Forbidden (band)
Encyclopedia
Forbidden is 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 are both permanent members. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes. The current line-up of the band comprises Anderson (vocals), Locicero (guitar), Matt Comacho (bass), Steve Smyth
(guitar) and Mark Hernandez (drums). Along with Death Angel
, Defiance
, Testament
and Exodus
(the latter of the two have featured original Forbidden drummer Paul Bostaph
), they are one of the most successful Bay Area thrash metal bands and earned a growing fan-base in the underground music community and critical acclaim, with their debut album Forbidden Evil
(1988) described by critics as a classic thrash metal album. Their early style was a technical thrash metal and later the band included alternative elements on their fourth album Green
(1997).
). They recorded several demo tapes and appeared on the, now-out-of-print, live album Live At Ruthies Inn - The Eastern Front with its original lineup featuring 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 Avelais (guitar). The band's name was shortened to Forbidden in order to prevent the band from being stereotyped as a black metal
band. Forbidden Evil
, the band's debut album, was released in 1988. The album included three songs written by former guitarist [Robb Flynn: "Chalice Of Blood", "Forbidden Evil", and "As Good As Dead". The debut album line-up lasted until 1989 when Glen Alvelais left the band, later to join Testament
. He was replaced by Tim Calvert. Their second studio album, Twisted Into Form
, was released in 1990.
) was replaced by Steve Jacobs. This Forbidden line-up released two more albums, Distortion and Green
, however, without strong label support, the band disintegrated.
's Thrash of the Titans
benefit concert, under their original name Forbidden Evil. Locicero was unable to join the group due to his recording with Manmade God
but later expressed his content for Billy's sake.
In 2007 Forbidden reformed again for some reunion shows in 2008 both in the US and in Europe. The reunion did not feature either the Forbidden Evil line-up or the one with Jacobs. Gene Hoglan
(of Dark Angel
, Death and Strapping Young Lad
fame) played drums for the bands first few reunion shows, due to Bostaph's prior commitments with Testament
, who had been in the studio finishing a new album
. After Hoglan, Mark Hernandez (ex-Vio-lence
, Heathen
) filled in on the drums for the band's European tour, which included an appearance on the main stage at Belgium's Graspop festival. Japanese dates are also lined up for later in the year.
In 2008 Forbidden began talks with Nuclear Blast Records about recording a fifth studio album for the label. In a post on the band's Myspace page the band confirmed that they were recording a new album, Omega Wave
released in 2010.
In August 2011, drummer Mark Hernandez leaves Forbidden due to family obligations.In November 2011 Forbidden Announces New Drummer : Sasha Horn.
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band from the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. Formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, the group was founded by Russ Anderson and Craig Locicero, who are both permanent members. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes. The current line-up of the band comprises Anderson (vocals), Locicero (guitar), Matt Comacho (bass), Steve Smyth
Steve Smyth
Steve Smyth is the guitarist for the metal band Forbidden.-Biography:Smyth was born in Northern California and started his career in the female-fronted melodic progressive metal band Ariah after graduation in 1988. Ariah never released an official studio album, but they recorded a few songs and...
(guitar) and Mark Hernandez (drums). Along with Death Angel
Death Angel
Death Angel is a Filipino-American thrash metal band from Concord, California, initially active from 1982 to 1991 and again since 2001. Death Angel has released six studio albums, two demo tapes, one box set and two live albums....
, Defiance
Defiance (band)
Defiance is a thrash metal band from Oakland, California. While virtually unknown to mainstream metal and rock circles, Defiance is known as one of the classic second-tier thrash bands to come from the Bay Area thrash metal scene...
, Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
and Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
(the latter of the two have featured original Forbidden drummer Paul Bostaph
Paul Bostaph
Paul Bostaph is a heavy metal drummer. His drumming career began in 1984, when he was 20 years old, and he had since worked with bands like Slayer, Forbidden, Exodus and Systematic. He is from Newark, California and currently drums for Testament...
), they are one of the most successful Bay Area thrash metal bands and earned a growing fan-base in the underground music community and critical acclaim, with their debut album Forbidden Evil
Forbidden Evil (album)
Forbidden Evil is the debut album from San Francisco, California thrash metal band, Forbidden, released in 1988. The title of this album refers to their original name before shortening it to Forbidden in 1987...
(1988) described by critics as a classic thrash metal album. Their early style was a technical thrash metal and later the band included alternative elements on their fourth album Green
Green (Forbidden album)
Green is the fourth album by American thrash metal band Forbidden.-Track listing:# "What Is the Last Time?" – 2:34# "Green" – 3:17# "Phat" – 3:32# "Turns to Rage" – 5:48# "Face Down Heroes" – 3:44# "Over the Middle" – 3:19# "Kanaworms" – 3:23...
(1997).
