name	GameSpot
logo	180px
url	GameSpot.com
type	Video game journalism
registration	Optional (free and paid)
owner	CBS Interactive
author	Pete DeemerVince BroadyJon Epstein
launch date
alexa	374 () }}

GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which purchased CNET Networks in 2008, is the current owner of GameSpot. GameSpot.com is currently one of the 400 highest-trafficked websites according to Alexa.

In addition to the information produced by GameSpot staff, the site also allows users to write their own reviews, blogs, and post on the site's forums. The forums are partially shared with those on GameFAQs, another website owned by CNET.

In 2004, GameSpot won "Best Gaming Website" as chosen by the viewers in Spike TV's second ''Video Game Award Show'', and has won Webby Awards for several years. Other gaming websites such as IGN, 1UP.com, and GameSpy have been its biggest rivals. The domain ''gamespot.com'' attracted at least 60 million visitors annually by 2008 according to a Compete.com study.

GameSpot's main page has links to the latest news, reviews, previews, and portals for the following current platforms: Wii, Nintendo DS, PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo 3DS. It also includes a list of the most popular games on the site and a search engine for users to track down games of interest. In September 2009, GameSpot started reviewing and cataloging iPhone, Android, and other mobile games. GameSpot also covers the following platforms to a lesser extent: Nintendo 64, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Xbox, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, Neo Geo Pocket Color, N-Gage, and mobile games, among others.

History

When it launched, the site focused exclusively on PC games. Its sister site, VideoGameSpot.com, was launched in December 1996 to cover console games. In 1997, VideoGameSpot.com became VideoGames.com for a short period, and by 1998, the PC and console sections were united at GameSpot.com.

On October 3, 2005, GameSpot adopted a new design similar to that of TV.com, now considered a sister site to GameSpot.

International history

GameSpot UK (United Kingdom) was started in October 1997 and operated until mid-2002, offering Europe-oriented content which often differed from that of the U.S. site. During this period, GameSpot UK won the 1999 PPAi (Periodical Publishers Association interactive) award for best website, and was short listed in 2001. Following the purchase of ZDNet by CNET, GameSpot UK was merged with the main US site. On April 24, 2006, GameSpot UK was relaunched.

In a similar fashion, GameSpot AU (Australia) existed on a local scale in the late 1990s with Australian-produced reviews. It ceased in 2003. When a local version of the main CNET portal, CNET.com.au was launched in 2003, Gamespot.com.au content was folded into CNET.com.au. The site was fully re-launched mid 2006, with a specialized forum, local reviews, special features, local pricings in A$, Australian release dates, and more local news.

GameSpot Japan (Japan) in its current form launched in 2007. It provides Japanese video game industry news, previews, reviews, features, and videos as well as translated articles from the other GameSpot sites. It had recently added a larger video player and community forums to the site.

Notable staff

Shane Satterfield – former editor, currently editor-in-chief of GameTrailers.

Greg Kasavin – executive editor and site director of GameSpot, who left in 2007 to become a game developer. He became a producer at EA and 2K Games but he is currently working for Supergiant Games as writer and creative director for Bastion. Jeff Gerstmann – editorial director of the site, dismissed from GameSpot on November 28, 2007 for undisclosed reasons, after which he started Giant Bomb.

Alex Navarro – editor of the site, resigned due to dismissal of Gerstmann. He later worked as a member of the community team for Harmonix, but is currently an editor for Screened, a sister site of Giant Bomb, and also works part-time for Giant Bomb.

Jason Ocampo – former editor, subsequently editor-in-chief of IGN PC, currently working for Stardock.

Carolyn Petit - current editor, known for reviewing L.A. Noire and her transexualism, which was met with bigoted comments from some users.

Reviews and rating system

In January 2001, GameSpot introduced video reviews for games, which are released for all major games. Other games that the editors believe deserve special mention (for example, the very worst games) are reviewed by video as well. Video reviews mostly re-emphasize the written review text with clips of gameplay embedded.

GameSpot has a detailed guide that explains its reviewing policies, as well as answering frequently asked questions about its reviews.

When GameSpot Complete was introduced in late 2001, older reviews were restricted to Complete members; however, those reviews became available to everyone again several months later.

