Bay Area metal legends FORBIDDEN are reborn! FORBIDDEN have revealed their first and only European appearance this year will be at Belgium’s Alcatraz Metal Festival in August. The band is already laying the groundwork for some very exciting news and announcements, but right now they are focusing on Alcatraz and rehearsing to give Europe the very best performance possible.
FORBIDDEN‘s Craig Locicero talks about the band’s rebirth, “First off, I did NOT see this coming. When FORBIDDEN quietly disbanded the second time in 2012, I figured it was over. While I always apply the ‘never say never’ mantra to my life, Russ [Anderson, original FORBIDDEN singer] made it clear that he was completely finished with touring. My wingman and main dude from the conception of FORBIDDEN EVIL, Russ was my mentor and the guy who bought me beer when I was 15! I couldn’t imagine FORBIDDEN without him, so I had little hope of a future with FORBIDDEN. Today Russ is happily retired and living the sober life. I have nothing but love for that and him. Everyone needs to respect his wishes like we do.
“So then ….. fast forward 11 years after our last show, Bay Area vocal talent Norman Skinner walks in to help us rehearse and sing a few thrash classics for the Bay Area Interthrashional set at Dynamo MetalFest 2022. WHAMMO! That’s when it all happened by accident. Truly. Then it happens AGAIN when Norman sings “Chalice of Blood” onstage alongside WARBRINGER at the one Bay Area show of Bay Area Interthrashional. Holy f**k! We will go into detail thoroughly in the upcoming weeks. It’s an amazing and organic progression story to tell.
“I now can announce that alongside my brothers Matt Camacho (bass) and Steve Smyth (guitar) we are officially introducing Norman Skinner (vocals) and Chris Kontos (drums) to the FORBIDDEN family. As far as Kontos goes, he’s well known as one of the Bay’s very best and most respected drummers. Chris’s work in MACHINE HEAD and ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT alone are legendary. Historically he’s sat behind the kit in with EXODUS, DEATH ANGEL, and TESTAMENT to name few. I’ve been lucky enough to play music with Chris in the past and present as well most recently with punk legends THE BONELESS ONES. We work amazingly well together and have remained great friends for over 30 years. In a long line of amazing drummers… Bostaph, Jacobs, Hoglan, Hernandez and Horn… Kontos is the perfect fit for FORBIDDEN.
“Having 5 people all moving the same direction with enthusiasm and positivity. It’s all I’ve ever wanted with FORBIDDEN. Making the seemingly impossible, possible.”
“This is not a reunion, it’s a rebirth.”
FORBIDDEN — often regarded as a crucial part of the 80s Bay Area thrash movement, together with METALLICA, EXODUS, TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, POSSESSED, LȦȦZ ROCKIT, VIO-LENCE, and HEATHEN — initially broke up in 1997, having released just four studio albums during their 12-year existence.
In 2001, FORBIDDEN reunited for a one-off performance at Chuck Billy‘s Thrash of the Titans benefit show, using their original name, FORBIDDEN EVIL. The band reunited permanently in 2007, and it 2010 they released an album, Omega Wave, before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2012.
