Friend of the site Adrian Mazzeo spoke to Mike Bordin for Clarin ahead of the band’s Luna Park gig.
Here are the highlights from the insightful interview:
The greater individuality you put into something, the more difficult it is to become massive. Here the popularity of McDonald’s often discussed and it is popular because it does not offend anyone. It is always the same flat, bland and generic thing. The more you put into something, the more risk you have of someone saying “oh, this is not for me” . You’re right, but I also believe that in our varied music there is something for everyone in this band and they will only need to find it.
I think we’re like a family. We went through many good and bad times, we possibly spent more time together than with other people. FNM is a passionate and honest band. We put everything we have into it and there is a very special code that we do not share with anyone else. We are playing in different places and when we return home we realize this. Definitely first I say that we are a family.
El Espectador
And Bill Gould spoke to Colombian paper El Espectador:
I am excited with the idea of visiting Colombia, no kidding. The truth is I’ve never been there, or on vacation, the only one who has visited the country’s Mike Patton, so I hope to stay a few days to see everything you can about the country.
Do you still believe that rock is dead?
No, but I think it can become very boring. In general I do not like much, but I think in every genre there is a 2% artists doing great things and 98% doing regular things.
Finally, what is the best of touring at age 52?
I’m actually very surprised that what we are doing and doing so well. 20 years ago I would not have imagined that we did at this age, but if it’s working and we’re having fun, it’s great and we must take advantage.
Rolling Stone Argentina
And Bill also spoke to Rolling Stone Argentina – and here are some excerpts:
The new album includes moments folk, surf, and many other crossovers to which we are not accustomed. Is there a style that you have tried to adapt to the band and it has not worked?
Many, but you’ll never hear! We will never publish. Often we do experiments but fail miserably every time we remove everything that happens instantaneously. Personally I do not believe in styles, it is music, it is like cooking a soup: it has rich taste or it does not.The last time you were in Buenos Aires you presented new material, what can we expect of you in this show?
We are turning to new music, I’m extremely happy with how the fans are getting the new songs – which we did not expect. The shows are going very well so we guess it will be a concert like other concerts of Faith No More, we are a bit older but we play like always or perhaps better. Same old shit, but better … Ha!
La Viola /TR.ar
And Mike B also spoke to TR.ar:
The five members, we are really different people then, so you have to be really aware that the rest of the band will not always think like you. Now, more than ever, we know this and so we become the place to be ourselves. I think that’s why the album came out so well, because it represents each of us . Each has its place and its shine on this album, I think is very important.”
Of course, no more albums are likely if Patton doesn’t learn to save his stage dives for true FNM fans instead of Slipknot fans who can’t catch!
But I think they could get it done a little fast seeing as how they were learning to do this for themselves last time (and now they’ll know better) and they have 15 other songs that they seem pretty happy with.
A next album is probably far away considering they worked on SI for almost 3 years. It’s worth hoping for. And maybe a super polished and produced studio album would be a nice contrast to the very raw sounding SI.
Ty, by working on the new material, I more so meant for release late 2016 / early 2017. The do it themselves method they use, plus the other projects that they all have, they would pretty much need to start working early next year for a release around that time. I don’t think 1.5 years is quick to ask for new material when they almost have 15 potential songs 75% done anyway. I more so meant that I would rather they not tour in 2016 and we get an album at the end of 16 or early 17, versus them touring a bunch more and not getting another album until 2018.
Also, I like the raw sound of SI especially in that it sounds a little different than the other FNM albums, but may prefer the next album to sound different on the production side. Just enough to distinguish it from SI’s material so it doesn’t sound like it came out of the same time (even though it probably will). Having said all that, if for some reason nothing else ever happens, I can be content so long as they put out some real live / retrospective albums.
I think realistically we are asking for too much re – new material so early. SI only came out 4 months ago!! Only chance we have is/are B sides to a proper single Imo. We won’t hear ‘new album’ material for a couple of years I suspect. Even a EP in between albums release of their Maida vale performance would be awesome!!
REALLY want new material….
I would like for them to keep pushing sol invictus! A video for SA or BF would revitalize the record and perhaps the band to keep touring into 2016.
It’s funny because in one interview Patton sounded like he thought the unused songs could be mined in the future, whereas Roddy said he would prefer to write a whole new set of songs if they do indeed make another album. Agree, happy to see them keep touring, especially if it results in them trying out new songs like they did with Matador live a few years ago.
And Bill did say he wants to tour next year. But I guess they will get through October, regroup and then decide what to do. I hope Patton doesn’t get too sidetracked with Nevermen. But knowing him, he will.
I sure hope the other 15 songs they wrote in these sessions aren’t lost forever. It sounds like it’s just a matter of Patton giving them the vocal treatment and then the band rearranging them if necessary. I’ve enjoyed all the shows and I know Billy wanted to keep touring into next year, and I’d prefer they do whatever they want (but my hope is that they want to go and finish some more songs).
Nice updates! Great to hear Puffy talk about FNM as a family. This bodes well for the future. I think the lynchpin of the band is Patton, and as long as he is happy, the other guys are happy. Fortunately, Patton seems to be having a ball with FNM and it seems like he realizes, finally, that this is the biggest show he will ever lead vocally. I can’t wait to see if they do something special in Brazil and Chile, like Absolute Zero! And I hope they record again, even if it takes another 2 years to get it right.