Early years and rise to near fame
Forbidden Evil was formed by drummer Jim Pittman and guitarist Robb Flynn (later of Machine HeadMachine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
). They recorded several demo tapes and appeared on the, now-out-of-print, live album Live At Ruthies Inn - The Eastern Front with its original lineup featuring 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
Paul Bostaph
Paul Bostaph is a heavy metal drummer. His drumming career began in 1984, when he was 20 years old, and he had since worked with bands like Slayer, Forbidden, Exodus and Systematic. He is from Newark, California and currently drums for Testament...
(drums), Matt Camacho (bass) and Glen Avelais (guitar). The band's name was shortened to Forbidden in order to prevent the band from being stereotyped as a black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band. Forbidden Evil
Forbidden Evil (album)
Forbidden Evil is the debut album from San Francisco, California thrash metal band, Forbidden, released in 1988. The title of this album refers to their original name before shortening it to Forbidden in 1987...
, the band's debut album, was released in 1988. The album included three songs written by former guitarist [Robb Flynn: "Chalice Of Blood", "Forbidden Evil", and "As Good As Dead". The debut album line-up lasted until 1989 when Glen Alvelais left the band, later to join Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
. He was replaced by Tim Calvert. Their second studio album, Twisted Into Form
Twisted Into Form (album)
Twisted into Form is the second album from San Francisco, California thrash metal band, Forbidden. It features one line-up change from their debut – 1988's Forbidden Evil – with Tim Calvert replacing Glen Alvelais on guitar. The result is a more melodic and progressive affair with many acoustic...
, was released in 1990.
Post-Bostaph period and hiatus
Internal problems in the band caused a line-up change once again and drummer Paul Bostaph (later to take over from Dave Lombardo in SlayerSlayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
) was replaced by Steve Jacobs. This Forbidden line-up released two more albums, Distortion and Green
Green (Forbidden album)
Green is the fourth album by American thrash metal band Forbidden.-Track listing:# "What Is the Last Time?" – 2:34# "Green" – 3:17# "Phat" – 3:32# "Turns to Rage" – 5:48# "Face Down Heroes" – 3:44# "Over the Middle" – 3:19# "Kanaworms" – 3:23...
, however, without strong label support, the band disintegrated.
Reunion(s)
In 2001, Forbidden reformed as a one-off for Chuck BillyChuck Billy (vocalist)
Chuck Billy is an American vocalist, who is best known as the vocalist for the thrash metal band Testament.-Testament:Chuck Billy replaced Steve "Zetro" Souza, future Exodus vocalist, in the mid-1980s when the band was still called Legacy. Following his arrival, Testament released their first...
's Thrash of the Titans
Thrash of the Titans
Thrash of the Titans was a benefit concert held on August 11, 2001 at the Maritime Hall in San Francisco, CA. The concert was a co-benefit for Testament vocalist Chuck Billy, who was diagnosed with germ cell seminoma ; and Chuck Schuldiner, leader of the death metal band Death, who was also...
benefit concert, under their original name Forbidden Evil. Locicero was unable to join the group due to his recording with Manmade God
Manmade God
Manmade God was an American hard rock band from San Francisco. They gained prominence in 2003, touring with various mainstream acts and releasing one self-titled album in late summer...
but later expressed his content for Billy's sake.
In 2007 Forbidden reformed again for some reunion shows in 2008 both in the US and in Europe. The reunion did not feature either the Forbidden Evil line-up or the one with Jacobs. Gene Hoglan
Gene Hoglan
Eugene "Gene" Victor Hoglan II is an American drummer. He is acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including usage of odd devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms...
(of Dark Angel
Dark Angel (band)
Dark Angel was an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Their over-the-top style earned them the nickname "the L.A...
, Death and Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing...
fame) played drums for the bands first few reunion shows, due to Bostaph's prior commitments with Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, who had been in the studio finishing a new album
The Formation of Damnation
The Formation of Damnation is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Testament. It was released on April 29, 2008. It is the first album Testament has released of new material since 1999's The Gathering It is also Testament's first release with original guitarist Alex...
. After Hoglan, Mark Hernandez (ex-Vio-lence
Vio-lence
Vio-lence was a thrash metal band formed in 1985 in the San Francisco Bay Area. They released demo tapes, one EP and 3 LPs between 1985 and 1993. Their most stable line-up was Phil Demmel and Robb Flynn on guitars, Deen Dell on bass, Perry Strickland on drums and Sean Killian on vocals.- 1985 -...
, Heathen
Heathen (band)
Heathen is an American thrash metal band originating from the Bay Area San Francisco, founded in 1984 by guitarist Lee Altus and drummer Carl Sacco...
) filled in on the drums for the band's European tour, which included an appearance on the main stage at Belgium's Graspop festival. Japanese dates are also lined up for later in the year.
In 2008 Forbidden began talks with Nuclear Blast Records about recording a fifth studio album for the label. In a post on the band's Myspace page the band confirmed that they were recording a new album, Omega Wave
Omega Wave
Omega Wave is the title of Forbidden's fifth studio album, released in 22 October 2010. It is the band's first studio recording in 13 years and the first album to feature two new band members, Steve Smyth on guitar and Mark Hernandez on drums.-Production:The album was produced by guitarist Craig...
released in 2010.
