Cronos of Venom dies at 63

musicOct 1, 202636706

Conrad “Cronos” Lant, vocalist and bassist of influential black metal band Venom, has died at the age of 63, the band confirmed on October 1. No cause of death has been given. On Venom’s social channels Lant’s son Nathan thanked fans for their support and wrote, “He has laid down his soul, and his music will live on.” Born in London in 1963 and raised in Newcastle from age eight, Lant joined Venom in 1978 and helped define the band’s early sound on 1981’s Welcome to Hell and 1982’s Black Metal, the latter giving its name to an entire extreme metal genre. Lant left Venom in 1987 for a solo career but returned in 1995, ultimately performing on 12 Venom albums, the most recent being this year’s Into Oblivion, and he led the band through multiple personnel changes; the final lineup included guitarist Stuart “LaRage” Dixon and drummer Danny “Dante” Needham. Venom’s statement did not say whether the group will continue without him. Musicians including guitarist Gary Holt paid tribute after the announcement, calling Lant a formative influence on modern extreme metal.

Kim Kelly

@kimkelly.bsky.social

This one hit me hard, man. Without Cronos and Venom, my entire existence would be so much different (and so much worse). If there are any music pubs out there that want to commission an impassioned obituary for one of the most important heavy metal musicians of all time, hit my line. Venom forever

1608d ago

Kim Kelly58

I’m going to write about it anyway (it’s almost time to relaunch my metal newsletter, after all) but it does feel pretty bad that music media is at a point where I genuinely do not know where to pitch a story on an absolute icon like this

Bob A. Booey1

I didn't know he'd died... Been a huge Venom fan since the 80s. RIP Cronos 😢

Ed1

Horrible to hear this. Spending the weekend going to metal bars around NY. In League With Satan shall be played in every one

maffew going to wXw Grand Prix

@maffewgregg.bsky.social

www.loudersound.com/news/venom-f... Fucking hell, two influential long-haired Geordies in one week? R.I.P. Cronos

1158d ago

Quarex4

Never thought about the "presenting as the most evil person alive while being hilarious and goofy" shared between those two perhaps having a regional origin. Or the "showing everyone else how it is done while being like 'aw, it's nothing'" about it

TommyGirard3

Someone keep an eye on Ginger Wildheart!

Jess1

Newcastle having a time of it this week...RIP.

Mark Cazaly1

I was never very familiar with Venom, but I always pop hearing Beastie Boys give Newcastle a shout out in 'Dedication' and adding 'Where Venom come from'. Sad news regardless.

winnerwood.bsky.social1

"Long-haired" at least Shearer's safe.

Sean Walters

@seanwrite.bsky.social

Interesting fact about Conrad Lant (aka Cronos), the vocalist /bassist of British heavy metal band Venom, who has died at 63: His older brother Graham was drummer for Prefab Sprout in the mid-1980s, including on debut album Swoon. #RiPConradLant #RIPCronos

688d ago

Aric and The Man Who Shot Cane Skeeteburg1

I'm still in shock that Cronos is gone

🔞⛧𝕲𝖚𝖙𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖇𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞⛧🔞

@gutterbunny.bsky.social

RIP to Cronos!! Without Venom extreme metal would not be what it is today. I'll be playing a few of my favorite tracks today for sure!

388d ago

This Day in Metal

@thisdayinmetal.bsky.social

🖤 RIP CRONOS 🖤 The metal world is mourning the loss of Conrad “Cronos” Lant, legendary vocalist and bassist of Venom, who has died at the age of 63. Thank you, Cronos, for the music, the memories and the darkness. REST IN PEACE, CONRAD “CRONOS” LANT 🖤 www.thisdayinmetal.com/venom-frontm...

298d ago

Stereogum

@stereogum.com

Conrad "Cronos" Lant, longtime frontman of underground metal pioneers Venom, has passed away at 63

288d ago

Quoting this

Andy P3

Sad news. Absolutely amazing to think that a band almost universally regarded as a joke, who made a campy, over the top album almost nobody bought, inspired an entire movement of bands who'd probably never even seen them play.

