Of course, I know were in 1986 (or am I trashed ?),but I've felt to reserve most part of this magazine for the tour in 1985 because it was very important for Venom. As the group is evoluting, I think the next show will be still greater. In my opinion the best bands for doing spectacular gigs are Rush, UFO (with their magnifi cent Pyros), The Rolling Stones (remember 1981). The Asylum Tour in 86 proved that Kiss was acting for the best. The World Slavery Tour gave to Iron Maiden the occasion to deliver a spectacular energy, but Venom stays the maddest band. l don't want to make any compari son which could be wrong, but the wide-spreading madness and courage of the 3 masters of Black Metal is above normal. This tour was really something like an infinite madness. In 1983, Venom had promissed to realize a show that would go to the utmost point, and they'v done it!. After the promotion video WITCHING HOUR/BLOODLUST in 1982 we were sure they could make it. Now,the proof is produced! On friday the 19th of April 85, in Hollywood Palladium, Slayer and Exodus ensured the first part of the concert, with Avalon Productiod The World Possession Tour 85 part 1 was beginning in the USA. Cronos and Abaddon had a good time, especially because of advantages offered by this country (a large choice of girls,big amount of drinks and other stuffs).But where was Mantas ?.In Newcastle, perhaps,or in Wallsend.Who Knows ?.What was certain,he was not in the USA. The blonde mopped man with the black head-band had forgot ten to put his identity papers in orderiand they had to find a substitute.That's why the World Possession Tour part 1 will not appear in this magazine,because,without Mantas,Venom is not Venom (we stand as one,never denied). So,let's come back, to these delightful countries in West Europa,: especially in this land that has given birth to many and many I groups,in North-East part of Albion,in this bay where the river Tyne,enclosed by metal,is flowing into North Sea. Newcastle is a city where metallurgical industry is developed to tthe utmost. Iron works stand on each side of the Tyne till the sea. The metal city was quiet (!?) until the time when the wellknown trio took it into his head to assault it.Up to the present,London had been the only city in England where Venom had played.But here, the band wanted to strike a strong blow,to be really known by the 1 citizens of their own city.Howeverithey were known in Newcastle. ' Talking about Venom was most unfortunate.They were hardly compared with Mephisto or Faust.Some gossips were saying : "they spitted blood on their public in London";"They pissed on stage,too!".

By a mere chance,2 weeks before,Kerrang Magazine had wrote a good article about the band,where Cronos figured on front page with 2 scale cousins of his.The newspaper around the corner even used the title : Snake's Scare for Venom,in the juncture of the meeting for the taking of photographs made by Fin Costello,because a 12 ft python had escaped from its cage.The python was feeling pretty well in its skin in view of the heat of the lights.Everybody was panic-stricken,except our 3 fellows who caught the python by the end of its tail.The snake was so scared than it allowed to be eaten, without being cooked!What a banquet!especially with fried potatoes and a glass of Cobra Cola. In fact,the python was not afraid by Cronos and his friends but principally by the self-portrait(so well done) that Mantas had made on a wall of the studio.Enough of jokes! (already ?Don't go away,it's not finished!).After all these adven tures,the tour could finally begin. Before BLACK METAL,Venom had already made some jealous (Mercyful Fate,Trance,Vandenberg,Accept,Raven...) at the time of Aardshok Dag Festival in Holland.All the humourists were vexed at the clever humour showed by Venom in interviews on radios and in TV shows.All the kids had been conquered when,in 84,Venom had let fly 7 bombs, one for every town, Zwolle, Zurich, Milan, Nurenberg, Paris, Poperinge and London.So now,the number of cities doomed to destruction was bigger.

Dates were fixed on the 20th of September 85.

