Underground Metal Blog since 2013

2024. április 11., csütörtök

Tony Dolan (Venom Inc.), 27.IX.2017

 Interview with Tony Dolan (Venom Inc.)

Originally published in Kronos Mortus  

in English and Hungarian languages in 27.IX.2017

Ave Tony! Congratulations for the album Avé that was released on the 11th of August! Please tell us something about the recording process and share with us some details about the awesome cover.

Tony: Ah thankyou. Well the ideas we had spoken about but did not intend to do an album…but Jonny Z asked us to just do demos so in there end we conceded. Mantas focused on putting the riffs and compositions together so |I could focus on artwork and scripting for a video and logistic to shoot…as well as management stuff and live touring that was to follow..once the song shapes were there…the files were sent to Newcastle and Abaddon who recorded the drums….and sent the analogue files to Portugal where Mantas has his studio, then I flew to Portugal where we completed the bass recoding’s and vocals and we completed the lyrics….together…..The cover….was an idea form a year before and the painting is by a Serbian artist….it is full of symbolism and it makes a statement but it is up to the observer to what you see…..Adam and Eve in their embrace with the fruit form the tree of knowledge….the Temple of David…the sheep…one is a wolf in sheep's clothing…barren landscape….foreboding sky..is it the beginning or the end? Lucifer with his flute and bag of serpents…..the Light bringer walking towards you signaling light of knowledge…

Right now you are on a massive American tour… please tell us some memorable moments from the last few shows…

Tony: Too many to say right now and we still have many left…we sold out on the east coast and the west coast and show in between…Chicago and Canada…all amazing….I’ll let you know ate the end how it All was..lol BUT take it from me…NORTH America has been incredible so far…

You’ve been narrating on the clip of the Swedish Turbocharged: “Dark Era” (2015). How did this offer from Ronnie Ripper Olson come? What do you think about the cover track of Turbocharged: Witching Hour?

Tony: Ronnie is a great brother and I was honoured to be asked to perform for him on there….the band is one of the best in my opinion…as for their cover? One of the best I have heard…

You have also contributed to some outstanding things in the film industry (Judge Dredd (1995) – Wild Wild Web (1999) – Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) – Battlefield Britain (2004) – Dirty War (2004) – Rock Milestones: Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here (2005)). Please tell us a couple of thoughts about this.

Tony: Thankyou…I did so much…voice overs, commercials….etc etc,…I did around 30 DVD presentations of music…for Rock Classics series from Sabbath to the Beatles…Sex Pistols to Rush and all were great fun….I count myself as fortunate to have done all this and there are a couple of movies upcoming I am being offered so who knows what is next….but VENOM INC will continue whatever happens…But I never intend to do anything, I just focus and when I decide I’d like to do whatever. I do it…perhaps that is what everyone can do…follow your self and trust in you…not what others say or think you should do…

Atomkraft, M:pire of Evil… will you continue with these great bands besides Venom Inc.?

Tony: Yes, M:PIRE of EVIL will have the new album out next summer….called ‘UNLEASHED’ and as far as ATOMKRAFT…that is always ongoing for me…so expect something as soon as there is a gap….

Please tell us a couple of thoughts about the period you’ve spent on the older issues of Mantas and Venom? Which are your favorite tracks and why?

Tony: Favourites…too hard to say….doing Zero Tolerance with Mantas was so much fun….appearing in his deceiver video was such a laugh and as far as everything Venom we did….just all of it….he is my brother…we just work well together…..my favourite track? too many to say…sorry…right now…WAR from the new album…as we are playing it live…


You usually attend the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament… who’s your favorite player nowadays and who did you cheer for back in the days? Do you yourself play the “Queen of Sports”?

Tony: Ah hahahahaha…..I sometimes watch it on tv in summer just because it is relaxing to have on tv but I do not ‘follow’ the sport….however I was invited to centre court this year which was amazing…I never thought it could be so cool to BE there…Favourites? I love women and especially women of colour so…the Williams sisters rule…from back in the day? John McEnroe…because he was angry and outspoken and entertaining to watch as well as being a great player…

Which are your favorite books/movies nowadays? Please list your 10 all-time best records.

Tony: Movie? Still the Exorcist…but I loved Prometheous and also the Hateful Eight…books…Anything historical…Shelby Foote on the American civil War being and outstanding favourite of mine…also..Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.

All time best records for me?

1-The Incredible Shrinking Dickies- The Dickies

2- Motorhead – Motorhead

3- Overkill – Motorhead

4-Unleashed in The East – Judas Priest

5-Sabbath Bloody Sabbath – Black Sabbath

6-Reign In Blood – Slayer

7- Kill Em All – Metallica

8- Bonded By Blood – Exodus

9-To Mega Therion – Celtic Frost

10 – Blood, Fire, Death – Bathory


About Wallsend-On-Tyne… which places would you recommend for tourists, be it a museum, picture gallery, pub or local delicacy?

Tony: Oh hahaha…..cockles and mussels down by whitley bay sea front…

A trip to the Roman wall or Hadrian's wall as it was called….by the Empire..between England and Scotland..

TTrillians Rock Club in the city centre of Newcastle on a Saturday night…

If you have a favorite historical era, where would you live and why?

Tony: OMG….well all of that was kind of dirty and riddled with disease but I think the 1700’s America..war of independence, the Indian wars…the west being pioneered…would be an incredible thing to be there…as I studied American History…to see the characters who shaped the continent would be so incredible…from Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull. Cochise, Custer, Lincoln and of course George Washington and all in between..how cool.


Thanks a lot for your answers in the name of Kronos Mortus e-zine. If you have something to say for the Hungarian readers, now is the time.

Tony: Thankyou for such a diverse and interesting interview….truly great fun…thankyou to all fans and AVE to them and Hungry…and incredible country in culture and beauty…with stunning women and superb food…and warmth…see you soon and do not forget…politics should not matter in music..only the music matters…this is YOU band…this is YOUR music…enjoy because you want to…


Original source: 


Important links: 








Nincsenek megjegyzések:

Megjegyzés küldése