Possessed (band)

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Possessed is an American death metal band, originally formed in 1982 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Noted for their fast style of playing and Jeff Becerra's growled vocals, they are often called the first band in the death metal genre,[1] and paved the way for the 1980s Bay Area thrash metal scene, along with Metallica, Exodus, Testament and Death Angel.[2] The band is also notable for featuring future Primus member Larry LaLonde, who was the guitarist for Possessed from 1984 to 1987.

After breaking up in 1987, and reforming from 1990 to 1993,[3] the band reformed again under original bassist and vocalist Jeff Becerra in 2007. Possessed has released three studio albums − Seven Churches (1985), Beyond the Gates (1986) and Revelations of Oblivion (2019) − as well as one live album, two compilation albums and two EPs.

History

Formation (1982–1983)

The band originated in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1982,[4][5] when San Pablo and El Sobrante residents Mike Torrao (guitar) and Mike Sus (drums) started a garage band with vocalist Barry Fisk and former Exodus bassist Jeff Andrews under the name Possessed.[3] While the quartet had begun writing some music together, the line-up would be cut short when Fisk committed suicide by gunshot in front of his girlfriend's house in Tara Hills, California, and Andrews subsequently opted not to participate in the group any longer.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

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Meanwhile, bassist and vocalist Jeff Becerra had recently split with his band Blizzard in the neighboring city of Pinole. That band included Larry LaLonde and Danny Boland on guitars and Michael Miner on drums, all of whom were high school students in the same graduating class. After being approached by Torrao and Sus, Becerra joined Possessed filling both the vacant vocal and bassist positions. The band had placed an advertisement for a new guitarist, which was responded to by Brian Montana leading to the second incarnation of Possessed.[6][7]

Initial career (1983–1987)

Possessed spent 1983 and 1984 practicing and working on their sound by performing at local venues and becoming an active part of the Bay Area thrash scene. They recorded the three-song demo Death Metal in 1984. After concerts with Metallica and Exodus, the latter group brought the band's demo recording to the attention of Brian Slagel, head of Metal Blade Records.[8][9] Slagel showed interest in the band and offered to put their song "Swing of the Axe" on the upcoming compilation Metal Massacre VI. Following the release of the compilation, guitarist Brian Montana left the band due to creative differences and was replaced by Blizzard guitarist Larry Lalonde. According to Montana: "I left the band because Torrao had a terrible attitude problem and wouldn’t stop ragging at me. He was like some senile old lady that just wouldn’t shut up. He had a problem with my image. He didn’t think I was evil enough or something. He was always ragging on me to wear an upside down crucifix and be satanic."[10]

The band then hired Mechanics Bank heiress Debbie Abono (nee Downer), mother of LaLonde's then-girlfriend, Julie, to manage the band.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The compilation drew the attention of Combat Records who signed the band and released their debut album Seven Churches in 1985,Template:R[11] with Roadrunner Records handling European distribution. In November of the same year, the band flew to Montreal, Canada for the WWIII Weekend Festival in support of the Seven Churches release, playing alongside Celtic Frost, Destruction, Voivod and Nasty Savage. The concert was Possessed's first and largest arena appearance, with nearly 7,000 in attendance.[12] Possessed followed the release with a supporting tour which included a performance with Slayer and Venom at San Francisco's Kabuki in 1986.[13]

