Everything changed for Faith No More in 1988. They gained a new frontman in the form of Mike Patton and recorded what would become their breakthrough album, The Real Thing, which was released in mid-1989. Having flown under the radar with their previous two albums, the genre-blurring San Francisco band were thrust into the spotlight thanks to the album’s second single, “Epic”, which began their run of mainstream success in Australia and around the world.
"Epic”
Released: 1990
Peak: number 1
Australia as a whole had been slow to embrace rap, but Run-DMC’s reworking of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” in 1986 had given the genre one of its early big hits locally. By similarly meshing rap with rock (and funk), Faith No More bulldozed their way through any lingering resistance Australia still had to hip-hop in 1990 and charged straight for the number 1 spot, dislodging the country’s first ever rap chart-topper (MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This”) in the process and spending three weeks on top. The band had chosen “Epic” for release as a single when their record company agreed to make one “final” music video for the album, which up until that point had not taken off. With its exploding piano, rain-drenched band and flopping fish out of water, the clip – and the song – made the impression Faith No More needed.
"Falling To Pieces”
Released: 1990
Peak: number 26
Anything Faith No More released after “Epic” would probably have done well, but this follow-up single had a catchy enough hook to stand on its own merits and another eye-catching music video to ensure music television play. Not a favourite of the band’s, they haven’t played “Falling To Pieces” much in the decades since.
"Midlife Crisis”
Released: 1992
Peak: number 31
With The Real Thing behind them, including an unsuccessful re-release of “From Out Of Nowhere” in early 1991 in Australia, Faith No More moved on to their fourth album, which was preceded by this single. Inspired by Madonna, who was inescapable at the time the song was written, “Midlife Crisis” was as good as things got for the Angel Dust (original version) era, with subsequent singles “A Small Victory” and “Everything’s Ruined” both missing the top 50. But they had a little something up their sleeve…
"Easy”
Released: 1993
Peak: number 1
Recorded during the sessions for Angel Dust and eventually added to the album’s track listing, Faith No More’s cover of “Easy” was not that big a surprise to fans who’d heard them play the 1977 single by Commodores live in concert previously. For casual FNM listeners, the remake, which stayed pretty close to the original, was unlike anything the band had released and duly became their second number 1 in Australia, remaining on top for two weeks.
"Digging The Grave”
Released: 1995
Peak: number 12
Order was restored with this lead single from Faith No More’s fifth album, King For A Day… Fool For A Lifetime, which reverted to the band’s heavier sound. And despite almost reaching the top 10, it was in and out of the top 50 within seven weeks, while follow-up “Ricochet” could only manage a peak of number 58.
"Evidence”
Released: 1995
Peak: number 27
Remaining in the top 50 more than twice as long as “Digging The Grave”, this jazz-funk third single from King For A Day… Fool For A Lifetime once again defied expectations and proved that when Faith No More pushed the boundaries of their sound, they reaped the most commercial reward.
"Ashes To Ashes”
Released: 1997
Peak: number 8
Faith No More’s final chart hit – and one more top 10 single – came with this first release from sixth album Album Of The Year., which boasted moody verses and a soaring chorus. Two more singles were lifted from the album, “Last Cup Of Sorrow” and “Stripsearch”, but neither made the top 50, and within a year, the band had split.
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