Review & Photography by Manny Manson for MPM
Another Friday night and I’m back at The Rescue Rooms. Tonight, is the opening night of AOR rockers ‘FMs’ 40th Anniversary tour, one they’ve called ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ to promote the latest offerings, yes, we have new songs.
Having formed in 1984, in London, The band have gone on to deliver 14 studio albums despite a hiatus from 1995 to 2007. The original line up featured ex Samson pair of Peter Jupp on Drums and Merv Goldsworthy on Bass, Steve (vox, guitar) Overland and his brother Chris (L Guitar), and Philip (Didge Digital) Manchester on Keys. After the tour to promote the ‘Tough it Out’ album, guitarist Chris Overland decided it was time for him to leave the band, his replacement was Andy Barnett, he was already known to the band and had co-written ‘That Girl’ on the debut album Indiscreet. Keyboardist ‘Didge Digital’ left in late 1991, he was replaced by ex UFO, keyboardist, the legend that is Jem Davis. This was the band until they finally split in 1995.
After a one-off appearance at the Fire fest Festival held in Rock City in 2007, the band quickly realised that they still had a massive fanbase, they went down an absolute storm, so quickly decided to reform, Andy Barnet, however, could not commit to this and left the band. Steve suggested Jim Kirkpatrick and performed with the band for the first time at a show in Wigan in 2009, the band went on to headline the Fire fest Festival for a second time. A new album, Metropolis, was soon hitting the record shops in May 2010. They stood in for RATT on the main stage at Download that year.
The Christmas Party show was re-instated, an FM traditional held at the Islington Academy. A wild ride followed as they toured both in the UK and abroad. Hitting the bill with bands like Thin Lizzy, The Treatment, Danny Vaughn, Black Star Riders, Europe and Foreigner, and, past touring mates Romeo’s Daughter, a band that are dropping in on a few dates during this tour. The albums kept coming, with Rockville (2013), Rockville 11 (2013), Heroes and Villains (2015), Atomic Generation (2018), Synchronized (2020), Thirteen (2022) and now Old Habits Die Hard (2024) hitting the shelves and selling fast. The band have supported these releases with headline tours, selling out venue’s country wide, and touring with the likes of Super band, The Dead Daisies, Saxon and fellow AOR rockers Danny Vaughan’s Tyketto.
On undercard we the ‘Collateral’ a delicious throwback rock band whose shows are packed full of high energy, great musician ship and a front man with the energy and smile that’d put the Cheshire Cat to shame. They are a band who have kept their feet on the ground, but have fun, bringing back the good old day’s vibe of the 80’s cock rock era. The band started out in 2018, they released a 4 song EP entitled ‘4 Shots’ featuring ‘Midnight Queen’ the single being played by Planet Rock and became a hit down under, with our Antipodean friends, and has gone on to become a staple of their setlist. In 2019, they even won a place to support Bon Jovi on their Runaway Mediterranean cruise beating off thousands of other bands in the process.
Their long over-due first album, simply called Collateral was released in 2020, this album gave us Mr Big Shot, Lullaby and Merry Go Round, More touring followed with back-to-back gigs with Jared James Nichols and Bon Jovi guitarist’s own band Phil X and the Drills. Both these tours, sadly, ran us into the Pandemic lockdown in early 2020.
2022 saw the band back on the streets with a reworked debut album featuring special guests. Tours with Scandi rockers Reckless Love and H.E.A.T., and American band Skid Row with their new singer Eric quickly followed. The band are a busy having just recorded the new album ‘Should Have Known Better’ which is due for release later this month.
As the doors time approaches, it’s great to see that there is a massive queue already and chomping at the bit. The weather is miserable and they are trying to seek what cover they can as they get quickly hustled inside. First thing that strikes you is the Merch stands are busy. The fans rocking up tonight are wearing vintage FM tour Tee’s from over the years, and judging by the wat the tees are flying off the stand, they’re gonna need to restock frequently throughout this tour.
Collateral hit the stage on time at 7:15. The band, Louis Malagodi on guitar, Ben Atkinson on drums and Jack Bently-Smith on bass are out rocking up a storm before frontman Angelo Tristan come racing on the stage. The roof lifts with the cheers from the crowd, he’s beaming as he stands there, his arms outstretched before getting down to business and rocking out with the latest single ‘Glass Sky’ from their soon to released sophomore album. Its catchy intro chant has Malagodi chugging a gentle riff on his six string. Atkinsons percussive beats drop into a walking beat locked in with Bently-Smiths deep bass. This song has a familiar feel to it, it’s a great tune with both a catchy hook and beaut’ of a solo thrown in. It’s a stunner of a show opener. If, like me you’ve seen Collateral countless times, you can see a big step up in their song-writing structure and musical performance, this song has a more mature feel to it, the crowd seem to agree as they give this one a great cheer on its conclusion.
