Page 109 - Sick Drummer Magazine Issue 27 - March 2014
P. 109
SDM: Is it an easy thing to work with Mantas going
SDM: How did you get the gig in M:Pire of Evil? over all the old Venom tunes he has been playing a
certain way for all these years? Does he expect you
I was playing a show at an even called Classic to play your way or Antton/Abaddon ways?
Rock Legends. It s an event with all the best
tribute bands in the North East playing at the O2 It s an honor to play the songs with someone who
academy in Newcastle. Mantas was actually the created a genre of music. That is something special.
stage manager for the event and I d seen his band Mantas created Black Metal and that is fact!
Dryll play at a local venue called Trillians and I was Mantas likes the way I play and he wants me to play
totally blown away by them. That s when I found anything that I play my way. If you have ever seen
out about the members of the band and someone me play the Venom songs live in M:Pire of Evil you
told me the brief history of Mantas. So, knowing will notice that I put my own spice on the songs and
that Mantas had an incredible history and was still bring out what I feel those songs need to capture
kicking arse, I knew he was clearly a professional that huge sound those classics deserve.
musician. So, when I saw him at the O2 smoking a
cigarette outside before all the bands turned up I
knew it was my time to see if I could get my foot in SDM: Were you a big fan of Venom when you were
the door. I went up to him introduced myself and growing up?
basically said If you ever need a drummer don t
hesitate to ask me. I am fully committed and I won t Not at all, but ever since I found out about Venom,
let you down. I don t think Mantas thought any I understand why they were and still are such an
of it until he saw me play to be honest. About two iconic band.
years later he approached me at the next Classic
Rock Legends event and said to me that he may
need me for something, but it s not a definite yet. SDM: What do you think of Venom s latest album
I had no idea what he was talking about, but that and drummer Danny Needham (Dante)? What do
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW night when I was on stage playing with Sabbatica, you think of his versions of the Venom tunes with
the new Venom line up featuring the only original
Mantas was behind the drum kit recording me
MARCJACKSON BY: NOEL SMART have ever played live. I was just totally in the zone. I have bumped into Danny Needham a lot of times
member, Cronos?
playing and still to this day I think it s the best I
I later found out that he sent that recording to The
on a night out in Trillians bar in Newcastle. He s a
Demolition Man saying that he thinks he s found
great guy and we always have a lot to talk about to
the right guy for the job if he is needed.
see what each other are up to in the music world. I
m:pire of evil think Danny has really made Venom sound tighter
SDM: Do you try to get the older Venom covers as a band and really controls the huge sound
down the way Abbadon use to play them or do you that Venom have always had and needed. With
add your own style to each specific song? a drummer like him it makes a big difference to
the way it sounded like with Abbadon... I ll say no
I always add my own style to any song. I think it s more about that. I always feel that without Mantas,
important for a musician to do so. Otherwise you Cronos and Abbadon together there is no real
are taking away that originality that makes that Venom. Without that messed up dirty sound that
particular musician stand out. That s important. I was Venom. Without those three guys in the band,
will say that for Crucified I tried to keep some of the it will never be the same.
intros similar. I felt it was important to capture what
those songs used to have, so the hardcore Venom
fans could still relate to them, because that s how SDM: Were you involved with Tony the Demolition
they are used to hearing them, you know. man in any other band before? How did you meet
Tony (ex-member of Venom/Atomkraft)?
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