Faith No More’s comeback has a surprise guitarist, and Australia gets him first
Faith No More have revealed that Trey Spruance, who played on 1995's King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime, is back on guitar for their 2027 return, replacing Jon Hudson. The comeback opens in Rio de Janeiro on 15 January, then reaches Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane stadiums with System of a Down, the band's first Australian shows since 2015.
Three things to know
- The band revealed the line-up on Tuesday, US time, with a new promo photo: Mike Patton, Roddy Bottum, Billy Gould, Mike Bordin and Spruance. Hudson is not in it.
- Australian and New Zealand fans see the reunion before almost anyone: Sydney on 22 January, Melbourne 27 January, Brisbane 1 February and Wellington 7 February, all as special guests of System of a Down.
- It ends a five-year silence that began when Patton cancelled the band's shows in 2021, citing his mental health.
Faith No More’s long-delayed comeback now has a face, and it is one fans have not seen in the band’s line-up since the mid-1990s.
The band revealed its 2027 line-up on Tuesday, 10 November US time, in a new promo photo shared on its official social media accounts and website. Alongside singer Mike Patton, keyboardist Roddy Bottum, bassist Billy Gould and drummer Mike Bordin stands guitarist Trey Spruance.
Jon Hudson, who played on 1997’s Album of the Year and 2015’s Sol Invictus, does not appear in the photo and is no longer in the band.
Who is Trey Spruance?
Spruance joined Faith No More after Jim Martin’s departure in 1993 and played on King for a Day… Fool for a Lifetime, the band’s 1995 album. He left before the tour that followed, with Dean Menta taking his place on the road.
He has history with Patton beyond Faith No More: the two played together in Mr. Bungle, the cult band that has kept Patton busy in recent years. Spruance last played live with Faith No More as a guest in 2011, when the band performed King for a Day in full in Chile.
It means the guitarist on stage in 2027 will be the one who played on King for a Day, an album the band last toured without him.
When can Australians see them?
Soon, and before most of the world. After opening at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium on 15 January, Faith No More join System of a Down’s previously announced stadium tour as special guests:
- Sydney, Accor Stadium: Friday 22 January
- Melbourne, Marvel Stadium: Wednesday 27 January
- Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium: Monday 1 February
- Wellington: Sunday 7 February
They will be the band’s first Australian shows since the Soundwave festival in 2015. A planned 2020 return was pushed to 2022 and then cancelled.
North America gets only two festival slots so far, Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach on 6 May and Sonic Temple in Columbus on 16 May, before a run of European festivals in June and July, including Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Germany, Graspop in Belgium and NOS Alive in Lisbon on 9 July.
Why does this reunion matter?
Because for years it looked like it would never happen. Faith No More announced shows in late 2019 for June 2020; the pandemic pushed most of them back, and in 2021 Patton cancelled the remaining dates, citing his mental health.
The band confirmed in June 2026 that it would tour again in 2027, and the Australian and New Zealand dates with System of a Down followed in July. Tuesday’s photo is the first look at who will actually be on stage.
Do I need new tickets?
No new Australian or New Zealand shows have been added. Faith No More are playing as special guests on System of a Down’s existing stadium dates, so those are the tickets to look for.
How we got here
The key moments that brought this story into focus. Open any moment for detail.
1993Spruance joins
Trey Spruance replaces Jim Martin and records King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime, released in 1995.
2015Last Australian shows
Faith No More play the Soundwave festival and release Sol Invictus.
2021Shows cancelled
Mike Patton cancels the band's remaining shows, citing his mental health.
June 2026Comeback confirmed
The band confirms it will tour in 2027.
July 2026Australia announced
Faith No More are added to System of a Down's Australian and New Zealand stadium tour.
10 November 2026Line-up revealed
Spruance is back on guitar; Jon Hudson is out.
What happens next
The comeback opens at the Maracana in Rio on 15 January, with Sydney's Accor Stadium a week later on 22 January. Tickets for the Australian and New Zealand dates are sold through the System of a Down tour. VNN will report any headline shows the band adds.
Sources
- VNN
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