Venom Bassist and Frontman Conrad “Cronos” Lant Dies at 63
Sad news today: Venom frontman and bassist Conrad “Cronos” Lant has died at 63. The news was shared on the pioneering black metal band’s Facebook page, though the cause of death was not announced.
“It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we share the news that Conrad ‘Cronos’ Lant has passed away,” they wrote. “For more than four decades, Conrad’s voice, bass and vision were at the heart of VENOM. From the first dark rumblings of Welcome to Hell, through Black Metal, At War With Satan, Possessed and beyond, he created something that changed heavy music forever.”
Lant was born in London and began playing in bands in high school. He took the stage name Cronos and joined a band called Guillotine as the rhythm guitarist. When their bassist quit a week before a gig, he slipped into the role. This band then renamed themselves Venom. In 1980, vocalist Clive Archer left the group and Lant also took over lead vocals.
The band’s first two albums, 1981’s Welcome to Hell and 1982’s Black Metal, served as a turning point for heavy music. “The guitars were filthy, the vocals sounded like they’d been dragged through a furnace, and the whole thing had a grimy, chaotic energy that plenty of bands would spend the next few decades chasing,” Happy Mag explains.
Cronos led the charge. Watch the band live at Hammersmith in 1985:
Lant left the band in 1987 to form his own band, Cronos, and released albums in 1990 and 1991. He also worked with bands like Enthroned, Cradle of Filth, Warpath, Massacre, and more.
Venom reformed in 1995 and continued to perform and record albums. Their last album, Into Oblivion, was released on May 1st.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Conrad “Cronos” Lant.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
