One constant truth of the music industry is that there will always be bands and artists who are hailed as the greats. No matter what genre you choose, some few names are held in high esteem for their contribution. In the case of 'heavy metal' there are names such as Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden and Metallica, all of whom have enriched, energised and epitomised the genre in their own way.

But no other band has stood out from the crowd in the same way as Faith No More, a great band that epitomised the antithesis of the metal genre. Faith No More turned the expectation of the rock world on its head, and their fans loved them for it. Without the fusion of metal, rap and even blues that the band pioneered, today we would be without such popular contemporary artists as Korn, Incubus and Linkin Park.

All in all, Faith No More represent perhaps the most important shaping influence on the metal genre in the latter part of the 20th Century. Their irreverent style and unique take on the image of the conventional 'rock star' stereotype shaped the industry we see today and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Oh, and they also wrote songs that rocked like the proverbial.

In The Beginning (1980-1989)

The first incarnation of Faith No More was formed in 1980 in the city of San Francisco, California. They were supposedly named after a racing greyhound on whom they made a bet. Though the line-up would change many times over the years, the founding members of the band were Bill Gould (bass), Roddy Bottum (keyboards), Mike 'Puffy' Bordin (drums), Jim Martin (guitar) and Chuck Mosley (vocals). Gould and Bottum were old friends from as far back as their schooldays. Bordin had attended a course on tribal music at the same university as Bottum and was drafted into the band as a result of this acquaintance. Mosley had prior experience of the Los Angeles club scene and it was here that he met Gould and became the first voice of Faith No More. Only Martin had no previous connection to the other members and was a name passed on to them as a guitar talent by the late Cliff Burton of Metallica.

Faith No More's debut album was five years in the making and emerged in 1985 on a small-time independent label under the title We Care A Lot, named after what would become one of the band's most well known and anthemic songs. This was followed two years later in 1987 by their major label debut for Slash Records. Entitled Introduce Yourself, the second album was well-received by the critics and boasted a re-recorded version of 'We Care A Lot' and a number of other strong songs. However, despite the fact that their album was a minor hit and their live shows were gaining them a loyal following, the band were unable to fully capitalise on this.

Always prone to infighting and pronounced differences of opinion (a factor which has both dogged the band and yet sparked some of their most powerful and creative music), the band sacked Mosley a short time after the release of the second album. Mosley went on to sing with the legendary Bad Brains and eventually formed the group Cement, but without a vocalist Faith No More were in effect left headless. The band auditioned for a new singer and in the process even tried out the services of a young Courtney Love. But in the end they settled on one Mike Patton.

The Golden Era of Success (1990-1994)

A good few years younger than the band's original members, Patton had previously performed only with his first band Mr Bungle (which he would continue to keep on as a side-project during his time with Faith No More). Still, despite his relative inexperience, Patton proved himself to be an excellent frontman with a more accomplished vocal talent than his predecessor. Together, the new line-up recorded the third album The Real Thing, on which everything seemed to slot into place as never before. The album was a massive success on both sides of the Atlantic and the single 'Epic' entered made its presence felt in both the US and UK charts.

But while his off-the-wall style had spurred the band on to new heights, Patton's arrival had done nothing to end the constant squabbling that went on behind the scenes. Although the band toured on the back of The Real Thing and released Live At The Brixton Academy in 1991, the time in-between their entering the studio to record a follow-up was marred by Patton actually walking out to rejoin Mr Bungle for a short time.

Finally focused on the task in hand, Faith No More returned with Angel Dust. Not as instantly accessible as the previous outing, it still contained some of the most enduring tracks that the band ever produced. It also contained a cover of 'I'm Easy', originally by the Commodores, which had been included at Patton's insistence. Though the track sat at odds with the popular conception of the band, it was a huge commercial success due mainly to the fact that it remained mostly faithful to the original and showcased the quality of Patton's vocals. Released as a single, it made the top ten in the US and did even better in the UK, reaching number two. This of course did no harm to the band's profile and popularity in the mainstream.

The Last Days (1994-1998)

By 1994, Faith No More were in what for many bands would have been an enviable position. They had a total of five albums under their belts and a loyal fanbase as well as a good standing as a marketable crossover band capable of attracting mainstream interest as well. Nevertheless, the band still found themselves at each others' throats and this time it was the turn of guitarist Jim Martin to be shown the door. Undoubtedly a talented musician in his own right, Martin had always been an opinionated character who was willing to speak his mind whether in private, in an interview with the press, or even whilst performing on stage. After leaving, Martin formed the band Behemoth and met with mixed reviews. He has yet to recapture anything like the success he enjoyed with Faith No More.

His place was filled by Trey Spruance who had been a member of Mr Bungle with Patton and the new guitarist made his debut with the band on 1995's King For A Day/Fool For A Lifetime. Unlike the previous studio albums, this was a dark and heavy affair which eluded most who had enjoyed their earlier offerings. Only 'Digging The Grave' garnered any real praise, despite the fact that the album contained tracks that rewarded the patience, such as the soulful 'Take This Bottle' and the grandiose 'Just A Man.'

In 1996, Bottum formed the band Imperial Teen as a side-project, a move which had become something of a tradition within the ranks of Faith No More as Patton had never fully disbanded Mr Bungle and Bordin had drummed on and off for Ozzy Osbourne over the years. Despite this, the band managed to return two years later in 1997 with their sixth and final studio album.

Album Of The Year was received with mixed reviews by the press and was to be Faith No More's swansong as a viable entity. The irony is that it was on this album that the band climbed to new heights and finally nailed down their own distinct sound. Tracks such as 'Stripsearch' showcased a mature and harmonious sound that went above and beyond what had gone before, but the crowning achievement was 'Ashes to Ashes.' Not since 'Epic' had Faith No More sounded so tight and powerful as a band, perfectly marrying their sound to the one moment soaring and the next screeching of Patton's vocals.

Nevertheless, Album Of The Year marked the end and in 1998 the band issued a statement to the effect that they were to split after eighteen years of adversity, infighting and final triumph.

In The Aftermath (1999-Present Day)

A greatest hits album followed in late 1998 which charted the band's career. In addition to this the album was packaged with a second collection of rare demo material and live tracks as well as a cover version of the Bee Gees' 'I Started A Joke.' This melancholy song, about a man who finds himself constantly at odds with the world, was perhaps most representative of the bandmembers' interpersonal relationships with each other rather than with the public who bought their records and flocked to their live shows over the years.

As the band went their separate ways, their various side-projects inevitably came to the fore. As well as drumming for Ozzy Osbourne, Bordin also filled in for Korn sticksman David Silveria on the band's tour in support of the Follow The Leader album. But it was Patton who went into overload, working again with Mr Bungle and forming the groups Fantomas and Tomahawk, among others, and even forming the Ipecac record label. However, so far none of the members of Faith No More have achieved as much as they did as a collective.

Album Discography

• We Care A Lot (1985)
• Introduce Yourself (1987)
• The Real Thing (1990)
• Live At The Brixton Academy (1991)
• Angel Dust (1992)
• King For A Day/Fool For A Lifetime (1995)
• Album Of The Year (1997)
• Who Cares A Lot? The Greatest Hits (1998)
• This Is It: The Best of Faith No More (2003)

Further Reading

• A well-presented and pretty much comprehensive fansite on the mighty Faith No More can be found at: http://www.fnm.com/

• Anyone interested in the many, varied projects occupying the time of Mr Mike Patton can find what they seek at: http://www.cv.org/