Here is the list :

English Assault :
3rd Newcastle City Hall
5th Manchester Apollo
6th Birmingham Odeon
8th London Hammersmith Odeon

Italian Assault :
12th Rome
13th Florence
15th Turin Palais des Sports
16th Milan Rolling Stone
17th Padua Palais des Sports

German Assault :
19th Nurenberg Hemmereinhalle
20th Munich Alabamahalle
22nd Hamburg Markthalle

Danish Assault :
24th Copenhagen Saga
27th Osnabruck Halle Gartlage

Dutch Assault :
28th Amsterdam Paradiso

French Assault :
29th Cambrai Palais des Grottes
30th Rouen Exo 7
31st Clermont Ferrand Maison du Peuple

November 85
2nd Toulouse Halle aux Grains
3rd Bordeaux Grand Parc
4th Paris Zenith

Satan was looking after Venom even though He had difficulty in propelling the infernal trio into a complete Mayhem.As a matter of fact,the road for reaching this tour was studded with traps. On Saturday,the 13th of September,hot like a H-bomb,the band hac gone and play in Metal Hammer Festival,on the banks of the Rhine, as headline,seeing that its the deserving place of the most power ful band of the planet.The group got into trouble with the police and the promoters.The contract was specifying 5000 pounds of fire works.However,when CronosiMantas and Abaddon arrived in the after noon.they realized nothing had been prepared for the show.They wer on the point to come back England,because they didn't want to lie to their fans.Either Venom would make a sensation,or he wouldn't play.Fortunately,the chief of the police persuaded the promoter tc pay his due and the band could finally play with 7500 pounds of fireworks,for the joy of unconditional crowd of Black Metal.

Another problem appeared with the smallness of places where Venc had to play.The use of pyrotechnics was very dangerous in such places;so,they had to cancel 6 dates : Nottingham,Sheffield, Edinburg,Cardiff,Hanley and Ipswich.And so was Newcastle with its small Mayfair Hall.Fortunately,City Hall was free and exceedingly large,so the band could play there,keeping his promise to use only 1000 pounds of pyros per show. The band had purchased various new instruments at Paul Garvey's Music in Newcastle.Abaddon was castir his formidable Viking drums aside,making his choice for 14-barrels Ludwig,equiped with Paiste cymbals and gong,and new effect pedals. giving a greater sound while being more correct and more audible c stage.Cronos'new equipment was a Westone bass,with a clear and mighty sound,which he called "fuck it bass",while keeping his legf dary bulldozer bass (Aria Sb).Mantas was keeping his Explorer forr I lbanez,but he gave Westone a trial on several occasions. The Venom tour was short of chance but it contained a certain dose of humour and madness.First show,backstage,Cronos was walkinc with a T.Shirt "knickers so jogging",putting the last things into shape while Chariot and Exodus were playing as first part.

As it was the 1st concert of the tour,tension was very closeibut all went off all right.The sound check of the first show begun about 3 pm.Then Venom confered a great show upon us,proving he can make up his mind,giving a crazier touch than the previous year. Sometimes,microphones failed to work,owing to some fans bludgeoning them.All along this tour,there was no safety barriers and the body of official responsibles for order was really restricted.It's Lug and Jim,two faithful roadies,who had to face the kids wanting to climb on stage.l think its particularly pitiable,and the proof that some Black Metal fans are keen on the principle "Guiness is good for you" and are wild in a bad manner. Manchester has been more hospitable than Newcastle,and Birmingham more over,something unusual.That evening,the Red Bears and the Bailey Brothers were taking place of Chariot.The Venom Legions welcomed the Bailey Brothers but gave the Red Bears an unfriendly 4 reception.As for Venom,he was able to display an unrivalled force melting Black Metal fans,Punks,Hard Rockers,Speed Metal kids and Rockers in the same pot,what is not a simple task.Black fuckin metal echoed this eveningldoing homage to the fucking present crowd Some kids came on stage to kiss Cronos,the Mad.Mantas achieved a great success with the Intro of NIGHTMARE,and Abaddon with TEACHER' S PET. It was Mayhemiwith smokes and explosions,real Black Metal fans clapping their hands as a reward for the brave musicians who payed the crowd back in his coin in executing a wild recall with the Bailey Brothers.They played a Judas Priest song "HELL BENT FOR LEATHER",retitled "HELL BENT FOR METAL" (than Venom had already played in Lorelei Festival),followed by WITCHING HOUR.Flags bearing the effigy of Possessed were thrown on scene by the kids.Therefore, it was one of the best show from Venom.Thanks to Birminghell public, but it was a hors-d'oeuvre before supreme London Odeon. "I hear there's a lotta bands here tonight,a lotta liggers,there are waiting for Venom to make mistakes! If you wanna hear Venom,go home and listen to your fucking 1p's,cos tonight,you're gonna get one and a half hours of pure fucking Mayhem! (Mantas,London Hammer smith Odeon,lst of June 84). A pencil of red rays is turning and illuminating the crowd,which is quite numerous,that evening,to welcome the band who,after Birminghamlhas just arrived in the English chief town to present a better than imposing show.16 months after their last and only passagelVenom has liberated his energy to make an amazing video in concert and a show of the best quality.

