, backing vocals
  • Stuart "La Rage" Dixon – guitars, backing vocals
May 2009 – present
  • Cronos – bass, lead vocals
  • La Rage – guitars, backing vocals
  • Danny "Dante" Needham – drums, backing vocals

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c d Barton, Geoff (5 January 2005). "Venom: Centuries Of Sin". TeamRock. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  3. ^ Demon (Media notes). Venom. Venom. 1980. Retrieved 14 October 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ a b Rivadavia, Eduardo (10 January 2017). "Venom Albums Ranked". Loudwire. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  5. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Cronos: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  6. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Venom: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  7. ^ McIver, Joel (4 March 2010). Extreme Metal II. London, England: Omnibus Press. p. 332. ISBN 978-0857122247. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Venom Frontman Out Of Commission After Climbing Accident". Blabbermouth.net. 25 February 2002. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Venom Announce New Lineup". Blabbermouth.net. 21 March 2004. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Venom Parts Ways With Guitarist, Announces Replacement". Blabbermouth.net. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Venom Drummer Quits". Blabbermouth.net. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Venom Announces New Drummer". Blabbermouth.net. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
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