Fantômas (band)

Fantômas
Fantômas performing live
Background information
Origin	California, United States
Genres	Avant-garde metal, alternative metal
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Ipecac
Associated acts	Mr. Bungle, Melvins, Slayer
Website	ipecac.com/artists/fantomas
Members	Mike Patton Buzz Osborne Trevor Dunn Dave Lombardo

Fantômas is an American metal supergroup, formed in 1998 in California. It features vocalist Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle), drummer Dave Lombardo (ex-Slayer), guitarist Buzz Osborne (Melvins) and bassist Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk). The band is named after Fantômas, a supervillain featured in a series of crime novels popular in France before World War I and in film, most notably in the 60s French movie series.

Fantômas began just before the collapse of Faith No More, as a series of spasmic, avant-garde metal songs composed by vocalist and bandleader Mike Patton. Patton then sent the demos to guitarist Buzz Osborne (of Melvins), bass guitarist Trevor Dunn (of Mr. Bungle) and drummer Igor Cavalera (of Sepultura), with the intention of forming a supergroup. Cavalera declined the offer, but recommended who he thought would be perfect for the project: Dave Lombardo of Slayer, who accepted.