Possessed - Interview on MusicBox 1986 (UK)

[@shredofmartyrs]

"It would be nice to part of a movement." Shit, if he only knew then the influence Possessed has now on metal.

[@marcofischietti9380]

great band , the godfathers of death metal , respect to Jeff Becerra

[@valentinanguiano3137]

They are a great band but not the godfathers of death metal

[@leofelix3019]

El señor de la tienda Seven churches was the first death metal album

[@Annihilation_0f_The_Wicked9066]

Massive respect to them, but DM they are not. Death/Thrash is more appropriate.

[@jefo2405]

@@valentinanguiano3137 Without Possessed there would have been no Death Metal. Chuck was inspired by Possessed/Jeff, nothing changes that. Death may have put Death Metal into a more modern sound but Death would have stayed Mantas without Possessed.

[@Morbid.Thrasher]

@@jefo2405 very true its kind of the same with venom

[@HarvesterOfEyes91]

These guys are legends....most people dont know...they probably dont know but they are Legendary Musicians.

[@Death_Metal_Head]

I had the privilege of seeing Possessed play live this year. It was an unfathomably great performance.

[@kaori_kanzaki]

Jeff is still good looking at the 50s. It's amazing how he kept his good looks and voice!

[@oduar001]

I like the leather sounds from their jackets on the mic. haha

[@jacobdavis5518]

GOOD ONE

[@jonasdigioia7474]

It's so funny to hear that Jeff's voice sounds almost exact to his in the early years of possessed

[@SYNAPTIKMETAL]

I was lucky enough to roadie for Possessed, Voi-Vod & English Dogs at their gig in Camden not long after this - was a Shades Records promoted gig and was fucking awesome watching them soundcheck and hung out for few hours before the show- great guys- and Voi-Vod too- meeting Piggy, Blacky & Snake was a great memory. Seeing Blacky back when he still wore the spikes and Snake with his gas mask.Possessed were ahead of the pack back in the day- the drumming and riffs was more technical than most. :)

[@dgbelcher6710]

SYNAPTIK I bought Seven Churches and a hell of a lot of my album's from Shades records in the 80s, still got them all.

[@0utsiderBG]

SYNAPTIK wish I had this opportunity! You are really lut !

[@AcceleratingUniverse]

brutal lineup

[@stat0brado999]

Jeff got that death metal raspy voice!

[@Made_In_Heavenn]

StatoBrado l like the voice of chuck schuldiner too because it was to clean

[@MRSludgedude]

Give a list with every metal band with voices like this and herfeild, max calvera ect. No newer bands have that raspy thrash voice.

[@azathoth0820]

​@@MRSludgedude Never heard of that Herfeild guy.

[@MRSludgedude]

@@azathoth0820 lolol stupid phone. I never can spell max last name right so I will own that one.

[@Chainsaw_HM-2]

Possessed had great hair. “Seven Conditioners”

[@tz88ss32vb]

I remember when this band first came out. Still a fan, and this band's three albums, are monumental classics

[@kencoakley3959]

I saw them with Dark Angel back In 1987. It was the beginning of February and only a month later I saw Megadeth at the same venue (The Paradise Rock Club) in Boston. I met Mike Torrao and later I met Gene Hoglan from Dark Angel. They were both really cool. After Possessed had broken up Vio-Lence, another band that Debbie Abbono managed had her come with them to The Channel in Boston. It was 1988 and people were asking her about the former bandmates. She had told me that Mike Torrao, one of the quietest, shyest people I ever met, joined the Oakland chapter of the Hell's Angels. Mike Suss went to college and Jeff Beccera was mugged and in a coma. He is now In a wheelchair because of that incident. And, of course, as we all knew, Larry LaLonde joined Blind Illusion, where he met Les Claypool, who left Blind Illusion together to form Primus. Looking at the interview makes me think about how young we were. We were all just kids then but thought we had all the answers.

