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[COLUMN] HEAVY ROOTS

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Written By: Matt Bolton

With so many genres and so much music to take in, one has to open one’s ears and mind and delve deeply into the many sounds out there, after clearing out the ear wax and avoiding the mass-produced plastic mainstream stuff that passes for music these days.

A lot of great bands branch off to form side-projects, release solo albums or join other bands. The HEAVY ROOTS branch out in myriad directions, and for our first tree we will take a look at American rap/rock/metal/alternative/crossover (yes, they wear that many hats!) band Faith No More, a band whose members have branched out in so many ways.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BGrFku2itk?list=RD-BGrFku2itk]

 

Chuck Mosley helped put FNM on the map, fronting the band in their early stages before the great Mike Patton joined the fold. The band still love and respect Mosely, and why not? He was responsible for the unique vocal stylings on the band’s seminal records We Care A Lot and Introduce Yourself.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQhX8PbNUWI]

 

Jim Martin was also a much loved member of the band, bringing his own distinctive guitar style to the first four albums, before leaving after my all-time favourite FNM record, 1992’s monstrous Angel Dust.  Martin released a solo record titled Milk and Blood in 1997, which is worth checking out.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb9E_dhxwhQ?list=PLWDyNjiia17HU8efNqnbnCH8TetnJ__8-]

 

Mike Patton needs no introduction and an entire tree could be made up purely of his weird and wonderful musical exploits. Fronting the band since the departure of Mosley, Patton is a very busy man and continues to put out amazing music with the likes of Fantomas and Tomahawk, among others that will be explored in another episode of HEAVY ROOTS. The band that made a name for Patton however, was the infamous Mr Bungle.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtDEmtwuTlI]

 

Mike ‘Puffy’ Bordin, long time drummer with FNM, has also toured with Black Sabbath and was a member of Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band for some time. One thing I don’t agree with, but it happened, is the re-recording of classic Ozzy Osbourne albums Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, on which Bordin played. Ozzy’s solo albums Black Rain and Down to Earth featured Bordin as did Jerry Cantrell’s solo album Degradation Trip.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGuJ3tvKgo8]

 

Bassist Billy Gould also produces and has made many a guest appearance with other bands. He was the original bassist of grindcore outfit Brujeria before Shane Embury of Napalm Death replaced him. Gould also played with Korn guitarist Munky in his supergroup of sorts, Fear and the Nervous System.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0kCRbSyjmo]

 

Trying not to leave anybody out, keyboardist Roddy Bottum played in an Indie band that goes by the name of Imperial Teen. By all means if you are into that sort of thing, check ‘em out.  

Jon Hudson has been with the band since the underrated King for a Day… Fool for a Lifetime record. The man was also in Mr. Bungle.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Grx08ehxXMM?list=RDGrx08ehxXMM]

 

Courtney Love was also once briefly a member of Faith No More, but don’t worry I won’t be sharing any music from Hole! \m/

 

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