Slash’s tweet the other day about Mike Patton only served to increase rather than dampen rumours that the Faith No More singer might take up the vacant Velvet Revolver front man spot.
Much as I would like to see some sort of collaboration between Slash and Mike at some stage (i.e after a new Faith No More album!), I really don’t see this happening. Why? Check out this interview with Mike from 2003 [actually an unpublished interview with a bunglefever forumite].
Here’s the relevant quotes:
Tell me about being approached by ‘The Project’?
Mike Patton: “Sorry?
The new band Slash and the other ex-Guns’N’Roses guys are putting together.
Mike Patton: “Did you just call it ‘The Project’?
That’s what they are calling it.
Mike Patton: “HAHAHAHA. That’s hilarious. It sounds much better than I’m sure it is. Er, well, I wasn’t really approached. I just got a phonecall from an ex-manager asking if I would be interested. Well, I wasn’t and that was about it. Not very exciting.
Why weren’t you interested?
Mike Patton: “Why do you think? You know. I think everyone else knows too, except them. Which is the funny part.
I hear they are now doing stuff with Scott Weiland.
Mike Patton: “I thought he was dead.
No, he’s alive. He’s just been arrested for cocaine possession again.
Mike Patton: “OK. Well this band will kill him off and do the world a favour. “
Actually met Roddy and Billy, after New Zealand show, right after big GNR tour. We asked them how it went, they didn’t look impressed.
ahh ok Jojo yeah that would make more sense. no it wouldnt feel right. and yeah sometimes they do play some songs a bit faster or slower.
this song always reminds me of “A Small Victory”…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIJQGPJuUOs
bad quality, but i honestly think FNM were trying to make their version of one of these majestical new world vision hope and prey cathay pacific airlines commercial type of songs…
Integra, I think what he meant by that is that if it isn’t played at the right tempo, it doesn’t feel right. I know in the times that I’ve seen them that they’ve tended to play the songs a bit faster than on record.
Wanderlusting – You’re right, as long as he’s doing what he’s doing!
its just made up of all different parts at the same tempo. the whole song is 4/4 time signature. it has a few different grooves in it.
If all their songs were about 100,120, 150 BPM ect and if “A Small Victory” was like 115 or 105BPM then I could see what he means.
but its not really an odd or weird tempo.
Integra – it is an odd tempo if you really break it down. I bet they will play it at least once over the next three shows, and hopefully Mike won’t mess up the lyrics 😛
I just dont get why Billy said in that interview that “A Small Victory” is a difficult tempo to play wft?
no its not. you just play it and thats it.
Alksyntrs – organized religion and belief in a God don’t always go hand in hand, believe me. Personally, I don’t care what Patton is, as long as he’s doing what he’s doing 🙂
Zenopia – What you said sounds good to me and would make a progressist of Patton (in a country full of born again freaks (+25% of the population)) as he is in the music industry. Indeed, I’m not 100% sure of it, because of these photos of him with a cross on his neck (nothing like Ozzy’s crosses though). I think Patton is far from being like Zappa, Björk or Trent Reznor who all have a clear opinion about organized religions and this is something I’m a little disappointed… Cant’ have everything!
I feel like an ass because if he worked with Slash, I know I’d hate it. I love rock music, generally speaking (although hard rock tends to be a genre I listen to the least), but everything I’ve heard from Slash is pretty much typical and boring. Nothing against him as a person, but seriously.
On the subject of Patton’s religious views, I remember an interview from a ways back where the interviewer asked him if he was religious (or something to that extent) and he said that he didn’t really go to church while growing up and the only time he found himself in churches nowadays was to look at pretty stained glass windows.
As for Patton joining Velvet Revolver…one, it’ll never happen in a million years. Two, I would be kind of interested to see it. Keep in mind this is coming from a guy who enjoys the weirder/experimental side of music, but also loves a good kickass rock album (for instance, I have Adult Themes For Voice and Shout At The Devil in my CD collection). The one thing is that I’d prefer to see Patton start an original project with Slash, rather than joining VR. As someone mentioned, there’s no way I can picture Mike singing “Fall To Pieces” or something like that.
obviously Mike Patton is taking the piss out of religion in this interview. I personally don’t care about Mike’s religious views but when he says “Tall tales” he is referring to the notion of religion as being a fabrication. Also, when he says “How can a million flies be wrong”, that is Mike being faceitious. What are flies attracted to….yep that’s right feces. So he is sardonicly calling religion….Shit….which is comical wether you are a believer or not….to each their own. However, perhaps those that think Mike’s statements indicate he is a believer or religious are just being sarcastic themselves.
Wanderlusting – Your right, hard to know what to take seriously. I just saw that 2001 interview in Montreal when Buzz said that him and Patton weren’t satanist (regarding Lombardo’s work with Slayer) because they weren’t christians… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QNyNBNazzE
That unpublished interview made me want to know more about Dälek! I just know their last album and Patton is right; only electronics but pretty heavy. Cant’ wait to see how will be the next Fantômas…
I couldn’t find it, but I remember a youtube video of Patton, Lombardo and Buzz Osborne bitchin’ on Metallica (especially about that video where the guys are throwing themselves through the windows of a skyscraper ) and Anthony Kiedis. I think they were in a restaurant. Same attitude as in the article above, funny and damn right (on my point of view).
money talks Doug…there will be another FNM album…long before any of that stupid shit….slash is such a goof!!!!
And everything you just said adds to a huge list of reasons that the possibility of this happening seems impossible to most people.
Money talks though…and Mike likes money. VR is a band of has-beens that are trying to stay relevant. Weiland left after only 2 years and I don’t blame him. Weiland is majorly respected in the world of rock as one of the great front men/vocalists so how will VR top that… by trying to get THE best vocalist.