[@skulhed]

I believe Dark Angel had a fill-in vocalist on that tour with Possessed. Jim Drabos. Debbie was a monument in herself. Should be a documentary made on her.

[@angry_mouse]

We had all the answers my friend, they just kept changing the questions. Great story. Thanks for sharing.

[@GoldenGateNum9]

*0:48** That's such a beautiful package, this is exactly why downloading & file sharing needs to stop.* *This band deserved a lot more respect then they got.*

[@somethingsomething9008]

How about people buy what they want with their own Goodamn money

[@DesGardius-me7gf]

Mike Torrao looks like Mille Petrozza from Kreator.

[@marcodemarzi2434]

True

[@Aelfrix]

skinwalker

[@WALDENSOFTWARE]

Looks more like Rob Flynn to me.

[@jacobdavis5518]

Possessed has their own hellish sound. SURE one could find similarities and name genres. Possessed makes hell music.

[@pablo-ss5bi]

I love this band

[@stephaniesalazar5665]

I disagree with Jeff sounding like Cronos... NO WAY! Jeff has a voice all his own! I love Metal Men with Metal Hair..just saying.

[@donquijote3071]

Jeff Becerra is original , that's right😎✌

[@666deathghost]

Jeff voice sounds like a Demonic angry Lemmy Kilmister

[@javieravilaperez8552]

Jeff the great voice 's death metal

[@jordencharles4830]

If anything Chuck sounds like Jeff

[@jordencharles4830]

@Bart Lee Death came after possessed and Chuck asked Jeff if he can sing like that, cause Chuck thought that was never done before.

[@PazuzuDarkVoid]

my heroes! favorite band in the 80's, still have a leather jacket with the beyond the gates backpatch \m/

[@johnmcaulay5938]

Totally amazing. Beyong the Gates is an Awesome album.

[@scheissdrek]

SO FUCKING COOL to see an old interview with Possessed!!!! thank you so much!

[@anthonyrivers1619]

Bought Seven Churches on cassette in 1985...blew me away

[@joesmith9216]

bad ass!

[@p4horror]

I saw Possessed live on Jan. 1986 at the Balboa Theater when they opened for Exodus. It was Death Angel, Possessed, D.R.I. then Exodus (Baloff on vocals). Possessed took the show. During DRI and Exodus' excellent sets, I was still stuck on Possessed's set. Regarding them denying their obvious Venom influence, that seemed to be the norm back then. Quorthon denied Bathory being influenced by Venom. But it's so obvious they both were. Venom was awesome but they wanted to be set apart. It's natural.

[@666deathghost]

Millie Petrozza didnt deny their influences i dont know why at that time people tried to deny listening to venom as if their bands was gonna be credited more than venom for anything

[@el.pibedelrock]

Hey do you know something about the drummer from that time, mike sus? Because i tried to see something from him and never were able to find anything

[@damienthorn8601]

Holy crap. I know this comment is old, but I was at that show too. The slippery floor show. The pit was like an oiled floor. People kept falling. Great lineup though.

[@jhgjhgjhgjhgkjjkhkjhkhk426]

There is at least one interview where, after being asked about their Slayer influence, Mike Torrao says that their only influences are Exodus and Venom. Not sure if it was in the same interview or in another, but, while asked whether there were other bands to name he could be influenced by, he said: Discharge, but I don't listen to this crap anymore.))) And personally I'm sure they took some ideas from Hellhammer also.

[@nmnb6718]

@ 3:21 best comment "our roots are Exodus" Holt again people

[@larrydorsey7858]

Kill a poser 🤘🏾😜🤘🏾

[@deannick1164]

I saw Possessed in November 2012 in Tampa. Killer fucking show! I was born in '85 so I wasn't able to catch them in the 80's lol. Seven Churches is obviously a classic and arguably the first death metal record. Their "Death Metal" demo is also superior. Beyond The Gates and Eyes of Horror are also great for what they are.

