While the future of Faith No More remains shrouded in uncertainty, the band’s past reached a significant milestone this weekend. Sunday, November 30, marked the 40th anniversary of the release of We Care A Lot, the band’s scrappy 1985 debut album that planted the seeds for the alternative metal explosion of the 1990s.
To commemorate four decades since the record’s release, founding bassist Billy Gould took to social media to offer a candid reflection on the album. Featuring the late vocalist Chuck Mosley—who fronted the group until 1988—the record is often overshadowed by the commercial juggernauts that followed in the Mike Patton era. However, Gould argues that the rough-around-the-edges spirit of the debut makes it perhaps the most vital entry in their discography.
In a heartfelt post, Gould acknowledged the technical limitations of the recording while praising the sheer determination that fueled its creation.
Gould wrote:
“Once the music is recorded and it let out into the world, everything becomes subjective: is it better, is it worse, is this the band at its most intuitive or most naive? On a techical level, this one is far from our best work. But in terms of spirit, it’s right up there. A highly willful gang of presumptuous kids, not quite understanding who they were, but yet, clearly feeling where they need to go.
“The band was unknown, so there were no outside expectations. But plenty of freedom and drive, and though we did argue a lot, we were united in the project on a core level..we spent money that we didn’t really have to create a vibe, and when it was finished, we looked at ourselves differently. So to me, this might be the one that matters the most, and set the stage for what was to follow.”
The post drew a response from former Faith No More guitarist and current Mr. Bungle mastermind Trey Spruance, who validated Gould‘s assessment.
“I’ve made no secret that this is my favorite Faith No More album,” Spruance commented. “Still feel that way. It captures the élan of the band in its vital essence.”
We Care A Lot is one of only two studio albums to feature Mosley, who passed away in 2017. While the title track “We Care A Lot” eventually found a second life as the theme song for the TV show “Dirty Jobs” and has been covered by acts like Korn, the album is historically credited with helping to draft the blueprint for the rap-metal and nu-metal genres.
Despite the nostalgic celebration, Faith No More remains in a state of “semi-permanent hiatus.” The band has been inactive since canceling their 2021 tour dates to allow Mike Patton to address mental health issues. Recent comments from keyboardist Roddy Bottum and drummer Mike Bordin suggest that a reunion is not currently on the horizon.
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