@Wanderlusting, I love your pink lipstick. 🙂
“nnnNNNNeeeeeeil HHHHHHammmmburger!” was the perfect opener for FNM. Patton’s STP + INXS + RHCP + Wolfmother (+ many, many more legendarily hilarious and spot-on) comments all could have been right out of some of Neil Hamburger’s “gags.”
@ Alksyntrs @Jones
RIP Roc Raida (via wikipedia: “Roc Raida died on Sept. 19th, 2009 from complications from a mixed martial arts accident.”)
Alksyntrs – actually, I think it’s refreshing. But he did touch on it on an interview once, when they had that bad car accident and “saw God.” Hard to know what to take seriously, though, even in that unpublished interview, which is part of his charm.
I like STP a lot. I even don’t mind Slash. But I couldn’t help but laugh at what Patton said. The man is nothing if not honest 🙂
GP vs. the X-Ecutioners is one of my favorite Mike-related albums of all time. I don’t think Crudo will be quite like that, though. A more rap-like HBMS (more brutal beats, if you will). My friend and I have been waiting for yesrs for it now, but I am sure the wait will be worth it.
In the interview I got my answer regarding the religiosity of FNM members : Patton is a beliver. I’m a little bit disapointed as I expected him to be a free thinker, like Zappa. Anyway Mike isn’t proselyte at all and accessing to his musical world remains one of my greatest pleasure in life!
Regarding a collaboration between Slash and Mike, there’s nothing interesting there to me. What could it be? A kind of sanitized hard rock? New albums from Tomahawk, Fantômas, Peeping Tom, Lovage, Mondo Cane are just fine to me. Mike always been critical about bands like GN’R, Mötley Crüe, etc. This would’t be him.
What about General Patton & the X-Ecutioners? Am I the only one to love this album? I never saw any mentions here about this project. Over or not? To me that was even more interseting than Peeping Tom. Maybe Crudo, if it ever comes out, will kind of sound like that…
@ Fernetpunker – I agree with you, Mike can’t be something he isn’t.
The idea is just ridiculous. And that interview was Mike´s way to state that. Mike is no Rock´n´Roll/mainstream-singer. Remember INXS? FNM is the most normal thing in musical categories, which Mike Patton would do, because he is an innovator and a rebel as a musician. And after ten years breaking bounderies with FNM he decided to let the band split. It could not go any further. I blame him for the hiatus of FNM in the first place, but I know with Mike Patton it couldn´t be any other way. Let´s be thankful for what we had with Mike and FNM and not wish him to be something he isn´t.
He’ll always find a way, but certainly not for a band that would demand so much attention and dedication. It would just be illogical.
I doubt Mike ever actually talked shit about Guns n Roses as a whole band, he’s openly admitted about what an asshole Axl Rose was, but that is simply because Axl was (and still IS) a selfish asshole and always will be. The current line-up of Guns n Roses has been through more tour crews than Mike Patton has been through hair styling gel over the last 10 years! Nobody seems to stay on board, because they get so tired of Axl’s bad time keeping and general attitude.
I really think it’s hilarious that these rumours arise. As if Mike Patton hasn’t got more important things to do after Faith No More’s reunion tour is done. More Tomahawk to be recorded, another Mondo Cane cd apparently and more Fantomas towards the end of 2011. Seriously, when will this guy ever get the time for ANOTHER band…?!!
I love Patton but even I gotta admit, what a dick! But that is Patton.
With that said, who the hell comes up with these retarded rumors? Anyone who knows of Patton and has half a brain knows better.
Does anyone know what track MP is on in the upcoming “UNEARTHING” graphic novel CD? I had posted a long time ago that it was a track off of Adult Themes For Voice….but this is not in fact true. I would love to hear it……just wondering. OH…by the by…Secret Serpent e mailed me today to say that they would be letting people know about what their plans are fopr the next 3 shows with regards to a new poster series…..
And I thought I was the only one with a slightly nauseated feeling. 😛
I would much rather see Slash join Faith no more. Mike patton in VR makes me throw up a little
Its actually not a bad album either IMHO.
When Slash announced he was recording a new album with several guest vocalists, I was certain that MP would be one of them. Hard to believe he would join VR… I don’t think he can even commit to a FNM regular schedule…
I read Slash’s book out of morbid curiousity and he does mention Mike talking trash about G N’R during their tour. He basically says they had to sit him down and tell him to STFU. Anyway, I don’t see Mike fitting in with VR at all. The thought of Mike singing “Fall to Pieces” just makes me crack up.
Lol. I give no fucks about Slash or any shite bands he’s in, and VR is lower than low on a scale of 10 to garbage. Also taking up a millionth project would be retarded FWIW.
eek. Mike’s comments were a little low. FNM and INXS are my 2 all time favourite bands but Patton as their vocalist? no way.
Go play an anthem somewhere Slash….
Like with INXS…if this were to happen…I would be tuning out. Velvet Revolver is garbage…Weiland is overdone…and Slash….come on…who gives a shit…..
If Patton wants a rock ‘n’ roll band he’s got FNM or Tomahawk. INXS, Slash bla bla.. not going to happen.
That wasn’t a very nice things to say about Scott, despite his drug problems, he’s a nice guy, I’ve met him several times he’s always been cool. I’m a big fan of Scott Weiland as well as Mike Patton.
That was 7 years ago now, a lot has happened in those 7 years that can change people’s attitudes. It’s known that Mike got along well with Slash when Faith No More toured with Guns ‘n’ Roses…
I have to admit that Slash onstage with Mike Patton would be a double delight for me, and loads of others. Both absolute legends.