TOP FAITH NO MORE UK SHOWS
This week FNM return to the UK and we thought it the perfect time to look back at some of their greatest performances in old blighty.
Obviously we are aware they have played phenomenal shows all over the world in the last 30 years, but just for this article we're grounded on British soil.
In no particular order here is a list of shows that have held some importance in their history for one reason or another.
Brixton Academy | April 28th 1990
This show needs no explanation as to why it appears in this list. As the only official live release by fnm it is perfect reminder of the TRT era that raised the bands profile and showcased the playful stage antics of a young Mike Patton. Brixton established the infamous 'You Fat Bastards' chant and those lines that would forever be uttered by fans 'here is a song with four letters in the title, and it starts with an E', 'hey it's time to snap kids, time to fucking snap god damn it'.
For some the first time they would see the band live, hear Mike Patton roaring songs originally sung by his predecessor Chuck Mosley, or watch the crazy front man marching in circles wearing a child's police helmet was on the VHS if this show.
Such a fantastic performance, which is amongst the best shows of the early 90s now available to watch on youtube. Triumphantly captured in the FNM cinematographic hall of fame.
Setlist
From Out Of Nowhere
Falling To Pieces
Introduce Yourself
The Real Thing
Underwater Love
As The Worm Turns
The Crab Song
Edge Of The World
The Morning After
Chinese Arithmetic
We Care A Lot
Surprise! You're Dead!
Epic
Woodpecker From Mars
Zombie Eaters
Why Do You Bother?
War Pigs (Black Sabbath)
Easy
Brixton Academy | June 10th 2009
As today marks the anniversary of this show here a description of more depth. I was lucky enough to be at Faith No More's first show after an eleven year break from hitting the stage together. Brixton Academy June 10th 2009.
Obviously the venue holds great nostalgic value for FNM and this was my first visit. After paying over £200 for tickets from those fucking touts, and disastrous journey from the North of England to the capital due to unforeseen hazards and closed tube stations we found our place in the queue. It was amusing to guess which of these Middle aged guys lining the street would've had long hair rather than their present balding look the last time FNM were here!
As a newby to twitter I was only following two people on the social media app, both members of FNM. And while waiting in line up popped a rather exciting photo of Mike Patton's lone megaphone on stage. The bastards were back!
Following show protocol from the 90s when the doors opened and the crowd filed in we hit the merch first emptying our wallets and adding more layers of T-shirts. Then a push and shove to get as close the stage as possible while the big boys propped up the bar. We camped right at the front in line with Roddy Bottum's patch, but still in Mike Patton's spit radius, hands firmly gripped on the barrier. After 11 years we were determined to be inches from the action.
The support act were terrible. Seriously bad. The boos and torrent of abuse from the FNM hungry crowd didn't go unnoticed by who ever they were and they didn't help the situation by their reaction. It's quite possible any support act to this momentous show would've been greeted with the same response so these guys were ultimately screwed from the moment they walked out.
What did we expect from FNM after such a long hiatus. The red curtained backdrop was intriguing and reminiscent of those promo shots from 1997, would the boys be all suited and booted in black? No of course that would be too boring. The spot light hit Roddy in pastel pink crooning the Peaches & Cream classic 'Reunited' and the deafening roar of appreciation faded to rapped attention.....the unexpected as always expected. As the rest of the band filtered onto stage the thunder of screams and shouts rolled back in and exploded with the familiar drum intro of 'The Real thing'. At this point it hit home that this was actually happening, the band that had shaped my youth were back, tears were bound to fall. The crowd were mixture of the old faithful fans delirious at a chance to see their heroes on stage again and a new younger faces witnessing for the first time the band their parents had told them about, or that they had read in magazines had influenced all the alternative nu metal music that had shaped their childhood.
We joined in the customary chant 'You Fat Bastards', in fact we may have started it. Patton smiled and agreed with us, 'now it's true'.
As the set continued so did the classics, the songs we couldn't wait to hear. 'Caffeine', 'Chinese Arithmetic', 'Midlife Crisis', 'Jizzlobber', 'Stripsearch', 'Just A Man'.....
After the first encore how could we have dared to ask for more. But the crowd weren't leaving, we were cheering, stomping our feet, chanting, crying! And out they came 'the third coming' with two more songs.
The guys were clearly having fun together, dressed to impress Mike Patton often shooting a devilish grin at Puffy, plain to see any of that infamous band tension had eased years ago.
FNM were more mature than 11 years previously, holding the stage like legends the role of band leader had shifted from Bill to Mike, as he conducted to band in playing some of their greatest songs.
It was like NYE a huge party held for those who never gave up hope of this dream becoming reality!
Setlist
Reunited (Peaches & Herb)
The Real Thing
From Out of Nowhere
Land of Sunshine
Caffeine
Evidence
Chinese Arithmetic
Surprise You're Dead
Easy
Last Cup Of Sorrow
Midlife Crisis
Cuckoo for Caca
Gentle Art of Making Enemies
RV
King For A Day
Malpractice
Jizzlobber
Be Aggressive
Epic
Mark Bowen
Stripsearch
Just A Man
I Started A Joke (Bee Gees)
Pristina
Phoenix festival | 15th July 1995
The first shows of the KFAD tour were in the UK. Jim was gone, as was Trey but Dean had filled the gap.
