Venom Newcastle City Hall 3rd October 1985
Venom are, according to their official site: “the original inventers and founders of Black Metal, the creators of Thrash, Speed, Death and Power Metal, the deadliest force ever to hit the music scene, the original sinners playing the Devil’s music at its highest intensity, the ultimate Rock n’ Roll band in the universe, Venom, hell f**ing yeah!!!!!!!.” Venom, as you might have gathered play LOUD, fast, evil, rock. They have songs called “Die Hard”, “The Seven Gates of Hell”, “Don’t Burn the Witch”, “Welcome to Hell” and “Bloodlust”. Wow! I think you may get the idea.
Venom hail from the 70’s and the North East of England, namely Newcastle, and were formed by Conrad Lant (aka: Cronos). Cronos wanted to create the ultimate metal band that was “heavier and more over the top than anything anyone had ever seen or heard before, more Satanic than Black Sabbath, louder than Motörhead, with a pyrotechnic show to rival Kiss, and with even more leather and studs than Judas Priest”. Great concept. Cronos completed his line-up and his plans for metal world domination with Jeffrey “Mantas” Dunn on guitar, and Tony “Abaddon” Bray on drums, and Venom released their debut album in 1982. Venom made their debut at the Hammersmith Odeon in London in 1984. They always said that their stage show was so massive and that they’d never play a UK date until they could headline at a venue that could house “every last pyro and effect”. “We did it to shove two fingers up at the music industry” recalls Cronos. “we were told… there was a certain way of doing things in this industry. You had to get in a van and do all the s**t hole clubs… I said ‘Bollocks!!!, then booked the Hammersmith Odeon in London and sold it out.”
I saw them with my mate Dave at the City Hall in 1985. According to the ticket support came from Exodus and Chariot, who I have no recollection of. The gig was not that well attended, with an estimated 400 people in the 2,400 capacity hall. From the programme: “Good evening hellspawn, to the most unholy unacceptable and unspeakable blitz of metal you will ever see in your comparatively paltry lives. You are about to experience the grossest amount of sonic assault, volatile visuals and plain power Uber….you are about to experience Venom, the most magnificently powerful metal monster in the world….Ladies and Gentlemen, from the depths of Hell — Venom.”
Venom live were LOUD with scary screaming vocals over a fast thrash metal noise, and flames, explosions and other crazy pyrotechnics. Think a twisted version of Motorhead + Kiss + Sabbath + Slipknot.
An experience like no other. Truly epic.
Setlist: Too Loud (For the Crowd); Black Metal; Die Hard; Nightmare; Countess Bathory; The Seven Gates of Hell; Teacher’s Pet / Poison / Teacher’s Pet; Buried Alive; Don’t Burn the Witch; In Nomine Satanas; Welcome to Hell; Warhead; Schizo; Satanachist.
Encore: Leave Me in Hell; Bloodlust; Witching Hour
18 Dec
Venom Newcastle City Hall 3rd October 1985
Posted December 18, 2014 by vintagerock in Chariot, Exodus, Venom. Tagged: classic rock, concert, concerts, gig, gigs, heavy metal, heavy rock, music, rock, rock n roll. 5 Comments
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Posted by heavymetalblunder on December 18, 2014 at 12:03 pm
This sounds like it was awesome, can’t believe only 400 people went!
Posted by davidx66 on December 23, 2014 at 2:52 pm
I seem to remember Venom not being taken seriously by anyone. I’m sure Alan Robson had a giggle at them on a few occasions.
I was never sure if they took themselves seriously or not.
Posted by vintagerock on December 23, 2014 at 3:13 pm
I suspect that they did take it pretty seriously 🙂 Cheers Peter
Posted by Mark Holman on September 6, 2015 at 9:48 am
I was there. I too have no recollection of the support either nor the small attendance you mentioned. Truly great show.
Incidentally, Conrad didn`t form the band. In fact he was the last to join of the original three members of the classic line-up.
Posted by vintagerock on September 6, 2015 at 10:04 am
Thanks Mark Best wishes Peter