All games were judged on five different categories: Gameplay, Graphics, Sound, Value, and Reviewer's Tilt. Each category is assigned an integer score from one to ten, and these five integers are combined using a weighted average to arrive at an overall score. Should a game score at least 9.0, it is designated as "superb," and given "Editor's Choice" recognition. Although many games achieve this status each year, only seven in GameSpot's history have ever received a perfect ten.

On June 25, 2007, GameSpot began assigning scores by increments of 0.5 instead of 0.1. It also ended its practice of giving sub-scores for gameplay, graphics, sound, value, and tilt. Instead, user reviews now possess a medal system that permits the reviewer to highlight given characteristics of the game such as its artistic design, original soundtrack, or difficulty. GameSpot believes that this will create a more detailed rating system than the previous one. The only change in terms is the new term "Prime" for games that receive a 10.0 score, replacing "Perfect." Then editor-in-chief Jeff Gerstmann blogged about the change, answering questions regarding it.

While games are rated mostly with regard to how they compare to the other games available on their specific platforms, games released simultaneously for multiple platforms are also compared between systems, which often results in differing scores being given to the same game depending on the system, usually due to the inherent strengths and weaknesses of each platform.

Top Rated Games/Lowest-Rated Game

10 - Perfect: ''Chrono Cross'' 10 - Perfect: ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' (Nintendo 64 version) 10 - Perfect: ''Soulcalibur'' (Dreamcast version) 10 - Perfect: ''Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3'' (PlayStation 2 version) 10 - Prime: ''Grand Theft Auto IV'' (PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions) 10 - Prime: ''Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots'' 10 - Prime: ''Super Mario Galaxy 2'' 9.9 - Near-perfect: ''NFL 2K'' 9.9 - Near-perfect: ''NFL 2K1'' 9.9 - Near-perfect: ''Perfect Dark'' (Nintendo 64 version) 9.9 - Near-perfect: ''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe'' 9.9 - Near-perfect: ''Tekken 3'' (PlayStation version) 9.9 - Near-perfect: ''Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2'' (Dreamcast and PlayStation versions)

On the other end of the spectrum, ''Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing'' is the only game to have ever received a 1.0 ("abysmal"), the lowest score possible.

Note: The near-perfect score of 9.9 is no longer possible under the new rating system implemented in June 2007.

Game of the Year

Every year, GameSpot holds the Best and Worst Game of the Year awards, which recognize achievements in the gaming industry, positive and negative (in the form of "Dubious Honors", containing categories such as "Most Disappointing Game", "Worst Game Everyone Played", "Best Game No One Played" and "Most Despicable Product Placement"). GameSpot also allows users on the site to vote for the winners of the "Readers' Choice" awards. From 1998-2001, GameSpot selected one PC game and one console game for the top title, but from that point forward, they would select one single game from all mediums.

GameSpot's winners for Game of the Year have been so far (the console games from 1997 to 1999 were chosen by videogames.com) :

1996: ''Diablo'' (PC) 1997: ''Total Annihilation'' (PC) 1998: ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'' (Nintendo 64) and ''Grim Fandango'' (PC) 1999: ''Soulcalibur'' (Dreamcast) and ''EverQuest'' (PC) 2000: ''Chrono Cross'' (PlayStation) and ''The Sims'' (PC) 2001: ''Grand Theft Auto III'' (PlayStation 2) and ''Serious Sam: The First Encounter'' (PC) 2002: ''Metroid Prime'' (GameCube) 2003: ''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker'' (GameCube) 2004: ''World of Warcraft'' (PC) 2005: ''Resident Evil 4'' (GameCube) 2006: ''Gears of War'' (Xbox 360) 2007: ''Super Mario Galaxy'' (Wii) 2008: ''Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots'' (PlayStation 3) 2009: ''Demon's Souls'' (PlayStation 3) 2010: ''Red Dead Redemption'' (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

Worst Game of the Year/Flat-Out Worst Game

Each year GameSpot also hands out a Flat-Out Worst Game award (known as Worst Game of the Year before 2003). The award is found in the Dubious Honors category every year. Like Game of the Year, GameSpot allows Readers' Choice awards for Flat-Out Worst Game.