[@microtech5871]

Remember Larry Lalonde was in Possessed before Primus

[@erwinlugo3188]

i love this band possessed..i like to bleed my ear everytime i hear each song on albums..💥🔥💥

[@JeffBecerra1]

Damn I was so cocky lol I would have said DEATH FUCKING METAL but the PMRC was banning our albums left and right. Cronos? I’m dying lol. I love Cronos and consider him an icon but we are SF BAY ALL DAY

[@manwtf3883]

lord jeff has arrived

[@iluvspee]

Jeff 🤘🏻🖤

[@doomduck69]

Legends.

[@vivhrnd5166]

jeff era muy lindo, wow.

[@PanthersForce]

To me Possessed is Death/Thrash Metal

[@jumpfart666]

BlueOrangeOiler to me they are a heavy metal band

[@billgeezeriommi]

Yep that's exactly what they are

[@finality42069]

SentientGhost Blackened Thrash.

[@kakolykia]

To me it's more like Black/Death metal

[@jonathanphlek5252]

to me they are pop

[@XXXpallisterXXX]

People talking shit about Slayer are doing just that, talking shit. Slayer have never tried to be anything they are not, never sold out. Slayer are still the reigning King's of Thrash. Just because Possessed say they were not influenced by Slayer doesn't mean Slayer is shit. Slayer is one of the most important Metal bands.

[@jacobdavis5518]

Respect the four original names until I'm finally dead, we got Araya, King, Hanneman, and Lombardo I'm still quick to say to folk that think Lombardo doesn't matter anymore that there are drum techniques named after the Lombardo!

[@Qwerty-ks8dn]

They tried to be more nu metal, so no...

[@robertoricci3393]

The fashion of bashing legends because they are more famous than others. Or because later bands are heavier, faster, more technical. Same thing happens to Metallica. Metal heads are so stupid sometimes.

[@jumpfart666]

@@robertoricci3393 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@sternpio]

Jeff just turned 18 a few weeks before the interview.

[@MoOsHw]

Dude, Quorthon admitted they were influenced by Venom a couple of years before he died.

[@sharpteeth17x929yw]

Got the vinyl and it opens up. People have to look a lot harder now for there music!

[@pantera89]

that's why every Metal CD I get comes from Amazon.com or the bands personal web sights...someday I hope Metal becomes as popular as rap, but who am I kiddin, to many people have sensitive pussy ears and only want rap or pop...….and that's why CDs and Metal is hard to find...welcome to the computer age...………\\,,,//

[@shannindelong7125]

Fucking Jeff, man, and His "butter wouldn't melt in my mouth" speaking voice...yet sings like a bard from Hades... Killing me, brother.

[@renopereira1434]

My dad had the name possessed for his band back in the day 🎤🎵🎸🎶 way before these guys 🤘😎🤘

[@patrickr6505]

Would love to see all of this interview..it starts during it..

[@javieravilaperez8552]

Possessed always ' ll be great band and jeff is a great person possessed will be great in the times

[@driekone]

Why does everyone have to argue about metal as if it is a college degree or something?

[@666deathghost]

Because we trying to get the right history information

[@mephistopheleslair8466]

666deathghost if you need to get the “right information” you haven’t even been paying attention. Possessed cake out before death, that’s just how it is. That doesn’t mean it takes anything away from death, both are great and special in their own way.

[@ozrant1352]

Because it's important to us. People classify everything hence why literally everything in the world has a name

[@LeoM-zt3pl]

A lot of nerds are also metal fans

[@Qwerty-ks8dn]

Because a nerd is interviewing them. A metal-hating nerd.

