Conrad Lant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cronos
|
|
|---|---|
Cronos performing with Venom in 2013
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Conrad Thomas Lant |
| Born | 15 January 1963 Kensington, London, England |
| Origin | Newcastle, England |
| Died | ca. September 2026 |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1979–2026 |
Conrad Lant (15 January 1963 – September 2026), known by his stage name Cronos, was an English rock musician. He was famous as the lead singer and bass player for the pioneering heavy metal group Venom. Music historians consider his energetic style an early influence on fast styles of rock like speed metal and thrash metal.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Conrad Lant was born in Kensington, London, before moving to the north of England in Newcastle. As a teenager, he loved loud rock instruments and imaginative stories. He played guitar in several high school bands, including Dwarfstar and an energetic group called Album Graecum that explored futuristic science-fiction themes.
In 1979, Lant took on the artist name Cronos. He joined an early rock group called Guillotine as a guitarist, where he met musician Jeffrey Dunn. Soon after, the group needed a new bass player just one week before playing a concert in a church hall. Cronos switched to playing bass guitar so the show could go on. The group changed their name to Venom, and Cronos stayed on bass for the rest of his career. By 1980, their lead singer departed, which led Cronos to take over singing duties, making the group a fast-playing trio.
Working in the Recording Studio
After finishing school, Cronos took an entry-level job at Impulse Studios in England. The recording facility mainly created records for folk musicians and local television comedians. Cronos loved rock bands and convinced the studio owners to launch a new record label for heavy rock groups. This label became Neat Records, which soon began signing exciting young musicians from across the United Kingdom.
Cronos and his bandmates did not have enough money to buy expensive studio time. Cronos made a clever deal with the head sound engineer. In exchange for doing unpaid tasks and cleaning work late at night, the engineer let the band record their original songs for free during empty hours. Cronos mailed demo tapes to magazines and music companies. A writer named Geoff Barton at Sounds magazine praised their tracks in print. This excitement convinced Neat Records to release the group's very first single.
Visual Art and Logo Design
Cronos was also an artistic designer who created the visual look of his band. He designed their official band logo by hand, redrawing it many times until the lettering looked sharp and striking. He loved fantasy artwork and illustrated several album sleeves and record covers. Over the years, his artwork appeared on tour shirts, posters, and books sold all around the world.
Career with Venom and Solo Projects
Venom released famous early albums including Welcome to Hell in 1981, Black Metal in 1982, and At War with Satan in 1984. Their loud, rapid drumming and electric guitars inspired many future groups. In 1988, the original group took an extended rest. Cronos then created his own solo rock project, naming it Cronos.
During his solo years, he recorded albums such as Dancing in the Fire and Rock n' Roll Disease. He also worked as a guest performer for other bands, including Enthroned, Massacre, Necrodeath, and Cradle of Filth. For Cradle of Filth, he performed a dramatic spoken word part on the song "Haunted Shores" from their 1996 record Dusk... and Her Embrace. Cronos also spent time behind the soundboard working as a record producer for rock bands like The Blood and Warfare.
In 1995, Cronos brought the original lineup of Venom back together. They played as the main headline act at major rock concerts, including the giant Dynamo Open Air festival in 1996 and the famous Wacken festival in Germany. They recorded new studio records like Cast in Stone and Resurrection, proving that classic heavy metal remained popular with younger generations.
Computers and Technology
In 2002, Cronos suffered a bad injury during an outdoor climbing trip. The accident prevented him from singing or playing an instrument for nearly two years. Rather than giving up on creative work, he focused on learning computer programming.
Cronos studied 3D software tools, animation techniques, and digital game design. He worked as a multimedia engineer for technology companies like K-Class Systems. Alongside engineer Scott Toward, he helped develop early digital media systems to stream music and video over the web and onto early mobile phones. He even programmed digital terrain maps for games and researched satellite internet technology.
Return to the Stage
After recovering from his injuries, Cronos returned to rock music with energy. In 2004, he sang on a special music project called Probot, organized by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl. He also sang on the 2005 song "Knights of the 21st Century" by the Swedish power-metal band HammerFall.
Cronos gathered skilled musicians to launch a refreshed version of Venom, releasing the album Metal Black in 2006. That year, they headlined the huge Gods of Metal festival in Italy, performing on stage with singer Phil Anselmo. Cronos continued releasing new albums, including Hell in 2008, Fallen Angels in 2011, and Storm the Gates in 2018. Venom spent decades touring through Europe, North America, and South America to packed crowds of cheering fans.
Personal Life and Legacy
Music was a family tradition in the Lant household. His brother Anthony "Antton" Lant played drums in Venom for several years. His older brother Graham Lant was also a professional drummer who performed with the English pop group Prefab Sprout.
Cronos passed away in September 2026 at the age of 63. Musicians worldwide remembered him as an innovative creator whose visual ideas and fast bass playing helped shape modern rock history.
Selected Discography
With Venom
- Welcome to Hell (1981)
- Black Metal (1982)
- At War with Satan (1984)
- Possessed (1985)
- Eine kleine Nachtmusik (1986)
- Calm Before the Storm (1987)
- Cast in Stone (1997)
- Resurrection (2000)
- Metal Black (2006)
- Hell (2008)
- Fallen Angels (2011)
- From the Very Depths (2015)
- Storm the Gates (2018)
Guest Work and Production
- Pure Filth by Warfare (1984)
- Se parare nex by The Blood (1985)
- Inhuman Condition by Massacre (1992)
- Dusk... and Her Embrace by Cradle of Filth (1996)
- Probot by Probot (2004)
- Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken by HammerFall (2005)
See also
In Spanish: Conrad Lant para niños
