# Album of the Year Tour

The Album of the Year Tour was a concert tour by San Francisco band Faith No More, in support of their 1997 release Album of the Year. It was Faith No More's final tour before their original breakup in April 1998. Only 32 of the dates were in their native North America, due to the band's greater popularity overseas at the time.

## Background

The tour covered several continents, lasting from April 1997 to December 1997. During April 1998, the band reconvened for three festival dates in Spain and Portugal. These would end up being their last shows in over 10 years, as they announced their split later that month.
When Album of the Year was released in June 1997, Mike Bordin was called in to perform with Ozzy Osbourne for that year's edition of Ozzfest, which ran from May 24 to July 1. This resulted in Robin Guy (of the band Rachel Stamp) filling in on drums for Bordin during a UK Top of the Pops performance on May 30, as well as an absence of any Faith No More shows during the month of June. Shortly after he returned from Ozzfest, the band had to cancel four July dates in Europe, so Bordin could attend the birth of his first daughter in San Francisco.
The Album of the Year tour is notable for featuring Limp Bizkit, a nu metal/rap metal band greatly influenced by Faith No More, as an opener for several 1997 US dates. They were frequently booed by Faith No More's fans, including during a September 1997 concert at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, where the crowd booed them off stage. In a 2013 interview, Roddy Bottum reflected on the shows with Limp Bizkit, recalling "I fought it at the time. I had to really push to get a couple bands that I liked to get on the bill in Portland and Seattle on that leg. I had no interest in the sound of Limp Bizkit. It was not how I wanted to be represented at all. Not to be snotty at all, but that guy Fred Durst had a really bad attitude. He was kind of a jerk." Bottum also remembered an incident where Durst "called the audience faggots at one show when they booed him." Durst apologized to him after this show, as he did not know that Bottum had come out as gay in the early 90s. Limp Bizkit's guitarist Wes Borland later claimed that his band were excited about the prospect of getting to tour with Faith No More, stating "the idea of it was cool [but] once we got there, it was a really tough crowd. They have a really tough crowd to please, who are very vocal about not liking you. We opened for Faith No More and Primus in the same year, and the Primus tour went a lot better than the Faith No More tour." Borland added that he did not get to know Mike Patton personally until several years later.
During the tour, they would cover various songs, both in full and as snippets, such as the Aqua song "Barbie Girl", "Highway Star" by Deep Purple, Will Smith's "Men in Black", Herb Alpert's "This Guy's in Love with You" and the R. Kelly songs "I Believe I Can Fly" and "Gotham City". An intro tape was used at the beginning of shows, which contained "Also sprach Zarathustra", followed by an Elvis-style fanfare clip announcing Faith No More as being from Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. The band's setlists for the tour mainly consisted of their 1990s material, with songs from Introduce Yourself and The Real Thing being played less frequently than before. However, the track "As the Worm Turns" (from 1985's We Care a Lot) began to appear more often this tour, having been mostly absent throughout the 1995 King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime tour. All songs from Album of the Year were played during the tour, with the sole exception of "She Loves Me Not", which still remains one of the only studio album songs Faith No More has never performed live. The two b-sides "The Big Kahuna" and "Light Up & Let Go" were also not played, and have remained unperformed to this day. "Helpless" was only performed a single time on the tour, during the October 26, 1997 show at Festival Hall in Melbourne, Australia.
On the European legs, Faith No More performed in Croatia and Luxembourg, two countries they had never previously visited.

## Concert dates
### Early European shows

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Other Performers |
| April 22, 1997 (First show since September 1995, and first show with Jon Hudson) | London | England | Hippodrome | |
| April 28, 1997 | Stockholm | Sweden | Electric Garden | |
| April 30, 1997 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Paradiso | Hanniball |
| May 3, 1997 | Paris | France | Élysée Montmartre | Treponem Pal |
| May 4, 1997 | Colgone | Germany | Bürgerhaus Stollwerck | |
| May 5, 1997 | Berlin | Germany | SO 36 | |
| May 6, 1997 | Hamburg | Germany | Markthalle | Bad Sin |
| May 8, 1997 | Paris | France | Nulle Part Ailleurs | |
| May 12, 1997 | Glasgow | Scotland | Arches | |
| May 13, 1997 | Nottingham | England | Rock City | |
| May 13, 1997 | London | England | Astoria | A |
| May 16, 1997 | London | England | TFI Friday | |
| May 30, 1997 (With Robin Guy of Rachel Stamp on drums) | London | England | BBC Top of the Pops | Spice Girls |
| Album of the Year is released around the world in June 1997 |||||

### July '97 Florida shows

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Other Performers |
| July 4, 1997 | Tampa | United States | Pinellas County Fairgrounds | Our Lady Peace, Mighty Joe Plum, Sugartooth, Cool for August, Creed, Naked |
| July 5, 1997 | Sunrise | United States | Markham Park | Better Than Ezra, The Nixons, Orbit |

