Ryan's Gig Guide - April 2018

WWW. R YA N S G I G G U I D E . C OM rgg Apr 2018 - p.36 Comprising the ex-Samson pair of bassist Merv Goldsworthy and drummer Pete Jupp; the Overland brothers – vocal- ist/guitarist Steve and lead guitarist Chris - both formerly ofWildlife; plus the keyboard talents of Philip Manchester (AKA sci-fi nutcase Didge Digital), FM's first public appearance in the UK on Valentine’s Day of 1985 was swiftly fol- lowed by the release of their début album, INDISCREET. FM hit the road in Europe supporting the likes of Tina Turner, Foreigner, Gary Moore, Status Quo and the white-hot Bon Jovi on the ‘Slip- peryWhenWet’ tour. For the next 12 years FM consolidated their position at the forefront of British melodic rock, touring everywhere they could to pro- mote releases such as 1989'sTOUGH IT OUT and 1992's APHRODISIAC. By 1995 when FM released DEAD MAN'S SHOES Chris Over- land and Didge Digital had gone their separate ways to be replaced by Andy Barnett and Jem Davis. In 1996 however, with 'grunge' fever sweeping the world, the band decided to call it a day ...until October 2007, when FM at last played together again for the first time in 12 years, headlining a sold-out Firefest IV at Not- tingham Rock City. The reaction to this one- off appearance ensured that FM swiftly decided to make the reunion a permanent fixture but withAndy Barnett unable to commit long-term the band were forced to seek out a new gui- tarist. Cue Jim Kirkpatrick who made his FM live début atWinstanley College in March 2009, fol- lowed by a return headline spot at Firefest VI the following October, as well as playing on the WILDSIDE EP released that same month. 'Wildside' set the scene for FM's first new album in 15 years. The highly-acclaimed METROPOLIS (released March 2010) spawned singles 'Hollow' and 'Bring Back Yesterday' which found the band playlisted on many radio stations worldwide, not least on the UK's biggest station - BBC Radio 2. FM played to packed houses across the UK throughout 2010 culminating with main stage appearances at Download in June and Hard Rock Hell IV in December. 2011 saw FM return to many overseas strongholds of years gone by – headline shows in Holland and Spain; a show with D-A-D in Portugal; Sweden Rock; Graspop in Belgium; FM + Rebecca Downes