In celebration of their 40th Anniversary (1984-2024), legendary British AOR rock band FM are proud to announce their forthcoming fourteenth studio album Old Habits Die Hard released by Frontiers Records on Friday May 3rd. Released to coincide with the bands 40th Anniversary (1984 – 2024), vocalist, guitarist and founding member Steve Overland says, “the new album encompasses the best melodic elements of the band’s illustrious 40-year spanning career.”
“We really looked at what made the most popular FM albums great and tried to focus on that,” says Steve about the new album Old Habits Die Hard. FM are known by many for their big choruses, twin lead guitars and Steve Overland’s intimate, yet powerful vocals, and clean guitar sound. Following 2022’s Thirteen album, Old Habits Die Hard was delayed slightly by keyboard player Jem Davis’ cancer diagnosis (thankfully he’s now received the all-clear) and then by the sudden passing of FM’s founding guitarist Chris Overland (Steve’s brother), which hit the band hard.
Over the past 12 months, during their extensive touring schedule, FM produced the album themselves and recorded the bulk of it at their own Dale View and Electric Pepperland recording studios. Opening track and first single “Out of The Blue” was a song that originated from keyboard player Jem Davis. Says Jem, “the band love the music of Toto and Foreigner and so I tried to put those influences into one track. ‘Once Steve got involved and started singing it, I knew that we were onto something special.”
“Out Of the Blue is a song that old school FM fans will really latch on to,” says Steve. “So far, the reaction to the track has been amazing.” Another track which has been well received is "Don't Need Another Heartache" (see below). “Heartache draws influences from the bands love for bands like free and Bad Company,” adds FM’s lead singer Steve Overland. “It’s a straight-to-the-point, classic blues rock track.”
‘This song will probably be in the live set for the 40th anniversary tour as it’s one of our favourites from the album,” explains drummer and founder FM member, Pete Jupp. Speaking of that tour, it continues on 3rd May the album release day at Nottingham's Rescue Rooms. Special Guests on the tour will be BRAVE RIVAL , COLLATERAL, ROMEO’S DAUGHTER & HAND OF DIMES. For further information please check out THEGIGCARTEL.COM & FMOFFICIAL.COM
Photo Credit: © Tony Ayiotou-
FM (L-R) - Jem Davis, Merv Goldsworthy, Steve Overland, Jim Kirkpatrick, Pete Jupp.
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