Faith No More

Faith No More is an alternative metal and alternative rock group from San Francisco, United States. It forms in 1983 and remains active until 2021. The band’s core and longest-serving members are bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Roddy Bottum, and drummer Mike Bordin, who stay with the group from the beginning.

Line-up and name changes

Before taking the Faith No More name in September 1983, the group performs as Sharp Young Men and then Faith No Man. Over the years it goes through many line-up changes. Members associated with the group include Mike Bordin, Roddy Bottum, Billy Gould, Joe Callahan, Jake Smith, Craig Shell, Walter O’Brien, Stew, Paula Frazer, Desmond Shea, Courtney Love, Mark Bowen, Chuck Mosley, Jim Martin, Mike Patton, Trey Spruance, Dean Menta and Jon Hudson. The final line-up consists of Gould, Bordin, Bottum, lead guitarist Jon Hudson and vocalist and lyricist Mike Patton.

Style and labels

The band’s music spans alternative metal, alternative rock, experimental, funk metal, metal and post-punk. Its releases appear on labels including Slash, Reprise Records, Mushroom Records, London Records, Mordam Records, Liberation Records, Koolarrow Records, Ipecac Recordings, Big Thrilling Music, Give Us Our Publishing, Faith No More Music, Reclamation! Recordings and FNM Music.

Albums and activity

Faith No More releases seven studio albums: We Care a Lot, Introduce Yourself, The Real Thing, Angel Dust, King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime, Album of the Year and Sol Invictus. The Real Thing and Angel Dust are the best-known records in the group’s catalogue. The band officially announces a breakup in 1998, then reunites for The Second Coming Tour in 2009 and 2010. Sol Invictus follows in 2015. A planned return to touring in Europe and the UK is later cancelled, and the group does not resume activity after that period.

Commercial reception

Although Faith No More gains critical attention, it has limited commercial success compared with its profile, with worldwide sales of 9.5 million albums and estimated U.S. sales of 2.1 million.