ENCOMIUM 2004: Side Effect/Possessed

The following is an interview with Mr. Jeff Becerra of SIDE EFFECT/POSSESSED. I think every death metal maniac as well as die-hard underground freak knows him and the heritage of POSSESSED! Recently were out some rare and interesting releases by both POSSESSED and the new band of Jeff called SIDE EFFECT. We've talked about the past, present and future of his musical projects! There's plenty of information regarding both bands! So enjoy this informative communication and stay possessed!

- Well we are supposed to put out some more SIDE EFFECT material soon. Of course we recently had our first song come out on Agonia, but our newest stuff is way heavier with much better structure. Hopeful the fans will like it as much as I do. Agonia recently put out some live in Ohio USA material (over 50 minutes) which is great too.

Please enlighten us some info about your collaboration with Agonia Records (when it started, plans, terms, etc.)? Do you satisfied with Agonia Records?

- Agonia is a very good label. They are totally committed to the Underground and distribution of some very cool stuff. Agonia is a great label (unless you are a rock star poser!).

POSSESSED's "Agony in Paradise" concert CD was the first fruit of this collaboration? Please share with us all the necessary information regarding this release. I mean when, where and in what line-up was it recorded and what do you think about this live appearance almost 10 years after.

- Again, I think this is a very cool release. Although it is not "studio" quality it is a very cool addition to every POSSESSED collection. It is fun to hear what happens between the songs and during a live set. This is with the regular line-up (Me, Larry, Mike and Mike). It is a very raw sounding board mix so don't expect studio quality. We are planning on putting out several more live shows because of the tremendous response we are having after this one. I would like to call the next one "Sermons from the Seventh Church". Although these are coming out 10 years after we broke up there are still thousands of hardcore fans out there that seem to have a genuine interest in our history.

- This was a great opportunity to get out some material from both my new project (SIDE EFFECT) and some old school POSSESSED. We called it "Resurrection" because so many people were under the impression that I was dead. So I figured this would be my Resurrection...LOL! (LOL is an acronym for Laughing Out Loud!)

- Well Larry is in PRIMUS and neither one of the Mike's seemed to have an interest in reformation so that solves that! It is so much easier to play with this new band. Kenny SE's guitarist and Ed the bassist are old friends and it only seemed natural to jam with them.

- Actually to tell the truth none of us keep in touch anymore. They are all great guys but I guess that we have all grown apart and went our separate ways in life.

SIDE EFFECT combines the forces of Ken Bertoncini, Ed Varni and Rick Durocher along with you. What are your interests beside the music? How old are you and are you married?

- I actually have a BA Degree in Labor Studies and I am working as a labor Representative in a well known US Hospital chain. I have been married for the last 4 years and have two children (Jeffrey Jr. who is almost 4 and Sonia who is almost 6 months old). Me and my wife Sheila are very happy and living a very good life. I am 35 years old (36 in June). My hobbies are Satan, violence, guns and booze...LOL!

- To tell you the truth I really only listen to old school bands. I like a lot of what I hear from the people who send me CDs in the mail. But I don't know much about newer bands.

Your classic "Seven Churches" and "Beyond the Gates" albums influenced a lot of nowadays playing Death & Thrash Metal bands. And that way a lot of bands show their respect towards you by covering your excellent songs. I mean for example bands such as VADER, PENTACLE and ANGELCORPSE to name a few. Those covers are damn cool! Are you heard them? And what do you think of the before mentioned bands as well as the today's Death Metal scene in general?

- Firstly thank you for the compliment. I am honored that people are still listening to our music and it is a double honor that bands are playing our stuff. VADER, PENTACLE and ANGELCORPSE are all excellent bands and I thank them for their support. I have heard these covers and for sure they are "damn cool!"

- I just like to play/yell a lot. Music will always has and always will be a part of my life. It is always cool to put out an album/CD; it gives me a sense of immortality.

- We are still in the primordial stages of our concepts. But definitely it is metal with growling vocals as always. Our newer stuff seems to be coming out heavier by the song.

Are you going to be playing classic POSSESSED songs with SIDE EFFECT live? If so, what are those songs and which songs of POSSESSED are your favorite ones and why?

