Brian Montana, one of the original guitarists of Possessed and an early architect of the death metal sound, has died at age 60 following a violent altercation in South San Francisco. His life came to a devastating end during a confrontation with law enforcement that has since stirred both sorrow and controversy in the metal world.
The incident unfolded when a dispute broke out between Montana and a neighbor, reportedly over tree maintenance. Things spiraled quickly when Montana, apparently under the influence of alcohol, armed himself and fired at the neighbor’s home, resulting in one person being wounded. What followed was a prolonged armed standoff with police. Despite attempts to bring the situation under control, it ended in gunfire, and Montana was fatally shot by officers.
This shocking outcome stands in stark contrast to Montana’s once-promising role in shaping one of extreme metal’s most formative bands. As a member of Possessed during its foundational period in the early ’80s, Montana helped shape the raw, aggressive sound that would come to define death metal before the genre even had a name. Though his time in the band was short-lived—departing in 1984—his influence was significant enough to leave an imprint that’s still acknowledged by fans and fellow musicians.
Possessed quickly earned a reputation as genre-defining trailblazers, especially after the release of their groundbreaking debut, Seven Churches, in 1985. While Montana did not appear on that album, his involvement in the band’s earliest stage set the tone for what would become a cornerstone of the genre. The band’s ferocity, technical aggression, and occult-laced imagery set them apart in a crowded thrash scene and helped carve out the path that death metal would follow.
Montana’s death is yet another heavy moment in Possessed’s long and tumultuous journey. Over the decades, the band has been through more than its share of hardship—including the near-fatal shooting of frontman Jeff Becerra in 1989, which left him paralyzed. Despite this, Becerra has remained the heart of Possessed, continuing to perform and record with the determination and fire that have always driven the band forward.
Authorities from San Mateo County are currently reviewing the details surrounding Montana’s final hours. While many are mourning the loss of a musician who played a critical role in shaping a genre, his tragic end also serves as a stark reminder of how personal battles can spiral into public catastrophes.
As fans look back on the brutal soundscapes of Possessed’s early days, Montana’s role in those formative moments will not be forgotten—even as his life closed in sorrow and unrest. His legacy, though complex, remains carved into the DNA of death metal.
