Late seventies Newcastle upon Tyne Heavy Metal band DWARFSTAR, initially operational as ALBUM GRACIA, would prove to be one of the first stepping stone acts of future VENOM frontman Conrad 'Cronos' Lant. DWARFSTAR would also feature drummer Greame Newton, replaced by Gary Muckle.

Another local band, GUILLOTINE, featuring guitarist Jeffrey Dunn retitled themselves VENOM in 1979. The inaugural line up of this group being Dunn, vocalist Dave Blackman, second guitarist Dave Rutherford, bassist Dean Hewitt and drummer Chris Mercaters. Both Blackman and Mercater lost their places in August of that year to former OBERON members drummer Tony Bray and singer Clive Archer.

The new look VENOM, also with a fresh bassist Alan Winston, were to pull in Lant as replacement for Rutherford in November. However, mere days before the band's debut gig in Wallsend Winston bailed out forcing Lant to take over the bassist's role.