1996: ''Catfight'' (PC)

1997: ''Conquest Earth'' (PC)

1998: ''Spawn: The Eternal'' (PlayStation) and ''Trespasser'' (PC)

1999: ''Superman'' (N64) and ''SkyDive!'' (PC)

2000: ''Spirit of Speed 1937'' (Dreamcast) and ''Blaze & Blade'' (PC)

2001: ''Kabuki Warriors'' (Xbox) and ''Survivor'' (2001 video game) (PC)

2002: ''Jeremy McGrath Supercross World'' (GameCube), ''Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt'' (PS2 & Xbox), ''Mortal Kombat Advance'' (Game Boy Advance) and ''Demonworld: Dark Armies'' (PC)

2003: ''Gods and Generals'' (PC)

2004: ''Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing'' (PC)

2005: ''Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green'' (Xbox & PC)

2006: ''Bomberman: Act Zero'' (Xbox 360)

2007: ''Hour of Victory'' (Xbox 360)

2008: ''M&Ms; Kart Racing'' (Wii & DS)

2009: ''Stalin vs. Martians'' (PC)

2010: ''Fighters Uncaged'' (Kinect)

Note: ''Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing'' was released in 2003

Shows & Podcasts

GameSpot has regular audio podcasts for its US, UK, and AU websites, plus the following video shows:

On the Spot - Gamespot.com (US/international) weekly live video show with alternating hosts. Was replaced in 2009 by Today On the Spot, a pre-recorded show that was shown three times a week. Returned to live On the Spot format in April 2011. GameSpot Sync - Daily news show hosted by Jody Robinson. Start/Select - GameSpot UK's regular video show hosted by Guy Cocker. Crosshairs - GameSpot AU's weekly video show hosted by Randolph Ramsay. The Hotspot - Gamespot.com (US/international) regular audio podcast show, Tom Magrino is current host.

Community Features

Forums

GameSpot's forums were originally run by ZDNet, and later by Lithium. GameSpot uses a semi-automated moderation system with numerous volunteer moderators. GameSpot moderators are volunteer moderators who are picked from trusted members of the community. However, due to the size and massive quantity of boards and posts on GameSpot, there is a "report" feature where a normal user can report a post to a moderator. The reporting feature saves a lot of time and makes sure a lot more content is handled correctly. GameSpot's moderation and ToS state that users must be aged 13 or older to post content and maintain an account. All users must agree to GameSpot's ToS (terms of service) during registration. GameSpot's ToS (as they apply to the community forums) give mods the power to use their own discretion.

One distinct feature of the GameSpot community is the ability of GameSpot Total Access and Plus Access users to create their own user-created board, which can either be set to public or private. The board's creator can appoint their own moderators, and also can display HTML markup at the top of their board. Also, all users have the ability to create or join what is known as a "Union". A Union consists of a user-created board which is attached to an editorial front, as well as a homepage with news bulletins and members lists.

In addition to the message board system, GameSpot has expanded its community through the addition of features such as user blogs (formerly known as "journals") and user video blogs. Users can track other users, thus allowing them to see updates for their favorite blogs. If both users track each other, they are listed on each other's friends list.

In May 2004, the GameFAQs message boards and the GameSpot boards merged most of their game-specific boards together.

On November 11, 2008, GameSpot updated its forum software. Some of the changes include a wider page and a sidebar.

Profiles

Registered users have their own profiles which they can make visible to only themselves, friends, or everyone through their preferences. Profiles can be useful and convenient to the user themselves and to others. In a profile a blog can be started and updated. The blog is shared with the user's TV.com, MP3.com, and MovieTome profiles. Other users can report blog posts to the moderators.

Users can keep a games list within their GameSpot profile which allows them (and others) to track games in four different categories. Users can keep track of news and updates by adding games to the "Tracked Games" list. "Collection" is used for games which the user owns. The "Wish List" is for games users want to try out or intend to buy in the future. Any game can be added to a wish list whether it has already been released or it is pending for release in the future. Users can indicate which games they are currently playing by adding them to the "Now Playing" list.

Emblems are awarded to users by completing various tasks. Some emblems show a user's status (free subscription versus paid subscription). Other emblems denote contest winners, voting participants, staff/moderators, and console aficionados.

Once one has a GameSpot profile, one can edit it, but not delete it. Asking a moderator to delete one's profile gets mixed replies since there appears to be no official posted GameSpot policy regarding the matter. Aspects of ones profile, like one's blog, can be set to "private and viewable by friends only" or "hidden to everyone." However reader reviews are always "public" unless individually deleted by the user who posted them.

Unions

Unions act as online communities within GameSpot. Each union has a blog-style front page and a message board pertaining to a specific topic. Union members post messages and topics in the board and other members of the union can respond. Each union has a level and can receive emblems for growing, being active, or posting good news topics.