After Europe and the US, FNM returned to the UK to headline the now defunct Phoenix Festival. A festival they had headlined two years previously and had turned out to be Jim's last ever FNM show in 1993.
The band thrashed out old and new songs in a more ferocious style than ever before. Slipping in a wonderful rendition of 'Glory Box' by Portishead. It was the last time they would headline a festival in the UK until 2009.
Setlist
Ricochet
Be Aggressive
Midlife Crisis
The Gentle Art Of Making Enemies
Evidence
Caffeine
What A Day
Easy
Introduce Yourself
Get Out
Caralho Voador
King For A Day
Epic
Digging The Grave
Just A Man
Glory Box (Portishead)
We Care A Lot
I Started A Joke (Bee Gees)
Death March
Take This Bottle
Marquee Club | May 14th 1992
The second warm up show before their relentless stadium tour dates with the likes of Metallica and GnR. A rare opportunity for the fans to hear the new material from AD before it's release. The band chose to appear incognito under the name 'Haircuts that Kill' (a band fronted by Chuck prior to FNM), although most guessed their true identity.
Luckily we have an eye witness account of the night from a follower of our page to draw information from. Thanks Paul.
On this night there was an invite only playback of AD at the Marquee Cafe before the show. In attendance were music journalists and musicians keen on a first chance to hear FNM's newest album. FNM hosted while members of Atom Seed, Vanessa Warwick (of HeadBangers ball fame) and Steffan Chirazi were amongst the crowd anxious to hear the music.
After this they made their way to the club for the show. FNM came out, louder and more aggressive than ever before, Roddy, Bill and Mike P all adorned with Carcass t-shirts. Patton's stage look and on-stage presentation was very different to the shows of 91 , he was crouched over in what would become a trademark predatory animal pose. FNM played played mainly new songs, which is always a little challenging when the material is unfamiliar, but the crowd pulsed and tangled with energy and passion.
Wembley Stadium | June 13th 1992
Again a show I was lucky enough to be at. An important show for FnM as it was at this time they were unleashed on an unwitting selection of 'Metal heads' who were to find that they were much more than 'metal'. With a fare reaction from the hoards of GnR fans.
Setlist
Caffeine
Land Of Sunshine
The Real Thing
Midlife Crisis
RV
From out Of Nowhere
We Care A Lot
Jizzlobber
"Sweet Dreams" (Nestles Chocolate Commercial)
Surprise! You're Dead!
Epic
Hammersmith Apollo | July 8th 2012
The penultimate show of the Second Coming Tour and again I was there! After watching all the YouTube clips of shows on this tour all over the world, the white out stage wasn't a surprise but still a glorious sight.
Possibly the best set opener ever! 'Woodpecker From Mars' Such an inspired choice , Roddy Bottum a solitary illuminated figure amongst the floral display and white backdrop. Then the emergence of Mr Patton with cane and ferdora like an the head of an Italian mafia family! In the wings with his naked feet in air the was Danny Devito.
After a great set we are treated to an amazing encore of some truly old school songs with a bit of Jay Z thrown in there for good measure.
Woodpecker From Mars
Midlife Crisis
Ricochet
Land of Sunshine
Evidence
Everything's Ruined
Spirit
Last Cup of Sorrow
Digging the Grave
Easy (Commodores)
Epic
The Gentle Art of Making Enemies
King for a Day
Ashes to Ashes
Just a Man
Pills for Breakfast
Greed
We Care a Lot
Why Do You Bother?
The first UK festival the band played and Immortalised in a bootleg released on vinyl by Death Records. Highlights of the show include Patton's scaling of the lighting rig whilst wearing a kilt and 'Youth against drugs' shirt, which is captured in some of the most iconic photography of the TRT era.
Setlist
From Out Of Nowhere
Falling To Pieces
Introduce Yourself
The Real Thing
Underwater Love
As The Worm Turns
The Crab Song
Edge Of The World
Chinese Arithmetic
We Care A Lot
"Sweet Dreams" (Nestles Chocolate Commercial)
Surprise! You're Dead!
Epic
Woodpecker From Mars
Easy
War Pigs
Dingwalls | January 22nd 1988
The first ever FNM show in the UK. In this list for obvious reasons a milestone event in the history of FNM.
Hyde Park | July 4th 2014
A surprise show after the future of the band was unsure. On the bill with old favourites Soundgarden and Mike Bordin's heroes Black Sabbath. FNM continued their tradition of eccentricity by taking to the stage accompanied by 'The Exorcist' theme and dressed as priests. After a great selection of songs from their back catalogue fans were treated to the premieres of two new songs 'Superhero' and 'Motherfucker'. Again I was present at this show and privileged to be at this landmark event. The excitement of the concrete evidence of new FNM music was electric and myself the guys from Fnmblog and Fnm 2.0 were deep in conversation after the show.
Setlist
Zombie Eaters
From Out of Nowhere
Epic
Caffeine
The Gentle Art of Making Enemies
Easy (Commodores cover)
Midlife Crisis
Everything's Ruined
Cuckoo for Caca
King for a Day
Ashes to Ashes
Superhero
Motherfucker
We Care a Lot
We Care a Lot
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