Old Habits Die Hard FM

• 1 Out Of The Blue 04:21
• 2 Don't Need Another Heartache 04:35
• 3 No Easy Way Out 03:54
• 4 Lost 05:20
• 5 Whatever It Takes 04:37
• 6 Black Water 04:52
• 7 Cut Me Loose 04:34
• 8 Leap Of Faith 04:05
• 9 California 05:17
• 10 Another Day In My World 04:17
• 11 Blue Sky Mind 05:06
• Total Runtime 50:58

Info for Old Habits Die Hard

In 2024, the band FM celebrates its 40th anniversary with the release of its fourteenth studio album "OLD HABITS DIE HARD". 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.

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.

“Chris’s passing came out of the blue and it was devastating,” says Steve. To add insult to injury, close friend of the band and longtime collaborator of Jim Kirkpatrick, guitarist Bernie Marsden passed away just two days after Chris.”

The tragedies that plagued the band through the recording process only reinforced FM’s resolve and desire to make the best album that they could to represent their 40 years in the business. The new album is also a fitting tribute to Chris Overland.

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.”

The album continues with the rocker “Don’t Need Another Heartache” an AC/DC meets Foreigner anthem with an infectious chorus. ‘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.

“Whatever It Takes” and “No Easy Way Out” are typical FM melodic tracks and could fit seamlessly on to one of the bands earlier classic albums. Bass player and founder member Merv Goldsworthy explains, “No Easy way Out has the big typical FM chorus. It’s a massive hook. The kind of thing that we’ve become known for. It’s one of my favourites on the album.”

The heavier side of the album is represented by “Lost,” “Another Day in My World,” and “Leap of Faith.” Whilst more hard hitting, these songs embody the catchy melodic choruses that FM are known for.

“Cut Me Loose,” “California,” and “Blue Sky Mind” are poppier, more feelgood tracks. “Blue Sky Mind” was conceived again by keyboard player Jem Davis who originally wrote the song about his experience with his cancer diagnosis. ‘That song really was therapy for me. It was important that I got it out of my system and into music,” says Jem.

“Black Water” is a brooding, bluesy track that grows and grows. ‘This is a real favourite of mine,” says FM guitarist, Jim Kirkpatrick. “I could hear Brian May playing the guitar solo, so I pulled out my Brian May signature guitar and tried to do my best impersonation of him. Hopefully I got somewhere close.”

Steve Overland, vocals, guitar
Merv Goldsworthy, bass
Pete Jupp, drums
Jem Davis, keyboards
Jim Kirkpatrick, guitar

FM
In the summer of 1984 singer Steve Overland and his brother, guitarist Chris (both formerly of Wildlife) teamed up with drummer Pete Jupp (ex Wildlife and Samson) and bassist Merv Goldsworthy (Diamond Head and Samson) to form FM. Joined by the keyboard talents of Didge Digital, by December that year they had secured a recording contract with CBS/Portrait and the band headed to Germany for a run of dates with Meat Loaf.

Further tours with Tina Turner, Foreigner and Gary Moore built up the momentum. On 8 September 1986 FM released their debut album INDISCREET (featuring the hugely popular single "Frozen Heart") to great critical acclaim and the year ended on a high with FM supporting the white-hot Bon Jovi on their "Slippery When Wet" tour.

For the next nine years FM consolidated their position at the forefront of British melodic rock, touring extensively as headliners and also joining bands such as Status Quo and Whitesnake on tours to promote releases such as 1989's TOUGH IT OUT album; TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS released in 1991 (with Andy Barnett on guitar replacing the now-departed Chris Overland); APHRODISIAC in 1992 (featuring Tony 'Slim' Mitman of Romeo's Daughter on keyboards) and what was to be their 'final' album, 1995's DEAD MAN'S SHOES with new recruit Jem Davis (Tobruk, UFO) on keyboards.

In 2007 - after a 12 year sabbatical - FM were persuaded to return to the stage for a 'one-off' headline performance at a sold-out Firefest IV at Nottingham Rock City.

The rapturous reception from the fans at Firefest led to FM quickly making the decision to record a new album and following a return to Firefest in 2009, in March 2010 FM released their much-anticipated sixth studio album METROPOLIS with Jim Kirkpatrick replacing Andy Barnett on lead guitar.

…And FM haven't stopped since… Headline tours both in the UK and overseas, Special Guest slots touring with Foreigner, Journey, Thin Lizzy and Heart; festival appearances including Download, Planet Rockstock, Sweden Rock, Graspop, Steelhouse Festival, Frontiers Rock Festival, HRH and HRH AOR, Cambridge Rock Festival and in 2018 their first-ever live show in the US at Melodic Rock Fest 5.

When not touring, FM have been busy in the studio and since their 2010 'comeback' album they have released 2013's double helping of ROCKVILLE and ROCKVILLE II (with two songs playlisted by BBC Radio 2 - "Story Of My Life" and "Better Late Than Never"); HEROES AND VILLAINS in 2015 and INDISCREET 30 - a new 2016 recording of FM's classic debut album to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its release.

ATOMIC GENERATION was released on 30 March 2018, featuring the lead track "Black Magic". The radio single "Killed By Love" has proved to be a popular addition to the live set.

2019 saw the release of THE ITALIAN JOB on 22 February via Frontiers Records - a live recording of their set at Frontiers Rock Festival in April 2018 - on Blu-ray and as a DVD/CD package. FM toured throughout the year including European dates with Skid Row and festivals including Graspop, Sweden Rock, Ramblin' Man Fair and Barcelona Rock Fest. The year ended with December's Big 3-0 Tour - a triple headline bill with Dan Reed Network and Gun for the 30th anniversary of their 1989 albums Tough It Out, Slam and Taking On The World.

FM released SYNCHRONIZED in 2020. With the world at a standstill that year, the band used their time productively to record their thirteenth studio album. The aptly-titled THIRTEEN was released via Frontiers in March 2022.

In 2024 FM celebrated their 40th Anniversary with the release of the band's fourteenth studio album OLD HABITS DIE HARD accompanied as ever by an extensive touring schedule taking in 15 countries including FM's first-ever shows in Latin America.

Plans for 2025 include "An Acoustic Evening with FM" UK tour dates in February-March, The "Brotherhood" tour in September and festival appearances.

This album contains no booklet.