[@allanchrist666]

I remember meeting Jeff in ‘04 at the Bestial Gathering show. It was his first performance with Sadistic Intent. I split a bottle of 151 with him and his caretaker was a bit worried. I remember him saying I reminded him of a cool version of Cronos. 😆 But all in all a really cool dude. What tripped me out is he came up to me and started talking. Then Nick Barker comes along all humble and introduces himself and addresses him as Mr. Becerra! Like wow…now that’s some clout! 😃

[@Avucs]

***** I think Quorthon definitely knew of Venom... but of course he would deny it because every idiot would compare them. I mean look at the song titles... Raise the Dead, Sacrifice, Countess Bathory... One hell of a coincidence.

[@outis439-A]

Patrick William oh he did, theyre are quotes of him saying how he loves em, apparently venom called them "dickheads" but he"doesnt care"

[@666deathghost]

@@Easun36 This is to prove Venom was in fact Black Metal, their were more bands at that time taking influences from Venom than Bathory, you hear more bands with a sound that resonates to early Venom

[@666deathghost]

@@Easun36 People basically tryimg to define Black Metal based on the 2nd wave sound. The only reason 2nd wave got the attention, is because the church burning and the murders relating to the norwegian scene

[@robins5798]

@@666deathghost The second wave took influences from Under The Sign of the Black Mark (1987), which is much darker and more atmospheric than anything Venom ever did. That is also the album where Bathory/Quorthon paved his own way and hence got way more interesting than the one dimensional "black/thrash" that Venom stuck to.

[@robins5798]

@@666deathghost "The only reason 2nd wave got the attention, is because the church burning and the murders relating to the norwegian scene" It helped its notoriety, but in the end it was the music that was really strong. I'll take early 90's Darkthrone, Burzum, Emperor or DMDS over Venom any day of the week.

[@brunovallesmunoz4757]

That Gatefold version of Beyond the gates was too in the mood of Yes classic albums as the interviewer said

[@manwtf3883]

somebody should edit this video to be auto-focused or auto-zoomed-in on only jeff's face please im begging you guys literally anyone with editing skills PLEASE,,,,,,,

[@socialdiseaze]

😀✅

[@hanatazouar3261]

Period

[@MastersofallMasters]

so far no one comment on the soothsayer shirt, but that shirt kicks ass

[@Vestu]

Whatever happened to Mike Torrao? I can't find anything on him really online.

[@hashysh13]

I saw Possessed for the first time in Nov. '85, at Voivod's WWIII show, and they were easily band of the night for me, I think....they were all great but I hadn't heard them before that night, and they came on and with sheer volume proceeded to lay waste to that room. I saw them again the next year, again with Voivod, at the No Speed Limit Weekend, and although they were great, it just wasn't like that first time, as the guitar tones seemed to have changed and quieted down a notch or two. I definitely preferred the first album to the 2nd and the Eyes Of Horror ep, again cause of that guitar sound on the fist one. I'd like to find some live video from that first album era.

[@constantineaze245]

legends for creating death metal

[@alldamday1518]

Omg. Im freaking old😂

[@assasinator1980]

LEGENDS.

[@heraldlee8112]

Fuck yea will see you Wednesday Jeff and possessed

[@Sheliita11]

This guys are awsome, possessed fucking rules. plus jeff becerra was so damn hot....

[@billjannusch]

Possessed rules forever..

[@hypermecha223]

Look at that hair. Possessed was awesome, too bad they didn't do more work But what they did put out kicked ass. Voivod was fucking cool too...at least before they started changing styles.

[@adanjunior]

That's right, people can't differentiate the sound of the Rhythm. I remember back those days when possessed, recorded their first Demo and by the way I still have it in cassette. So anyways like Mike said yeah right like Slayer, this is one of the first band that initiate doom and death metal. There's a lot of idiots they don't know. I am a true fan of these pioneers and some other bands. I grew up in the 80s with this type of music. Unfortunately there are a lot of posers... like Jeff said they never were influenced by Metallica or Slayer . Perhaps from Kreator and Exodus.

