bioforbidden

Forbidden was a thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, the group was founded by Russ Anderson and Craig Locicero, who were both ever-present members. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes. The most recent line-up of the band comprised Anderson (vocals), Locicero (guitar), Matt Camacho (bass), Steve Smyth (guitar) and Sasha Horn (drums). Along with Death Angel, Vio-lence, Defiance, Testament and Exodus (the latter of the two had featured original Forbidden drummer Paul Bostaph).

Forbidden were one of the most successful Bay Area thrash metal bands and earned a loyal fanbase in the underground music community and critical acclaim, with their debut album Forbidden Evil (1988) regarded by critics as a classic thrash metal album and the follow-up, Twisted Into Form, as something of a masterpiece within the tech-thrash genre. Their earlier style was technical thrash metal, but the band later experimented with alternative and groove metal elements on their fourth album Green (1997).

FORBIDDEN EVIL (1985-1988)

Forbidden Evil was formed by guitarist Robb Flynn and drummer Jim Pittman. It's rumoured that they took the name Forbidden Evil after a song from the Metal Massacre-compilation (War Cry - Forbidden Evil). Their original lineup also featured Craig Locicero (guitar), Russ Anderson (vocals) and John Tegio (bass). Jim Pittman, John Tegio, and Robb Flynn left the band and were replaced by Paul Bostaph (drums), Matt Camacho (bass) and Glen Alvelais (guitar). The band then shortened their name to Forbidden in order to prevent the band from being mistakenly perceived as a black metal band.

Forbidden Evil, the band's debut album, was recorded in San Francisco and released in September of 1988 through Combat Records / Relativity Records. Forbidden Evil was produced by Doug Caldwell and John Cuniberti. Kent Mathieu made the artwork with the clashing skulls. The album included three songs co-penned by former guitarist Robb Flynn: "Chalice Of Blood", "Forbidden Evil" and "As Good As Dead" but he doesnt play the guitar on the album. He would later go on and become more famous in Vio-Lence and Machine Head.

In 1989 the video Ultimate Revenge 2 was released and Forbidden had two live songs performed on it: "As Good As Dead" and "Chalice of Blood. Other bands that appeared on the video compilation was Faith or Fear, Death, Dark Angel and Raven. Forbidden also released a live-album in 1989 titled Raw Evil: Live at the Dynamo. It was a four track live album. Forbidden included a cover of Victim of Changes, originally by Judas Priest.

TWISTED INTO FORM (1989-1992)

The debut album line-up lasted until 1989 when Glen Alvelais left the band, later to join Testament. He was replaced by Tim Calvert. In

In March of 1990 Forbidden released Twisted Into Form on Combat Records. Their second LP displayed a more mature and technical approach. At the same time it lost some of the youthful wild energy of the bands debut album. The guys from Death Angel (Cavestany, Osegueda, D. Pepa and Galeon) did some backup vocals on Twisted Into Form. For the artwork Forbidden chose to work with Kent Mathieu once again.

In 1992 drummer Paul Bostaph left Forbidden to replace Dave Lombardo in Slayer. Steve Jacobs was chosen as Forbidden's new drummer. In 1992 the band also released the Point of No Return compilation

DISTORTION (1993-1996)

After recording a few demotapes Forbidden returned with a new album in 1994 titled Distortion, this time on GUN Records. Distortion is generally considered a disappointment after the bands first two albums that were nothing but brilliant. The technical brilliance of those album were replaced by groove metal riffing and a 90's production. Some claim this to be their sell-out album but the worst was yet to come. The decision to switch producer to Patrick Coughlin didn't do the bands sound justice.

But it was 1994, by then thrash metal was dead and those bands that kept going often tried to adopt to the changing musical landscape. Forbidden recorded a video for the track No Reason. The album also features a King Crimson cover called 21st Century Schizoid Man.

GREEN AND GOODBYE (1997)

In March of 1997 Forbidden released Green, which was a product of it's time. The band no longer played within the field of thrash metal, no Green was something else. With even more focus put on heaviness and less on speed and technicality, probably inspired by bands like Pantera and Machine Head. It was one of those modern American metal albums that no one in Europe wanted and in retrospect our side was right becuse Green was a terrible fail. It's up there with your Cold Lake, Risk and Lulu. Forbidden realized that their time was up and that there really was no future for them in the business any longer and they thought that GUN Records didn't push the band enough so Forbidden disbanded soon after the release of Green.

THRASH OF THE TITANS (2001)

In 2001, Forbidden reformed as a one-off for Chuck Billy's Thrash of the Titans benefit concert, under their original name Forbidden Evil. Guitarist Craig Locicero was unable to join the group due to his recording with Manmade God but later expressed his content for Billy's sake. Paul Bostaph returned as a one-off to Forbidden to be a part of the concert. But unlike Death Angel and Exodus, Forbidden decided to fold again after the concert.

THE COMEBACK (2007-2009)

Ten years after the bands latest record, Forbidden decided to reunite again for touring and some gigs in the US and Europe. The Forbidden Evil lineup minus Paul Bostaph whom at the time was busy with Testament. Forbidden hired the Atomic Clock Gene Hoglan (ex-Dark Angel & Death) to play the drums on the first couple of reunion gigs. But the drum job then went to Mark Hernandez. In 2009 guitarist Glen Alvelais left and Steve Smyth (ex-Vicious Rumours, Nevermore and Testament) replaced him.

OMEGA WAVE (2010-2013)

Then Forbidden signed a deal with Nuclear Blast and they released their first album in thirteen years in 2010's Omega Wave. The band recorded a music video for the track Omega Wave. Like back in the old days Kent Mathieu was behind the artwork. The band had some famous backing vocalists on the album in Steve 'Zetro' Souza of Exodus and Chuck Billy of Testament.

In 2011 drummer Mark Hernandez left the band for personal reasons and Gene Hoglan replaced him for some gigs. After some youtube auditions Sasha Horn joined the band as the bands last permanent drummer.

In 2012 original member Matt Camacho announced that he was going to leave the band to pursue another career. Then another original member, Russ Anderson decided that he had enough of the music business and quit the band. Craig Locicero said that he didn't think Russ Anderson wasn't cut for the road anymore. Which was the reason why Forbidden broke up in the first place.