On Halloween 1986, Possessed released their second album Beyond the Gates. They embarked on a short European tour with Voivod and in the U.S. opening for Dark Angel.[14] In May 1987, the band issued a five-song EP produced by guitarist Joe Satriani titled The Eyes of Horror which marked a change in musical direction for the band. The Satanic themes they had become noted for were almost completely absent, and the songs had more of a thrash metal style than their earlier death metal sound. The song "Storm in My Mind" was written by Lalonde and the rest by Torrao, who had written most of the band's earlier material. Soon after the release, internal tensions among the band members led to their break up.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In 1989, Jeff Becerra was held up at gunpoint by two assailants after buying cigarettes at a store. After refusing to give them his money, he was shot twice. Becerra recalled the incident in 2019: "We scuffled, there was no way out of it and I ended up getting shot a couple of times. The first guy pushed a 9-millimeter to my chest. It broke through the ribs and shattered the lungs and stuck on in the spine, so I still have a 9-millimeter slug stuck on the vertebrate T3. I think the second guy was covering me from about 15 feet away, so there was nowhere to run. It was more like a knee-jerk reaction because the first shot was 'Pow!' and right after, 'Pow!' [...] I got shot by two different guns in a robbery. I was doing concrete construction. I worked something like 13 hours that day. I stopped to get a pack of Camels and I guess I flashed a hundred and on the way out, two guys in hoods, little ninja guys came running up with guns: 'Give me all of your fucking money.'" The shooting left Becerra paralyzed from the chest down. The incident occurred while he was employed as a construction worker.[10][15][16][17] He lamented: "I've been in a wheelchair longer than I've been walking. It's my normal."[18]

Despite Becerra's debilitating injuries, he continued to play a role in the death, black, and thrash metal scenes. He struggled with drug and alcohol abuse for the following five years before eventually receiving a degree in labor studies. He stated that he plans to attend law school.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Reformations and recent developments (1990–present)

Mike Torrao formed a new version of Possessed in 1990, taking over lead vocals himself, and recorded a two-song demo in 1991. Several different line-ups were attempted, and a four-song demo was recorded in 1993, but the group failed to gain momentum and disbanded shortly thereafter.

In 2007, it was announced that vocalist and bassist Jeff Becerra would be performing under the Possessed name at the Wacken Open Air festival and would be backed by the members of Sadistic Intent, one of the bands featured on the Possessed tribute album Seven Gates of Horror released in 2004.[19] They would also headline the Gathering of the Bestial Legions III festival in Los Angeles. This same lineup also performed at Maryland Deathfest VIII in May 2010. After a U.S. tour with Danzig and Marduk, Rick and Bay Cortez along with Ernesto Bueno returned to Sadistic Intent, while drummer Emilio Marquez remained.

File:Possessed - Jalometalli 2008 - 05.JPG
Possessed at Jalometalli 2008 in Finland

By late 2012, Possessed had begun writing new material for their first full-length studio album since 1986's Beyond the Gates.[20] They had performed several new songs live which were expected to appear on the new album.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In 2017, the band signed a three-album recording contract with Nuclear Blast Records.[21] By this time, the band consisted of Becerra and Marquez along with guitarists Daniel Gonzalez and Claudeous Creamer and bassist Robert Cardenas. Initially set for release in 2018, the band's third studio album Revelations of Oblivion was released on May 10, 2019, their first in 33 years.[22][23] The album entered the UK Rock & Metal Singles and Albums Charts at number 7 in its first week.[24]

In a February 2021 interview, Becerra stated that he would begin writing new material for the next Possessed album after the conclusion of the Revelations of Oblivion tour.[25][26]

In September 2021, Becerra walked for the first time in 30 years with the aid of robotic legs.[18]

Becerra said in December 2023 that the band would record their new album in 2024.[27]

Former guitarist Brian Montana died on April 28, 2025 after he was shot by South San Francisco police officers following an incident in which he reportedly fired at neighbors and officers in a dispute about garden clippings.[28][29] Police said that alcohol was a factor in the incident.[10] Jeff Becerra took to Possessed's official Instagram account to make a statement, where he said: "The Brian I know is from when we were still just kids back in the beginning of Possessed. He was nothing like what I'm seeing being written about him. In fact, I think that's one of the reasons that led to him leaving Possessed. He just wasn't willing to be as dark as we wanted him to be at that time. We were going for that evil imagery, and Brian was just so lighthearted, even goofy in a good way."[30]

Musical style and influences

At least four Possessed members who had written and recorded with the band at some point (vocalist/bassist Becerra and former guitarists Torrao, Montana and LaLonde) cite early Exodus and Venom as their main influences, in addition to new wave of British heavy metal acts like Motörhead, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, and other bands such as Rush, Scorpions and Van Halen.[31][32][33] Although AllMusic attributed Slayer as being a musical influence for Seven Churches,[34] the first Slayer album Show No Mercy had not been released until December 1983, shortly after members of Possessed were already writing material for their demo and debut album. Lyrically, most of Possessed's songs focused on Satanism and death.

