Faith No More

在新浪潮時期成立于舊金山的團體Faith No More卻是一個不折不扣的搖滾團，他們的樂風勢以重金屬為基調，混合了放克、嘻哈，從今日回頭看來Faith No More可算是Nu Metal的前身。雖然1985年灌錄了首張專輯，可是遲至1990的專輯「The Real Thing」才真正為他們帶來商業(yè)上的成功，這時候他們的主唱已經更換為Michael Patton，在此之前有一任主唱還曾經是Courtney Love。Patton當時最令人激賞的絕活就是在搖滾演唱與饒舌唸歌之間輕松的互換，他同時也是另一團體Mr. Bungle的主唱，可說是Faith No More合唱團中引人注目的焦點。1982年成立的Faith No More其他團員還有吉他手Jim Martin、貝斯手Billy Gould、鍵盤手Roddy Bottum、鼓手Mike Bordin。
 
1993年Faith No More的單曲 “Easy” 為他們在英國贏得空前的掌聲，此曲曾高居英國單曲榜第3名，是該團代表作。 “Easy”是八○年代抒情歌王萊諾．李奇1977年還在海軍準將合唱團時期的作品。Faith No More刻意保留的原曲慢板節(jié)奏藍調曲風顯得與其他該團作品風格迥然不同是最令人印象深刻的一首翻唱。
 
Faith No More原發(fā)行于2003年的這張精選中包含從創(chuàng)團初期的重擊金屬風格，到成熟時期的金屬+放克的19首歌，除上述 “Easy” 外還有一首重唱 “War Pigs” ，它原是重金屬團黑色安息日的代表作之一。 “Epic” 一曲是Faith No More的成名作，也是最能代表該團的一首金唱片單曲。
 
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 Mosleys abrasive vocals but was driven by Jim Martins metallic guitar. Faith No Mores next album, 1987s Introduce Yourself, was a more cohesive and impressive effort; for the first time, the rap and metal elements didnt 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 wasnt as easy, however. Faith No More followed their breakthrough success with 1992s Angel Dust, one of the more complex and simply confounding records ever released by a major label. Although it sold respectably, it didnt 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 1997s Album of the Year. Upon the conclusion of the albums 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.