### First European leg

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Other Performers |
| July 10, 1997 (Cancelled due to the birth of Mike Bordin's daughter) | Naples | Italy | Open Air at the Sea | |
| July 11, 1997 (Cancelled due to the birth of Mike Bordin's daughter) | Venice | Italy | Beach Bum Rock Festival | |
| July 12, 1997 (Cancelled due to the birth of Mike Bordin's daughter) | Frauenfeld | Switzerland | Out in the Green Festival | |
| July 13, 1997 (Cancelled due to the birth of Mike Bordin's daughter) | Wels | Austria | Festival | |
| July 15, 1997 | Katowice | Poland | Spodek Sporthall | Flapjack |
| July 17, 1997 | Prague | Czech Republic | Sky Club Brumlovka | Satisfucktion |
| July 19, 1997 | Zeebrugge | Belgium | Beach Rock Festival | Simple Minds, Wet Wet Wet, Neneh Cherry, Mark Owen, Shaggy |
| July 20, 1997 | Stratford Upon Avon | England | Phoenix Festival | David Bowie, Billy Bragg, Catatonia, Apollo 440 |
| July 23, 1997 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Vega | |
| July 24, 1997 | Oslo | Norway | Rockefeller | |
| July 26, 1997 | Stockholm | Sweden | Lollipop Festival | |
| July 28, 1997 | Helsinki | Finland | Kulttuuritalo | |
| August 14, 1997 (Cancelled) | Cunlhat | France | Free-Wheels Festival | |
| August 16, 1997 | Cologne | Germany | Bizarre Festival | Silverchair, Fettes Brot, Marilyn Manson, Rollins Band, Bush, Skunk Anansie, Atari Teenage Riot, Catherine, Das Auge Gottes, Deine Lakaien, Descendents, Pist.On, Sans Secours |
| August 17, 1997 | Budapest | Hungary | Pepsi-sziget fesztivál | Tankcsapda, New Model Army, Ladánybene 27 |
| August 19, 1997 | Haifa | Israel | City Hall | |
| August 20, 1997 | Tel-Aviv | Israel | Cinerama | |
| August 22, 1997 | Trutnov | Czech Republic | Trutnov Open Air Festival | |
| August 24, 1997 | Dronten | Netherlands | Lowlands Festival | Foo Fighters, Life of Agony, Heideroosjes, Rowwen Hèze, Skunk Anansie, Rammstein, Blur, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Pigmeat, Millencolin, Pennywise, I Against I |
| August 25, 1997 | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | Den Atelier | |
| August 26, 1997 | Utrecht | Netherlands | Tivoli | |
| August 27, 1997 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Night Town | |
| August 29, 1997 | Strasbour | France | La Laiterie | |
| August 30, 1997 | Konstanz | Germany | Rock Am See Festival | |
| August 31, 1997 | Bologna | Italy | Arena Parco Nord | Eels |

### North American leg

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Other Performers |
| September 5, 1997 | Tinley Park, IL | United States | New World Music Theatre | Veruca Salt, Silverchair, Seven Mary Three, Megadeth, Local H, Limp Bizkit, Helmet, Gravity Kills, Days of the New, Cracker |
| September 7, 1997 | Tulsa | United States | Mohawk Park | Helmet, Sugar Ray, Reel Big Fish, Our Lady Peace, Smash Mouth, Caroline's Spine, Outhouse, Artificial Joy Club, Groove Pilots |
| September 9, 1997 | St. Louis | United States | Mississippi Nights | Limp Bizkit |
| September 10, 1997 | Columbus | United States | Newport Music Hall | Limp Bizkit |
| September 11, 1997 | Cincinnati | United States | Bogart's | Limp Bizkit |
| September 12, 1997 | Atlanta | United States | Masquerade | Limp Bizkit |
| September 13, 1997 | Charlotte | United States | Blockbuster Pavilion | Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Blues Traveler, Primus, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Soul Coughing |
| September 14, 1997 | Virginia Beach | United States | Virginia Beach Amphitheater | Seven Mary Three, The Nixons, Corrosion of Conformity, Jimmie's Chicken Shack |
| September 16, 1997 | Washington | United States | 9:30 Club | Limp Bizkit |
| September 17, 1997 | Sea Bright | United States | The Tradewinds | Limp Bizkit |
| September 18, 1997 | Providence | United States | Strand Theatre | Limp Bizkit |
| September 19, 1997 | New York | United States | Roseland Ballroom | Limp Bizkit |
| September 20, 1997 | Philadelphia | United States | Electric Factory | Limp Bizkit |
| September 21, 1997 | Worcester | United States | Green Hill Park | Limp Bizkit, Godsmack, Sector 98, Fjlex |
| September 22, 1997 (Rumored; not officially confirmed) | Rochester | United States | Waterstreet Music Hall | Limp Bizkit |
| September 23, 1997 | Cleveland | United States | Agora Theatre | Limp Bizkit |
| September 24, 1997 | Detroit | United States | St. Andrews Hall | Limp Bizkit |
| September 25, 1997 | Milwaukee | United States | Modjeska Theatre | Limp Bizkit |
| September 26, 1997 | Bonner Springs | United States | Sandstone Amphitheatre | Pantera, Machine Head, Limp Bizkit, Coal Chamber |
| September 27, 1997 | Dallas | United States | Deep Ellum Live | Limp Bizkit |
| September 28, 1997 | New Orleans | United States | Marconi Meadows | Foo Fighters, Fiona Apple, Better Than Ezra, Candlebox, Cowboy Mouth, Limp Bizkit, Reel Big Fish |
| October 1, 1997 | Denver | United States | Odgen Theatre | Limp Bizkit |
| October 2, 1997 | Salt Lake City | United States | Brick's | Limp Bizkit |
| October 3, 1997 | Las Vegas | United States | Huntridge Theatre | Limp Bizkit |
| October 4, 1997 | Phoenix | United States | Celebrity Theater | Limp Bizkit, Grey Daze |
| October 5, 1997 | Los Angeles | United States | Palace | Limp Bizkit |
| October 6, 1997 | San Francisco | United States | The Warfield | lowercase |
| October 8, 1997 | Portland | United States | La Luna | lowercase |
| October 10, 1997 | Vancouver | Canada | Rage | lowercase |
| October 11, 1997 | Seattle | United States | Moore Theatre | |

