I don't know much about the band Venom. Apparantly, they're a speed metal band that likes to use lots of Satanic references. So far, so good, right?
The guy pictured at left is Cronos, their lead singer. The phrase "what's not to like?" springs to mind.
So why do I bring them up? Because they (mostly Cronos) are responsible for the BEST BETWEEN SONG BANTER EVER. First, a little back story about the gig, courtesy of national treasure WFMU.
In 1986, Black Metal legends Venom played what some thought of as an unlikely bill with Rollins-era Black Flag at famed punk dump City Gardens, in scenic Trenton, New Jersey. The club was a magnet for all types of unsavory social elements -- skinheads, criminals, bikers, leather-studded punks, people who liked Meat Beat Manifeto, and so forth. Anyway, the punkers, metalheads, and general thugs who turned out for the show not only got to witness two of the more badass bands of the era sharing a stage, but were also treated to some of the most (unintentionally?) hilarious between-song stage banter ever, courtesy of Venom's knuckle-dragging vocalist Cronos.
The story behind this recording is shrouded in mystery, but the local history texts claim that a Black Flag roadie recorded the entire show, cut out the middle sections of all the songs, and the subsequent stage banter and guitar intros/outros were released as an Ecstatic Peace single. The legacy of the recording is impressive, to say the least. It was sampled by the Beastie Boys on one of their records ("Because you're wild, man..... WIIIIILD!") and it's got more quotable one-liners than a Monty Python movie.
And, finally, here is the delicious banter. Enjoy. (Hint: Do not not click this link)
