POSSESSED: Colombia Show Canceled

Reactivated California death metal pioneers POSSESSED have been forced to cancel their previously announced November 12 concert in Bogota, Colombia due to issues with promoter.

Commented the band: "We did everything in our power to come out and play this show for [the fans]. In preparation for this show, we are all actually in Los Angeles this minute practicing for this show and have even made special t-shirts for this Colombian November 12th show. We are really disappointed that this is not going to happen the way it was supposed to, since the whole band was really excited to go to Colombia to give you a killer show."

POSSESSED 2011 is:

* Jeff Becerra - Vocals
* Emilio Marquez (SADISTIC INTENT) - Drums
* Tony Campos (STATIC-X, PRONG, ASESINO) - Bass
* Kelly Mclauchlin (DIABOLIC, UNHOLY GHOST, PESSIMIST) - Guitar
* Daniel Gonzalez (NAILSHITTER, OCCISAS) Guitar

Fan-filmed video footage of POSSESSED performing the song "Swing Of The Axe" on June 17, 2011 at Hellfest in Clisson, France can be seen below.

Becerra previously stated about POSSESSED's current lineup: "I am quite happy with this new lineup and truly respect every member in the band now. It just makes everything so much easier and worthwhile whenever everyone is as into the music as I am. Also the professionalism and dedication is unwavering. These guys came in with guns blazing and knew the songs so well that even the first time around they were playing them almost perfectly."

"It was incredible for me to see and hear my songs played the right way for the first time in over 20 years. I just couldn't ignore the many fans that were writing, calling, and telling me in person, respectfully, that POSSESSED didn't sound right tuned down. Also I was able to sit with these guys and go through every single part of the songs and work them out technically so that they once again sounded great.

"I want POSSESSED to be like the old days which, while very fun, were also very serious in our presentation and meticulous and fully dedicated to the music and playing well as a whole.

"Finally, for the first time since the '80s, I have found a group that are able to not only play well but also have the brotherhood and respect for one another that just makes it so much better."

POSSESSED's last lineup featured sole original member Becerra backed by musicians from California's SADISTIC INTENT.

In the October 2008 issue of Guitar World magazine, Becerra talked candidly about the 1989 shooting that left him paralyzed from the chest down, his battle with drugs and alcohol, the early days of the Bay Area thrash metal scene and his future as a wheelchair-bound frontman for the death metal legends.

Regarding the robbery that left him paralyzed, Becerra said: "The first bullet went into my chest about six inches above the nipple, went through the lung and stuck on the inside of my spine. I put my hand up as I was going down, and the second bullet clipped the top of my ring finger off. But at least it didn't hit me in the head. So I was on the ground, and the first guy put the gun to my head and pulled the trigger, and the gun jammed luckily for me, some criminals don't know how to clean their automatic weapons."