From burning temples and ruins of human oblivion, the fallen one was raising again. He opened the gates of hell to release hordes of possessed, fallen angels so that they could proudly mete out justice to worm-ridden heaven. From dark aeons of void POSSESSED emerged, who, no doubt, are one of the most important death metal bands there are. One just cannot deny their importance for future bands and the genre itself. Yeah, POSSESSED are true originators of Death Metal.When in 2006, POSSESSED announced they were active again, many die-hard maniacs were truly pleased. To learn about POSSESSED`s plans and history, we interviewed Jeff Beccera for Metal Maniac. Lads and ladies, read what Jeff had to say just moments before POSSESSED`s another live show in Poland.

 

.      I hope your second visit to Poland will encourage you to answer this one! Well, it was two years ago (July 19, 2014) when you played in Poland last time but I still hope you remember that time, huh? How did you like it? How did you like the audience? Hope you liked the show!

Yes, of course I remember Poland last tour. The fans/supporters were wild as hell and it was one of the best shows of the entire tour. Had a fantastic time and I/we are very-much looking-forward to coming back in December.

2.       Let’s remind a few facts from the moment of Possessed’ reactivation: first gigs in new line-up, the show in Waken Festival in 2007 in front of big audience, then tour including Blackshadow Fest (with Sarcofago and Sadistic Intent) and third edition of Bestial Legion Fest (with Acheron, Malevolent Creation and Mortem). Many fans thought, that you’re back for a good and after touring they will hear a new record soon. However, things went differently.

It has been a process. At first with Sadistic it was all about me working to get back up on the stage again and tuning in our sound and stage show. I was forced to take an 18yr break after my injury so I had a lot of kinks to work out. Once everything started really coming together I wanted to get a true version of Possessed going which took more time and effort. Then we had to do a great deal of work to build up the Possessed brand again so that people would know and remember. So now that I have the very best version of Possessed to-date we have began to write our new material. We just finished a five-song-demo in hopes of garnering interest from a record company so we can then go on to finance a new album.

3.      You released a four-track EP ”Ashes From Hell’’ which includes two live songs – “Death Metal” and “Burning in Hell”, and “The Exorcist” and “Confessions” mixed in a special way. Do you have any planes to record some new material? Do you have complete compositions or ideas?

Yes, we have just recently recorded five brand-new Possessed songs and are working on our next full-album. We have been very lucky to have such patient supporters who understand that it will be so much better to do these new songs right rather than simply rush them out because they are "new". We are taking the necessary time to do things right.

4.      If you were to record the new material, what style would it be? Would it be in style of „SevenChurches” or technical death-metal from mature era of the genre? Or maybe something new – a real surprise? Have you got some suggestions from fans, from friends – what do they expect from the new Possessed? What record Possessed expect from themselves?

Of course my music is always going to sound like my own. But we have also been very true to our roots. To be honest my music has always had a very distinct sound of it's own and this new material is no exception. We are extremely happy with the outcome of this last recording session and can't wait to bring our new material into a big studio. I always say that it sounds like the old Possessed but newer..lol! ;) I am very excited to see and hear everybody's reaction to the new music. And our hopes are to gain new supporters/listeners as well as keep our old school fan's respect.

8.      In 2007 you gathered together with the musicians from great band Sadistic Intent. However you paths fell apart. The fans are waiting for the new album of this group as well, that’s why the guys decided to left Possessed?

Again, all bands have a history and a future. And it is just the nature of the beast that some continue on and some do not. In this instance Sadistic has a great band and it just made sense for me to concentrate on my band (Possessed) and they on theirs (Sadistic). We are still friends and there are absolutely no hard feelings. Sadistic Intent are a great fucking band and really cool guys.

9.      From the old line-up from Sadistic Intent only Emilio Marquez left.How did you manage to bring Robert Cardenas from Agent Steel / Malice?

We had already known and been friends with Robert for many many years. He is a fantastic bassist and a perfect fit so it just made sense. And of course I took Emilio with me because he is a phenomenal talent and a great friend.