Union members can also be awarded ranks within a union, currently there are three: Leader, Officer, and Recruit. Leaders are similar to Administrators of the union, and have the power to modify anything about the union, including the name, avatar and banners, and moderate topics/messages. Officers have the ability to moderate topics and messages and any other abilities the leader wishes to grant to the Officers. Recruits are regular members with the ability to take part in topic and message posting.

Gerstmann dismissal

Jeff Gerstmann, Editorial Director of the site, was fired on November 28, 2007. Immediately after his termination, rumors circulated proclaiming his dismissal was a result of external pressure from Eidos Interactive, the publisher of ''Kane & Lynch: Dead Men'', which had purchased a considerable amount of advertising space on GameSpot's web site. Gerstmann had previously given ''Kane & Lynch'' a fair or undesirable rating along with critique. Both GameSpot and parent company CNET stated that his dismissal was unrelated to the review, but due to corporate and legal constraints cannot reveal the reason. A month after Gerstmann's termination, freelance reviewer Frank Provo left GameSpot after eight years stating that "I believe CNET management let Jeff go for all the wrong reasons. I believe CNET intends to soften the site's tone and push for higher scores to make advertisers happy."

GameSpot staffers Alex Navarro, Ryan Davis, Brad Shoemaker, and Vinny Caravella also left as a result of Gerstmann's termination. Davis co-founded Gerstmann's subsequent project, Giant Bomb, and was later joined by Shoemaker and Caravella. Navarro became the community manager at Harmonix and in 2010 joined up with Whiskey Media, a family of sites that includes Gerstmann's Giant Bomb site, to be part of their new site Screened.com, focusing on cinema and television.

Paid subscriptions

GameSpot formerly had a paid subscription service known as "GameSpot Complete". On February 21, 2006, the paid subscription model was changed. It now maintains two paid membership services: Total Access and Plus.

Total Access is essentially a replacement of GameSpot Complete, as it is the same price of US$5.95 per month or $39.95 per year and offers the same basic benefits. The second premium service, GameSpot Plus, is a cheaper, intermediate-level service.

The main advantage of a paid subscription is that ads are removed that would otherwise appear with a free GameSpot account. It bears mentioning that some ads will still appear with a paid subscription if GameSpot sponsors a contest and that contest is then sponsored by an advertiser. For example, in 2008, Stride gum ads appeared throughout the website, even if the user was a paying subscriber.

The major difference between the old and new membership services is the lack of GameSpot Complete's 10 percent discount at EBGames.com. There was much discontent over this decision, and for a while, GameSpot claimed to have an unspecified replacement in the works. No further details were ever provided.

GameCenter

GameCenter was a gaming service which allowed players to host their own customized servers, chat with their friends, and play an assortment of PC games online with players all around the world, all while tracking users' stats. As of March 6, 2006, the GameCenter subscription service has been discontinued and merged into the GameSpot Total Access service. As a result, GameSpot is discontinuing support of the GameCenter client, but will continue tournament events for Total Access members.

The most recent GameCenter has no relation to the original GameCenter, which CNET Networks ran from 1995 to 2001 as a competitor to GameSpot. Shortly after CNET Networks acquired ZDNet and GameSpot in 2000, the original GameCenter was disbanded.

References

External links

GameSpot (This url redirects users to their local ccTLD version of GameSpot)

* GameSpot Asia

* GameSpot Australia

* GameSpot China

* GameSpot Japan

* GameSpot Korea

* GameSpot UK

* GameSpot US (this is, in fact, identical to the "global" site)

Category:CBS Interactive websites Category:Internet forums Category:Video game review websites Category:Video game news websites Category:Internet properties established in 1996

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name	Mike Patton
background	solo_singer
birth name	Michael Allan Patton
born	January 27, 1968Eureka, California, U.S.
instrument	Vocals, various electronic instrumentation/programming, sampler, drums, percussions, bass, guitar, keyboards
genre	Various
occupation	Musician, songwriter, actor, producer
years active	1985–present
label	Ipecac, Tzadik, Warner Bros. Records, Slash
associated acts	Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, Tomahawk, Peeping Tom, Lovage, John Zorn, Kaada/Patton, Dillinger Escape Plan, Hemophiliac, Maldoror, General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners, Rahzel, Zu
notable instruments	}}

Michael Allan "Mike" Patton (born January 27, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk, Lovage, Fantômas, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Peeping Tom.

