August 28, 2009 23:53

Faith No More pay tribute to 'EastEnders' at Reading Festival

US metallers ham it up for the tent crowd

Photo: Ian Drewsbury

Reformed avant-garde metal band Faith No More treated the Reading Festival to a cover of the 'EastEnders' theme tune as they headlined the NME/Radio 1 Stage tonight (August 28).

After a furious rendition of 'Malpractice', singer Mike Patton, dressed in a diamante-trimmed red suit, turned to the crowd with a wry look as the band kicked into a rendition of the theme tune, once recorded by 'EastEnders' actress Anita Dobson as 'Anyone Can Fall In Love'. They even reprised their tribute halfway through.

Coming on to chants of "Faith No More! Faith No More!", they opened with 'Midnight Cowboy', featuring Patton blowing on a melodica, before launching into songs such as 'Epic' and 'Be Aggressive'.

Later in the set, Patton treated the crowd to a singing lesson. "Got that note? Happy with it?" he asked. "Now we're going to teach you rhythm. Welcome to my world, bitches."

Teasing the ecstatic crowd throughout the set, Patton finally thanked them for "having been patient with us for so long", adding, "Be patient with this", before launching into an encore of 'RV' and 'Land Of Sunshine'.

Faith No More played:

'Midnight Cowboy'
'From Out Of Nowhere'
'Be Aggressive'
'Caffeine'
'Evidence'
'Surprise! You're Dead'
'Last Cup Of Sorrow'
'Malpractice'
'Easy'
'Midlife Crisis'
'Epic'
'I Started A Joke'
'Gentle Art Of Making Enemies'
'King For A Day'
'Ashes To Ashes'
'Just A Man'
'RV'
'Land Of Sunshine'

NME.COM will be coming live from both the Reading And Leeds Festivals sites this weekend (August 28-30). Stay tuned to NME.COM/festivals for news reports, blogs, video interviews and photos from the event.

Get next Wednesday's (September 2) issue of NME for the ultimate Reading And Leeds Festivals review.

Plus have your say on this summer - fill in the annual NME Festival survey now to cast your verdict on 2009, and tell festival chiefs who you want to see next year.

Watch Faith No More's performance of The Eastenders theme tune live on the NME/Radio 1 stage at Reading Festival below:

Video courtesy of BBC.co.uk/readingandleeds

Watch Faith No More's performance of 'Epic' live on the NME/Radio 1 stage at Reading Festival below:

Video courtesy of BBC.co.uk/readingandleeds