### Australia/New Zealand leg

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Other Performers |
| October 16, 1997 | Wellington | New Zealand | Queens Wharf | |
| October 17, 1997 | Auckland | New Zealand | North Shore Events Centre | Go Ask Alice |
| October 20, 1997 | Sydney | Australia | Hordern Pavilion | Shihad |
| October 21, 1997 | Sydney | Australia | Hordern Pavilion | Shihad |
| October 23, 1997 | Newcastle | Australia | Workers Club | |
| October 24, 1997 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | |
| October 26, 1997 | Melbourne | Australia | Festival Hall | Shihad |
| October 27, 1997 | Melbourne | Australia | Festival Hall | Shihad |
| October 29, 1997 | Adelaide | Australia | Adelaide Entertainment Centre | |
| November 1, 1997 | Perth | Australia | Perth Entertainment Centre | Shihad |

### Japanese leg

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| November 5, 1997 | Nagoya | Japan | Club Quattro |
| November 6, 1997 | Osaka | Japan | Sinsaibashi |
| November 7, 1997 | Tokyo | Japan | Shibuya On Air East |
| November 8, 1997 | Tokyo | Japan | Shibuya On Air East |

### Second European leg

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Other Performers |
| November 11, 1997 | Hamburg | Germany | Grosse Freiheit | |
| November 12, 1997 | Berlin | Germany | Huxley's Neue Welt | |
| November 13, 1997 | Ludwigsburg | Germany | Forum Am Schlosspark | |
| November 14, 1997 | Sursee | Germany | Stadthalle | |
| November 15, 1997 | Geneva | Switzerland | Vernier sur Rock | |
| November 17, 1997 | Munich | Germany | Colosseum | Radish |
| November 18, 1997 | Vienna | Austria | Libro Music Hall | |
| November 19, 1997 | Ljubljana | Slovenia | Hala Tivoli | Odpisani, Psycho-Path |
| November 20, 1997 | Zagreb | Croatia | Dom Sportova | |
| November 21, 1997 | Milan | Italy | Palalido | Radish |
| November 23, 1997 | Moscow | Russia | Lushniki | Tequilajazzz, Green Gray, Naive |
| November 25, 1997 | Offenbach am Main | Germany | Stadthalle Offenbach | Eskimos and Egypt, Radish |
| November 26, 1997 | Düsseldorf | Germany | Stahlwerk | |
| November 27, 1997 | Hannover | Germany | Music Hall | Eskimos and Egypt, Radish |
| November 29, 1997 | London | England | Brixton Academy | Radish |
| November 30, 1997 | Cambridge | England | Corn Exchange | |
| December 1, 1997 | Wolverhampton | England | Civic Hall | |
| December 3, 1997 | Manchester | England | Manchester Academy | Radish |
| December 4, 1997 | Nottingham | England | Rock City | Radish |
| December 5, 1997 | London | England | TFI Friday | |
| December 5, 1997 | Glasgow | Scotland | Barrowlands | |
| December 6, 1997 | Innsbruck | Austria | MTV Air & Style Event | |
| December 8, 1997 | Lyon | France | Transbordeur | |
| December 9, 1997 | Paris | France | Canal + Studios | |
| December 9, 1997 | Paris | France | Le Bataclan | Radish |
| December 10, 1997 | Lille | France | L'Aéronef | Radish |

### Late European shows

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Other Performers |
| April 4, 1998 | Granada | Spain | Festival Esparrago Rock | |
| April 6, 1998 | Oporto | Portugal | Coliseu do Porto | |
| April 7, 1998 | Lisbon | Portugal | Coliseu dos Recreios | |
| Faith No More officially announce their breakup on April 20, 1998 |||||
| July 1, 1998 (Cancelled due to breakup) | Kristiansand | Norway | Quart Festival | |
| July, 1998 (Cancelled due to breakup) | Ringe | Denmark | Midtfyns Festival | |
| July 9, 1998 (Cancelled due to breakup) | Cologne | Germany | Sporthalle | Aerosmith |