“Old Habits Die Hard” is the fourteenth studio album from the legendary British AOR rock band, FM. The album is released by Frontiers Records on Friday May 3rd, 2024.
Watch the official video for the first single “Out of the Blue” below.
Released to coincide with the band’s 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.
“Chris’ passing came out of the blue and it was devastating”, says Steve. To add insult to injury, close friend of the band and long-time 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”.
Pre-order & pre-save “Old Habits Die Hard” here.
Tracklist:
1. Out of the Blue (4.21)
2. Don’t Need Another Heartache (4.35)
3. No Easy Way Out (3.54)
4. Lost (5.20)
5. Whatever It Takes (4.37)
6. Black Water (4.52)
7. Cut Me Loose (4.34)
8. Leap of Faith (4.05)
9. California (5.17)
10. Another Day in My World (4.14)
11. Blue Sky Mind (5.06)
Production Credits:
• Old Habits Die Hard
• Produced by FM
• Mixed by Jeff Knowler
• Mastered by Jim Griffiths at Principal Audio
• Photography by Paul Stuart Hollingsworth
• Recorded at West3 Productions, Tremelo, Electric Pepperland, Morsecode Studios, JK Studios
• All songs written by – Overland / Goldsworthy / Jupp/Davis / Kirkpatrick
Track by Track:
Out of the Blue – “I wrote this song in Lanzarote”, says FM’s keyboardist, Jem Davis. “It’s about a guy who is completely happy in his own little world, and suddenly his partner declares she’s not, and is calling it a day! This comes to him out of the blue, but he’s not going to give in and lose her without a fight”.
Don’t Need Another Heartache – “This is one of the bluesier tracks on the album, kind of early Foreigner/Bad Company vibe”, says Steve Overland. “It’s about a guy that’s been in a bad relationship for too long, but he’s finally had enough”.
No Easy Way Out – “This was one of the first songs written for the album”, says Steve. “It’s about a guy that’s been down on his luck and knows it won’t be easy but is determined to pick himself up”.
Lost – This is a real AOR groove rocker”, says Steve. “It’s about someone who had it all, lost it, and wants it all again”.
Whatever It Takes – “This is the ballad of the album, really”, says Steve. “It’s a song about a guy who worships a girl from a distance but doesn’t have the words to tell her… a familiar story”.
Black Water – “This initially had the working title of Havana, says Jem. “It turned out to be about a someone from Deep South, USA. No matter how far he travelled, the strong pull of home was always going to draw him back”.
Cut Me Loose – “This song is about a relationship that’s faded”, reflects Steve. “It’s time to move on, but how hard that can be if you’ve been together for a long time?”…
Leap of Faith – “This one is the opposite to ‘Cut Me Loose’”, explains Steve. “It’s a great riff to open the track. The story tells how if you lose the spark, and you both want to, you can get it back if you both want it”.
California – Musically, I was looking for an old school Indiscreet vibe in the style of ‘Other Side of Midnight’ or ‘American Girls’”, says Merv. “As a kid I’d watch the Beverly Hillbillies and 77 Sunset Strip. It all seemed so different to where I grew up in the North of England. Sun, beaches, surfing, great weather and, of course, all the great movie studios. I wasn’t even sure it was real or make believe”.
Another Day in My World – “This tells the story of a guy who has always gone unnoticed and has spent his life in the shadows”, explains Steve. “Suddenly, he wants to change that and make his mark in life”.
Blue Sky Mind – “No one knows how they will react when being diagnosed with cancer”, says Jem. “When I was diagnosed January 2023, I found my way of dealing with it was just to stay positive. Nothing you can do. I received the all-clear in September. It’s about staying positive and leaving the neg behind. I like this being the last track. It’s a positive message to everyone dealing with cancer”!
UK Tour Dates 2024:
30.03 NANTWICH Nantwich Civic Hall
05.04 BRIGHTON Concorde 2
06.04 MILTON KEYNES The Stables MK
03.05 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
04.05 GATESHEAD Sage The Glasshouse
05.05 LEEDS Brudenell
10.05 BURY ST EDMUNDS The Apex
11.05 BIRMINGHAM The Asylum Venue
17.05 CARDIFF Tramshed Cardiff
18.05 NEWBURY Arlington Arts Centre
19.05 EXETER Exeter Phoenix
24.05 SOUTHAMPTON The 1865
25.05 LONDON Dingwalls
31.05 GLASGOW Òran Mór
01.06 ABERDEEN Lemon Tree Aberdeen Performing Arts
Line-up:
Steve Overland – Vocals, Guitar
Merv Goldsworthy – Bass
Pete Jupp – Drums
Jem Davis – Keyboards
Jim Kirkpatrick – Guitar