In August 2011, drummer Mark Hernandez leaves Forbidden due to family obligations.In November 2011 Forbidden Announces New Drummer : Sasha Horn.
Line-ups
| (1985–1987) as Forbidden Evil |
|
|---|---|
| (1987–1989) |
Glen Alvelais Glen Alvelais is a heavy metal lead guitarist from the San Francisco Bay Area. Alvelais was the lead guitarist for Forbidden and has also played in Testament.... - guitar Paul Bostaph Paul Bostaph is a heavy metal drummer. His drumming career began in 1984, when he was 20 years old, and he had since worked with bands like Slayer, Forbidden, Exodus and Systematic. He is from Newark, California and currently drums for Testament... - drums |
| (1989–1992) |
Tim Calvert Tim Calvert is an American metal guitarist. In the mid 1980s he began his career in a thrash metal band called Militia. He then received wide attention throughout the thrash community when he joined Forbidden in 1989, playing on their second album Twisted into Form, co-writing much of the material,... - guitar |
| (1992–1997) |
|
| (1997–2001) |
(Forbidden on hiatus) |
| (2001) as Forbidden Evil Thrash of the Titans Thrash of the Titans Thrash of the Titans was a benefit concert held on August 11, 2001 at the Maritime Hall in San Francisco, CA. The concert was a co-benefit for Testament vocalist Chuck Billy, who was diagnosed with germ cell seminoma ; and Chuck Schuldiner, leader of the death metal band Death, who was also... benefit concert |
|
| (2001–2007) |
(Forbidden on hiatus) |
| (2007–2008) |
|
| (2008–2009) |
|
| (2009–2011) |
|
| (2011–present) |
|
Selected discography
| Year of release | Title | Type | Label |
| 1988 | Forbidden Evil Forbidden Evil (album) Forbidden Evil is the debut album from San Francisco, California thrash metal band, Forbidden, released in 1988. The title of this album refers to their original name before shortening it to Forbidden in 1987... |
Studio album | Combat Combat Records Combat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and... /Relativity Relativity Records Relativity Records, often branded just Relativity, is an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distribution in metro New York. Early on, as an indie label, Relativity released music in a variety of styles, including dance, jazz, punk, and... |
| 1989 | Raw Evil - Live at the Dynamo | Live EP | Combat Combat Records Combat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and... /Relativity Relativity Records Relativity Records, often branded just Relativity, is an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distribution in metro New York. Early on, as an indie label, Relativity released music in a variety of styles, including dance, jazz, punk, and... |
| 1989 | Ultimate Revenge 2 | Live album/live video; also a split with Faith or Fear, Death Death (band) Death was an American metal band founded in 1983. The band's founder, Chuck Schuldiner, is considered "a pioneering force in death metal and grindcore". The band ceased to exist after Schuldiner died of brain cancer in 2001, though remains an enduring heavy metal brand.Death is considered one of... , Dark Angel Dark Angel (band) Dark Angel was an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Their over-the-top style earned them the nickname "the L.A... and Raven Raven (band) Raven are an English heavy metal band associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. They had a hit with the single "On and On", and refer to their music as "athletic rock".-Formation:... |
Combat Combat Records Combat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and... /Relativity Relativity Records Relativity Records, often branded just Relativity, is an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distribution in metro New York. Early on, as an indie label, Relativity released music in a variety of styles, including dance, jazz, punk, and... |
| 1990 | Twisted into Form Twisted Into Form (album) Twisted into Form is the second album from San Francisco, California thrash metal band, Forbidden. It features one line-up change from their debut – 1988's Forbidden Evil – with Tim Calvert replacing Glen Alvelais on guitar. The result is a more melodic and progressive affair with many acoustic... |
Studio album | Combat Combat Records Combat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and... /Relativity Relativity Records Relativity Records, often branded just Relativity, is an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distribution in metro New York. Early on, as an indie label, Relativity released music in a variety of styles, including dance, jazz, punk, and... |
| 1992 | Point of No Return | Compilation album | Combat Combat Records Combat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and... /Relativity Relativity Records Relativity Records, often branded just Relativity, is an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distribution in metro New York. Early on, as an indie label, Relativity released music in a variety of styles, including dance, jazz, punk, and... |
| 1994 | Distortion | Studio album | Fierce |
| 1997 | Green Green (Forbidden album) Green is the fourth album by American thrash metal band Forbidden.-Track listing:# "What Is the Last Time?" – 2:34# "Green" – 3:17# "Phat" – 3:32# "Turns to Rage" – 5:48# "Face Down Heroes" – 3:44# "Over the Middle" – 3:19# "Kanaworms" – 3:23... |
Studio album | G.U.N. |
| 2010 | Omega Wave Omega Wave Omega Wave is the title of Forbidden's fifth studio album, released in 22 October 2010. It is the band's first studio recording in 13 years and the first album to feature two new band members, Steve Smyth on guitar and Mark Hernandez on drums.-Production:The album was produced by guitarist Craig... |
Studio album | Nuclear Blast |