Founding VENOM Members MANTAS And ABADDON To Celebrate 45th Anniversary Of 'Welcome To Hell' At 2026 KEEP IT TRUE Festival
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Jeff "Mantas" Dunn and Anthony "Abaddon" Bray, iconic co-founders of the pioneering black metal band VENOM, will celebrate the 45th anniversary of VENOM's classic debut album, 1981's "Welcome To Hell", at the 2026 edition of the Keep It True festival on April 24, 2026 at Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany.
For this unholy occasion, Mantas and Abaddon will summon the spirit of the very first black metal album with a once-in-a-lifetime performance. To make this night even more legendary, they will be joined by an infernal all-star lineup of guest musicians:
* Tom Angelripper and Andy Brings (SODOM)
* Tom G. Warrior (CELTIC FROST, HELLHAMMER, TRIPTYKON)
* Schmier (DESTRUCTION)
* Attila Csihar (MAYHEM)
* Danny Lilker (NUCLEAR ASSAULT, S.O.D.)
* Diva Satánica (BLOODHUNTER, NERVOSA)
* and introducing Blake "Bulldözer" Arendell from the rising force INTERCEPTOR
This exclusive gathering of metal legends will take place as the Friday headliner of Keep It True 2026 — a night of chaos, darkness and unrelenting power.
Mantas commented: "I still vividly recall walking into Neat Records in 1981 to record another set of demos when David Wood, the owner, asked us if we had enough material for an album. We, of course, said 'yes' and we were given three days to record our first album, 'Welcome To Hell'. That, my friends, was 45 years ago, and now we are here at the Keep It True festival to celebrate 45 years of 'Welcome To Hell', a groundbreaking album in heavy metal that I am so proud of. This is gonna be an amazing night my friends with so many very special guests. Come celebrate with us. April 24 2026, see you all there. Maximum respect."
Abaddon added: "Jeff 'Mantas' Dunn and Antony 'Abaddon' Bray, will be performing at next year's Keep It True festival. It will be a celebration of their seminal album... 'Welcome To Hell'. Mantas and Abaddon, founders of VENOM, will be joined by an amazing lineup of guests from some of the world's greatest thrash, speed and black metal bands."
Last month, Mantas and Abaddon reached out to their loyal fans — the "Legions" — for support in a legal battle against former bandmate Conrad "Cronos" Lant. Since 2023, Mantas and Abaddon have fought to resolve two critical issues: securing recognition for their contributions to VENOM's legendary artwork and claiming their rightful share of merchandise profits from albums they co-wrote and performed, including "Welcome To Hell" (1981),"Black Metal" (1982),"At War With Satan" (1984) and "Possessed" (1985).
Now in their 60s, Mantas and Abaddon seek a fair resolution to ensure their families benefit from VENOM's enduring legacy, which helped define the black metal genre. "We're simply asking for what is rightfully ours," they said in a joint statement. "After decades of avoidable conflict, we want peace and closure."
Despite efforts to resolve the dispute amicably, the duo has been forced to pursue legal action, incurring significant personal and financial costs.
The legal battle intensified in June 2024, with Cronos suing Abaddon and Plastic Head Music Distribution Ltd, accusing the distributor of selling merchandise with Lant's copyrighted VENOM designs and Bray of approving the infringement through a licensing agreement. The dispute revolved around the fact that both parties were licensing and selling official VENOM merchandise featuring the contested designs.
Mantas and Abaddon expressed deep gratitude to Plastic Head for their support (including facilitating this crowdfunder) and to the Legions for their unwavering devotion. "It was the honor of a lifetime to create music that inspired a genre," they shared. "Your support has carried us through the best and hardest times."
After Abaddon's recent triumph over cancer, the pair pledge any surplus funds from their campaign to the MacMillan Cancer Charity.
The duo is calling on fans worldwide to help fund their legal fight. "If every fan bought us a pint, we could see this through," they said.
Contributions can be made at this location.
According to Law360.com, Lant testified in court that he joined VENOM in late 1979 and came up with the Satanic-themed designs used in the band's logo and album covers, which included goat heads, pentagrams and inverted crosses.
Bray filed a counterclaim for infringement against Lant and Lant's distributor, Razmataz.com Ltd., arguing that Bray was the real author of the works.
Because Lant was able to produce numerous sketches which demonstrated his design process and Bray was unable to do the same, Bray was deemed the owner of the original logo, while Lant was found to be the creator and copyright owner of all but one of the other artistic works in dispute.
Nearly a decade ago, Dunn formed VENOM INC. with Bray and another former VENOM member, bassist/vocalist Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan.
Last December, approximately eight months after suffering his second heart attack, Dunn announced that he was leaving VENOM INC., explaining in a statement that his "health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to myself and my family," but adding that "there are also more personal issues which have influenced my decision."
Dunn suffered his first heart attack in May 2018 and underwent a double bypass surgery.
Mantas sat out VENOM INC.'s fall 2023 U.S. tour after revealing that his wife had been diagnosed with cancer. He was replaced on the trek by Mike Hickey, known for his work with VENOM, CARCASS, CATHEDRAL and CRONOS.
VENOM INC. is not to be confused with the Lant-fronted version of VENOM, which is continuing to tour and make albums under the VENOM moniker. Joining Cronos in that group are Rage (a.k.a. Stuart Dixon) on guitar and Danté (a.k.a. Danny Needham) on drums.
(Source: www.blabbermouth.net)
