The Obsessed

The Obsessed was formed in Potomac in the late 1970s by the legendary guitarist Scott “Wino” Weinrich (Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan). The band emerged from the musical world of artists such as Black Sabbath, Frank Zappa, The Dictators and The Stooges.

The first line-up consisted of Wino, bassist Mark Laue, guitarist John Reese and drummer Dave Flood. In 1983, Wino also took on the role of vocalist, and the band became a trio to record the EP Sodden Jackal.

The band split up at the end of the 1980s after Wino moved to California to join Saint Vitus.

At that time, the German label Hellhound Records and the booking agency that had signed Saint Vitus released the album The Obsessed, originally recorded in 1985, which prompted Wino to re-form The Obsessed.

After several changes in line-up, the band signed with Columbia Records in 1994 to release its third and final album, The Church Within.

Despite very enthusiastic reviews, the band split up after this release, and Wino went on to form Spirit Caravan (then called Shine) as well as other projects.

In September 2011, The Obsessed returned to the stage at the Roadburn Festival with the legendary The Church Within line-up of Wino, Greg Rogers and Guy Pinhas.

The band then played several reunion shows over the following years, notably at Hellfest Open Air in 2012 and at Maryland Deathfest XI in May 2013 with bassist Reid Raley.

Wino announced the band's permanent return in March 2016, along with its official signing to Relapse Records to record the follow-up to The Church Within.

The new line-up then included Spirit Caravan bassist Dave Sherman as well as Brian Costantino (drums), a longtime friend of Wino and a former member of his crew.