Venom Biography by swedish legion Mike Eriksson

Venom are the ugliest, wildest, smelliest, maddest and fastest band on this Earthland have been it since Mantas started the band back in 1978. Back in those times,Venom was a five piece band. Mantas and Abaddon found Cronos-the mega maniac-in 79 and he joined the band as the rhythm guitarist.Clive was the 4th member who played the bass and sang.A song LIVE LIKE AN ANGEL,DIE LIKE THE DEVIL was written for Cronos,and soon after,Clive was kicked out.And Cronos took the bass and microphone in his hand;since then,the line up has worked very well together.
Cronos-Bass Bulldozer and growls
Mantas-Lead Guitar and yells
Abaddon-Skyns and double nuclear shots
This was the perfect line up for total Mayhem!
The music and lyrics are mainly written by Cronos, with contribu tions by Mantas.Mantas has written some of the naughty lyrics like for example TEACHER'S PET. Abaddon helps with the arrangement.
Venom recorded a demo in 80 with the tracks RED LIGHT FEVER, ANGEL DUST and RAISE THE DEAD. This demo was sent to Geoff Barton of Sounds Magazine and he put it quickly in his playlist. And in 1981, Venom came in contact with the independant label Neat Records,and released their first single IN LEAGUE WITH SATAN.
Dave of Neat Records liked the kind of music Venom was trying to put forward and,after a whilelVenom's 1st ultra mayhemic 1p WELCOME TO HELL was released.They only recorded the album in 3 days.
The single BLOODLUST was released in 82 and soon after, the great success album was going to be released. BLACK METAL was the biggest independant Heavy Metal seller in the States;it sold better than Accepts records. Most of the Metal freaks around the world knew who Venom were now, and many liked it. They realized that this was what they wanted to hear, Black fuckin' Metal.
When Venom started with their heavy and satanic image, they were hated on many places around the world.In fact, there was a disc--jockey in Newcastle (a bastard) who tried to bring them down.Venom has often said that when you get money enough to pay the hospital bill,they will beat the bastard.And,at last,they have made it!The story began with a Venom fan wanting to hear a Venom track at his radio show. To beat Venom and their fans,the disc jockey smashed all is Venom records so he couldn't play Venom.The arguments between he disc jockey and Venom continued until the disc jockey agreed to o an interview at the FROM HELL TO THE UNKNOWN double album. There re also Christian leagues that have attacked Venom because of the wage they have. Aaaaaaargh! Venom eats wimps!!! The theme of Satan is not a new one. It features in the works of lack Sabbath, for example,and more recently, it has been revived by enom.The Venom fans are hardly all satanists. They appreciate the usic, and the theme of evil and black magic is an interesting and ystical topic,of which a little is known and most of it imagined. t gives Cronos a very fertile imagination room to riot,and so is a onstant source of inspiration.You may have noticed the non-mention f live appearances.This is due to the steadfast principle by which venom has stuck the beginning...If you are not prepared to do it ig,don't do it at all.

The first great gig took place in Poperinge, Belgium. The gig was on the 25th of June 1982. For the first time, they saw how popular hey were. The audience was wild as Hell. Everyone was surprised about the Venom crusade.
Next, Venom invaded America where they made a radio interview. They also played 2 gigs in New York, at the far from adequate Paramount heatre.The gig was hold on the 22nd and 24th of April on each occasion, they were supported by Metallica. It was hereon a Venom gig,that Metallica was discovered by the fans. The first show was ogged by misfortune. The lights were far from sufficient and there 1 as no air conditioning. The first explosion blew all the fuses in the effects unit, so there was no more effects that night. Lack of power also caused the bass backline to go off in the middle of the set.Afterwardsithe lads were pretty depressed having thought they had betrayed their fans.But reports said that the fans enjoyed the show. They wanted to hear the music and no amount of stage effects can cover up bad musicians.
However, 3 heavy load generators were brought in for the 2nd gig which guaranteed the power needed.The effects went off without a hitch.One American fan said he thought he was going to get his face melted off and the smoke at the front was actually causing some kids to throw up. After the show,Venom had some celebrating to do.
After that Venom was going to play at Den Bosh in Nederland on the 25th of June. But this did not happened caus'of a mix up with the American customs officials.
Venom's equipment did not arrive back in time.So there was no gig but they made a personal appearance.Their appearance was the signal for 9000 roaring voices,the biggest reception all night...
On spring 1984,Venom went out on their Seven Dates of Hell Tour. Taking the cities Zurich, Milan, Nuremburg, Paris, Zwolle, Poperinge and the grand-date at London.The gig at London was the first gig in England for Venom, after 3 years as vinyl blasters. Venom weren't too satisfied with the gig at the Hammersmith Odeon, because the English crowd weren't wild enough. But the fans in the rest of Europa were wild as Hell.
In March 85, they went off to USA. They played about 40 gigs in the States. By that time, the American company Banzai released the gold winning mini Lp. On the big US tour, Mantas got chicken pox. Cronos and Abaddon had to find a good replacement for this mayhemic master One man wasn't enough to play like Mantas so they got 2 guitarists.
After the States, Venom returned to Newcastle. On the 21st of June, Venom did a gig at the Rantarock festival in Finland. The guys really enjoyed the gig at Virrat, much because it was at a beach and they could use many effects.
And then...?

Hope you enjoyed to read this Venom story. Stay wild and faithful!

Mike Eriksson of Venom Swedish Legions

VENOM BIOGRAPHY by Mike Eriksson