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POSSESSED
CURRENT NAME	Possessed
FORMER NAMES	-
ORIGIN	San Francisco, California, USA
STATUS	Disbanded
FORMED IN	1983
GENRE	Death metal
STYLE	-
LYRICAL THEME	-
BAND ADDED	2003-03-11, 00:00
LAST UPDATE	2007-05-06, 17:36

Band biography

Possessed was formed in 1983 in San Fransisco, USA. They recorded some demos and were inluded on the Metal Massacre VI compilation disc from Metal Blade Records in 1984. This exposure led to a signing with Combat Records and in 1985 they released their debut album "Seven Churches", an album that became the biggest seller for the label. It was recorded during Easter break since they were still in highshool. The producer's name was Randy Burns and the studio Prairie Sun Studios. Possessed are supposedly the first band who ever used growling vocals and thus the first death metal band. Due to internal struggle the band split up soon after the release of the mini-album "The Eyes Of Terror" in 1987.

This was not completely the end of Possessed as a name since Mike Torrao continued writing and recording music under the same name, also taking over the vocal duties. They went through several line-up changes (among the coming and going were Duane Connley and Colin Carmichael from Sanguinary). The final line-up in 1991 consisted of Bob Yost (bass), Walter Ryan (drums) and Mark Strausberg (guitar) in 1991. With this personnel they recorded a two-song demo. Yost and Torrao continued with a three-song demo released in 1992. In 1993 they opened up a few shows for Machine Head in the Bay area when they were on their way up. Torrao later on laid Possessed to rest to start up another metal project called Iconoklast.

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Former members Add - Fetch
Mark Strausberg	-1991-	Guitars
Walter Ryan	-1991-	Drums	See also Machine Head
Bob Yost	-1991-	Bass
Colin Carmichael		Drums
Duane Connley		Guitars
Larry LaLonde	1984-1987	Guitars	See also Primus
Brian Montana	1983-1984	Guitars
Jeff Becerra	1983-1987	Vocals
Barry Fisk	1983-1983	Vocals
Mike Torrao	1983-1991-	Guitars

Session musicians Add - Fetch

Unknown / none

Buy Possessed albums

Official releases Add
1984	Death Metal	No label
1985	Seven Churches	Combat Records
1986	Beyond The Gates	Combat Records
1987	Eyes Of Horror	Combat Records
1991	[demo]	No label
1992	[demo]	No label
1993	Victims Of Death (comp)	Relativity Records

Tour dates / gigs

Click here to search for upcoming Possessed tour dates Click here for a complete Possessed gig history

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