Mike Bordin, Faith No More’s drummer, recently shared details about his unexpected stint with Korn in an interview with Dean Delray.
“So I get this call from Korn drummer’s all saying, ‘Well, I’m at the break and I can’t go back out, I can’t play you know something is something has gone with me and I can’t do it. Can you come and pick up this tour?” Bordin recalled. “I’d never heard the band. I’d never heard their music.”
“I’m not kidding. Literally not kidding. I’m really big on you sh*t what you eat, musically,” he continued. “And especially then, when I’m in Faith No More kind of head down, pushing trying to prove a point. I’m not listening to a lot of other stuff.”
“So, anyways, I hadn’t heard the music. I wasn’t familiar with them at all,” Bordin explained. “At that time, it was fax machines. And he faxed me a set list. So I go to Tower Records because Tower Records stayed open till midnight. I go there around 11:30 at night and I go and buy the entire Korn catalog. And I just start listening to it. I didn’t have a laptop at that point for sure.”
“So I bought the entire catalog and just started listening to the songs on the set list for about 36 hours straight, got a splitting headache. I showed up in Minneapolis on Sunday and started rehearsal on Monday,” he added. “So that was a lot. But I was flattered that they were influenced by our band. I was flattered that they would think enough of me to ask me to come and do it.”
The drummer learned Korn’s entire setlist in just 36 hours before joining the tour.
The collaboration emerged during a critical moment in Korn’s touring schedule. This situation highlighted both the unpredictable nature of live performances and the music industry’s need for quick adaptations.
A report from Remo revealed that Bordin’s emergency recruitment occurred in 2000. He stepped in for Korn’s original drummer, David Silveria, who had suffered a wrist injury preventing him from performing.
Yamaha Artists noted Bordin’s versatility as a drummer made him perfect for the temporary position. His extensive experience spanned beyond Faith No More to various other artists. This diverse background enabled him to adapt to different musical styles effectively.
FNM Followers documented how this temporary arrangement demonstrated Bordin’s professional approach to sudden challenges. He mastered Korn’s complex catalog with minimal preparation time. The successful collaboration highlighted the mutual respect between the bands, as Korn had drawn inspiration from Faith No More’s innovative sound.
This collaboration exemplifies the professional camaraderie within the rock music community. It shows how established artists can transcend genre boundaries to support fellow musicians during challenging times.
