Known in 1985 initially as FORBIDDEN EVIL this San Francisco Thrash Metal act have weathered the storm that has seen so many of their contemporaries drift away. The band's original line-up comprised vocalist Russ Anderson, guitarists Glen Alvelais and Craig Loccicero, bassist Matt Camacho and drummer Paul Bostaph. In their early days FORBIDDEN EVIL regularly played alongside the likes of EXODUS and TESTAMENT and demos secured a deal with Combat Records. Guitarist Rob Flynn also had a lengthy spell in the band before leaving for VIO-LENCE and later MACHINE HEAD. Anderson briefly fronted ANNIHILATION, featuring on their 1987 demo 'Why The Nipple Hard On?'

Truncating their name to simply FORBIDDEN the band's first album of 1989 put the act firmly into the extreme metal end of the market. A tour of Europe, including an appearance at the Dynamo festival, enhanced their live reputation. The Dynamo show was recorded and tracks subsequently released on the live mini-album 'Raw Evil- Live At The Dynamo'. Guitarist Glen Alvelais departed prior to the 'Twisted Into Form' album making way for ex-MILITIA man Tim Calvert. The album also saw Andy Galeon, Dennis Pepa and Mark Osegueda of DEATH ANGEL on backing vocals.

FORBIDDEN toured guesting for EXODUS and SACRED REICH before the band were to unite with the DEATH ANGEL members again when FORBIDDEN played as support to DEATH ANGEL in America prior to their first British gig at London's Hammersmith odeon alongside DEATH ANGEL and VICIOUS RUMOURS.

In 1992 the Combat group who had the rights to FORBIDDEN issued a low quality, generic compilation album entitled called 'Point Of No Return'. The compilation was merely a contractual obligation and was not endorsed by the band. Record company disputes put paid to FORBIDDEN's recording schedule in America and the band duly signed to German label G.U.N. Records at the same time welcoming new drummer Steve Jacobs for European dates opening for GOREFEST. Their 1994 album 'Distortion' included a remake of KING CRIMSON's '21st Century Schizoid Man'. The album was reissued twice more, once on Massacre Records in 1995 with an alternate cover and yet a third time in 1996 on Mayhem with yet another different cover. Some of these pressing are now quite rare.

In 1995 an indie release entitled 'Trapped' surfaced on a small label, WFW. The album consisted primarily of three of the four original FORBIDDEN EVIL / FORBIDDEN demos. There is some debate as to the legitimacy of the 'Trapped' release although some argue that it was formally endorsed (and/or released) by the band at one point. Either way the release was well done and gave fans a chance to hear these rare and sought after demos. As with most small, private pressings, combining low supply and high demand demand, the CD will often exceed $50.00 USD (when found) on E-Bay.

In 1997 FORBIDDEN had one last attempt with another release, their fourth studio album, 'Green'. The band had yet another record label to deal with (thier 6th overall) as 'Green' was later released in the US on Pavement Records. The band had changed substantially by this point leaving many fans dissapointed and accordingly sales were not stellar. The bands dabbling in a slower, mid-90's era sound and production was ill-fated as it was to be the final album by the band.

Bostaph later joined TESTAMENT for one album and more permanently SLAYER. Loccicero, Jacobs and Camacho founded MAN MADE GOD, a band that featured guitarist Ahrue Lister later of MACHINE HEAD. Alvelais created BIZARRO with guitarist Nick St. Denis, later of PRO-PAIN, and drummer Paul Hopkins, later of SKINLAB. Alvelais then joined TESTAMENT for a tempestuous period before resuming activity with BIZARRO then forging LD/50 with ex-GEEZER vocalist Clark Brown.

Erstwhile FORBIDDEN personnel guitarist Craig Locicero and drummer Steve Jacobs also re-emerged during 2001 credited as MANMADEGOD. By the following year Russ Anderson would be back in action, treading the boards with his new Pop inclined outfit PARKING LOT PROPHETS. 2002 found erstwhile drummer Paul Bostaph as a member of SYSTEMATIC. The drummer joined EXODUS in May 2005. Guitarist Craig Locicero temped for SANGRE ETERNA on a live basis in February 2006.

A reformed FORBIDDEN played several dates in February 2008 with guest drummer Gene Hoglan, of STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, TESTAMENT, DEATH and DARK ANGEL. The group subsequently tapped Mark Hernandez, from HEATHEN, DEFIANCE, RE:IGNITION, VIO-LENCE, TORQUE, TECHNOCRACY and SOCIAL UNREST, for further European dates.

FORBIDDEN was rejoined by drummer Paul Bostaph for a couple of songs during the band's 12th September Slim's concert in San Francisco, marking the first time in over 15 years that the all-original FORBIDDEN EVIL line-up had played together.

In January 2009 Guitarist Glen Alvelais left FORBIDDEN and was rapidly replaced by Steve Smyth of TESTAMENT and NEVERMORE. In August the band undertook a short West Coast US tour.

DEMONICA was unveiled in mid 2009 as the solo project of MERCYFUL FATE guitarist Hank Shermann, being joined by the FORBIDDEN duo of Craig Locicero and Mark Hernandez, plus Klaus Hansen, from BATTALION and TRAUMA CENTER, on lead vocals, and Marc Grabowski, from CORRUPTION, on bass guitar.

Garry Sharpe-Young