[@Nissardpertugiu]

Doom was stuff like Sabb , Lucifer frlends , certain songs of Trapeze , certain very early Judas Priest , witchfynder general , certain stuff of Holocaust and Angel witch , and then Candlemass and Trouble etc... Doom have nothing to do with Slayer birth

[@humanities_essayist]

Which is it? I haven’t seen a single interview from the 80s where Possessed mentions the term ‘death metal’ - but I have read several zine interviews where Quorthon refers to Bathory as a death metal band from 1983-1984. Death was definitely a death metal band from the onset. Nevertheless, it’s interesting how creative concepts pool together.

[@oddballbraxtondisaster6568]

“We were never influenced by slayer” I’ve literally seen old photos of possessed and their wearing Slayer shirts. They definitely were influenced by slayer to some degree

[@shannindelong7125]

Master, I sing of the unholy flowers...

[@defiledpurity3534]

Hail Possessed, cant wait for the new album " The crimson spike"

[@BLACKLIGHTNING1966]

I hope they release one this time, I was very disappointed back in the 80s when they did not release a third full length after the EYES OF HORROR!

[@mattersburg71]

I hope Jeff doesn't ... no Torrao no new album ... simple as that.

[@liamearly4883]

New album coming sometime this year.

[@donquijote3071]

I already heard three new songs by POSSESSED , one is call (Abandoned) , second one (No Will To Live) and third (Shadow Cult) from last year ... dude😀 , they are all sooooooOOOO BRUTAL !!!!!! Classic Possessed sound

[@lilyblu4577]

I saw the title and expected something else lol. Not sure how I got here in the first place lol. :)

[@becjker]

What happened With Mike Torrao ?

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

Is Mike wearing a Soothsayer shirt?

[@corybiro]

miike is like man stop asking me these questions man

[@thomasackerly7732]

So gd in the 80s saw them 3x

[@Chuloloc]

Hail Possessed.

[@albrovandel3951]

somebody gotta get Mike torrao to tell us whats going on_he probably has a million riffs right now.

[@gerhardkoller2870]

Albro Vandel Someone should get Mike Torrao to this band back again before they desecrate their own legacy. He wrote most of the music their sound will be lost if Jeff really intends to do an album with his hacks of today which I hope he doesn't ...

[@donquijote3071]

Man , what you want to do resurrect the dead band members , please😬 Let jeff becera keep Possessed alive for the real fans , they sound awesome in 2017 and now a new album , hell yeahhh 😎🎸

[@guillotinedeath]

Don Quijote their alive idiot

[@XCenturionX]

Mike trying his best to disassociate themselves totally from the very thing they created. Ain't that something?

[@eriknebularraven]

Possessed started album in 1985 and Death 1987.

[@crushingalldeceivers]

Hell yeah

[@punknthrash9446]

Death+thrash metal. A dash of each. DASH METAL

[@spiralmedula]

@ter50 So true bro, Slayer is an entity of rawness and a living concept that stands for metal in many forms. Metallica,well... simply got lost among the tantrums and ego clashes amongst the band's elements.

[@tujungite]

Voivod and Possessed? WTF I MISSED IT

[@xDXPxJOEx456x1]

I always though of possessed was kinda like venom in a way i never thought them as another slayer. if we did have another slayer that would be badass.

[@LxTxSURGE]

cable tv was the shit back in the 80s and 90s

[@Gorthaur-Bauglir]

3:40 and ironically Seven Churches created a bridge between thrash and death metal

[@satanasusurperofhellnimpurity]

hailz 🔥

[@mattersburg71]

And what I don't understand is why those two guys in the video are not able to join forces again...

[@oduar001]

Duuuuuude, Bathory is above every band you mentioned in your comment, in my opinion. But I respect yours. They weren't influenced by Venom at all. Quorthon came out around the same time and had a way different sound in my opinion. Venom is a lot of fun and I enjoy them but Bathory is on another level. Possessed is amazing as well! Cheers!

