The same year, Jim Martin was recruited to replace guitarist Mark Bowen. A four-song demo tape recorded in 1984 led to the band's first real album, "We Care A Lot," released on Mordam Records in 1985.Within a year the band signed up with Slash Records, and in 1987 their 2nd album, "Introduce Yourself," was released. The subsequent tour brought Faith No More a good care of iron in Europe, but when the spell was ended the remainder of the band chose to fire Mosely due to his incessant drinking, limited vocal capabilities, and squabbles with bandmates.Mike Patton, frontman of Eureka, California band Mr. Bungle, was a replacement suggested by Jim Martin, who had heard a demo tape that exhibited the long-gone death metal side of Mr. Bungle. Patton was chartered in January of 1989. In two weeks he had written lyrics for the songs Faith No More was running on for their following album, and "The Very Thing" was released six months later.The album was a decisive success, and the band toured with Metallica shortly, playing in presence of huge audiences. Even so, it wasn't until the song "Epic" was released as a single in January of 1990 that Faith No More's popularity took off in the U.S. thanks in great contribution to heavy rotation of the video (which even received some negative attention for a brief view of a fish flopping around out of water) on MTV. Another successful video for "Dropping To Pieces" followed. Members of mega-rockers Metallica and Guns N Roses named Faith No More among their favorite rock groups. The band received a Grammy nomination for Best Heavy Metal/Hard Rock performance. By the end of the year, "The Very Thing" had gone platinum in the U.S.In 1991, following the impressive success of "The Very Thing," Faith No More released in Britain a transcription of a last show they played there, along with two previously unreleased tracks, entitled "Alive At Brixton." A picture of the same performance called "You Fat B**tards" was released elsewhere. The San Francisco band was now playing large venues worldwide as the principal act, their unique sound & Patton's manic stage antics a puff for fans of all kinds of music.With Faith No More's fourth studio album, "Angel Dust," Patton had more time to write as a full-fledged member of the band, and Gould, Bottum, & Bordin, thanks to the winner of "The Very Thing," had more assurance in their power to make the album they wanted to. At the same time, Martin began to become dissatisfied with the way that their music was going, and oft did not prove up at scheduled rehearsals. Gould was sometimes forced to fill-in guitar parts, and ultimately Martin did not have much input on "Angel Dust," with the exclusion of the guitar-heavy "Jizzlobber." In the summer of 1992, after the loss of the album, its first single, "Midlife Crisis," played regularly on MTV and radio. It was followed by videos for the b-side "Easy," which was very democratic in Europe, and "A Modest Victory."The latter, though an excellent video, was virtually entirely overlooked by MTV, perhaps because neither song supported the heavy rock image of the band prevalent since "The Very Thing," and MTV U.S.A. favors music that is easily categorized. Meanwhile, Faith No More was partly of the biggest tour of the year, opening for rock giants Metallica and Guns N Roses. After that tour, on which they received lukewarm responses from fans of the chief acts, they embarked on tours of the U.S. and Europe as headliners to smaller crowds.In the end, there was no one on "Angel Dust that measured up to the winner of "Epic," and the album did not sell as well as "The Very Thing" had in the U.S. but it did sell enough copies to go gold. It was still more democratic in Europe and Australia, outselling "The Real Thing" in Britain.By the time the touring for "Angel Dust" was complete, the relief of the band agreed that Jim Martin was keeping them back with his want of enthusiasm for the way their music was taking. In November of 1993 he was fired.For 1995's "King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime," Mr. Bungle guitarist Trey Spruance was recruited. Once the album was recorded, however, he left the ring before touring began. The reasons given for his departure varied depending upon whom you asked; Faith No More maintained that Spruance was unwilling to send to a long, worldwide tour. Trey claimed that he was quick to tour, but the others decided he wasn't ripe for the band, and never actually made him a permanent member in the low place. Dean Menta, a former Faith No More roadie & guitarist for the band Duh, was Spruance's replacement.Though "King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime" reached number one on the charts in Australia, and spawned such overseas hits as "Evidence," the album was barely noticed in the U.S. Videos were made for "Digging The Grave," "Evidence," and "Ricochet," all songs with commercial potential, but which were virtually ignored by American MTV. A less than enthusiastic response to shows in the UK prompted the circle to offset the back part of the European "King For A Day" tour, although band members insisted that this would provide an excellent chance for them to get support in the studio & start running on their following album while they were happy with their current line-up.Over the following two years, rumors of a breakup were rampant as various members of Faith No More spent time with several other projects. Drummer Mike Bordin toured with Ozzy Osbourne, Mike Patton toured with Mr. Bungle in support of their new album & released two solo works, and Roddy Bottum found success with his Imperial Teen.Once again they had to get a new guitarist. "Dean had been our guitar player and worked great for the tour, but when it came to writing, we found that we worked differently," said Bill Gould. They settled upon Jon Hudson, a supporter of Gould's and other member of Systems Collapse. The band's sixth studio album, "Album of the Year" was released (June 1997), along with singles and videos for "Ashes To Ashes," "Last Cup of Sorrow," and the electronica-tinged "Stripsearch." Successful tours of America, Europe, and Australia ensued.In the other months of 1998, break-up rumors spread still more intensely than usual. There was speculation that the band members' many side-projects were winning their toll, and involvement in Faith No More was waning. On April 19, 1998 Bill Gould began airing the pursuit by e-mail and fax:"After 15 long and fruitful years, Faith No More have decided to put an end to speculation regarding their imminent break up. by breaking up. The decision among the members is mutual, and thither will be no pointing of fingers, no assignment of names, other than stating, for the record, that "Puffy started it". Furthermore, the schism will now enable each member to follow his individual project(s) unhindered. Lastly, and most importantly, the ring would wish to thank all of those fans and associates that get stuck with and supported the band throughout it's history."Faith No More played their final show in Lisbon, Portugal on April 7, 1998.
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