Elana Levin

@levin.bsky.social

Damn. Cronos from Venom just died! They are an extemely influential to modern heavy metal. Founded in 78 their 1982 album Black Metal is where the genre got its name. The singles on their 2026 album kick ass. That’s a legacy to be proud of. Rest in power chords, Conrad "Cronos" Lant 🤘🏻

328d ago

SangrePaul

@sauzapaul.bsky.social

Lay down your soul to the God's Rock 'n Roll RIP

308d ago

Quoting this

The One True Poster9

A GOD. Not even an overstatement to say Venom are probably in the top ten most influential metal bands of all time youtu.be/_-dvU7RQ6bo?...

John Doran

@jahduran.bsky.social

Rest well Cronos – true extreme music pioneer, he was a smart, engaging geezer and great story teller to boot. RIP Conrad Lant. (I've put a couple of links in the usual place.)

Conrad Lant, aka Cronos of Venom, live in 2013, raising the metal horns.

268d ago

Quoting this

JR Moores10

Godspeed, Cronos. (Satanspeed, Cronos?) Your contribution will not be forgotten. 🤘⚡️🧙‍♂️

Leigh Jones7

One of the proudest things on my CV from my former life is working on a Venom release. A terrible week for Geordies who were more famous out of Newcastle than in the Toon.

Rob Tyers2

My favourite story is when my friend was trying to sell a moderately rare bass guitar on Facebook, Cronos posted a comment saying it was shite RIP

Andrew O'Neill

@andrewoneillcomedy.bsky.social

RIP CRONOS! Here's footage from the long-lost pilot of 'Venom Babies'. youtu.be/WJt1V1qFSrQ

98d ago

Dewie1

When I saw the news and showed my wife she said "Which one is he?" and I replied (in your voice) "Thaaa God of watchess" and it brought a smile to a sad moment.

𝕶𝕸ä𝕹𝕽𝖎𝖋𝖋𝖘

@kmanriffs.bsky.social

R. I. P🕯️⚰️🕯️ CONRAD 'Cronos' LANT 🇬🇧63 The flags fly low today! R.I.P. Cronos. A Metal pioneer whose work with Venom changed heavy music forever. Gone way too early at 63, but his influence will echo through the underground for generations.🤘😞 #Cronos #Venom #RIP #KMäN

118d ago

QueenCityJamz

@queencityjamz.bsky.social

RIP Cronos Was chuffed when SUNN O))) played the Venom Stage Banter 86 tape before their 4/20 show at the Ogden earlier this yr. Kept looking at ppl all around me at the gig and saying "This was at City Gardens opening for Black Flag" to absolute crickets lol.

148d ago

Jeff Billington

@facesofjeff.bsky.social

RIP Cronos I’ve never heard a single song by Venom but I’ve listened to this a thousand times. youtu.be/4TztqYaemt0?...

118d ago

Wax Pack Glam1

Every single time I'm near Trenton can't help but think about the guy shouting "I want a drink". Because he's wild, man. Wild!

⸸ Andrea Celeste ⸸

@andreaceleste.meangirls.online

venom headlined one night at the hole in the sky festival 2010. it was cronos without mantas & abaddon. everyone were skeptical. other bands included autopsy, suffocation, tryptikon and obituary. we thought venom would be a joke but they proved us wrong and delivered the best show of the festival

118d ago

BlueAstronaut🖤

@blueastronaut.bsky.social

Damn. Another icon from my youth gone down. 🤘🔥 metalinjection.net/news/venom-f...

108d ago

3 sources

thisdayinmetal.comCronos of Venom Dies at 63 | Day in Metal loudersound.comVenom frontman Conrad 'Cronos' Lant dead at 63 kaaoszine.fiBlack metal -legenda Venomin laulaja-basisti Conrad "Cronos" Lant on kuollut

Cronos of Venom dies at 63music

Cronos of Venom dies at 63

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