Venom's original personnel came from three different bands: Guillotine, Oberon and Dwarfstar. The original Guillotine featured Jeffrey Dunn and Dave Rutherford on guitars, Dean Hewitt on bass guitar, Dave Blackman on vocals, and Chris Mercater on drums who replaced Paul Burke, the original drummer when the band was founded. Blackman and Mercater were later also replaced by drummer Anthony Bray and vocalist Clive Archer. Later, Dean Hewitt was replaced by Alan Winston on bass. Around that time a number of personnel changes occurred. Clive Archer, Eric Cook, Tony Bray and Ian Kell formed a band while working at Reyrolles. Ian Kell was replaced in mid-1978. In late 1979, Conrad Lant replaced Dave Rutherford. Lant later switched to bass after the departure of Winston. The band members took on new stage names. Archer became "Jesus Christ", Lant "Cronos", Tony Bray "Abbadon", and Jeff Dunn "Mantas".
Prime influences of the formative band were Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Motörhead, and Kiss. Other musicians that have influenced Venom are Deep Purple, Sex Pistols, the Who, the Tubes, Van Halen, the Rolling Stones, and Elvis Presley.
'Welcome to Hell' influenced several later bands. Venom's music helped shape the development of many thrash metal bands, specifically the "Big Four of Thrash" (who in turn were highly influential): Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth (Metallica opened for Venom on an early 1980s tour, and Venom opened for Metallica and Slayer on the Ride the Lightning tour, and Slayer played with them and Exodus on the Combat Tour in 1985). Venom would also be of extreme importance to the black metal scene and even the early death metal scene, with numerous bands copying styles, themes, and imagery from the band, such as the Swiss band Hellhammer (later to become Celtic Frost), who also helped pioneer the genres. Music critic Bradley Torreano wrote that Venom "caught the attention of both metalheads and punks, the band was emulated by the former and turned into camp icons by the latter." Henry Rollins once compared the band to Spinal Tap.
2) NWOBHM band from Manchester, England, formed in 1980. Changed their name to Rox in 1981 after releasing a 4-song demo tape.
Dead On Arrival
Venom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never giving a damn
Got a guardian from hell, big plans
See me burn the road up
I'm a tyrant and mean
I'm really gonna make you scream
Dead on arrival
See me in the alleys
Lurking low with the rats
Got my eye fixed on you, fat chance
Come on over here
I've got something to sell
A one way ticket to hell
Satan gives the thumbs down
Soon I gotta strike
You won't reach your destination
I'm the reaper's assassin
Master of hell
I demand your soul to sell
The song "Dead On Arrival" by Venom is a song about a man who rides through the streets with a "guardian from hell" and has "big plans". He is a tyrant, "mean", and "lurks low with the rats". He is portrayed as someone who is evil and has bad intentions towards everyone he comes across. He is willing to sell people a one-way ticket to hell and will demand their soul. He is the "reaper's assassin" and the "master of hell". He will not allow anyone to reach their destination, as he is the one who decides who will live and who will die.
The lyrics of this song are very dark and portrays the lead singer as a very evil and unholy figure. This song has a very metal and gothic vibe that is perfect for the message it seeks to convey. It portrays the unrepentant evil that exists in the world and the temptations that people face. It is a reminder that there are consequences to our actions, and that we should be careful with the choices we make. The song has a strong emphasis on death and the afterlife, and the words "Dead on arrival" is an ominous message that the singer is capable of taking life.
Line by Line Meaning
Riding through the streets
I am exploring the city, not paying attention to any authority or rules.
Never giving a damn
I am apathetic to the feelings and opinions of others.
Got a guardian from hell, big plans
I am accompanied by a powerful and malevolent force, and have important schemes in motion.
See me burn the road up
I am speeding recklessly and causing destruction as I go.
I'm a tyrant and mean
I am an oppressive and cruel ruler of my own domain.
I'm really gonna make you scream
I will cause you pain and terror.
Dead on arrival
You will not survive the encounter with me.
See me in the alleys
I am lurking in the shadows, looking for victims.
Lurking low with the rats
I am living and hunting in the dark, dirty corners of society.
Got my eye fixed on you, fat chance
I have targeted you for my next attack, and your likelihood of survival is slim.
Come on over here
Approach me willingly, and I will lead you to your doom.
I've got something to sell
I have a dangerous and deadly product for you to purchase.
A one way ticket to hell
My product will result in your eternal damnation and punishment.
Satan gives the thumbs down
Even the ruler of the underworld disapproves of my actions.
Soon I gotta strike
I am preparing to execute a deadly attack.
You won't reach your destination
You will perish before reaching your intended goal or location.
I'm the reaper's assassin
I am a powerful agent of death and destruction.
Master of hell
I have control and power over the domain of the damned.
I demand your soul to sell
I am attempting to sell your very soul to the devil himself.
Contributed by Harper J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jayro3931
this is venom at it's best! just my opinion.
@TheNecessaryEvil
Gonna teach my five year old daughter that this is the song we sing at the grocery store
@adramelch515
finally someone posted it!!!! thanks!!
@rustycutlets
@OuTBreaKOfEviL2 I believe it first appeared on "Skeletons in the Closet" but it can also be found on "From Heaven to the Unknown" and the "MMV" box set.
@MaskedRiderChris
Black metal these days is a bunch or po-faced gits that take themselves way too fucking seriously. They need a refresher course in the concept of tongue in cheek and humor, and Venom are the schoolmasters! And that bass is just unreal! I love it. Thumbs up for posting!
@pat12pack
My band is covering this!!
@warshipsatin8764
heavy metal rock n roll
@ozzyFTW1369
HAIL VENOM LEGIONS!!!
@canousi
MOTORHEADISH TO SAY THE LEAST , still great anyway !!!
@Chemicalwarfare84
Cronos rules!!!!