Tag Archives: FM

Album review: KINGS OF MERCIA – Battle Scars

Posted on November 4, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Metal Blade Records [Release date 25.10.24] One thing you can’t accuse Steve Overland of is being work shy. The revival of his first love, FM, is not enough for the industrious frontman. Since 2004 he’s also produced albums as Shadowman … Continue reading →

Gig review: FM – The Carlisle, Hastings, 17 October 2024

Posted on October 29, 2024 by andynathan

Recently in the news, we heard how tours have shrunk and cover fewer towns and cities than they did 30 years ago. For FM the opposite seems to be the case – as well as playing the established big cities, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Steve Overland, The Carlisle, White Skies | Leave a comment

Album review: ATLANTIC – Another World

Posted on June 22, 2024 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 21.06.24] Atlantic is the brainchild of guitarist and songwriter Simon Harrison, who released their debut album ‘Power’ back in 1994 (re-issued by Escape in 2008). It was originally planned to be a one-off – until now … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Another World, AOR, Atlantic, Dare, Escape Music, FM, Grim Reaper, Journey, Lionsheart, Mark Grimmett, melodic rock, review, Simon Harrison, Steve Grimmett | Leave a comment

Album review: FM – Old Habits Die Hard

Posted on May 24, 2024 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 03.05.24) FM appear to be constantly on tour, and yet between that activity they somehow find time to consistently write and release a new album every two or three years. ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ actually marks … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, FM, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Old Habits Die Hard, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Gig review: FM – Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury, 18 May 2024

Posted on May 19, 2024 by jason

To quote Led Zeppelin, “It’s been a long time since I rock and rolled”, and as much as I love music my live mojo has been in retirement, bar supporting local folk gigs. However, when a band as classy as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Arlington Arts Centre, classic rock, Collateral, FM, gig, melodic rock, Newbury, review, rock, Saturday 18 May 2024, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Album review : CRUZH – The Jungle Revolution

Posted on March 10, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 22.03.24] Welcome to The Jungle Revolution, third album on the Frontiers label from Swedish band, Cruzh, and their second with vocalist, Alex Waghorn, winner of Idol Sweden in 2017 (singing Journey’s ‘Faithfully’). Among their admitted influences … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alex Waghorn, Cruzh, eighties, FM, Idol Sweden, Journey, Jungle Revolution, melodic rock, review, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: ROBERT HART – Circus Life

Posted on January 30, 2024 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 26.01.24] A new solo album by former Bad Company and Distance singer Robert Hart is always a ‘must listen’ for any melodic hard rock fan. On this album he is joined by Heartland’s Steve Morris and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bad Company, blues rock, Circus Life, FM, hard rock, Harry James, Heartland, Lonerider, melodic rock, review, Robert Hart, Solo, Steve Morris, Steve Overland, Thunder | Leave a comment

Gig review: FM – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 1 December 2023

Posted on December 11, 2023 by andynathan

Yet another busy gigging year in FM’s ever hard working calendar ended in the unlikely surroundings of Tunbridge Wells, the genteel Kent town famous for its spa and the mythical disgusted letter-writing retired colonel. Its commutable from both the South … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Ben Christo, Diamond Black, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Merv Goldsworthy, Pete Jupp, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Gig review: FM/DARE/TYKETTO – Islington Academy, London, 25 May 2023

Posted on May 31, 2023 by andynathan

The package tour is growing in popularity in the current economic climate as a way of bands combining forces to save on overheads and play in front of maximum audiences. Announced just before Christmas, this particular triple header was most … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Chris Childs, Danny Vaughn, Dare, FM, Ged Rylands, gig, Harry Scott Elliott, Jim Kirkpatrick, Johnny Dee, melodic rock, Pete Jupp, Steve Overland, Tyketto, Vinny Burns | Leave a comment

News: Melodic Rockers FM enter The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness in June 2023

Posted on May 21, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

The latest inductees to “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness” are melodic rockers FM. A major retrospective tracking FM’s comeback in the millennium will be published on 1 June by rock website Get Ready to ROCK! and throughout the month Get … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged AOR, classic rock, feature, FM, Grotto, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, retrospective, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Gig review: JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 4 May 2023

Posted on May 14, 2023 by andynathan

Guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick seems to have been everywhere recently. After FM’s December tour with the Dead Daisies and January dates with Band of Friends, his third solo album ‘Dead Man Walking’ was released to critical acclaim including in these pages … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 4 May 2023, blues rock, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, Leon Cave, London, melodic rock, Ollie Collins, Raynes Park, The Cavern | Leave a comment

Album review: JIM KIRKPATRICK – Dead Man Walking

Posted on May 3, 2023 by jason

US One Records [Release date 21.04.23] Second solo album from FM guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick, who is joined by fellow FM band member Jem Davis on keyboards and Status Quo’s rhythm section of bassist John ‘Rhino’ Edwards and drummer Leon Cave. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Dead Man Walking, FM, guitarist, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, review, rock, Solo | Leave a comment

Album review: THE FLOOD – Hear Us Out

Posted on March 14, 2023 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 24.03.23] The Flood are an interesting proposition featuring vocalist Chris Ousey (Heartland/Virginia Wolf/Snakecharmer), FM guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick and former FM keyboards player Didge Digital. So far, so melodic hard rock and blues rock. However, it is the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billy Sheenan, blues rock, Chris Ousey, Didge Digital, FM, hard rock, Hear Us Out, Heartland, Jim Kirkpatrick, Mr Big, Nigel Glockler, review, rock, Saxon, Snakecharmer, The Flood, Winery Dogs | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE DEAD DAISIES – 02 Forum, London, 6 December 2022

