Faith No More · (Active: 1980's —1990's)

Photo by Eddie Malluk
Styles:
Dance-Rock
Funk Metal
Hard Rock
Alternative Pop/Rock
Heavy Metal
Alternative Metal
Formed:
1981
San Francisco, CA
Disbanded:
April 20, 1998
Active:
1980's—1990's
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
With their fusion of heavy metal, funk, hip-hop, and progressive rock, Faith No More has earned a substantial cult following. By the time they recorded their first album in 1985, the band had already had a string of lead vocalists, including Courtney Love; their debut, We Care a Lot, featured Chuck Mosley's abrasive vocals but was driven by Jim Martin's metallic guitar. Faith No More's next album, 1987's Introduce Yourself, was a more cohesive and impressive effort; for the first time, the rap and metal elements didn't sound like they were fighting each other.

In 1988, the rest of the band fired Mosley; he was replaced by Bay Area vocalist Mike Patton during the recording of their next album, The Real Thing. Patton was a more accomplished vocalist, able to change effortlessly between rapping and singing, as well as adding a considerably more bizarre slant to the lyrics. Besides adding a new vocalist, the band had tightened its attack and the result was the genre-bending hit single "Epic," which established them as a major hard rock act.

Following up the hit wasn't as easy, however. Faith No More followed their breakthrough success with 1992's Angel Dust, one of the more complex and simply confounding records ever released by a major label. Although it sold respectably, it didn't have the crossover potential of the first album. When the band toured in support of the album, tensions between the band and Martin began to escalate; rumors that his guitar was stripped from some of the final mixes of Angel Dust began to circulate. As the band was recording its fifth album in early 1994, it was confirmed that Martin had been fired from the band.

Faith No More recorded King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime with Mr. Bungle guitarist Trey Spruance. During tour preparations he was replaced by Dean Mentia. Mentia only lasted for the length of the King for a Day tour and was replaced by Jon Hudson for 1997's Album of the Year. Upon the conclusion of the album's supporting tour, Faith No More announced they were disbanding in April 1998. Patton, who had previously fronted Mr. Bungle and had avant-garde projects with John Zorn, formed a new band named Fantômas with Melvins guitarist Buzz Osbourne, Mr. Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn, and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo. Roddy Bottum continued with his band Imperial Teen, who released their first album, Seasick, in 1996. A posthumous Faith No More retrospective, Who Cares a Lot, appeared in late 1998.

In 2009, after eleven years of dissolution, Faith No More announced plans for a European tour featuring the group's original lineup.
Back to the topMembers of Faith No More
Artist Instrument Born
Bill Gould April 24, 1963 Los Angeles, CA
Chuck Mosley
Dean Menta
Jim Martin July 21, 1961 Oakland, CA
Jon Hudson
Mike Bordin Drums November 27, 1962 San Francisco, CA
Back to the topDiscography
Album   Released Publisher Rating
Popular Products for Faith No More Back to the top
Top Questions about Faith No More Back to the top
Before we take a look at the past and present of Faith No More it should be pointed out that a number of guitarists and vocalists passed through the doors of the group in it's fifteen year lifespan. As a number of these members had short te...
Pop is great. Seriously, there is nothing wrong with pop. It's fun and joyful and when it is good, pop can even be profound and meaningful - just like any form of entertainment, including the high arts. That said, pop will never be able to ...
I also seen Faith no More open for GnR & Metallica back in 1991 in Detroit. They were well recieved in Detroit, Mike Patton was insane running and doing flips sometimes landing very awkward. I could tell he was pumped . This was a stadi...
Images of Faith No More Back to the top
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