Guitarist Jeff “Mantas” Dunn and drummer Anthony “Abaddon” Bray, founding members of Venom, have shared plans to mark a significant milestone in 2026. The pair intend to have a good time the 45th anniversary of the band’s landmark 1981 debut, Welcome To Hell, with appearances at varied festivals, together with Germany’s Maintain It True.
In an interview with MetalKaoz, Dunn mentioned Conrad “Cronos” Lant has been supplied an opportunity to hitch the anniversary occasions: “I am going to let you know proper now that for 2026, the Forty fifth anniversary of Welcome To Hell, Cronos has been invited,” Mantas mentioned.
“He was invited by me. He was invited by the attorneys within the [recent] courtroom case [involving Cronos and Abaddon]. His reply was, ‘It is not price my time.’ That was his reply.”
Even with that invitation on the desk, Mantas made it clear he has no enthusiasm for the thought of spending time with Cronos once more. He acknowledged that followers naturally wish to see key classic-era members share a stage, however prompt that actuality doesn’t at all times match the want.
“What I say to individuals is that this. Honest sufficient, all people desires to see their favourite members again collectively. We all know that. ‘And, oh, yeah, simply journey individually. Simply go to separate resorts.’ We have finished all that,” Mantas defined. “We have finished that. We did it on the first reunion. Okay, consider probably the most poisonous relationship you have ever been concerned in, the way it made you are feeling. At your age now, invite it again into your life.”
Mantas additionally referenced the authorized pressure that has hovered over the Venom identify. He touched on the lawsuit Cronos filed in June 2024 in opposition to Abaddon and Plastic Head Music Distribution Ltd. In that case, Cronos accused the corporate of promoting merchandise that includes his copyrighted Venom designs, and alleged that Bray enabled the state of affairs by way of a licensing settlement. The disagreement centered on either side advertising and marketing official Venom objects utilizing the disputed art work.
Wanting again on the band’s earliest interval, Mantas described how the group operated extra like shut buddies than enterprise companions.
“We had been three younger guys in a band, joyful to be in a band and jamming. And that was it. And to us, at that specific level, it did not matter who wrote the songs or who did the drawings or no matter. It was one for all and all for one. And that is why all the things went 3 ways for the primary two albums.
“However then, while you get a bit sensible on the enterprise and all the things like that, it is, like, you suppose, ‘Wow. I wrote all that stuff, and all people else remains to be getting a share.’ I do not thoughts that. That is the songs. That’s the track. And on the finish of the day, you set these songs out into the world, and you might be giving them to the individuals.
“Now, it would not matter what your brand appears like,” he continued.
“It would not matter how good your album cowl is. It would not matter what your picture is, how a lot leather-based you might be carrying, or what guitar you might be enjoying, if somebody places that album on and would not just like the songs, you might be finished. A band is not about logos and t-shirts and stuff like that — it is about music. Why do you put on the t-shirt of a band? Since you like their music. It is so simple as that.
“Now, I am not saying that Cronos did not write something,” Dunn clarified.
“He wrote some phenomenal lyrics, and I’ve mentioned this. The lyrics to ‘Manitou’, I believe they’re gorgeous. The lyrics to ‘Nightmare’ — superb. We got here up with some nice songs collectively within the later phases, the place we simply bounced the concepts, and a few of it simply occurred. We did not must search for it. And Welcome To Hell is my first try at writing songs. I hadn’t written something earlier than that — not a factor.”
When requested whether or not he and Abaddon would possibly write and launch new materials, doubtlessly underneath the Venom banner, Mantas sounded skeptical {that a} full new album is critical.
“No, no. On the finish of the day, does the world want a brand new Venom album? I bear in mind studying an interview with Paul Stanley [of Kiss] the place he even mentioned, ‘I am going to by no means write one other Kiss track.’ As a result of pretty much as good as a number of the ’80s Kiss materials was, all people nonetheless desires to listen to ‘Black Diamond,’ and ‘Chilly Gin,’ and ‘Strutter’ and ‘C’mon And Love Me’ and all that stuff.
“And I am the identical. Like Judas Priest — Firepower, nice album; Invincible Protect, nice album; but when I am going to see Judas Priest now they usually kick into ‘The Ripper’, sport over. It is, like, I am joyful. I do know that is a kind of nostalgic approach of taking a look at it, but when we’re doing a celebration of this band… All I am saying is it is a celebration of the music that we wrote 45 years in the past; that is all it’s. And you have got the 2 authentic members in there doing it as nicely.”
He didn’t fully shut the door on the thought of recording one thing small, however remained not sure whether or not followers really need it: “So, new music? I do not know. I do not know. I am not averse to possibly getting one track collectively or one thing like that. However do individuals actually wanna hear it? It is, like, let’s have a vote. I do not know.”
