Mike Patton joked that the Gimp – the leather-clad character who has been accompanying Faith No More on its live shows in 2015 – for their second Wiltern show on Wednesday night was former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan. And we’ve seen had it confirmed from a variety of sources that Duff was indeed the Gimp on this occasion.
McKagan – a great social media presence and a gifted writer in his post-GNR career – tweeted a photo of himself dressed as The Gimp:
— Duff McKagan (@DuffMcKagan) April 24, 2015
And Faith No More also hailed the Gimp on Facebook after the show and the Gimp definitely looks like Duff
Here is video evidence
Our man Thiago tweeted during the show
#FaithNoMore Patton hints tonight’s gimp is Duff from GN’R and the guys looks an awful lot like him — Thiago (@tbrandao) April 24, 2015
Also in attendance was New Zealand singer Kimbra (guest vocalist on that huge Gotye song from 2013)!
[…] columnas en el Seattle Weekly y Playboy, tocar el bajo con Loaded, Velvet Revolver, ser la “mascota sexual” de Faith No More y haber sido parte de Guns N’ Roses, Duff McKagan ahora también dará consejos de vida por […]
Rarelust, everybody has their right to judge SI on their own. Personally, I’m not a big fan of TRT, though I know how influancial this record has been and though I love some tracks (Zombie Eaters is one of my favorite ones). All rankings of the band’s records are simply subjective. I trully enjoy the new album, much more than TRT, I can’t find weak points of that (maybe except for Rise of the Fall, but now I even got to like Motherfucker which seems to me really good as a part of the album) and I don’t have to search for light points of the record to excuse myself why I like it. I just take it as it is and I think it’s simply awesome – deep, dark, partially heavy, partially consoling, mature and just like it should be, it exceeded my excpectations which had been high. I’m also happy about the media reviews of the record, but positive reactions of the band’s fans make me even happier. Actually most of us – so far at least- really love SI and I don’t think we are all on drugs :-). By the way – I wouldn’t call records mentioned by you garbage, but… well, there’s no accounting for taste.
[…] Gimp character has been accompanying Faith No More at all of their live shows in 2015. Among the pieces of evidence pointing to McKagan being the Gimp at the Wiltern on April 23 are […]
rarelust – It is all subjective, although I do have to take what you say with a grain of salt. Delirium Cordia was an amazing piece of work. I love Anonymous (although most tend to forget that this is a Duane Denison helmed project, not Mike’s). Peeping Tom was alot of fun. I wouldn’t call any of his work garbage. But to each their own. Ultimately, I am glad to just be living in a world where FNM is an existing active band again.
Most people I know who are Soundgarden fans (myself included) decimated KA and thought it was horrible actually. I dont think it got many good reviews at all (by fans or media)…….it does seem the media has decided the new FNM album is going to be a masterpiece no matter what. Interesting how the same media that used to trash them or ignore them is now kissing their ass…when KFAD came out, it got destroyed as a piece of shit. If they released KFAD NOW, it would be hailed as a masterpiece…I take what the media says with a grain of salt…I’ve heard the new album. Its ok. Better than King Animal for sure. maybe equal to AOTY, but anyone saying its as good as The Real Thing or Angel Dust is on drugs….And it surely is better than the garbage Patton has been shitting out the last decade (Pepping Tom, Crudo, Anonymous, Delirium Corida etc)
Bob, we also agree on King Animal. I like the album, but I don’t feel like it’s on par with past SG releases. I too remember people defending it to the point that if you didn’t think it was as great as Superunknown, etc., then you were simply tone deaf and a hater. I even recall a few on the forum saying it was their favorite or second favorite SG album, which seemed ridiculous to me at the time. You hit the nail on the head, hardcore fans get a little protective, and I understand the sentiment, but ultimately the material will speak for itself, and if people like it, they will listen long-term.
And I’m a huge, huge fan of Cornell, but he’s not the Cornell of old, and I wouldn’t expect him to be. The kind of range and power he once was unbelievable, but undoubtedly took a toll over the years, as his voice changed. Quite a few people on the forum would see a show or a video and remark that although he was different, he was even better. Hitting those notes like it was 91′ again. No, not really. Chris does a great job, but he’ll never sound as clean, effortless, and amazing as he did in the 80’s / 90’s. I always thought it was crazy that people said that. I am looking forward to Chris’ new solo record though. Well, with both anticipation and apprehension. Chris is a brilliant songwriter, I just want more complexity and risks taken than he did with Carry On.
