Faith No More has always stood out as some sort of unique beast; part dog, part cat--its music almost as schizophrenic as the personalities of its members. When it all worked, it worked really well, even if the chemistry was always volatile. Throughout our 17years of existence, the mental and physical energy required to sustain this creature was considerable and relentless. Though amicable enough, when we finally split, we all followed paths seemingly destined to opposite ends of the universe.
Yet during the entire 10 years that have passed since our decision to break up we've experienced constant rumors and requests from fans and promoters alike. Nevertheless, for whatever reason, none of us kept in regular touch, much less to discuss any possibilities of getting together.
What's changed is that this year, for the first time, we've all decided to sit down together and talk about it. And what we've discovered is that time has afforded us enough distance to look back on our years together through a clearer lens and made us realize that through all the hard work, the music still sounds good, and we are beginning to appreciate the fact that we might have actually done something right.
Meanwhile we find ourselves at a moment in time with zero label obligations, still young and strong enough to deliver a kickass set, with enthusiasm to not only revisit our past but possibly add something to the present. And so with this we've decided to hold our collective breaths and jump off this cliff.... BACK, GOD FORBID, INTO THE MONKEY CAGE!!!
We can only hope that the experience of playing together again will yield results erratic and unpredictable enough to live up to the legacy of FNM. Who know where this will end or what it will bring up...only the future knows. But we are about to find out!
FAITH NO MORE are: Mike Bordin, Roddy Bottum, Bill Gould, Jon Hudson and Mike Patton
I'm not one to favour using too many actions or filters on my photos, but this one I just had to try. Maybe I should have added worn + torn paper edges, too...
Those Who Died in Christ 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
You know that getting a phone call late at night is never really a good thing.
Throughout life, we tend to think that our parents are invincible + that they will always be around forever. We think they will be there to witness every life-changing event whether it's when we make achievements in our careers, when we make that commitment to move to a new + exciting city, eventually get married, have our own children, or even watch our children have children of their own. Unfortunately, the nature of being human is to be born onto the earth + later pass on into the soil. Each + every one of us—with our own individual lengths of thread—go about our daily lives never knowing exactly when that delicate thread will be cut short.
Yesterday, my dear close friends' father abruptly passed away. Apparently, he has been dealing with some sort of sickness* for quite awhile, but sometime in the mid-afternoon he had a heart attack, was rushed to the hospital, + was pronounced dead. It was so unexpected + unbelievable. I am still in shock of the fact that he is no longer with us. It just hits too close to home. My eyes well up whenever I think about him being gone + about all the grief my friends + their family are currently undertaking for their significant loss. I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of sorrow filling their hearts at this time.
Last night, I had a dream that my friend sent me a text message revealing that it was not her father that had passed, but in fact it was an uncle of hers that had lost his life. I woke up sad, but regrettably relieved that it was not her father who died.
Then, after realizing it was only a dream, I began to feel the sadness overcome me once more.
Be in peace, Uncle Angel. { 1952 - 2009 }
My prayers are filling up the heavens for you guys...
*EDITED: The sickness he had been dealing with was congestive heart failure, shortness of breath, then finally his heart just gave way. This was his second heart attack. :(
Trent is quitting the scene "for awhile" + I haven't even had a chance to see him live yet!! :((( They are playing shows this year, but after that they are going into an indefinite hibernation. :(
Towards the beginning of my career in Nine Inch Nails, our biggest break came in the form of an invitation to perform a series of shows with Jane's Addiction. These performances essentially created and defined the term "alternative" rock in the US, created an ongoing festival franchise that is still thriving (Lollapalooza), set the stage for Nirvana to shift popular taste a few months later, and were really fucking FUN to play and attend - truly the best times I've had. The shows were epic. So epic, they propelled NIN to the "next level" (whatever that means), but caused Jane's to implode. The band broke up at the end of that tour.
Fast forward to the present. Corporate rock STILL sucks. A friend tells me they saw the original Jane's lineup play a tiny show in LA that was unbelievable. I break out my Jane's records and am amazed by how vital they sound. These guys were the real deal and in this current climate mostly dominated by poseurs and pussies it was refreshing to hear something that sounded dangerous, volatile, beautiful and SINCERE.
Emails were sent, phone calls were made, dinner was arranged, ideas were discussed and the next thing I know we're in the studio experimenting. We laugh, we get to know each other, we cry, we yell, we almost quit, we record LOTS of guitar solos, we discuss, we actually begin to all communicate, we yell some more, we become FRIENDS, we laugh again and we do some great things. I get to see first hand why they broke up all those years ago but I also get the chance to see four distinct personalities that become an INCREDIBLE band when they're in the same room.
In NIN world, 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of our first releases. I've been thinking for some time now it's time to make NIN disappear for a while. Last year's "Lights in the Sky" tour was something I'm quite proud of and seems like the culmination of what I could pull off in terms of an elaborate production. It was also quite difficult to pull off technically and physically night after night and left us all a bit dazed. After some thought, we decided to book a last run of shows across the globe this year. The approach to these shows is quite different from last year - much more raw, spontaneous and less scripted. Fun for us and a different way for you to see us and wave goodbye. I reached out to Jane's to see if they'd want to join us across the US and we all felt it could be a great thing. Will it work? Will it resonate in the marketplace? Who knows. Are there big record label marketing dollars to convince you to attend? Nope.
Does it feel right to us and does it seem like it will be fun for us and you? Yes it does.
Look for tour dates soon and I hope to see you out there.
Taken during Inauguration weekend. So many people flooded into town from all corners around the world, it was insane, but bearable. Georgetown was packed, but nothing close to NYC's Chinatown crowds.
I am a modern minimalist trapped in a sentimentalist body. In the words of others, I like to keep everything in an "organized clutter". I get my orderly, organizational skills from my mom. [I get my love for music + artistic abilities from my dad.] I have a lot of stuff so being organized + putting everything in its right place seems to come to me naturally.
If something in my room or on my desk was moved, then I would immediately notice. My workmates have dubbed my desk after the Conan O'brien German game show skit "Stackenblocken". They would joke + say everything on my desk was placed at 90° angles [not true], which would help me easily win at Stackenblocken.
This is my journal. I am a full-time interactive designer + freelance photographer with immense love + respect for art, travel, food, technology, + music. Back in 2000, when I first began writing my musings online the content was solely based on my life experiences. Over the years I've meandered from writing on the introspective side + found myself expressing various thoughts, ideas, + interests through photography-inspired posts with little to no narrative. Though, when I tend to think aloud I share them on Twitter. The entry style may have changed, but this site still serves as my chronological journal of random occurrences, introspective or not.
I love{ sketching, design, photography, good typography, XHTML, CSS, constant education, staying current, being with the mister, family, preserving social ties, respect, islands, all things music, plucking guitar strings, sushi, henna mehndi art, photo booths, house hunting, Zumba dance, Body Pump, video games, road trips, rice, spicy food, nature wandering }
Feeed me, Seymour. 