10.     What can you say about the work with the new members of Possessed - Robert Cardenas – bass, Daniel Gonzales – guitars, Mike Pardi – guitars, Emilio Marquez

These guys are all fantastic musicians and it is a real honor to work with them. Possessed have come such a very long ways from back in the day and much of it is thanks to these guys. We have been writing a lot of new music together and in my opinion this is the perfect and only way to do Possessed and they are the real Possessed/.

11.    We all truly admire you courage and strength to perform alive on a scene now in your difficult situation. When did you decide abut it? And maybe is there someone who helped you to confirm in this great decision?

In truth I never wanted for Possessed to break-up. I was sorely disappointed whenever everybody quit on me back in the day and I had alwasy planned on coming back with Possessed. Unfortunately I got shot twice and had to spend 18 years getting my life back and becoming strong enough to bring back Possessed. So it has been a very long time coming and now that I have my band back together nothing will stop me again.

12.    Tell us about your first music fascinations, when you formed Possessed and what has changed for these years? What music does listen to Jeff Becerra in 2014? Some new bands, styles that you explore?

I still listen to a lot of Punk and metal (as always). I tend to listen to the bands that I am currently on tour with or bands that we play our live shows/concerts with. And of course I still lisent to Exodus, Mercyful Fate, Discharge, Venom, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead and all the classics.. My all-time favorite band is Black Sabbath... And I dig a lot of the Black Metal bands like Dark Throne, Mayhem. I guess I am a lot like any other metalhead out there. Just too many bands to name them all...

 

13.    What do you think about Old School music now? About the bands like Toxic Holocaust, Trench Hell, Nocturnal Graves or Midnight which play the same old, great thrash-death metal against all trends and music fashions? And do you think that now is trend for old school and it becomes to start a music fashion too?

Of course it is great to see Death Metal alive and well. Keeping in mind that I remember when Possessed was the only Death Metal band in the world. So it has been a real experience to first of all see Death Metal grow into a genre of music, and secondly to see all of the great Death Metal band of the world grow and prosper along with the genre.

14.    Do you know or remember real old bands from Poland like Merciless Death or Egzekuthor?

Yes, and these are both fantastic bands. Much respect!!

15.    Why didn’t you release officially all Possessed demos on vinyl or CD from your wide archives? It is a real legacy of a genre, you’re an icon band and this stuff has a great place in history of metal music.

We have released the original Possessed demo on CD &  Digital through Redrum Records and a Vinyl Box-set with Floga Records. They are very cool you should check them out!!

17.    We interested in you memories from touring in the first years of Possessed. Do you remember some funny stories or special memories from these gigs and many bus tourings?

I can remember that whenever we first started we toured around in a blue van that we bought and took all the seats out of it. We fit 12 people on the floor of this van so it was extremely crowded. One time while on tour in the van we drank so many beers that our driver told us that he wasn't going to keep stopping for piss-breaks. So we started pissing in bags. Any plastic bags or containers or bottles we could find. One of our roadies was named Toby Rage and he very cool but also a big time grungy dirty ass punk rocker from hell. Well he ended up taking a piss in a Frito bag (corn chips) and then as he was attempting to throw it out the window instead the wind blew it super hard and all his dirty piss came flying back into the van and onto everybody (12) laying on the floor.. lol!

18.    Bring us some remembered details of the legendary Gates of Darkness Tour with great Dark Angel. And some of your memories from US Tour with Slayer and Venom or from your first Europe gigs with Voivod and Deathrow.

 

All really cool times and tours. Dark Angel were a monster band to tour with and we had some really great shows. And of course Slayer and Venom are the best. I am still also good friends with the guys from VoiVod.  We are actually supposed to play one of the venues we played at in 87 again this December during our European Tour.  To this day I consider all of these bands to be my long time friends in the metal scene. Class acts for sure. We actually just recently played another show with Venom, Cannibal Corpse and Testament in Colombia. Good shit!!

19.    What was the idea of intro for „Seven Churches”? It’s a fragment from Tubural Bells of Mike Oldfield. Did he knew about using it?

That is actually our own version which we recorded on a grand piano, a prophet, and bass & guitars. I have no idea if he know about it or not...

20.    Joe Satriani helped you during recording of „The Eyes Of Horror”. Tell us a few words abut this cooperation and about such a great recording session. It’s very strange combination – rough Possessed and musically sophisticated Joe… Who propose this production?

