American alternative metal band Faith No More has had fourteen band members, many for such a short period of time they were not documented, including: five vocalists, eight guitarists, as well as two keyboardists; one drummer; and one bassist.
The band, consisting of Mike Morris, Billy Gould, Wade Worthington, and Mike Bordin, first formed in 1979 under the name Faith. No Man., recording just one release. Wade left shortly afterward and was replaced by Roddy Bottum. In 1982 the band, minus Mike Morris, quit to form Faith No More. During this time they went through the majority of their long list of vocalists and guitarists, Courtney Love being the third and longest-standing vocalist at the time. They then settled on Chuck Mosley and Jim Martin, with whom they recorded and released their first two studio albums, We Care a Lot and Introduce Yourself. After the tour for Introduce Yourself the band fired Mosley and hired Mike Patton from the experimental band Mr. Bungle. This was Faith No More's longest-standing lineup and featured the most releases, including the studio albums The Real Thing and Angel Dust. Following the departure of Jim Martin in late 1993 the band went without a guitarist until starting the writing of the follow-up to Angel Dust, King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime, for which they hired Trey Spruance, also of Mr. Bungle. Spruance left before the tour and was replaced by Dean Menta. Menta was then replaced by Jon Hudson before the recording of the band's final album, Album of the Year. Faith No More split up in 1998.
In February 2009, Faith No More announced they would be re-forming for a European tour that began in June in Brixton Academy, London, and then Download Festival in Donington Park.Adams, Jason. "Faith No More reunion update: 'We Care a Lot' because this is 'Epic'!". Entertainment Weekly. February 23, 2009. Since their reformation, the lineup has been identical to the final lineup prior to the band's 1998 breakup.
Members Current members Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions Mike Bordin All releases Billy Gould Roddy Bottum All releases except "Quiet in Heaven", "Song of Liberty" (1982) Mike Patton All releases since The Real Thing (1989) Jon Hudson
Former members Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions Mike Morris 1979–1983 "Quiet in Heaven", "Song of Liberty" (1982) Wade Worthington Jake Smith 1983 guitarsnone Joe Callahan vocals Paula Frazer 1984 Courtney Love Mark Bowen 1984 guitars Jim Martin 1984–1993 All releases from We Care a Lot (1985) to Angel Dust (1992) Chuck Mosley 1984–1988 lead vocals Trey Spruance 1993–1995 guitars King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime (1995) Dean Menta 1995–1996 King for a Day single b-sides
Timeline
Line-ups PeriodMembersReleases1979–1983 Mike Morris – lead vocals, guitars Wade Worthington – keyboards, backing vocals Billy Gould – bass Mike Bordin – drums "Quiet in Heaven", "Song of Liberty" (1982) 1983 Mike Morris – lead vocals, guitars Roddy Bottum – keyboards Billy Gould – bass Mike Bordin – drums1983 Joe Callahan – vocals Jake Smith – guitars Roddy Bottum – keyboards Billy Gould – bass Mike Bordin – drums1983–1984 Roddy Bottum – keyboards Billy Gould – bass Mike Bordin – drums1984 Mark Bowen – guitars Roddy Bottum – keyboards Billy Gould – bass Mike Bordin – drums1984 Paula Frazer – lead vocals Mark Bowen – guitars Roddy Bottum – keyboards, backing vocals Billy Gould – bass Mike Bordin – drums1984 Courtney Love – lead vocals Mark Bowen – guitars Roddy Bottum – keyboards, backing vocals Billy Gould – bass Mike Bordin – drums1984–1988 Chuck Mosley – lead vocals Jim Martin – guitars, backing vocals Roddy Bottum – keyboards, backing vocals Billy Gould – bass, backing vocals Mike Bordin – drums, backing vocals We Care a Lot (1985) Introduce Yourself (1987)1988–1993 Mike Patton – lead vocals Jim Martin – guitar, backing vocals Roddy Bottum – keyboards, backing vocals, guitars Billy Gould – bass, backing vocals Mike Bordin – drums The Real Thing (1989) Angel Dust (1992) Live at the Brixton Academy (1991)1993 Mike Patton – lead vocals Billy Gould – bass, guitars, backing vocals Roddy Bottum – keyboards, backing vocals, guitars Mike Bordin – drums1993–1995 Mike Patton – lead vocals Trey Spruance – guitars Billy Gould – bass, backing vocals Roddy Bottum – keyboards, backing vocals, guitars Mike Bordin – drums King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime (1995) 1995–1996 Mike Patton – lead vocals Dean Menta – guitars Roddy Bottum – keyboards, backing vocals, guitars Billy Gould – bass, backing vocals Mike Bordin – drums1996–1998 Mike Patton – lead vocals Jon Hudson – guitars Roddy Bottum – keyboards, backing vocals, guitars Billy Gould – bass, backing vocals Mike Bordin – drums Album of the Year (1997)Disbanded 1998–20092009–present Mike Patton – lead vocals Jon Hudson – guitars, backing vocals Roddy Bottum – keyboards, backing vocals, guitar Billy Gould – bass, backing vocals Mike Bordin – drums Sol Invictus (2015)
References