Photographer Report: FAITH NO MORE SIDEWAVE

Exclusive photos and more from Faith No More's Australian shows in February

Photo by Sophie Jane

In the second part of our Soundwave Special, Sophie Paterson heads to two of the Faith No More "Sidewave" shows to catch the band's first shows in Australia for nearly 13 years.

Outrageous stage antics! Random song covers! Foreign lyrics! Security teasing! Genital flashing! Swearing, growling, groaning, squeals and megaphones, it could only mean Faith No More were back on tour...! Australia and New Zealand fans of Faith No More had to wait twelve and a half years for another chance to see the band perform together again. Of course, nobody ever even thought this reunion would ever happen, but for Australia it was particularly special as Faith No More gained huge sucess there. Last time Faith No More did a tour of Australia was October 1997 and the final concert of that tour was October 29th at Perth Entertainment Centre, Western Australia. Despite Album of The Year being No. 1 in the Australian album chart and being certified platinum, tensions were already lingering between the band members that lead to their split, but that 1997 tour was a successful one.

The Australian Faith No More fan base is extremely dedicated. I must have met at least fifteen people who managed to get tickets to all three sideshows besides the Soundwave festivals. Sydney Hordern Pavilion on February 22nd and Melbourne Festival Hall on February 25th sold out in 7 minutes within going on sale! The extra Melbourne show on February 24th was added due to overwelming demand after an agreement with AFI, who were already booked to play the Festival Hall that night. As well as the older fans who saw them live in the 90s like I did, a newer generation of younger fans who were probably in junior school back in 1997 finally got their chance.

You never know what might happen onstage during a Faith No More performance. Watching this band is rather like going to a Michelin star rated restaurant, you know it's going to be good, but not exactly how good until the results of the experience have been tried and tested. This band have always been fantastic live for as long as I can remember. Fifteen years after seeing the band in 1995 at The Forum in London, I never imagined I would actually mention that I was at that show to Mike Patton himself and in Sydney, a long way from home for us, back with his old band mates after more than a decade.

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For the FAITH NO MORE SIDEWAVE reports, head to the links below.

FAITH NO MORE with AFI and NEIL HAMBURGER (24th February 2010)

FAITH NO MORE with NEIL HAMBURGER (25th February 2010)

For more Faith No More and AFI in Australia, have a look at our reports on SOUNDWAVE 2010: Melbourne and Sydney.

SOUNDWAVE MELBOURNE
Faith No More, HIM, Escape The Fate, Anti-Flag, All Time Low, The Get Up Kids.

SOUNDWAVE SYDNEY
Faith No More, Jimmy Eat World, Jane's Addiction, AFI, Placebo, Paramore, Alexisonfire.

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by Sophie Jane

Further links

Faith No More.com

Official page of the recently reunited band