Buzz Osborne rules out Fantômas reunion: “I just don’t see it happening”
In an exclusive interview with Far Out, Buzz Osborne has ruled out reuniting with heavy rock supergroup Fantômas.
The group was founded by Faith No More frontman Mike Patton in 1998, who brought together a star-studded cast to join him for the venture. In addition to also featuring Osborne, the band’s line-up was completed by Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo, and Mr Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn, the latter of which Osbourne is currently touring alongside.
Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of their last album, Suspended Animation, and for the last two decades, fans have patiently waited for news of a fifth Fantômas record.
It was previously revealed by Patton in 2006 that Fantômas had plans to make an electronic record, but it never came to fruition. However, the group have sporadically played a series of shows despite their inactivity as a recording outfit.
Their most recent show came in 2017 when they reunited for a one-off appearance supporting Tool in California, and since then, it has been unknown whether Fantômas are still together or whether they have plans to return to the studio.
Unfortunately for fans expecting a comeback, Osborne exclusively told Far Out in a new interview, “I think it’s very, very, very unlikely it’ll ever happen.”
When asked to elaborate on the reason he believes why Fantômas are “very unlikely” to make a comeback, The Melvins guitarist pointed to Patten, explaining, “Well, you’d have to get Mike involved in it, and who knows what’s going through his head? I just don’t see it happening.”
Despite not having faith in a Fantômas reunion, Osborne is confident that it would be a huge success in the improbable event that it occurred, remarking, “I think Fantômas would do really well, especially at this point; it’s been so long since we did anything. But I just can’t see it happening.”
Furthermore, Osborne told Far Out that he’s still in contact with the rest of Fantômas apart from Patton, and Melvins even toured with Mr Bungle in Australia this March. “I think it would be huge. I’m not in charge. It’s not up to me,” he re-affirmed.
Before joining Fantômas, Osborne was unaware of Patton’s output with Faith No More despite the immense success they achieved in the 1990s. He recalled: “It was really hilarious. We’d be on tour with Fantômas, and all these Patton fans would come up to me and start asking me all these questions. I’d tell them, ‘I don’t know anything about Faith No More.’”
Osborne is currently in the United Kingdom with King Buzzo and is set to play Dingwalls in London on October 31st alongside his Fantômas bandmate Trevor Dunn.
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