Craig Locicero, guitarist / songwriter / founding member for the reactivated Bay Area thrash band FORBIDDEN, has issued the following band update:

“After getting kicked in the balls last month, we've managed to land on our feet and keep running. We're already starting to think about the next record now and will be choosing a drummer sometime in October. I would call that progress!

Ever since we started our quest for a new drummer, we've been walloped by videos from some pretty amazing players as well as offers from more established guys. It's been fun looking at the videos objectively and imagining what these hopeful dudes could do with Forbidden if given the chance. There will be a lot more videos posted on our YouTube channel and we’re still taking video submissions through the end of September. Some of the most impressive guys aren’t all from the US; some drummers from abroad have to be taken seriously. We’ll announce our decision as to who gets to come out and jam with us soon. Stay tuned for that.

We performed at Belgium’s Alcatraz Festival in late August with Gene Hoglan on the drum kit. It was an incredible night. The fan reaction was a huge lift to our spirits. That gig may have been one of our BEST shows since we've gotten back together! Getting to play there after cancelling our European tour was pretty special, and hanging out with our friends in DEATH ANGEL, HELSTAR, ANACRUSIS, and VICIOUS RUMORS was way too much fun. Seeing them on the side of the stage while we were playing was good motivation! Thanks to everyone involved with the festival and all of the fans that came from different parts of Europe to see us. We still have a tour to make up!

We’ve been invited to play the ProgPower Festival in Atlanta this weekend. This will be another show with Gene behind the kit. We're getting spoiled! There are many cool things about playing this gig, but the coolest one is that we'll be filming it for a live DVD to be released some time in the near future. Our fans have been hounding us about when we're going to do something like this; the time is now. Those of you fortunate enough to be there on Saturday will be a part of our history! We will be playing a few songs we have not brought out in years, too. Maybe even something off of 1995’s Distortion? We shall see...”

Drummers interested in online auditions should send their name AND contact information plus their video via a Dropbox, Fileblaze, or Mediablaze download link to forbiddendrummer2011@gmail.com.

NOTE: Your submission means you are granting your consent to having your video file uploaded onto the Forbidden Drummer 2011 YouTube channel and other social media sites for comments.

Visit Forbidden's YouTube Drummer Auditions channel here.