LONDON CALLING
In the late 80s, FM were seen by some as the great British AOR hope. But stylists aren’t the only reason it didn’t happen. Words: Dave Ling RAY PALMER ARCHIVE/ICONICPIX In September 1986, London-based quintet FM released their debut album, Indiscreet. It offered a firm nod to bands such as Survivor, Styx, Foreigner, Boston and Journey. The titles on Indiscreet say it all: American Girls, That Girl, Love Lies Dying and, best of all, the über-ballad Frozen Heart.
“Back then, those bands still represented mainstream music,” vocalist Steve Overland recalls. “Bon Jovi, Europe and Bryan Adams were having hit records. It was the best of times.”
“We also drew from the likes of Steely Dan, the Eagles, the Doobie Brothers and, even further back, Free and Bad Company,”…