Known for his eclectic influences and experimental projects, Patton has earned critical praise for his vocals; which touch on crooning, falsetto, opera, death growls, rapping, screaming, mouth music, beatboxing, and scatting, among other techniques. Critic Greg Prato writes, "Patton could very well be one of the most versatile and talented singers in rock music." While commenting on Patton's extended and diverse music groups, Allmusic called him "a complete and utter musical visionary and a mind-blowing and standard-warping genius."

He has many producer or co-producer credits with artists such as John Zorn, Sepultura, Melvins, Melt-Banana and Kool Keith. He co-founded Ipecac Recordings with Greg Werckman in 1999, and has run the label since.

Biography

Early years

Patton was born and raised in Eureka, California, where he and his friends (including fellow long-time members Trey Spruance and Trevor Dunn) formed Mr. Bungle circa 1984. During the late 80s they recorded the cassette-only demos ''The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny'', ''Goddammit I Love America'', ''Bowel of Chiley'' and ''OU818'' (featuring tracks that would appear on their first Warner Brothers album).

Joining Faith No More

Patton joined Faith No More in January 1989 and filled the vocal void left by the recently-fired Chuck Mosley, who moved on to the band Cement.

Faith No More's ''The Real Thing'' was released later the same year. The album reached the top ten on the charts thanks largely to MTV's heavy rotation of the "Epic" music video (which featured Patton in a T-shirt promoting his own band Mr. Bungle).

In the United States, Faith No More would not again match the commercial success of ''The Real Thing''. After three more studio albums (''Angel Dust'', ''King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime'', and ''Album of the Year'') Faith No More officially disbanded in 1998.

When interviewed about his lyrical content with Faith No More, Patton responded, "I think that too many people think too much about my lyrics. I am more a person who works more with the sound of a word than with its meaning. Often I just choose the words because of the rhythm not because of the meaning".

Mr. Bungle and Beyond

During his time in Faith No More, Patton continued to work with Mr. Bungle. His success in mainstream rock and metal ultimately helped secure Mr. Bungle a record deal with Warner Bros. The band released a self-titled album (produced by John Zorn) in 1991, and the experimental ''Disco Volante'' in 1995. Their final album, ''California'', was released in 1999.

Patton's other projects included two solo albums in the Composer Series on John Zorn's Tzadik label (''Adult Themes for Voice'' in 1996 and ''Pranzo Oltranzista'' in 1997). He is a member of Hemophiliac, in which he performs vocal effects along with John Zorn on saxophone and Ikue Mori on laptop electronics. This group is billed as "improvisational music from the outer reaches of madness". He has also guested on Painkiller and Naked City recordings. He has appeared many times on other Tzadik releases with Zorn and others.

There have been several projects over the years featuring Patton that have not been officially released, although some live bootlegs do circulate. These projects include House of Discipline (with Bob Ostertag and Otomo Yoshihide), Moonraker (with Agata Ichirou of Melt-Banana, Buckethead and DJ Eddie Def), Christian Fennesz and Mike Patton, and Patton & Rahzel. Patton contributed vocals to the Team Sleep song ''Kool-Aid Party'', but the song did not make it onto the final album.

In 2004, Patton worked with Björk and the beat boxer Rahzel on her album, ''Medúlla''.

In 2005, Patton signed on to compose the soundtrack for the independent movie ''Pinion'', marking his debut scoring an American feature-length film. However, this had been held up in production and may be on the shelf permanently. His other film work includes portraying two major characters in the Steve Balderson film ''Firecracker''. He has also expressed his desire to compose for film director David Lynch.

In February 2006, Mike Patton performed an operatic piece, composed by Eyvind Kang, at Teatro di Modena in Italy. Patton sang alongside vocalist Jessika Kinney, and was accompanied by the Modern Brass Ensemble, Bologna Chamber Choir, and Alberto Capelli and Walter Zanetti on electric and acoustic guitars. Patton remarked that it was extremely challenging to project the voice without a microphone.

Patton's ''Peeping Tom'' album was released on May 30, 2006 on his own Ipecac label. The set was pieced together by swapping song files through the mail with collaborators like Norah Jones, Kool Keith and Massive Attack, Odd Nosdam, Jel, Doseone, Bebel Gilberto, Kid Koala, and Dub Trio.

