Possessed - Exploration (Reissue) (1971/2006)

This is the story of a band whose tragic legacy could never have been predicted.

Possessed were born out the thriving underground West Midlands’ Rock & Blues scene of the mid-to-late 60s. This was a scene in which band leader, Vernon Pereira, had been a key figure.

The band were formed in late 1969 when Vernon teamed up with (after a spell playing next to Robert Plant in The Band Of Joy) Mick Reeves, who had been playing in (amongst other bands) Sugarstack with Al Atkins. This was the band that would eventually evolve into being the first incarnation of Judas Priest.

‘Exploration‘ was originally intended for release in 1971 but ultimately never saw the light of day. The band were finally on the verge of signing a major deal when tragedy struck. Whilst returning home from a gig in Carlisle on October 21st 1976, the band’s van drove into a stationary tanker, taking the lives of all three band members. The full story is included in the extensively researched sleeve notes, which also include many photos.