Legacy and influence

Possessed are often cited as the first death metal band,[1][35][36] largely because of the early use of grunted vocals, ultra-fast drumming and guitar tremolo picking as previously noted. In the 2004 book, Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore, Jeff Becerra staked claim to creating the "death metal" nomenclature in 1983.[37] The band's efforts on Seven Churches have been called an influence by groups like Death, Pestilence, Sepultura, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Sadistic Intent, Cannibal Corpse, Gorguts, Sinister, Vader, God Dethroned and Amon Amarth, the latter five bands having appeared on a 2004 Possessed tribute album.[38][39][40] Possessed's "The Exorcist" had been covered earlier by Cannibal Corpse on the 1993 Hammer Smashed Face EP.

Even while the band had played only a handful of gigs in the Bay Area, they earned a huge capital of popularity in Europe's metal scene.[41] Members of Napalm Death were influenced by Possessed and credit the band for their musical shift from grindcore to a more death metal direction after Scum.[42] In addition to their impression on overseas death metal, the group would also inspire black metal acts like Germany's Falkenbach,[43] Greece's Rotting Christ,[44] Switzerland's Samael[45] and Norway's Dimmu Borgir.[46]

Chuck Schuldiner, who had relocated his band Death to the Bay Area to write Scream Bloody Gore with Chris Reifert, in tandem with Possessed's rise, told magazine Metal Maniacs:

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In the book Choosing Death, Mantas/Death drummer Kam Lee called Possessed the first death metal band, and added:

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Author Daniel Ekeroth expanded on Lee's assessment of the 1984 Death Metal demo in his book, Swedish Death Metal:

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Possessed's association with Debbie Abono would be a "first" for both sides: Abono would be the band's first manager, and Possessed were Abono's first managed signed band. A grandmother in her mid-fifties at that time,[47][48] Abono had no previous connection to heavy metal music other than as a concert designated driver for her daughters, one of whom was a girlfriend of guitarist Larry LaLonde.Template:R Due to generation gap, Abono also had limited awareness of the sometimes blasphemous themes of heavy metal, and was allegedly offended upon reading the lyric sheet of Seven Churches.Template:R Nevertheless, she agreed to manage and represent Possessed as long as Becerra and LaLonde finished high school commitments.Template:R Although the group's relationship amongst themselves and their first manager would reach points of discord and eventual termination, Abono would go on to manage additional bands in the Bay Area thrash metal scene like Exodus, Vio-lence and Forbidden Evil, as well as death metal bands like Chicago's Broken Hope and Florida's Cynic and Obituary.[49]

File:Possessed - Jalometalli 2008 - 03.JPG
Vocalist Jeff Becerra at Jalometalli 2008

While Possessed's first album, Seven Churches, was praised for its speed and the brutality of the vocals, the second album, Beyond the Gates, disappointed both fans and critics alike. Released on Halloween of 1986, the album was not as powerful and as influential as its predecessor, and the band's popularity suffered because of it.[50][51] The band members themselves expressed disappointment in the release, in general, and the sound production in particular.[52]

Other projects

In 1993, former drummer Mike Sus retired from music to pursue other careers, going on to get a degree in psychology and is helping injured people to live a normal everyday life. He is also a drug addiction counselor.[53]

Former guitarist Larry LaLonde joined the Bay Area thrash metal band Blind Illusion which released The Sane Asylum in 1988, after which LaLonde went on to join the influential funk metal band Primus in 1989 (led by former Blind Illusion bassist Les Claypool).Template:R[54]