I didn’t think Chris’ solo song was a good fit on KA (it wasn’t bad either, but I don’t believe he’ll ever eclipse Euphoria Morning). Been Away Too Long was an odd single to me, never really liked it, except for the bridge part. I thought there were some very good songs on the record, and perhaps a few great songs, but something in the production or mastering always bugged me, hurting the dynamics and muddling the sonic subtleties (the one thing I still fear, how Sol Invictus’ mastering will affect the sound). I think it’s a good record, but like you said, for some reason I don’t go back to it often. I’d much rather listen to the older albums. As you mentioned, KA lacked a little depth and filling out of some of the tracks. For example, I liked Black Saturday, but it could’ve been epic, and a little longer. Blood On The Valley Floor, much the same: excellent song, but too short for my tastes and perhaps missing another part.
Strangely enough, so far I don’t feel that way about Sol Invictus. It not only holds up very well with past material, but fits right in. And while you can hear a little maturity in Mike’s voice, he still sounds largely and profoundly the same. I think that’s the distinct advantage FNM has over SG right now going forward, some consistency across the band’s lifespan in the vocal department. I think Patton’s vocals throughout the tracks really makes the album what it is. He did a fantastic job.
SI is about as hard to pin down as any other FNM album in the post-TRT era. But what I also love about SI is when it’s time to get thick and heavy, this album really brings it. I agree with you that it’s about the absolute best job they could’ve done. Hopefully, we won’t feel the need to defend the music, because I think Sol Invictus is more than capable of standing on its own musical bravado. (:
I said last week that Rise was the weakest track here plus the two singles. But the other sees end tracks are as good as I could have hoped. I’m even warming big time to Black Friday which confused the hell outta me . Sol, SSU, SA, FTD and matador are epic IMO. And I agree with the awesome reviews that this album has a few hits on there.
Outshined, Im in complete agreement. Rise of the Fall is my least fav track still, find it to be all style but not much in substance. hope to grow a bit more fond of it like you.
Im a big soundgarden fan too, and I remember feeling that KA was good, but not on the level I would have hoped for a SG release, not a lot of depth. I vividly remember getting absolutely hounded on the soundgarden forum site too, which was a grim place. As time has gone on, I still think it is lacking, and I don’t listen to it nowhere near as much as LTL, BMF, SU or DoTU, but its not bad.
I get the impression a lot of hardcore fans of bands actually will do nothing but praise anything a band does, especially so in the case of Mike Patton, so I have been even more cynical up to this release. But like you said, I am so happy and relieved that it’s great. I really think it’s the best they could have done. It’s not perfect throughout, but the style, way it has been released, lyrics, typically innovative, its all so Faith No More it’s unreal.
On reflection I can now see why there was so much abuse for SG fans who felt a bit unsatisfied with KA on those forums-its all about opinions, while I would defend Sol Invictus, I complain about those who defend KA.
Haha awesome. Wow, that’s a pretty big name portraying the Gimp. Duff’s a good guy too.
Sounds like Mike is getting his voice back as well. I think some of the new stuff is difficult on the pipes to sing every night, but if anyone can do it, it’s MP. That version of Matador sounds excellent.
On a side note: most of the fans seem to really like the new material. If you’re a fan of their older albums, I can’t see how you could be unhappy with Sol Invictus. Somehow, I’ve been conditioned to be disappointed when bands take time off or simply age, with the typical progression seeming to be that any new music ranks below the previous standards and songwriting that initially transformed you into a fan of their music in the first place. I think when the band says this doesn’t feel forced, that the new album sounds like FNM, but yet a natural evolution of the band, they mean it. I concur with all those things, wholeheartedly.
I guess that’s why I feel somewhat confused when I see someone on the internet, commenting on the new record and saying how they’re a fan of TRT and Angel Dust, but that the new material sucks. It just baffles me. I guess that’s a really good sign, because I like the new music genuinely enough that I want to “defend” it. I don’t have to come up with a reason or rationalize with myself why I like the new music of one of my favorite bands of all-time. Everyone’s entitled to their wrong opinion! haha
I think what I’m most happy about is even after the two singles were released (and with the old Matador footage floating around) I was very hesitant and cautiously optimistic about the rest of the record, but upon hearing the rest of the album and through repeated listening sessions, I’ve become elated and even surprised with how good it is. I was concerned that the new singles might be the best the record had to offer. I really like both songs and what I had heard from Matador, but let’s face it, after 18 years did you really think the entire album would be so good? Most bands nowadays might have one or two good songs from a new effort, and the rest sounds like filler. The only song I’m not CRAZY about is Rise of the Fall, but I’ve actually grown fond of it, with my biggest complaint being a slightly predictable and safe outro where I think they could’ve mixed it up a bit or injected some life into it.