“Hasta Que Te Conocí” was heard once again on Thursday (Oct. 1) at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico’s most important cultural venue, 13 years after its legendary artist, Juan Gabriel, last performed it live there. This time, however, the masterful rendition came from the voice of Mike Patton, frontman of the San Francisco rock band Faith No More, who was joined by the renowned Mexican mariachi ensemble Gama Mil.

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The iconic song was part of a segment dedicated to Mexico during Patton’s Mondo Cane show, a 2010 project featuring classic Italian pop songs from the ’50s and ’60s performed with a full philharmonic orchestra. The concert was part of the Circuito Cervantino, an extension of the International Cervantino Festival, which kicks off this Saturday (Oct. 3) in Guanajuato.

Patton’s tribute to Mexico also included a haunting rendition of “La Llorona,” the iconic folk song from Oaxaca that’s been performed over the years by artists such as Chavela Vargas, Lila Downs, Natalia Lafourcade and Ángela Aguilar. Additionally, he performed “Luz de Luna,” another classic from Mexico’s traditional music repertoire, written by Álvaro Carrillo and popularized by Javier Solís and Luis Miguel.

“For us, it’s our first time here,” Patton said in Spanish, clearly moved by his debut at Bellas Artes. “It’s an absolute dream. Thank you so much.” Overwhelmed by the audience’s response, Patton admitted with a shaky voice, “I’m about to cry.”

But hearing him sing with a mariachi wasn’t the only surprise of the night. Among the audience, Billboard spotted Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian in attendance.

Beyond Mexican music, Patton performed “Urlo nero” by The Blackmen, “Il cielo in una stanza” by Gino Paoli and “Deep Down” by Ennio Morricone, among others, turning each song into a dramatic and immersive experience.

Patton’s connection to Mexico goes back many years. The rock star was born in Eureka, Calif., surrounded by Mexican immigrant communities, and has visited the country multiple times with his bands Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, Dead Cross and the Moonchild ensemble alongside John Zorn. During his visits, he has often communicated with fans in Spanish, as he did in January when performing with Mr. Bungle as the opening act for Avenged Sevenfold.

Patton will bring the Mondo Cane experience to the opening gala of the International Cervantino Festival, taking place at the Esplanade of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. The festival is scheduled to run from Oct. 3 to 18.

With Faith No More, Patton has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and released seven studio albums, though only one of them has come out in the past 10 years — Sol Invictus (2015), which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200. This summer, the band announced its return to the stage in 2027 for a joint tour with System of a Down.