Heavy Montreal Saturday in photos (Faith No More, Iggy Pop, NOFX, Abbath and more)

Faith No More live at Heavy Montreal on August 8, 2015 (photo by Vitor Munhoz).

Heavy Montreal
Parc Jean-Drapeau
August 8, 2015

The 7th edition of Heavy Montreal wrapped up this past weekend, with headliners Korn, Faith No More and Slipknot attracting 40,000 metal and punk fans to Parc Jean-Drapeau for three days of music and mayhem.

Saturday’s bill saw Faith No More return to Montreal exactly 23 years after their last appearance here, opening for the infamous Guns N’ Roses / Metallica double-header at the Big O that ended in a full-scale riot. The band coyly referenced that disastrous show during their Saturday headlining set, between some standard poutine discussion (“I guess that’s why the call it Heavy Montreal,” quipped frontman Mike Patton at one point).

Lackluster banter aside, the band ran through a great career-spanning set, with a stark but striking stage design featuring bouquets of flowers lining the lisp of the stage, and a bright lighting scheme that bathed the band in a nearly angelic glow.

Earlier in the night, punk icon Iggy Pop ripped through a set of primarily solo material, including “The Pasenger,” and “Lust For Life.” For a 68 year-old, Iggy still has some incredible moves, slithering across the stage and tearing off his shirt like he was back playing a Detroit dive bar in ’69.

Other highlights from Saturday included NOFX guitarist El Hefe celebrating his 50th birthday on-stage with a pair of piñatas, and a rare North American appearance by Norwegian Black Metal band Abbath, who still managed to transfix a crowd of metal acolytes and casual fans while sporting corpse paint in the blinding afternoon sun.

Below are photos from the Saturday sets, courtesy of Vitor Munhoz. Photos from Friday, including Korn, Alexisonfire, Neurosis and more can be seen here.

Faith No More