Mike Patton, the enigmatic frontman of the influential alternative rock band Faith No More, has offered his most candid suggestion yet that the group may have reached its conclusion, stating he doesn’t view a potential split as a "sad thing" but rather an opportunity to "appreciate it while it’s happening."
The cryptic remarks surfaced in a recent interview on the Kyle Meredith With… podcast, where Patton reflected on the band’s seemingly dormant status and his evolving perspective on his extensive musical catalog. Faith No More, a band renowned for its genre-bending sound and Patton’s dynamic stage presence, has not actively toured or released new material since 2015, with their planned 2020 and 2021 reunions being scuttled by the COVID-19 pandemic and Patton’s personal health struggles.
The Unspoken End of an Era
Patton was specifically asked about whether the band’s 2016 performances, which included a touring engagement with former vocalist Chuck Mosley, had provided a sense of closure. He admitted that while he didn’t perceive it as a definitive end at the time, looking back, "maybe" it was. "And I think that we all kind of felt it, but it was unspoken," Patton elaborated.
His philosophical approach to the band’s potential dissolution is rooted in a desire for presence and appreciation. "When you’ve been in a band or a musical situation for a period of time, you always, in the back of your head, you’re kind of thinking, ‘Well, maybe this is it,’" he explained. "And I don’t mind that feeling. I don’t see it as a sad thing. I see it as being present and being able to really appreciate it while it’s happening." This perspective suggests a willingness to embrace the natural progression of artistic endeavors rather than clinging to past glories.
A History of Ebb and Flow
Faith No More’s journey has been marked by periods of intense activity followed by significant lulls. The band last performed live in 2016, and Patton himself has not fronted the group since the conclusion of their Sol Invictus Tour in 2015. While a global return was announced for 2020, the onset of the pandemic halted those plans. Subsequently, scheduled concerts for 2021 were canceled due to Patton addressing mental health issues, which he later revealed included a diagnosis of agoraphobia.
These postponements and cancellations have fueled speculation about the band’s future for years. Even founding member Billy Gould admitted in a previous interview with Chile’s Radio Futuro that he was uncertain about the band’s trajectory, stating, "I don’t know. I honestly don’t know." Patton’s current sentiments seem to align with this ambiguity, though his framing of the situation suggests a personal acceptance of whatever comes next.
Faith No More’s Billboard Legacy
The three-time Grammy-nominated act has left an indelible mark on the music landscape, releasing seven studio albums throughout their career. However, the output has been notably sparse in recent decades, with only 2015’s Sol Invictus released in the last 25 years. This album achieved a respectable No. 15 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Sol Invictus is one of five Faith No More titles to have charted on the all-genres albums list. Their most commercially successful album, 1992’s Angel Dust, reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200. The band also boasts three appearances on the Billboard Hot 100, including their breakout 1990 hit "Epic," which peaked at No. 9. This enduring presence on the charts underscores their significant cultural impact and lasting appeal.
Patton’s Multifaceted Artistic Identity
Patton officially joined Faith No More in 1988, succeeding Chuck Mosley, who fronted the band for their first two albums, We Care A Lot (1985) and Introduce Yourself (1987). Mosley passed away in 2017 at the age of 57.
While Faith No More may be facing an uncertain future, Patton remains an incredibly active and diverse musician. He has recently returned to his band Tomahawk, which is set to embark on its first tour in 13 years this summer alongside The Melvins. Patton has long navigated a landscape of numerous musical projects, including Mr. Bungle and Dead Cross, which are often characterized as "side projects."
Redefining "Side Project"
In the Kyle Meredith With… interview, Patton challenged the very notion of a "side project," arguing that it implies the existence of a "main" endeavor. "I’d never really understood, and I had to figure this out very early on, was the concept of a side project, that’s assuming that there’s a main one," he explained. "And for me, I really never had one."
He elaborated that while projects like Faith No More demanded more of his time in terms of touring and promotion, he considered all his musical ventures to be of equal importance. "Everything that I’ve done was of equal importance to me. They just weren’t viewed that way," Patton stated. He speculated that the public’s need for a hierarchy within an artist’s discography might stem from a desire for easier categorization or a way to process their work. "And the public, for whatever reason, needs to have a hierarchy kind of built in there just to make themselves feel better about it, I guess. I don’t know."
This perspective highlights Patton’s commitment to a holistic approach to his artistic output, where each project, regardless of its perceived prominence, holds intrinsic value. His comments suggest a maturity and acceptance of the fluid nature of creative careers, where endings can be seen not as failures but as natural transitions paving the way for new experiences and reflections. The future of Faith No More remains a subject of speculation, but Mike Patton appears ready to embrace whatever artistic horizons lie ahead, with or without the iconic band.
The full interview can be streamed here.