A powerful and muscular demon with the pentagram around his neck and his hands raised towards a stormy sky streaked with flashes of lightning forms the decor (designed by Cronos himself) and appears to the view of 8000 amazed legionaries.On stage,on the rightltwelvE 3-body Marshall and their heads;on the left,18 boomers,8 mediums and 10 tweeters,all overtopping a huge gong and rather well-equipec drums.Six explosions reverberates,followed by 6 coloured columns of smoke,then 2 showers of sparks while the wellknown Intro of THUNDEF is executed."Ladies and gentlemenifrom the very depths of Hell, Venom!".700 LOUD opens the show with a sound power never equalled in England (123 dB are provided to this hymn to noise).The power trio beats the record and become the louder band than Albion has given birth to. It's 10.10,and Cronos,dressed in black trousers with red stainsiwearing his crazy boots,covered with nails is strongly shaking his long reddish mop,yelling like a damned.Mantas,clothed in black (as ninjas do),is breaking out while Abaddon is hammering his barrels at the speed of light.

The crowd is as much scared as amazed.Then follows BLACK METAL on a mad rhythm,without a break.The shout of Black fuckin' Metal is perfectly received and sent back by the Legions,clapping their hands (Abaddon is beating louder and louder).The set goes on with DIE HARD,announced by Mantas who's really up to the mark in backing vocals.Then NIGHTMARE slackens the pace of the malefic trio,while hundreds of lighters are lit up,doing honour to Mantas'talent in the Intro.When smoke is spurting out from Abaddon's drums,another classical song of destroy virus begins : COUNTESS BATHORY.The massive PA system is thrown into gear,intermittently working, creating 20 silver jets on the front sides of the scene.Abaddon keeps a perfect tempo and his feet are lastly setting the "Premiers 252" pedals in motionimaking a hellish noise with his double shots. The crowd went wild again while listening to the splendid Intro of THE SEVEN GATES OF HELL,in which Mantas is toying with his volume and Abaddon striking his stately gong.Ten silvery gerbs make a short appearance all together and the lightning rig goes down on the scene,forming a triangle with 1000 bright rays.Cronos'voice becomes monstrous while the bulldozer bass is playing faultless. Then Mantas leaves it to Cronos'chaos.It's a total Mayhem for the present crowd of kids.

After the Intro of AT WAR WITH SATAN comes the notes of the opening of TEACHER'S PET and the lights fall into a panic.Cronos screams "one night with you and you've got me",with a perfect logical sequence to POISON. The 2nd part of TEACHER'S PET is accompanied with 20 gold stars. Then Cronos presents BURIED ALIVE and lighters are lit up again in the hall where the atmosphere is perfect.With his bloody fingers raised to sky,coming out of the coffin,we can imagine Cronos crying out his call.The crowd answers this hopeless call,while some smoke emerges from the drums and while dry ice is flowing over Hammersmith scene.Cronos'desperate voice changes into an amplified and different voice,howling "I'm telling you all,take heed of my plea,answer my call,I'm gonna be free".DON'T BURN THE WITCH literally explodes,followed by IN NOMINE SATANAS,with some problems for Mantas'guitar.Then comes WELCOME TO HELL where Abaddon goes down in the crowd to lead the Legions to clap their hands supporting the Mantas'murderous jerky riff.Eight coloured smokes gushes together under the crowd cheerings. 16000 arms are lift up when WARHEAD begins,testament to Venom calibre. Flames are going out from the floor in the front part of the scene, behind the 6 backline loud-speakers,preceding Mantas'acclaimed solo The warm breathe of kids is giving out because of the unrestrained rhythm of SCHIZO,SATANACHIST and LEAVE ME IN HELL."Bloodlust" shouted the crazy bassist of the band,while gerbs of sparks,by group of 4,are illuminating the scene.BLOODLUST exteriorizes the destructive madness of the 3 cronies;then they leave the scene.The fans pranced with rage for a short moment till the band reappeared to throw us an infernal RIP RIDE,then WITCHING HOUR,with irregular light flashes and 20 silvery showers falling down on stagelcoming from the lightning rig.Pyros exploded from everywherelbombs resounded one last time leading the London Assault to its end,unde the yellings full of admiration from the wild Legions of Hell.

