On the 43rd anniversary of Venom’s ‘Welcome to Hell’, The Metal Voice asked X users to share their thoughts on the debut album, both at the time of its release and today.
Former Metallica bassist Ron McGovney replied, “Total crap, although the people around me loved it.”
Released on December 12, 1981, through Neat Records, ‘Welcome to Hell’ featured a raw and unpolished sound, recorded in just three days. Despite its rough production, the album received positive reviews and is often credited, alongside Venom’s 1982 follow-up ‘Black Metal’, with the birth of the black metal genre.
During the same period, Ron McGovney made his live debut with Metallica but left the band in 1982 before the release of ‘Kill ’Em All’, citing conflicts with Lars Ulrich and Dave Mustaine. Afterward, he briefly played with the band Phantasm until they disbanded in 1988.
McGovney has since remained largely inactive in music but reunited with Metallica for select events, including their 30th anniversary celebration in December 2011. He also joined Megadeth for a one-time performance in 2013.
Currently, Metallica is gearing up for the 2025 leg of their M72 World Tour, supporting their 2023 album ‘72 Seasons’. The tour kicks off in Syracuse, New York, on April 19 and includes stops in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
