These pics of Jeff were taken with "Sadistic Intent" back in 2004, while performing vocals for their cover of "The Exorcist" from Possessed.

--------------------

° Half of a pack of cigarrettes - check
° Full tank of gas - check
° 106 miles from Chicago - check

Really quite strange as I was having a moan last week about how Possessed will probably be the one band that will never reform.. (well apart from Coroner ).. couple of days later I heard about this.

--------------------

A limited-edition POSSESSED seven-inch single on multi-colored vinyl was released last year on Boneless Records in association with B.A.D.M./N.Y.D.M. Entitled "Ashes from Hell", the first 100 copies of the single came with a collector's pick.

Formed in the early '80s, POSSESSED released "Seven Churches" via Combat Records in 1985. They would follow with "Beyond the Gates" and the five-song EP "The Eyes of Horror" before disbanding several years later. A best of was released, "Victims of Death", in 1993.

--------------------

Long-running California-based extreme metallers SADISTIC INTENT have commented on the reports that they will be touring Europe in July/August with a revamped version of San Francisco Bay Area metal legends POSSESSED — consisting of original frontman Jeff Becerra backed by members of SADISTIC INTENT. The following statement from SADISTIC INTENT was sent to BLABBERMOUTH.NET earlier today:

"Apparently some one decided to make a flyer of the possible tour with POSSESSED (featuring original frontman Jeff Becerra backed by SADISTIC INTENT), SADISTIC INTENT, MORTEM and PENTACLE. Although the tour is currently in a preliminary phase, we have not confirmed. After the word got out, we have received much e-mail from people in different countries with very positive feedback and we are grateful. However, we are not responsible for the premature tour announcement and if things don’t go as planned, it is possible we will not be able to do this tour. As soon as we find out more information, we will make an official announcement. Nevertheless, thanks to all of you who have shown your support, it certainly is appreciated."

--------------------

--------------------

How are you thinking about that?

--------------------

Saw the original formation of this band back in 1985 and they crushed!

--------------------

--------------------

--------------------

--------------------

--------------------

I do recall Torreo doing some post-breakup resurrections, but never got to hear any of them (there was at least one demo done).

All the best,
PAULIE

--------------------

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paulie 88:
I do recall Torreo doing some post-breakup resurrections, but never got to hear any of them (there was at least one demo done).

---

Yeah, I have that demo lying around here somewhere, nothing to write home about though...I also understand the "beef" concerning only 1/4 of the band calling it a full-on reunion, but my take is that this time the singer really does matter! It would be worse to have another singer in place of Jeff...he has such an original voice! Of course, going back to the beginning of my post...having the guitarist as vocalist for a Possessed demo is also just plain wrong.

--------------------

YOUR BROTHER IN FIRE, HELL AND DEATH FOREVER!

--------------------

--------------------

I always thought it so odd, yet cool, when I think of what Larry LaLonde and Les Claypool were playing before doing PRIMUS, which really broke down barriers and opened ears and minds.

--------------------

Seven Churches was in the first batch of tapes that i had when i first got into metal. Scared the living shit outta me, so of course I loved it immediatly! It's just one those albums that I still value now as much as i did back then. It took me years before I finally got ahold of Beyond The Gates (for some reason it was crazy tough to find) but goddamn it was great when i did.

Thanks, Jeff.

--------------------

in the annals of thrash metal history there are TWO WORDS describing what I think of Possessed:

WHAT! IF!

I don't think it can be over-stated how great this band really was.

They essentially created 2 and a half albums of material. Roughly two dozen songs. They came onto the scene in the early/mid 80s and by the time thrash started to go 'big time', Possessed was finished.

All that and they are still regarded as the god fathers of an entire genre. They influenced zillions of bands and musicians. Their impact on the landscape of thrash and death metal is WITHOUT argument. In my view, they are one of the Big 5, with the Big 4. That is how important this band was.

Not only was this band 'extreme', heavy, fast, intense, but they were superb musicians and were only going to get better.

While I wasn't a huge fan of the production of the last two Possessed records you could tell these guys were developing something special. They may not have taken Slayer's crowd, but they'd have borrowed a few of em. Just think had these guys stayed together for just another 4 or 5 years, maybe 2 or 3 more albums? If the motivation had been there, I am talking legendary potential.

I am honored to have seen this mighty band back in around 1987 in Baltimore, Maryland. At the time I didn't really understand what this band meant to the world of metal and thrash...I didn't understand it until they were gone...years clicking off where inferior bands were now selling boatloads of records while Possessed had been permanently grounded long before their awesome, amazing potential was fully realized.

We can weep for lost glory, but also thank the guys for given us what they gave. Godfathers! Kings! Pioneers! There is no way this band can be described fully without draining oneself of a list of superlatives.

Possessed are one of the greatest heavy metal bands to ever grace the earth...they achieved this accolade with limited sample size, further evidence of their greatness.