| FM | |
|---|---|
UK band FM at the video shoot for Wildside - Crewe 26th July 2009. From left to right: Merv Goldsworthy, Jem Davis, Steve Overland, Pete Jupp, Jim Kirkpatrick |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Rock |
| Years active | 1984–1995, 2007–present |
| Labels | Portrait, Epic, Music For Nations, Riff City Records |
| Associated acts | Wildlife, Diamond Head, Samson |
| Website | www.fmofficial.com |
| Members | |
| Steve Overland Merv Goldsworthy Pete Jupp Jem Davis Jim Kirkpatrick |
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| Past members | |
| Chris Overland Didge Digital Andy Barnett |
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FM are a British AOR/'80s rock band. In the U.S., they are often referred to as FMUK. They have released eleven albums to date. Two of those, Indiscreet and Tough It Out reached the UK Albums Chart, whilst five of the band's singles made inroads into the UK Singles Chart.[1]
Contents |
FM was formed in the summer of 1984 in London. The band was originally composed of the ex-Samson pair of bassist Merv Goldsworthy and drummer Pete Jupp, the Overland brothers – vocalist/guitarist Steve and lead guitarist Chris Overland, both formerly of Wildlife, and keyboardist Philip Manchester, also known as Didge Digital. The band initially wrote six songs. In December of that year they secured a recording contract with the CBS/Portrait label.
The first public appearance of FM (not to be confused with the Canadian band of the same name) was on Valentine’s Day in 1985. The debut album, Indiscreet followed and their debut single "Frozen Heart" was heard in many venues during 1986.[2] FM hit the road in Europe supporting Tina Turner, Meat Loaf, Foreigner, Gary Moore, Status Quo and Magnum, also opening for REO Speedwagon at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. At the year's end they accepted a spot with Bon Jovi on their Slippery When Wet tour.
When CBS folded the Portrait label, FM switched to Epic. The Overland brothers went to the United States to write with Desmond Child, returning with the hard rock anthem "Bad Luck". Queensrÿche and Dokken producer Neil Kernon was engaged to oversee 1989’s Tough It Out.
To promote Tough It Out, the band set out on a 42 date UK tour that saw them returning to the Hammersmith Odeon. Soon afterwards, Chris Overland decided to leave FM, his final performance taking place at the Town & Country Club. In his place, FM recruited Andy Barnett, a guitarist who had already been in a prototype line-up of the group,[2] and had a co-writing credit for the Indiscreet song, "That Girl," which was later covered by Iron Maiden as a B-Side. His debut with the group was 1991's Takin’ It To The Streets.
FM moved to another record label, Music For Nations, and Didge Digital left in late 1991. A cover version of Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" was not a hit, but was followed by their next album, Aphrodisiac. They undertook a string of acoustic concerts in the winter of 1992.
With Europe and the Far East markets opening up for FM, a full-time keyboard arrangement was made with Jem Davis (former Tobruk and UFO), joining the band. The arrangement was short-lived. After the release of Dead Man's Shoes (FM album) in 1995, the band split up.[2]
However, at Nottingham's Rock City venue on 27 October 2007, FM played together again in public for the first time in twelve years and were also playing at Winstanley College (Wigan, UK) on the 19th March 2009.
In late 2009, the new single "Wildside" was released, as part of an EP containing new recordings and live tracks. For the first time new recruit Jim Kirkpatrick was featured on record. The single was a taster of forthcoming new album, Metropolis.
Metropolis, FM's first new album since Dead Man's Shoes in 1995, was showcased at a sell-out launch party at The Roadhouse, Covent Garden, London in February 2010 and was released on 31 May 2010. Produced by the band, Metropolis met with critical acclaim and the two singles from the album - “Hollow” (released 17 May 2010) and “Bring Back Yesterday” (released 7 September 2010) each spent a month on the playlist at BBC Radio 2 and were playlisted on many other radio stations.
FM toured all over the UK in support of the album throughout 2010. Their live schedule included a set on the main stage at Download Festival as a late replacement for Ratt in June 2010 and a set on the main stage at Hard Rock Hell IV at Prestatyn in December. December also saw the return of an FM tradition with a 'Christmas Party' show at Islington Academy London.
FM started 2011 with a show at London's Hammersmith Apollo on January 22 with Thin Lizzy and have announced a series of dates in Europe which include appearances at major festivals such as Graspop in Belgium and Sweden Rock. They have also been invited back to play at Download Festival again. There are headline dates in Madrid in April (their first ever live concert in Spain) and Kerkrade in Holland in June. Also in June FM will be appearing with Journey (band) and Foreigner (band) at shows in Germany, Dublin and Belfast and on 1 July with D-A-D in Lisbon, Portugal.
FM are currently writing and recording for their follow-up album to 2010's Metropolis.