FM (British band)

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FM are a British AOR/hard rock band.

[edit] Original members

Steve Overland Lead vocals, guitar
Merv Goldsworthy Bass, backing vocals
Pete Jupp - Drums, backing vocals
Chris Overland - Lead guitar
Didge Digital - Keyboards

Rockdetector Biography

Often accused of merely being a lightweight, sugary AOR act, FM nonetheless blossomed into a harder edged, blusier Rock band following disappointments with major labels. The individuals involved in the formation of the band had enjoyed varying success in their former bands. Indeed, drummer Pete Jupp and bassist Merv Goldsworthy had both played together in SAMSON (although the bassist started his career with Burnley's STREETFIGHTER prior to a brief stint with DIAMOND HEAD) whilst the Overland brothers, Steve and Chris, were previously in WILDLIFE with ex-FREE and BAD COMPANY drummer Simon Kirke.

FM were managed initially by erstwhile SAMSON manager Dave King and came together after the demise of Jupp and Goldsworthy's first post SAMSON project with guitarist Dave Colwell (who left to join TERRAPLANE briefly), former RAGE vocalist Dave Lloyd and guitarist Andy Barnett. When Barnett joined COREY HART's touring band Jupp and Goldsworthy teamed up with the Overlands and keyboardist -and major Sci-Fi fanatic - Phil Manchester (a.k.a. Didge Digital).

Portrait, an American subsidiary of CBS, snapped FM up on the strength of a four track demo and the band's debut album emerged in America before being released at home. In America the record was issued under the revised band monicker of FM (UK) to avoid confusion with other North American acts with prior claim to the name, specifically the eclectic Canadian outfit fronted by NASH THE SLASH!

Heavily promoted singles were backed by British support tours to the likes of TINA TURNER, FOREIGNER and GARY MOORE that would keep the group in the public eye but never quite translated into album sales. Even after the emergence of second album 'Tough It Out', a record that contained co-writes with the likes of hot songwriter Desmond Child, FM still found the high chart placings to be elusive. Eventually enough was enough for Chris Overland who quit in 1991 to be replaced by former URCHIN, BROADWAY BRATS and MARSHALL FURY guitarist Andy Barnett, who had actually enjoyed a songwriting credit on the first album's 'That Girl'.

It wasn't long before Didge Digital also departed. His place was taken on a temporary basis by ROMEO'S DAUGHTER man Tony 'Slim' Mitman. The band signed to Music For Nations and launched into a successful British club tour with CRASH N' BURN as support act. The band would enjoy a return to popularity with a shift in direction to a blusier sound and released some rather critically acclaimed albums in the subsequent period, including 1992's 'Aphrodisiac'.

In 1994, the year FM signed a new deal with Raw Power, Steve Overland performed on the 'Metal Christmas' album, a gathering of assorted Rock types (including ex IRON MAIDEN vocalist PAUL DIANNO, erstwhile WINGS man Denny Laine and THE QUIREBOYS' Guy Bailey) delivering Rock versions of traditional Christmas tunes

Ex-TOBRUK, MIDNIGHT BLUE and UFO keyboard player Jem Davies joined the band in 1995 to fill a gap that had previously only been filled on a temporary basis by Tony Mitman. After FM's demise Davis would also contribute keyboards the following year to RAINBOW vocalist Dougie White's solo project band CHAIN before forming the pop act SHRUNK.

In the wake of FM's split (the band feeling that they had gone as far as they could) Andy Barnett toured Britain with a side project titled ANDY BARNETT'S BARNSTORMERS involving both Goldsworthy and Davis. Steve Overland also conducted solo British shows in 1996.

By 1997 Merv Goldsworthy had created THE SLAVES with erstwhile ROMEO'S DAUGHTER members and was reported to be working on film soundtracks. The same year FM found their track 'Closer To Heaven' being covered by the Swedish ex-ALIEN and SNAKECHARMER vocalist PETE SANDBERG for his solo 'Back In Business' album.

1999 had Barnett treading the boards with an act titled XFM complete with former RAINBOW and MIDNIGHT BLUE vocalist Dougie White.

In 2001 erstwhile FM members Steve Overland, Pete Jupp and Jem Davis would all figure on a UFO tribute album entitled 'Only UFO Can Rock Me'. During early 2002 Steve Overland announced a union with erstwhile IAN GILLAN and present day HEARTLAND guitarist Steve Morris for a project entitled SHADOWMAN. Later recruits to this band project included THUNDER and MAGNUM drummer Harry James and THUNDER and GO WEST bass player Chris Childs. Drummer Pete Jupp would also be back in the news, performing on the NEWMAN 'Sign Of The Modern Times' record.

FM signed to the Italian Frontiers during late 2002, the first fruits of this association being a re-release of the Japanese 'Paraphernalia' album coupled with a bonus disc of 'Aphrodisiac' plus songs from the 'Tough It Out' sessions. Plans were also unveiled for a new album provisionally billed as 'Discoveries'.

In early 2003 it would be revealed that former DARE, TEN, ASIA and ULTRAVOX man VINNY BURNS had joined the band. Burns would also be touting a brand new band project entitled BURNS BLUE which involved Pete Jupp on the drums alongside former SAMSON singer Sam Blue and WISHBONE ASH bassist Bob Skeat.

A 2005 FM double digipack, entitled 'Long Lost Friends' and released by Escape Music, would see a re-packaging of the 1991 album 'Takin' It To The Streets' and the 1995 album 'Dead Man's Shoes' with added bonus tracks.