- We have yet to get it together enough to play a live set, but if we do I'm sure we might do some of my favorite POSSESSED songs. But this is still up in the air. If we did play live some of my favorite songs would be ones like Fallen Angel, Pentagram, Tribulation, Eyes Of Horror, 7 Churches, etc.

Will the forthcoming release "Sermons from the Seventh Church" contain a single live show of POSSESSED or it will deal with some old, rare and unreleased studio materials too?

- MOTÖRHEAD/Motörhead, MERCYFUL FATE/Melissa, BLACK SABBATH/All the albums with Ozzy!, EXODUS/Bonded By Blood, and of course POSSESSED/7 Churches...LOL!

What do you think about the reunion rush regarding a lot of 80s and 90s bands nowadays? For example DESTRUCTION, ASSASSIN, DARK ANGEL, DEATH ANGEL and OBITUARY to name a few. It seems like Thrash and Death Metal bands have their second awakening?

- I think that just as with the first wave of Death/Black/Thrash metal people are sick of the MTV/Commercial radio music. Back in the day it was Glam hair bands that people were sick to death of, now it is Alternative type music that people are sick of. People who listen to real metal are not sell-outs but rebels. Rebelling against what is a commercial/capitalistic regime. We are not a complacent bunch.

Regarding the "forced computer development" I meant its all-sided use in different kinds of branches, be it science, technology or whatever like and ABC shop, etc. I mean nowadays people are tightly bounded by computers and even if I also an addicted computer user I think from one hand, it helps to solve a lot of things, but on the other hand, it takes a big part of our lives and even a big part of our individuality. What do you think about it?

- I believe that we must be careful before embracing any technology. We should make sure that we don't lose jobs to technological displacement of labor. Also it seems like people can be too dependant on computers to do their thinking and because of that they might lose a part of their creativity. I may be a Ludite but I believe that the best computer is the brain.

And under the second part of the question I meant that what basically you like to do with computers (work, music, playing games) and how would you see your life without computers, for example?

- I like to search the net for metal bands. Also I like to correspond with my friends via the net. I don't play any games except on my cell phone.

Earlier it was told that you had a serious accident and your injuries were very complicated. What happened back then? Are you totally recovered from that accident?

- Well I was coming home from work and stopped to buy a pack of smokes. On the way out two guys with hoods on came running up to me and demanded all of my money. I didn't give it to them and each of them shot me once. The first guy shot me in the chest with a 9mm from about a foot away and the bullet broke through my ribs, smashed up my lung and stuck in my spine (it's still there). The second guy shot his 22 at my head and I blocked it with my hand and my finger came off backwards (later they sewed it back on). I had to stay in the hospital for 6 months. I am still in a wheelchair but I am fine now. I have two children and a great wife of 4 years.

- Well because my degree is in Labor Studies it was a pretty organic thing. I just approached the Chief Steward at the hospital after I was hired and asked him to become a Steward. He thought that I would be a valuable asset to the Steward Council (The Union) and so he gave me the forms to run for election. Then I was elected from my peers at the hospital. It was a stressful but great experience. Getting a BA degree in Labor Studies was a very cool experience. Although it took 4 years of hard work, time and dedication I think that it made me a better person. I developed skills that I never thought that I had (like Mathematics, English, and Science etc.). Plus I got to cut up a dead body in Cadaver Lab...LOL!

- To tell you the honest truth these are the happiest days of my life. I have two great kids a great wife and a cool job. My wife and I travel a lot (we're going to Canada soon). We just bought a new house. The only thing that I would change about my life is the amount of drugs that I did when I was younger. I'm ok now, but it brought me a lot of grief over the years.

OK, it's time to ask you about the future plans of your musical projects? And at the end say something for the Ukrainian SIDE EFFECT/POSSESSED fans! Last possessed words are yours.

- Well SIDE EFFECT should come out with a new release in the very near future so be sure to look out for this. And for all of the Ukrainian fans....thanks for your support and stay metal forever!! I would like to also thank all of the POSSESSED fans that have continually showed their support for my music over the years. Lastly I want to send my love out for my beautiful wife Sheila, my son Jeff Jr., and my new daughter Sonny.