In May 2007 he performed with an orchestra a few concerts in Italy, by the name of Mondo Cane, singing Italian oldies from the 50s and the 60s.

Mike also provided the voices of the monsters in the 2007 film ''I Am Legend'' starring Will Smith.

He is regarded as very hard-working. Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum remarked about Patton "caffeine is the only drug he does", in reference to the Faith No More song "Caffeine" from the album ''Angel Dust'', which Patton wrote while in the middle of a sleep-deprivation experiment. He also worked on the Derrick Scocchera short film "A Perfect Place" for the score/soundtrack, which is longer than the film itself.

In December 2008 along with Melvins, Patton co-curated an edition of the All Tomorrow's Parties Nightmare Before Christmas festival. Patton chose half of the lineup and performed the album ''The Director's Cut'' in its entirety with Fantômas. Patton also appeared as Rikki Kixx in the Adult Swim show ''Metalocalypse'' in a special 2 part episode on August 24.

In 2009 Patton created the soundtrack to the movie ''Crank: High Voltage''. He also performed vocals on the track "Lost Weekend" by The Qemists.

On May 4, 2010 ''Mondo Cane'', where Patton worked live with a 30-piece orchestra, was released by Ipecac Recordings. The album was co-produced and arranged by Daniele Luppi.

"Recorded at a series of European performances including an outdoor concert in a Northern Italian piazza, the CD features traditional Italian pop songs as well as a rendition of Ennio Morricone's 'Deep Down'."

Video game involvement

Patton is known to be an avid video game player. In 2007, he provided the voice of the eponymous force in the video game ''The Darkness'', working alongside Kirk Acevedo, Lauren Ambrose and Dwight Schultz. Record label Ipecac Recordings have confirmed he will reprise the role in The Darkness II in 2011.

He also had a minor role in Valve Corporation's 2007 release ''Portal'' as the voice of the Anger Sphere in the final confrontation with the insane supercomputer, GLaDOS. He has another role in the Valve title ''Left 4 Dead'', voicing the majority of the infected zombies. He also voiced Nathan "Rad" Spencer, the main character in Capcom's 2009 video game ''Bionic Commando'', a sequel of their classic NES title.

Faith No More reunion

In February 2009, Faith No More announced that they were reforming for a tour and possibly new material, first as a footnote on a blurb for Patton's score for ''Crank: High Voltage'' and later as an official announcement on fnm.com. Their first gig on the road again was at the Brixton O2 Academy in London, where 1990's ''Live at the Brixton Academy'' was recorded, on June 10, 2009. They have played as one of three headliners at The Download Festival 2009, in Castle Donington, which was Faith No More's first time at the festival. At the festival they covered "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga with Patton mimicking her vocal style. Bassist Billy Gould has also stated that an American tour is "not out of the question". In June 2009 Faith No More announced that they will be headlining the NME stage at Reading & Leeds festival. On July 4, Faith No More performed a concert together at the Open'er festival in Kosakowo Airport near Gdynia, Poland.

Faith No More also played the large Roskilde Festival near the city of Roskilde, Denmark. Faith No More also performed in Portugal in Optimus Alive'10, where Mike Patton sang one song, "Evidence", completely in Portuguese. They had already played the same song completely in Italian on June 14, 2009, at the Rock in Idro Festival in Milan. 12 August 2009 was the date for FNM's first Turkish live appreance in Istanbul. Faith No More headlined the Australian Soundwave Festival in 2010. On the 27th of August 2009, Faith No More played in the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland and were supported by local band Adebisi Shank.

On September 1, 2009 Faith No More played at Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center in Tel Aviv, Israel, supported by Monotonix and Dinosaur Jr. August 2009 Faith No More headlined the Radio 1/NME Stage at both Leeds & Reading Festival where they played the theme tune to popular UK Soap Eastenders as part of their setlist.

Most of the summer shows started with a cover of the song "Reunited" by Peaches & Herb.

Faith No More is still together as of July 2011.

