by Adam Aiken
AOR veterans FM are back on the road in support of their latest record – and frontman Steve Overland says playing live again has been a “revelation”.
Overland, who grew up in King’s Lynn, and his bandmates are touring to promote Thirteen, which has received positive reviews.
FM hit Norwich tomorrow night (Saturday, April 8), with their show at the Waterfront coming after a couple of years that have seen the live-music scene hit for six.
“Being back out on the road has been a revelation,” said Overland.
“You now feel complete and that things are kind of getting back to what we’ve known for the last 40 years.
“It’s tough when somebody tells you that what you have been working towards and been doing your whole life, you can’t do anymore. We’re loving it.”
Despite the enforced absence from touring, Overland kept busy during the pandemic.
“Luckily, I managed to carry on working all through lockdown,” he said.
“I worked on many albums and people came to me because they knew I wasn’t out on the road and had some time for other things. I missed the live work, but discovered new things in music I could do.”
FM have been around since 1984 (with Overland’s brother Chris the original lead guitarist), albeit with a 12-year hiatus from 1995.
Although Chris left the band shortly after their 1980s heyday, FM have had fewer personnel changes than many other long-running outfits. The current five-man line-up has been together since 2008.
Steve says he has been thrilled with the response to the self-produced Thirteen.
“It has been received amazingly,” he said.
“The reviews have been great, and the fan reaction has been amazing. It was obviously recorded a little differently, as we couldn’t all be in a studio together, so we all worked on the album and our parts in our own studios.
“It was great because everyone got much more involved in the writing because they had the time. I think it makes for a very varied and interesting record.”
The Waterfront show brings Overland back to the county where he grew up, which left him with fond memories.
“I had a great time growing up in Norfolk. My mum, my brother and one of my sons are still in King’s Lynn, so I go back when I can,” he said.
“Chris and I worked in and kind of ran the local music shop, John Savage’s. It was the meeting place for all of the musicians and I’m sure many bands were formed there.
“I got my first record deal with Chrysalis Records from a gig we played at the Regis Rooms [in Wellesley Street].
“I lived in King’s Lynn for many years, so it has always been a part of my life.”
Click here for tickets.