At that time Larry was taking guitar lessons from Joe. Since Joe was a friend of our he was kind enough to agree  to produce our EP. Joe is such a genius and we were extremely lucky to have him.

22.    Possessed is only one of a few bands like the river between the thrash and death shore. Which of these shores is closer to you?

Possessed has always been a "Death Metal" band. Of course since we were the very first Death Metal band the genre has continued to grow into so many different styles of Death Metal. But I will always consider my band as "Death Metal" and true Death Metal.

23.    Now we celebrate great reunions - Exodus, Nuclear Assault, Death Angel, Sadus, Dark Angel. How do you find these reunions? Don’t you think that now is a fantastic moment for a greatest reunion of our times – comeback of Possessed?

To be honest I never think of Possessed as a "reunion" or a "come-back" band. Possessed have just continued to grow and progress and do what has been necessary to continue on. It has really been a very organic process and we have been extremely lucky.

24.    Logo Possessed is very legible and has demonic character. Who is its creator Vince Stevenson and how it was created?

Originally my good friend Keri Lindstrom was kind enough to make up the original Possessed artwork/logo. This is the one found on our first demo with the dragon in the flames. Later on I asked my friend Vince Stevenson if he could, "Make the lettering more gothic and Germanic in nature" and it grew into what we use now as our "Official Trademark" logo.

25.    Cover of „Beyond the Gates” is a real masterpiece. It was created by Edward Repka – great painter of thrash and death metal covers. Who has this original idea with opening wings of sleeve cover

Originally we asked Combat to make a a Devil or Demon who's mouth opens up to the Gates Of Hell. And to their credit they came up with the BTG artwork for the album. At the time it was their most expensive album art/cover ever created.

26.    If you have a time machine, where and when would you like to come back to, what want to change, what like to see (concerts, historical events)?

Honestly though I am happy with the way things have turned out. I have the very best version of Possessed; plus I have my family and children.. I went to College (SFSU) and had a decade long career with the Labor Unions. I have had a very good life and have zero complaints. All I wanto do do now is continue to play music and tour and write new material with Possessed. And do this until I die..lol.

27.    Lyrics of Possessed, especially from the beginning era of the band, are under very satanic influence. Where did you find these fascination and what did you read – Venom lyrics or interested books? Is it changed now or do you still interested in occultism? And what are you looking for?

I have always been interested in the Occult and the Devil. Since I was a small child I have gravitated towards the darkness and evil. I grew up reading Edgar Allen Poe and HP Lovecraft as well as so many other great authors. Crowley also had a big influence on my attitudes towards life and death. Just to put things into perspective. I wrote the lyrics to our song "Burning In Hell" whenever I was 12 years-old...

28.    Do you believe in afterlife? Do you think that there is a life after death? What happens when soul leave our flesh? Do you believe in heaven and hell?

I do believe that the soul lives on.

29.    How do you find an icon of Lucifer bringing the light? What do you think about concept showing this divinity as a lord of a spiritual world, not material at all? Do you know gnosis theories about Lucifer as a good divinity against Jahve god – cruel and bloody bringer of all evil of the world? And how do you think about it?

My idea of Hell is equality with God. And I do believe that Satan is alive and well and walking the Earth with us today.

30.    I think that’s all. Hope you liked my questions. Please write some final words for readers of Metal Maniac magazine.

Whew! That was a long interview! One of the longest inties I ahve ever done I have to say... So , I guess I want to just say, "thank you" for the opportunity to answer these questions and for your continued and future support. I also want to add that it makes me just a bit crrazy whenever people act as if Possessed would be better off going backwards instead of forward. I want people to be secure in knowing that this is the one and only real Possessed. We have come so far from the old days. I look forward to putting out as much new music as possible in order to contiue my legacy with Possessed. And in hopes that Possessed will never die and live forever. One of the main reasons that I got Possessed back together is because of all of my supporters reaching out and asking me. So I am here for you and will stay here as long as people keep coming out to see us play. Or until I die. Stay Possessed into the future!!

~Jeff Becerra/Possessed~

Interview by Leszek Wojnicz-Sianożęcki & Piotr Woźniak

Foto Live Possessed  by Leszek Wojnicz-Sianożęcki