Conrad Lant, Venom Frontman, Dies at 63

Lant was born in Chelsea, London and moved to Newcastle at age seven. He joined the precursor band Guillotine at 16, initially on guitar before switching to bass and later vocals. Renamed Venom, the classic lineup of Lant (Cronos), guitarist Jeff Dunn (Mantas) and drummer Tony Bray (Abaddon) released *Welcome to Hell* in 1981, featuring the controversial single “In League with Satan.”

The Guardian

Although Venom never matched the commercial heights of Black Sabbath, they entered the UK Top 75 once and inspired a generation of thrash bands, including Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax. Lant’s later work included a solo career as Cronos, a 2004 collaboration with Dave Grohl’s Probot project, and continued touring with Venom through summer 2026 festivals.

The Guardian

Venom’s statement praised Lant’s “uncompromising, fearless and unmistakable” presence and noted that his “legend will never die.”

The Guardian

• “It was so, so evil. This was a new kind of insanity,” — Scott Ian, of Anthrax

The Guardian

Lant’s theatrical stage persona, leather ensembles and lyrical focus on witches, Satan and the underworld contributed to Venom’s reputation for defying conventions. His innovative production techniques—such as cutting steel plates with a chainsaw and burying a makeshift coffin in earth—exemplify the “pure mayhem” he described in creating *Black Metal*. The band’s enduring influence is evident in the continued reverence of newer metal fans and the acknowledgment by prominent musicians that Venom’s darkness helped shape modern extreme metal.

The Guardian