Reactions to fame

Patton has garnered critical praise and has been made a heavy metal icon; however, Patton's reaction to this fame has been unconventional. He has acted irreverently towards the music industry, and expressed his distaste for the infamous lifestyles of rock stars. In a 1995 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, he stated: "It's hard to see as much as you'd like to with our schedule on the road, but it's harder to do coke and fuck whores every night. Now that's a full time job." His attitude towards popular music is also evident in his songwriting, as Allmusic critic Cammila Albertson writes: "When Patton sings 'Roll it up and smoke it again/Bottoms up and drink it again/ Fix it up and shoot it again/ I can't believe I did it again,' (Mojo by Peeping Tom) he is keenly aware of the way it sounds for such an avant-garde composer as himself to recite perfect rock & roll cliches. His lyrics mock the self-important coolness of the music industry and self parody his own place in it." His contempt for the over-the-top antics of figures in popular music is often cited as the main reason that Patton has always been so guarded about his privacy and personal life. On the other hand, Mike Patton has stated that he enjoyed his time in Faith No More:

Personal life

Patton married Italian artist Titi Zuccatosta in 1994. They separated in 2001. During an appearance on the radio show, LOVELINE (Listen), Patton said that it was a case of two people wanting different things and hinted that his excessive work habits may have been a factor. "It's very hard. It's a daily struggle", he commented in regards to the rigors of juggling a busy music career and a marriage. "It had to happen... Even though we knew each other really well when we got married, it doesn't get easier." He later added, "We're trying this. See what happens. There's still hope." Patton used to own a home in Bologna, Italy (which he sold around the time of the break-up), and speaks fluent Italian. He was interviewed by music journalist Lucas H. Gordon and the answers were given by Patton in Italian.

Patton's right hand is permanently numb from an on-stage incident during his third concert with Faith No More, where he accidentally cut himself on a broken bottle and severed the tendons and nerves in his hand. He can use his hand, but he has no feeling in it (despite his doctor telling him the opposite would happen).

Discography

Filmography

1990 - ''Live at the Brixton Academy, London: You Fat Bastards'' by Faith No More (VHS)

1993 - Video Croissant by Faith No More (VHS)

1993 - Video Macumba - Short film compiled by Mike Patton containing abstract and extreme footage

1998 - Who Cares a Lot: Greatest Videos by Faith No More (VHS)

2002 - ''A Bookshelf on Top of the Sky: 12 Stories About John Zorn''

2004 - The Inner or Deep Part of an Animal or Plant Structure by Björk

2004 - ''Wamego: Making Movies Anywhere'' - Documentary on the making of ''Firecracker''

2005 - ''Firecracker'' - Frank/David

2006 - Live at the Brixton Academy, London: You Fat Bastards/Who Cares a Lot?: The Greatest Videos by Faith No More (double disc DVD compilation of previously released VHS titles)

2007 - ''Kaada/Patton Live'' - Live performance DVD

2007 - ''I Am Legend'' - Creature Vocals (voice) (credited as Michael A. Patton)

2008 - ''A Perfect Place'' - Short film soundtrack by Patton (Released with film as CD/DVD special edition)

2008 - ''Live From London 2006'' - Live DVD release of a performance by the Fantomas Melvins Big Band in London on May 1, 2006

2008 - Metalocalypse'' - Patton voices the character of reformed rocker Rikki Kixx on episodes "Snakes N Barrels II" part one and part two. This special 2 part, half hour presentation aired on The Cartoon Network August 24, 2008.

2009 - ''Crank: High Voltage'' - Film Score

2010 - ''Bunraku'' - Narrator

Video games

2007 - ''The Darkness'' - Voice of The Darkness (Starbreeze Studios)

2007 - ''Portal'' - Voice of the Anger Sphere (Valve Software)

2008 - ''Left 4 Dead'' - Infected voices (Valve Software)

2009 - ''Bionic Commando'' - Voice of Nathan Spencer - the Bionic Commando (Capcom)

2009 - ''Left 4 Dead 2'' - Infected voices (Valve Software)

2011 - ''The Darkness 2'' - Voice of The Darkness (Digital Extremes)

References

Zorn, John, ed. (2000). ''Arcana: Musicians on Music''. New York: Granary Books/Hips Road. ISBN 1-887123-27-X.

Gta Sanandreas - Midlife crisis Tony Hawk - Midlife crisis Thug2 - Midlife crisis

External links

Ipecac Recordings

Music Videos

Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:American composers Category:American keyboardists Category:American male singers Category:American rock singers Category:American voice actors Category:Beatboxers Category:American experimental musicians Category:Experimental composers Category:Musicians from California Category:Melodica players Category:Faith No More members Category:Mr. Bungle members Category:Scat singers Category:People from Eureka, California Category:Tzadik Records artists

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