Tony Dolan has ruled out any possibility of Jeff ‘Mantas’ Dunn returning to Venom Inc. He cited unresolved disputes and false statements made against him in a recent interview with Soundterror.
When asked about the potential for Mantas’ reunion with the band, Dolan addressed the ongoing tensions. He provided details about past financial disputes.
“Not now,” Dolan said. “He said too many bad things about me that are untrue, and it’s not fair.”
Dolan went on to detail his grievances with his former bandmates. He outlined alleged financial misconduct from his time with the original Venom lineup.
“And I just think, hang on,” he continued. “I’m the same person that I was back then, the same person that Venom tried to destroy my band, the same person that they stole all my money, the same person that they embezzled and they didn’t give me my publishing and I didn’t get any money from advances, and I didn’t get paid for any tours, and I never got paid for any albums.”
The musician also addressed ongoing royalty issues that continue to affect him financially.
“And they took my publishing money off my records, including [Venom frontman] Cronos [Conrad Lant], and then laughed about it in public,” Dolan said. “It was, like, ‘We get his money.’ Now I go out and play shows. If I play 10 Venom songs in a tour on a show, I don’t get the money. They get the money. It’s their royalties. So I’m still making that money for them, but I don’t care about that.”
These recent comments shed light on the complex history behind Venom Inc.’s current lineup changes. They also reveal the circumstances that led to Mantas’ departure from the band.
Blabbermouth reported that Mantas had suffered multiple health setbacks, including two heart attacks in recent years. These health issues contributed to his withdrawal from live performances and eventual exit from the band. After his second heart attack, Mantas expressed that his “mind’s fucked” and opted not to tour anymore. This prompted Dolan to recruit new members for upcoming shows and recordings.
The health issues created additional strain on an already fractured relationship between the former bandmates. Metal Injection noted that Dolan has been understanding of Mantas’ health concerns. He stated he wouldn’t try to make him go on the road against his wishes.
Despite the professional understanding regarding health matters, the personal animosity between the musicians remains evident. Real Rock 99.3 revealed that Dolan expressed a sense of relief at moving forward without his former bandmates.
“I’m much happier not being oppressed by them,” Dolan said. This statement highlights the deep personal and professional fractures that make reconciliation improbable.
The combination of health issues, financial disputes, and personal conflicts suggests that the rift between the former Venom members remains significant. Any potential reunion appears unlikely in the near future.
