FM release 1st single "Out of the Blue" from upcoming new album

“Old Habits Die Hard” is the fourteenth studio album from the legendary British rock band FM. The album will be released by Frontiers Records on Friday 3 May 2024, and is available to pre-order here: https://orcd.co/oldhabitsdiehard.

And today, the first single from the new album Out of The Blue has just dropped and it’s an absolute banger ! You can stream it now on all major streaming platforms here: https://orcd.co/fmoutoftheblue.

You can also watch the single on YouTube 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”.

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 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.”

Track Listing

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

And to top off all the 40th anniversary celebrations, the album release will be followed by a UK wide tour ! The “Old Habits Die Hard” tour will take in 15 cities and there’s some amazing special guests as well, including Brave Rival, Collateral, Romeo’s Daughter and Hand of Dimes.

Tour tickets are available now via The Gig Cartel and the FMOfficial website

FM 2024 “Old Habits Die Hard” Tour Dates

Sat 30/03 Nantwich Civic Hall (w/Brave Rival)

Fri 05/04 Brighton Concorde (w/Brave Rival)

Sat 06/04 Milton Keynes Stables (w/Brave Rival)

Fri 03/05 Nottingham Rescue Rooms (w/Collateral)

Sat 04/05 Gateshead Glasshouse ICM (w/Collateral)

Sun 05/05 Leeds Brudenell (w/Collateral)

Fri 10/05 Bury St Edmunds Apex (w/Collateral)

Sat 11/05 Birmingham Asylum (w/Romeo’s Daughter)

Fri 17/05 Cardiff Tramshed (w/Hand of Dimes)

Sat 18/05 Newbury Arlington Arts (w/Collateral)