Prolific Patton Keeps Momentum Going With Peeping Tom

Mike Patton is known as much for his numerous incarnations in bands Faith No More, Tomahawk, Mr. Bungle and current project Peeping Tom as he is for his outrageous stage antics and avant-garde singing style.

Collaborator and innovative hip-hop producer Dan "The Automator" Nakamura insists that Patton is just as extreme in real life.

"Last night, for example, he ordered chicken liver and steak tartar," he said during a recent tour stop in Toronto. "That's pretty wild."

Jokes aside, the longtime friends are glad to be touring together in support of Peeping Tom's self-titled debut, which features contributions from Massive Attack, Bebel Gilberto, Kool Keith and even a potty-mouthed Norah Jones. Patton began writing the record with samples ("I wanted it to have that kind of sound: beats, loops," he says) and then chose collaborators based on what each track was lacking.

"Each song was a little bit incomplete and had its own little weakness, and so I chose the guest vocalist or producer or somebody to help fix the problems and hide those weaknesses," he explains.

Patton is a confirmed multi-tasker who works on several projects at the same time. That's why Patton says it took a few years to release Peeping Tom.

"I was working on it in my spare time, doing other things. It was kind of like a hobby and once I had enough material, I realized, 'Oh I should really take this seriously.'"

The album came out last year through Patton's own Ipecac label, which he also uses to release recordings by friends and random eccentric musicians. Its range of genres covers a spectrum including hip-hop, noise, experimental, country and prank phone calls.

Whether overseeing Ipecac or touring with his project du jour, Patton always likes to keep his plate full.

"I'm planning out the rest of the year. I just did a record with John Zorn, did some tracks with Massive Attack, a new Tomahawk record coming out... did some concerts in Italy, so there will be a classical record that will be out later in the year, too."

Having fronted so many unique and influential bands over the years, Patton claims that there's no competition among them for a place in his heart.

"It's like picking a favourite child... I can't really choose, they were all important to me at a certain time. I've a fave of the moment. Right now it's Peeping Tom, for sure."

Since Faith No More's "Epic" became an MTV staple almost 20 years ago, Patton has amassed a pretty loyal cult following, and he seems at ease with the turns his career has taken.

"I just do what I do and I feel lucky enough that people shake a stick at it every now and again. And the under the radar thing, that's the way it's gotta be. You can either spend your life trying to be on TV and probably end up blowing your brains, or just do what you do and be comfortable with who you are."