In 1995, former guitarist Mike Torrão joined a new death metal band, Infanticide, but never released any songs to the public. Infanticide broke up in 1997. He has since worked as a landscaper and plays music only in his spare time. As of 2008, Torrao is working with the band INaCAGE[55] in the San Francisco Bay Area.Template:R

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Label
1985 Seven Churches Relativity/Combat
1986 Beyond the Gates
2019 Revelations of Oblivion Nuclear Blast

Live albums

Year Title Label
2004 Agony in Paradise Agonia

Compilation albums

Year Title Label
1985 Metal Massacre VI Metal Blade
1992 Victims of Death Relativity/Combat
2003 Resurrection Agonia

Extended plays

Year Title Label
1987 The Eyes of Horror Combat
2006 Ashes from Hell Boneless
2019 Shadowcult Nuclear Blast

Music videos

Year Title Label
2019 "Shadowcult (Official Live Video)" Nuclear Blast
2019 "Graven (Official Music Video)" Nuclear Blast

Documentaries

Year Title Label
2019 Murder in the Front Row Bonded by Blood

Members

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  • Jeff Becerra – vocals (1983–1987, 2007–present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., bass (1983–1987)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Daniel Gonzalez – guitars (2011–present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Robert Cardenas – bass (2012–present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Claudeous Creamer – guitars (2016–present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Chris Aguirre – drums (2023–present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Former Template:Div col

  • Barry Fisk – vocals (1982–1983; died 1983)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Jeff Andrews – bass (1982–1983)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Brian Montana – guitars (1983–1984, died 2025)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Mike Sus – drums (1982–1987)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Mike Torrão – guitars (1982–1987, 1990–1993)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., vocals (1990–1993)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Larry LaLonde – guitars (1984–1987)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Duane Connley – guitars (1990)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Dave Alex Couch – guitars (1990)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Colin Carmichael – drums (1990)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Chris Stolle – drums (1990)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Bob Yost – bass (1990–1992; died 2010)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Mark Strausburg – guitars (1991–1993)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Walter Ryan – drums (1991–1993)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Mike Hollman – guitars (1993)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Paul Perry – bass (1991–1993)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Emilio Márquez – drums (2007–2023)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Ernesto Bueno – guitars (2007–2010)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Rick Cortez – guitars (2007–2010)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Bay Cortez – bass (2007–2010)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Tony Campos – bass (2011–2012)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Kelly McLauchlin – guitars (2011–2013)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Mike Pardi – guitars (2013–2016)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Template:Div col end

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:105 bottom:60 top:0 right:0 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1982 till:12/15/2025 ScaleMajor = increment:4 start:1982 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1982 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom

Colors= 

id:vocals   value:red        legend:Vocals
id:guitar   value:green      legend:Guitars
id:bass     value:blue       legend:Bass
id:drums    value:orange     legend:Drums
id:studio   value:black      legend:Studio_album
id:other    value:gray(0.5)  legend:Demo/EP
id:bars     value:gray(0.95)

LineData= 

layer:back
at:06/01/1984 color:other
at:06/01/1985 color:other
at:10/16/1985 color:studio
at:10/31/1986 color:studio
at:05/31/1987 color:other
at:10/01/1991 color:other
at:06/01/1993 color:other
at:05/10/2019 color:studio

