THE BEAST

During a recent appearance on the Let There Be Talk podcast hosted by comedian Dean Delray, FAITH NO MORE drummer Mike Bordin broke his silence on the band’s extended absence from the stage — and the complicated state of affairs surrounding frontman Mike Patton. It’s been over three years since the band abruptly canceled its scheduled fall 2021 tour, a move that left fans disappointed and curious about the band’s future. Now, Bordin offers a rare and honest look into the events that led to that decision — and where things stand today.

“We Were Ready”

According to Bordin, the band had spent six months rigorously rehearsing for the 2021 dates, preparing both musically and logistically. “We incredibly sounded phenomenal,” he said. “The bass player said, ‘I've never heard us sound this good. This is how these songs sounded in my mind.’” The excitement and momentum were tangible — until just 36 hours before their first scheduled show, when Patton failed to appear for the only full-band rehearsal. With equipment already en route to the venue, panic set in.

“We go to see him and see what's going on… and it was very clear that he was unable at that point to physically do it,” Bordin recalled. “We made the decision that, ‘Look, we’ve gotta support our guy.’” Despite the massive logistical and financial implications of canceling roughly 75 shows, the band unanimously agreed that Patton’s well-being came first.

“From Unable to Unwilling”

Since then, Patton has slowly returned to the stage — but only with his other project, MR. BUNGLE, performing sporadically over the past couple of years. For Bordin, this change in circumstances has brought a shift in perception. “He's gone from being unable to do the shows to clearly being unwilling to do shows with us. And that's heavy. That's a big difference,” Bordin stated. “We haven’t really had much dialogue on it.”

Though careful not to cast blame, Bordin admitted that the situation has taken an emotional toll. “It kind of hurts my feelings a little bit, but that's personal. That’s a private thing. It’s business… but I can’t force him to do something that he, from where I'm sitting, doesn’t seem to wanna do.”

No Hard Feelings — Just Uncertainty

Despite the frustration, Bordin maintains a tone of gratitude. “I'm grateful for what [Patton has] given to us,” he said. “Certainly am I grateful for the time with Mike Patton? Yeah, because my life would be very different without it.” Yet, when asked about the future, he doesn’t sugarcoat the uncertainty: “Will he be willing to do stuff or not? It's not for me to say.”

The sentiment echoes that of bassist Bill Gould, who told Chile’s Radio Futuro earlier this year, “I honestly don't know. And you don't have to believe me, but there's nothing… Right now we're in a really weird spot.” Even keyboardist Roddy Bottum described the band as being on “semi-permanent hiatus” as far back as October 2023.

Mike Patton’s Perspective

Patton himself has previously spoken candidly about the mental health issues that led to the 2021 cancellations. In interviews with The Guardian and Rolling Stone , he described struggles with agoraphobia, depression, and alcohol abuse exacerbated by pandemic isolation. “I got freaked out by being around people,” he said. “It was right before our first rehearsal, and I just freaked out. I just said, ‘I can’t do it.’”

Although he acknowledged the impact on his bandmates — “They had been rehearsing so [pauses] if I were them I'd be really pissed off at me. And they were.” — Patton also emphasized the importance of prioritizing his mental health: “It was just like, ‘Goddamn it. Maybe I don't need to do this… I gotta take care of myself.’”

Where Do They Go From Here?

FAITH NO MORE hasn't performed live since 2016, and their last studio album, Sol Invictus , came out in 2015. While their 2009 reunion and the years that followed reignited the band’s legacy, the road ahead is uncertain at best. With no clear communication among members and diverging personal paths, the idea of another tour or album remains just that — an idea.

Still, fans can take some solace in knowing that the band’s silence hasn’t been rooted in animosity, but in compassion, struggle, and respect — however painful or complex those dynamics may be.

“Appreciate what you have and don't really trip on what you don't have,” Bordin said. And for now, it seems that’s exactly what FAITH NO MORE’s members — and fans — will have to do.