A New Era For FORBIDDEN

Guitarist Craig Locicero of reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrahers FORBIDDEN has issued the following update:

"First off, we've been crazed busy over the last couple of months! Multiple levels of work and play going on around here.

"Getting ready for our California dates that start [Thursday, March 26] at the Key Club in Hollywood and end with a home show blow-out in San Jose at the Voodoo Lounge. That has turned into the priority for now. Obviously first and foremost [guitarist] Steve Smyth [ex-NEVERMORE, TESTAMENT] being the 'new dude' and getting up to speed was important. He and I had been working on Skype a few days a week for the last few months before he finally arrived here from London last week. That prepared Steve to walk in and play the older songs with conviction and purpose.

"There is plenty of urgency and attitude in his playing. I have to say it, Steve's been through a lot and stared death down with his kidney ailment and transplant. That was some serious business! We respect Steve as a player, but much more importantly, as a person! He's one of the good guys in metal and he fought very hard to get back to 100%. I bring this up only because he would not. But the fact is, he hasn't got to step on the stage and rip some metal since he last did it with NEVERMORE in '06. So there's the great sense of that purpose I was talking about. He respects FORBIDDEN's music and the guys who played it before him and is fully aware that eyes and ears with be on him. Hey, Steve's RIPPING but he's also pretty hard on himself and a perfectionist. The other thing I love is how killer of a rhythm player he is and that been awesome to feel in the room, this stuff is not easy. He also has crushing Randall tones. Wow! Chemistry can not be underrated.

"It would be a crime to leave out that Mr. Smyth has made an appearance on 'Metalocalypse' with Snakes and Barrels as the voice of great Snizzy 'Snazz' Bullets!!! Ahhh, I Love it!

"As well as the older stuff, obviously we started writing new material. We've already completed the basics on two songs that we will finish after the gigs we have over the next couple weeks. The stuff is strong and I think that we've nailed a sound that reflects where FORBIDDEN fits in today. Making sure it's vital and relevant is most important to all of us. We are not one of those bands who are trying to cash in on the past. I stated in a earlier update, 'The reunion is over,' and it is. We're a new band with new blood. Speaking for myself, I would not be doing this if it wasn't for the right reasons. I know the other guys feel exactly the same way. Where FORBIDDEN left off in '96 and where we are today are two different places.

"I know that 'Green' went over some people's heads at the time, but I find it interesting how many of the new 'big' metal bands say how much that record influenced them. Ironic, to say the least. But very cool! What we are tapping into now is a cross-section of where we started and clear hind site of what we did best in the past. Also today's anger and frustration help fuel our creative process. It's going to sound like FORBIDDEN should sound in 2009! Not like 1996. But we still have a long way to go and a lot more material to put together. When it's done, it's done, so we'll see. In the meantime we will let everyone hear our demos within the next couple of months, so keep an ear out for that!

"OK, gotta run out the door and finish getting ready for the gigs. If you're anywhere near the areas where we are playing come on out and feel the new energy that we have to give back to you. It's a new era for FORBIDDEN!"

Upcoming FORBIDDEN shows:

Mar. 26 - Hollywood, CA - Key Club
Mar. 27 - San Diego, CA - Jumping Turtle
Mar. 28 - Yucaipa, CA - Angels Roadhouse
Apr. 03 - San Jose, CA - The Voodoo Lounge
May 22 - Pacifica, CA - The Octopuss Lounge
May 23 - Sacramento, CA - The Kennel Club
May 29 - Uden, Netherlands - De Pul
May 30 - Dortmound, Germany - Rock Hard Festival
Jun. 01 - London, UK - Underworld
Jun. 03 - Vosselaar, Belgium - Biebob
Jun. 04 - Hellendoorn, Netherlands - De Lantaarn
Jun. 06 - Sölvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival

FORBIDDEN's last studio LP, "Green", was released in 1997 on the G.U.N. label.

For more information, visit the band's official MySpace page.

Professionally filmed video footage of FORBIDDEN's June 28, 2008 performance at the Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium can be viewed below (clip uploaded by YouTube user "Sebastos1").