BackgroundColors= bars:bars

BarData= 

bar:Barry     text:"Barry Fisk"
bar:Jeff      text:"Jeff Becerra"
bar:Mike      text:"Mike Torrão"
bar:Brian     text:"Brian Montana"
bar:Larry     text:"Larry LaLonde"
bar:Duane     text:"Duane Connley"
bar:Dave      text:"Dave Alex Couch"
bar:Mark      text:"Mark Strausburg"
bar:Mike2     text:"Mike Hollman"
bar:Rick      text:"Rick Cortez"
bar:Dan       text:"Daniel González"
bar:Ernesto   text:"Ernesto Bueno"
bar:Kelly     text:"Kelly Mclauchlin"
bar:Mike3     text:"Mike Pardi"
bar:Claudeous text:"Claudeous Creamer"
bar:Andrews   text:"Jeff Andrews"
bar:Bob       text:"Bob Yost"
bar:Paul      text:"Paul Perry"
bar:Bay       text:"Bay Cortez"
bar:Tony      text:"Tony Campos"
bar:Rob       text:"Robert Cárdenas"
bar:Mike4     text:"Mike Sus"
bar:Colin     text:"Colin Carmichael"
bar:Chris     text:"Chris Stolle"
bar:Walter    text:"Walter Ryan"
bar:Emilio    text:"Emilio Márquez"
bar:Chris2    text:"Chris Aguirre"

PlotData = 

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
bar:Barry     from:01/01/1982 till:04/15/1983  color:vocals
bar:Jeff      from:05/01/1983 till:06/20/1987  color:vocals
bar:Jeff      from:05/01/1983 till:06/20/1987  color:bass   width:3
bar:Jeff      from:04/04/2007 till:end         color:vocals
bar:Mike      from:01/01/1982 till:06/20/1987  color:guitar
bar:Andrews   from:01/01/1982 till:04/15/1983  color:bass
bar:Mike4     from:01/01/1982 till:06/20/1987  color:drums
bar:Mike      from:02/01/1990 till:10/01/1993  color:guitar width:3
bar:Mike      from:02/01/1990 till:10/01/1993  color:vocals
bar:Ernesto   from:04/01/2007 till:04/01/2010  color:guitar
bar:Kelly     from:04/01/2010 till:07/01/2013  color:guitar
bar:Brian     from:05/01/1983 till:01/01/1985  color:guitar
bar:Larry     from:01/01/1985 till:06/20/1987  color:guitar
bar:Duane     from:02/01/1990 till:06/01/1990  color:guitar
bar:Dave      from:06/01/1990 till:10/01/1990  color:guitar
bar:Mark      from:10/01/1990 till:07/01/1993  color:guitar
bar:Mike2     from:07/01/1993 till:10/01/1993  color:guitar
bar:Mike3     from:07/01/2013 till:07/01/2016  color:guitar
bar:Claudeous from:07/01/2016 till:end         color:guitar
bar:Rick      from:04/01/2007 till:04/01/2010  color:guitar
bar:Dan       from:04/01/2010 till:end         color:guitar
bar:Bob       from:02/01/1990 till:01/01/1993  color:bass
bar:Paul      from:01/01/1993 till:10/01/1993  color:bass
bar:Bay       from:04/01/2007 till:04/01/2010  color:bass
bar:Tony      from:04/01/2010 till:04/01/2012  color:bass
bar:Rob       from:04/01/2012 till:end         color:bass
bar:Colin     from:02/01/1990 till:07/01/1990  color:drums
bar:Chris     from:07/01/1990 till:10/01/1990  color:drums
bar:Walter    from:10/01/1990 till:10/01/1993  color:drums
bar:Emilio    from:04/01/2007 till:05/26/2023  color:drums
bar:Chris2    from:06/09/2023 till:end         color:drums

</timeline>

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Sister projectTemplate:Sister project

Template:Possessed Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Multiple sources:
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  3. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ allmusic(((Seven Churches > Overview)))
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Eduardo Rivadavia, Review of Possessed, Beyond the Gates, Allmusic: "[The album] wound up coming as a disappointment to most critics and fans alike . . . transforming a sound previously distinguished for its inexorable power into a ragged, decidedly weaker-kneed replacement."
  51. ↑ Eduardo Rivadavia, Possessed band page, Allmusic: "Their second effort, Beyond the Gates, was released, fittingly enough, on Halloween 1986, but did not have the same impact as its predecessor."
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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