[@hmpz36911]

It's a retarded thing to deny Venom's influence on Bathory and Possessed. Hell, ALL those bands were influenced by Venom: Sodom, Vulcano, Mayhem, Hellhammer, Sepultura, Destruction, Voivod, Slayer, Metallica, Sarcofago...

[@Nissardpertugiu]

I understand the distancing over Venom because thoses fucking journalist were calling Venom clones some stuff . But there re influences Even if they werent a ripp off I mean the Look of quorthon on many early pics and ...you know The riff of Burning ... its dont burn the witch a bit . The title conspiracy with satan , Raise the dead . The lyrics . Its hard to say it wasnt a bit inspired .

[@sxyz6708]

Jeff was my sex-Symbol 😍😍😍😍and still!!

[@josephbrown9699]

Lol that interviewer wow!

[@Qwerty-ks8dn]

Utter sod.

[@Trash666Molinari]

kings of death metal

[@Vikum8]

possessed is the best of the world

[@weshooser7057]

is that weird al interviewing them?

[@casanova925]

ha mike is my cousin. gotta love family

[@mattersburg71]

Mr. Mike Torrao, please return to your Possessed. Don't let it get demounted. PLEASE!

[@aaronredding7050]

welcome to Mexico Metal Fest Godfathers!

[@666thrashmaster]

Mike tarrao's fucking hair is so sick I'm gonna feather my hair when it gets long again why do metal guys have long straight hair like they straighten it why not look hella cool and feather that shit hahahahah...I may be a straight guy but I love rock n roll/metal hair!!!

[@obscurebandfan]

It's better that way. Most girls prefer wavy or curly hair to straight hair.

[@DeathSpellXVI]

Christian Reynolds Looks really eighties tho, but not all Metalheads straighten that shit, I’ve seen plenty of motherfuckers with crazy curly hair or whatever.

[@jacobdavis5518]

Hey Jonah, WHATEV-A!

[@anonymousDerp]

nice hair

[@1846alexander]

@dccomics2011 Possessed is the Original Death metal band,then Death>>both are great...I went to NYC Big4 with the guitarist from Possessed >Kelly Mclauchlin(newer member) and he cleared up the misconception everyone has..so know your Metal history.

[@RicardoRivas-ee5yk]

Beyond the gate album 1987

[@gregorydiggs9227]

They are not speed, thrash, death, or black metal. They're Possessed. And they've fucking great. Jeff is fucking metal

[@arturoalmazan5262]

this interviewer looks like old howard stern lmao. Possesed legends of death metal 🤘if Jeff becerra wouldn't have been ; in a wheelchair for the rest of his life they would have been on Par with Slayer ; Exodus testament

[@Casketkrusher_]

Ofcourse, any band in influenced by something, what a stupid question. You had the pioneers, than loads of bands borrowed something since then.

[@Qwerty-ks8dn]

The interviewer is a hack.

[@L-Slayer]

POSSESSED SEVEN CHURCHES BEYOND THE GATES

[@MirkoLoncar]

slayer is underrated....i don't know how's kill 'em all better than show no mercy?...and so on...o.O

[@LeoM-zt3pl]

Show No Mercy is 100% better as an album vs kill em all. Metallica had more mass appeal.

[@stevsh89]

Show no mercy is an amazing album. So is Kill em All. Both important albums for thrash and extreme metal. But no way is Slayer underrated 🤣

[@Qwerty-ks8dn]

"Thrash metal implies a certain lack of intelligence in musicianship." Pop fan hipster detected. This tone-deaf nerd had no business interviewing metal bands.

[@L-Slayer]

possessed porrada e respeito seven churches the best album

[@donquijote3071]

I pick , The Eyes of Horror💀

[@garygkc21]

Soothsayer pizza face!

[@tigermane8251]

Love seven churches, angst

[@dartanyolivingston7037]

So.. did you guys want to sing about flowers? You seem a little bummed that you can't 🤣 just an observation y'all, that's all! I swear..