Posted on December 26, 2022 by andynathan

The constantly revolving lineups of travelling supergroup The Dead Daisies, the plaything of rhythm guitarist and businessman David Lowy, seem to have reached some belated stability, fronted by the equally mercurial Glenn Hughes. They were back in London to promote … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Brian Tichy, classic rock, Dead daisies, Doug Aldrich, FM, gig, Glenn Hughes, Graham Bonnet | Leave a comment

Feature: GRTR!@20 Anniversary – Melodic Rock – Primer

Posted on October 31, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Melodic Rock Editor Andy Nathan witnesses the melodic revival… When GRTR! started in late-2002 traditional melodic rock and AOR was still in something of a prolonged hangover from the years of grunge which swept away the genre, and indeed much … Continue reading →

Posted in FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The Primer | Tagged anniversary, AOR, Def Leppard, Europe, Firefest, FM, Foreigner, H.E.A.T., Journey, melodic hard rock, melodic rock, primer, summary, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: TURKISH DELIGHT – Volume 1

Posted on October 20, 2022 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 21.10.22] Turkish Delight celebrates the joy that Escape Music co-owner Khalil Turk has for the kind of music he loves so much, namely AOR and melodic rock. This selection was personally chosen by Khalil, with material … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Escape Music, FM, hard rock, Jeff Scott Soto, Kansas, Khalil Turk, Lee Small, melodic rock, Mike Slamer, review, Robin McAuley, Steve Newman, Steve Overland, Styx, Tony Harnell, Turkish Delight, Volume 1 | Leave a comment

Gig review: FIRESTORM MCR – Whitebottom Farm, Stockport, 12-14 August 2022

Posted on September 5, 2022 by andynathan

One of the consequences of the current wretched state of our world in 2022 is that, even though live music has returned from its Covid hiatus, travelling abroad for both fans and bands has become logistically more difficult, and we … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Attic Theory, A’priori, Bad Touch, Bastette, Black Roze, Buck And Evans, Empyre, festival, Firekind, Firestorm, Firestorm MCR, Florence Black, FM, gig, Gorilla Riot, Inglorious, King Herd, King King, Mason Hill, New Wave of Classic Rock, NWOCR, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Revival Black, Ryders Creed, Scarlet Rebels, Scruffy Bear, South Of Salem, Stone Broken, The Dust Coda, The Hot Damn, The Quireboys, The Treatment, These Wicked Rivers, Those Damn Crows, Unknown Refuge, Valhalla Awaits, Wayward Sons | Leave a comment

Album review: WHITE SPIRIT – Right Or Wrong

Posted on August 16, 2022 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Mal Pearson and Mick Tucker of White Spirit for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 7 August 2022. Conquest Music [Release date: 29.07.22] ‘Right Or Wrong’ is White Spirit’s first album for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, AOR, Asia, Brian Howe, classic rock, Deep Purple, FM, Foreigner, HammerFall, Jeff Scott Soto, Journey, Lee Small, Lionheart, Mal Pearson, Mick Tucker, Neil Murray, NWOBHM, Pontus Norgren, Rainbow, review, rock, Russell Gilbrook, Steve Overland, Van Halen, White Spirit, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: LONERIDER – Sundown

Posted on June 7, 2022 by andynathan

Escape Music (Release Date 20.05.22) The concept of a quiet life sees alien to peerless singer Steve Overland who must have one of the prolific recording schedules of any artist. Barely two months after releasing ‘Thirteen’ with his main band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bad Company, blues rock, Chris Childs, FM, Lonerider, melodic rock, Simon Kirke, Steve Morris, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Gig review: FM- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 7 April 2022

Posted on April 14, 2022 by andynathan

They release albums at regular intervals but touring has always been FM’s lifeblood. They dipped their toe back in the live environment with selected shows last year, but this twice postponed London show was part of a tour to promote … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, FM, gig, Grand Slam, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, Laurence Archer, melodic rock, Mike Dyer, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Album review: FM – Thirteen

Posted on March 24, 2022 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release date 18.03.22) Over a decade since reforming, FM’s run of quality product since seems to be coming at an ever faster rate, their suitably titled 13th studio album coming less than two years after its predecessor ‘Synchronised’. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, FM, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Pete Jupp, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Gig review:JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 3 February 2022

Posted on February 9, 2022 by andynathan

One of my favourite gigs of last year was when FM guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick played The Cavern bar in suburban South-west London. The occasion was special enough, being my first show after the 2021 lockdown was relaxed, but the musical … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues rock, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, Leon Cave, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Album review: BITE THE BULLET – End of the Line

Posted on December 19, 2021 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 22.01.22] Bite the Bullet trace their origins back to 1986 and still feature the original duo of Mick Benton (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards) and Graham Cowling (Drums). They released a strong comeback album, ‘Black and White’, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bite The Bullet, End Of The Line, Escape Music, FM, hard rock, melodic rock, Mr Mister, review | Leave a comment

Album review: GROUNDBREAKER – Soul to Soul

Posted on November 23, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release date 12.11.21) Groundbreaker’s debut album was a Frontiers Records project to reunite Steve Overland with the pure AOR sound of early FM. That was a collaboration with Work of Art’s Robert Sall, but the latter is not … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, AOR, FM, Groundbreaker, melodic rock, Steve Overland, Sven Larsson | Leave a comment

Album review: PEPPERKID2 – Adventures In Pepperland

Posted on November 16, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 12.11.21] Pepperkid2 is the brainchild of FM’s keyboardist Jem Davis. Joining Jem is Mike Dyer (Grand Slam) as the main vocalist/co-writer. Also appearing on the album is Dyer’s fellow Grand Slam band member guitarist Laurence Archer, along … Continue reading →