That eveninglbackstage,joy and goog humour were prevalent while Dumpy's Rusty's Nuts (the guest star band from Hammersmith 84 with Metallica) and Wurzel (Motorhead) were there to congratulate the damned trio on having invade Hammersmith in such a successful and whole-heartedly way. The 8th of October 85 remains graven on our memories as a glory day for Venom.This day is,at the present time,immortalized by this text and these photographs,this video called "Venom Alive in 85", (VHS EV 1228/BETA 1228) and by maxi live (NEAT 53 12") made up of 3 tracks TEACHER'S PET (1),POISON,TEACHER'S PET (2) on 1st side and WITCHING HOUR on 2nd side, 3 powerful metallic sound compositions. Two days later,Venom was storming Italy,with the metallic band Exodus in 1st part and brave talented warriors of Atomkraft taking the place of Cariot.The boot was unlaced in Rome with a really good gig.Then,a jump to Germany,in Nurenberg,and Munich (where Venom invaded Alabamahalle which had seen the great Sex Pistols some years before and Nina Hagen tool.It's a pity that Venom neither could entirely spread out his decor,nor unpack his mobile lightning rig,nor use mobile hydraulics which raises the drums and PA system, because of the smallness of the halls.Mowever,all was sold outland it's pitiable that all those legionaries couldn't see Venom in his magnificence.Osnabruck will remain a good souvenir,with its large and very wild public,not the same as sleepy Hamburg audience. In these narrow halls,the devilish trio had a different energy than in English gigs,not a wilder or more powerful energy but a more virulent one.The band had a terrific surly temper,as we can see the effects in interviews that have been conceded to speciali zed newspapers like Metal Hammer.

All around this tour,it's Lug, disguised like an airplane pilot,who was announcing the trio Atom kraft.Good moments full of comic situations. Amsterdam was the end of the tour for Atomkraft with the return of Chariot.The public was far crazy and wildimaybe the more enthusiast public Venom has met up to now.Tony Dolan,Ged Wollfe and Rob Mattew (Atomkraft) were there but as spectators,and Gary Young (Average drummer),too.Paradiso was crammed to suffocation,and Heineken was flowing.Fans were turning wild and there were many naked breast women (it was really good,as Heaven and Hell).Except for the substructure that was smaller than in London,the show was really better,owing to these fucking Legions less cautious than the English ones. The next fucking date was Cambrai,in Francelwith a spectacular body of officials responsible for order.France didn't welcome Venom in a deserving way.The kids went wild but something was missing.One could believe French Legions have caught a chill since the 9th of February 84,in Paris Balard,where fans had made a strong impression upon the musicians. 20 Only the official members of Legions proved equal to the occasion, but everybody went off happy and proud of having be able to see th three fierce warriors of Black Metal. Rouen,Clermont Ferrand and Paris kicked off the tour,the three dates being cancelled.There was a terrible riot in Paris caused by some disappointed fans,who set fire to cars.The evening was hot!

Amsterdam and London were the wildest and craziest concerts ever performed in the world.It's unfortunate that the World Possession Tour finished with some problems and the cancellation of 3 dates, but it revealed the perfection in Venom professionalism.Every day, it needed thirty actively working persons,passion and courage from everybody,and bil laughs to tide over difficulties of this fucking World Possession Tour.Venom is evoluting without any doubt.So, listen to my own advice : take care! because after DEADLINE (the last album of the devilish trio),Venom have to come under another tour,more important with a best performance.Venom has been injected on Earth by Lucifer,coming from the depths of Hades.He will strike stronger and farther,just sowing laughter,fear , jealousy, hate, admiration and so many dB behind him. Beware of the world Venom invasion!

Chalkie "Legions Riser".