# Ashes to Ashes (Faith No More song)

"Ashes to Ashes" is the seventh track on Faith No More's sixth studio album Album of the Year. It was the album's first single and was released on May 19, 1997. It was reissued on January 8, 1998.

## Background

When asked about the song, Billy Gould replied:
   The bulk of that song was written the first week. We arranged it here, and then we sent Patton a tape. He was in Italy, but he came up with the lyrics and the singing right away. It was one of those songs that just clicked -- one of those songs that we do most naturally. That's our sound.

## Music video

The music video for "Ashes to Ashes" was shot in Los Angeles during 1997, with British director Tim Royes. It was the second video made for Album of the Year, after "Last Cup of Sorrow", even though "Ashes to Ashes" was the first single released. The video featured the band playing in a supernatural house, and in a 1997 interview, keyboardist Roddy Bottum claimed that this house was also used in the 1995 movie Seven.

## Reception

In his June 1997 review for Album of the Year, Joshua Sindell of Phoenix New Times characterized the song as being a "Soundgarden stomp flirting with a New Romantic-like, arms-outstretched melody."
The Guardian ranked it as the tenth best Faith No More song in 2014. They wrote, "Album of the Year sounded unfinished and is barely listenable. But one track, 'Ashes to Ashes', stood out. It is a moody rocker, with a memorably anthemic chorus that soared thanks to one of the finest vocal performances of Patton's career." When Consequence of Sound ranked all 126 Faith No More songs in 2015, they placed "Ashes to Ashes" at number ten. They characterized the song as having "growling guitar distortion" and "soaring choral arrangements." A July 1997 live version of the track from the "Stripsearch" single was also included in this list, and it was ranked towards the bottom. Louder Sound listed it as the eighth best Faith No More song in 2018. The order of their list was chosen by English funk metal band The Final Clause of Tacitus.
Australian radio station Triple J ranked it 31st on their annual "Hottest 100" list for the year of 1997.

## Covers

In 2021, the electronic duo Last Survivor released a synthwave cover of the song. The following year, American progressive rock band Anova Skyway released a cover of the song on their EP Reset.

## Charts

| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
| Australia (ARIA) | 8 |
| European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media) | 60 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 7 |
| Germany (GfK) | 76 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 26 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 39 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 14 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 50 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 15 |
| UK Rock & Metal (OCC) | 1 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) | 23 |

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000$^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||

## Footnotes

* ^ While only one of DJ Icey & Maestro's "Ashes to Ashes" remixes appear on the UK single set, two remixes were recorded and released:
** The version on the UK "Maroon on Gold" single (850 905-2) as well as Album of the Year bonus disc. This remix is titled "Ashes To Ashes (Automatic 5 Dub)" and DJ Icey and Maestro are given credits in the liner notes.
** A completely different remix which appears on the European and Australian pressing (London Records - 850 911-2) and on the promotional UK (London Records - Ashes-1 ) and French (Barclay 3594 ) pressings. This remix is titled "Ashes To Ashes (Icey and Mystro Mix)".
* ^ Live at the Phoenix Festival '97 on July 27, 1997.