TONY DOLAN Says 'Egos' Are To Blame For VENOM's Lineup Changes

August 10, 2005

Deaththrasher magazine recently conducted an interview with former VENOM/MANTAS and current ATOMKRAFT bassist/vocalist Tony Dolan. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Deaththrasher: Is Cronos [VENOM frontman] a friend of yours?

Tony Dolan: "Friend? Well, at one time I thought we were kinda getting there, but I don't think he really ever liked me. Lots of reasons, but there you go! When we meet, we speak and that's about it. He likes talking shit about me, so I retaliate when he does. It's kind of a game now I guess! Boring as fuck to me, but he seems to enjoy it!"

Deaththrasher: Do you receive any kind of royalties when VENOM performs a song in which you were part of the composition?

Tony Dolan: "Yes, always! VH1 in Europe has been playing 'Prime Evil' from the 1990 video, and that's paying nicely, thanx. The VENOM management stole all the money from me and it took a long time to catch up with that but now they are destroyed and worthless and I have my royalties back and the money flows to me and no one else!"

Deaththrasher: What was the actual reason regarding your departure from VENOM?

Tony Dolan: "The management stealing money, making decisions that were useless to the band but good for their pockets. I moved to London, started working with real managers and musicians and just drifted away from the same old shit I'd got bored with! The same shit back the 20 odd years ago is still going on up there now and with the same bands and people, [laughs]!!!! I'm so glad I'm out of it! [Laughs]!!!"

Deaththrasher: Why do you think that VENOM always has constant changes of lineup? There are many different records with totally different lineups!

Tony Dolan: "Their were two volatile people in VENOM — Abaddon and Cronos. Mantas tried not to get involved, but always was placed in the middle. Egos took over and once they began to believe they were rock stars and legends (even though they were) they believed their own press and that always leads to destruction!! It became a mess and bandmembers can never stay for long as the same reason the original band can't survive with each other, no one realy likes anyone!!! [Laughs]!!! Lots of smiling and pretending going on while everyone is trying to rip each other off! It wasn't always like that but Neat Records have to answer for it, they helped destroy lots of good acts and VENOM were no exception!"

Read the entire interview at Deaththrasher.com.

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