CURRAN MURPHY REPLACES MANTAS IN VENOM INC FOR JAKARTA CONCERT
6th May 2024Last week, VENOM INC guitarist Jeff “Mantas” Dunn announced to have suffered a second heart attack on April 17th. Subsequently, he will not be able to participate on the band’s live obligations on short notice. Stepping in for him on yesterday’s (May 5th) VENOM INC show on the Hammersonic festival in Jakarta, was former Annihilator and H.A.T.E. and current 72 Legions guitarist Curran Murphy.
Says Curran Murphy:
Coming to Indonesia and playing the Hammer Sonic Festival for my first show with Venom Inc was absolutely amazing. The country was incredible, the promoters and crew that worked for the festival were incredibly courteous, helpful and awesome. There’s no way I could have dreamed a better way to play my first show with Venom Inc than in front of 50,000 people in Indonesia at the hammersonic Fest. The crowd reaction to the band was amazing, the fans of Venom Inc want to hear these songs played and played loud, that’s what we did and that’s what they love. The fan reaction to me personally as the guitar player filling in for Mantas was phenomenal! Every metal fan that I met over the two days in Jakarta were extremely happy with my performance of all the songs! It has been exciting and thrilling beyond belief to be given the opportunity to fill in for Mantas while he gets his health back.
Being asked by Tony to fill in for Mantas on guitar for this show was a huge opportunity and mind blowing. Then meeting Mark Jackson and playing my first show with him and Tony together on stage was just absolutely electric. To be on that stage with Tony and Mark was incredible, everything felt excellent. The flow of the songs and energetic stage performance with both of those guys was really special and exciting to be a part of.
Mantas stated on Facebook last Friday, May 3rd:
And now to my news.
On the morning of Wednesday 17th April completely out of the blue I suffered another heart attack.
Two ambulances attended my home and once they were satisfied that I was stable I was taken to Abrantes UCIC (Cardiac Intensive Care)
I had numerous blood tests, X Ray and Cardiac Ultrasound and it was decided that I should be taken to Lisbon for an Angiogram when a slot became available to determine cause and possible further damage.
The outcome of the Angiogram revealed that my double bypass was functioning well, however, 2 further valves were compromised and approaching complete failure and the decision was made immediately to introduce 2 stents, which they did there and then.
The whole procedure was done through my left wrist under local anesthetic.
May I take this opportunity to thank the cardiology Doctors and nursing staff of both Abrantes and Lisbon for their superb care and attention.
I am now recovering at home. I must now inform you all that for the foreseeable future I will not be performing live with Venom Inc at any immediate upcoming events. I will of course continue to make music, it’s my therapy, and I will more than likely annoy you all with it in the not too distant future.
Once again each and every one of you has my eternal gratitude.
Much Love and Respect
May I take this opportunity to thank the cardiology Doctors and nursing staff of both Abrantes and Lisbon for their superb care and attention.
I am now recovering at home. I must now inform you all that for the foreseeable future I will not be performing live with Venom Inc at any immediate upcoming events. I will of course continue to make music, it’s my therapy, and I will more than likely annoy you all with it in the not too distant future.
Once again each and every one of you has my eternal gratitude.
Much Love and Respect
Jeff.
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Last month, in an interview with Dutch magazine Arrow Lords Of Metal, VENOM INC lead singer and bassist Tony “The Demolition Man” Dolan revealed that his former M:PIRE OF EVIL drummer Marc “JXN” Jackson would join the band as the replacement of the fired drummer Jeramie “War Machine” Kling.
The Demolition Man:
“Well at the end of the Part 2 USA tour, we were discussing the Mexico Metal Fest show that was to follow later and it became a difficult conversation which ended with him being removed. There was no need for any announcement from Venom Inc, but he chose to make his statement (in which he said that a conflict of schedules made Kling decide to leave himself). A little misleading, but nevertheless he was removed. He has his own projects and so it works better for him and much better for us in all ways”
Previously, former Cradle Of Filth drummer Nick Barker stepped in to help Venom Inc. play two shows in 2022.
VENOM INC. released its second album, “There’s Only Black“, last year via Nuclear Blast Records.
“There’s Only Black” track listing:
01. How Many Can Die (03:21)
02. Infinitum (03:47)
03. Come To Me (03:46)
04. There’s Only Black (04:49)
05. Tyrant (05:25)
06. Don’t Feed Me Your Lies (05:51)
07. Man As God (03:23)
08. Burn Liar Burn (05:32)
09. Nine (03:34)
10. Rampant (04:06)
11. The Dance (04:54)
12. Inferno (05:19)
The follow-up to 2017’s “Avé”, “There’s Only Black” marks the second recording under the name VENOM INC., while Dunn and Dolan have a long history as recording artists together in VENOM, M:PIRE OF EVIL and Mantas solo projects. It also marks the VENOM INC. recording debut of drummer Jeramie “War Machine” Kling (also of IMHUMAN CONDITION), who joined the band in 2018.
[…] he will not be able to participate on the band’s live obligations on short notice. All About the Rock reports that stepping in for him on yesterday’s (May 5th) VENOM INC show on the Hammersonic […]