FM (British band)
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FM are a British AOR/hard 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]
Career
FM was formed in the summer of 1984 in London. 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 – plus 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/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". 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 appointment 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 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 are also playing at Winstanley College (Wigan, UK) on the 19th March 2009.
In late 2009, new single Wildside was released, as part of an EP containing new recordings and live tracks, 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 is officially released on 29th March 2010. Produced by the band, Metropolis has met with critical acclaim, and FM have recently announced a small headline tour, taking in six dates across the UK in May and July 2010.
Original members
- Steve Overland - Lead vocals, guitar
- Merv Goldsworthy - Bass, backing vocals
- Pete Jupp - Drums, backing vocals
- Chris Overland - Lead guitar
- Didge Digital - Keyboards
Line up II
- Steve Overland - Lead vocals, guitar
- Merv Goldsworthy - Bass, backing vocals
- Pete Jupp - Drums, backing vocals
- Didge Digital - Keyboards
- Andy Barnett - Lead guitar, backing vocals
Line up III
- Steve Overland - Lead vocals, guitar
- Merv Goldsworthy - Bass, backing vocals
- Pete Jupp - Drums, backing vocals
- Andy Barnett - Lead guitar, backing vocals
- Tony Mittman - Keyboards
Line up IV
- Steve Overland - Lead vocals, guitar
- Merv Goldsworthy - Bass, backing vocals
- Pete Jupp - Drums, backing vocals
- Jim Kirkpatrick - Lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jem Davis - Keyboards
Discography
- Indiscreet - (1986)
- Tough It Out - (1989)
- Takin' It to the Streets - (1991)
- Aphrodisiac - (1992)
- Closer to Heaven - (1993)
- No Electricity Required (Double live album) - (1993)
- Only the Strong - The Best of FM - (1994)
- Dead Man's Shoes - (1995)
- Paraphernalia (Double album - the second one is live) - (1996)
- Long Time No See (Triple album - the third one is live) - (2003)
- Long Lost Friends (Double album) - (2005)
- Metropolis - (2010)
References
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 191. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b c "Biography by Mike Edmunds". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 3 January 2009.