‘Mr Big Shot’ keeps the part going. It’s another one that has Angelo ever the consummate performer, playing to the crowd as he hip thrusts and postulates, whilst this delivering this one The white mic stand is being used as he parades back n forth across the front of the stage, there isn’t much room for him to perform. Malagodi rips the solo out that was previously played by Todd Winger who’s no longer with the band, Its dirty befitting this sleazy number. This track features a visit onto the barrier by Angelo as he gets close to the crowd , his multicoloured jacket hanging open, with his bare torso on display, oh to be in shape lol.
This is followed up with ‘No Place For Love’ which starts off with a crack of a snare groove, from Atkinson, it quickly drops into that soft rock groove that romps along and has the heads nodding along. The slams have the crowd clapping along, some even join in with the singing. The latest single takes the vibe down a peg or two. Acoustic guitar hanging low, Angelo delivers an inspired vocal for this delicate of songs. I’ve mentioned about the band seeming to have grown and this song is a case in hand, for me the song of the set. Well done lads it’s a corker. The rawness of a live show is great but it doesn’t fully reflect how great this song is. Malagodi’s breakdown licks are subtle, there’s no overpowering boisterous play on this one, it’s given the respect the back story deserves, It’s a great addition to the set, and one that’s going to get played a lot.
Angelo picks up the energy again and gets the crowd going by asking them to make some noise, repeatedly until it’s to his liking, the crowd love the interaction and are screaming back at him. Atkinson joins in on the trash cymbal as ‘Merry Go Round’ continues the rocking theme. with its Country rock, with its almost Bon Jovi vibe. The Queen inspired drum riff introduces another great solo from Malagodi. Bently-Smiths bass line is in your face as he stands stage left, dimly lit, grinding out a thumping lick as he swirls his long hair around, at times looking like an extra from a gothic vampire flick, his jacket has long since gone, he’s showing that it’s not just Diva, Angelo that’s got a 6-pack. Angelo shouts out to the crowd that they’re going to love us and leave us with the next one, he says we’re going get rocked by FM but they’re gonna leave us with where it all started.
The set finishes with the ‘Midnight Queen’ from the EP ‘Four Shots’. Again, another staple of any Collateral set. Angelo is on acoustic as this one rocks out with it bouncing up beat tempo. It’s a fitting close to the set as we started with the latest single and finished with the first from back in 2018. The packed venue is moving as one, mainly due to the fact you couldn’t get a fag paper between them. The smiles are evident as the crowd get behind the boys as this one plays out, when it finishes the crowd give them the huge cheer they deserve. As the song dies out the crowd are lifting the roof, this is a likeable band, who have worked hard to get where they are, its nice to see the FM fans giving them the respect. No doubt when the band releases the new album ‘On The Long Road’ there will be headline tour, so I’m looking forward to that one, and so should you.
The usual quick set change gets done in a flurry; the band help remove their kit from the stage with the house crew. It’s a Friday night so there is a club night at 10pm, the bands have to be clear for then. The stage access is through a normal sized side door so there is no wheeling, fully made-up drum risers on and off the stage, it’s all got to be manhandled.
The job is done, efficiently and we’re set waiting for the mighty FM, who promptly take to the stage after we’ve listened to their Pearl and Dean style introduction. It’s put a smile on the faces of the crowd as Jim, Pete, Merv and Jem take to the stage, Steve Overland is not too far behind as he runs on and greats the crowd with a big open armed gesture; before grabbing the microphone as they get into ‘Digging up the dirt’ from 2015’s Heroes and Villains. The crowd are on it straight away bouncing along to this great opener.
‘Tough It Out’ the title song from the sophomore album of 1989 keeps the crowd light in the loafers. Overland’s voice is on point as he smiles at the crowd and has a teasing moment with Jim, who feels his ‘pleather’ shirt and pulls a face at the crowd. ‘Killed By Love’ is up next and Mr Overland now has a guitar in hand. This one is from the more recent, 2018, ‘Atomic Generation’ album, full of vocal harmonies and Jupp’s cowbell! From what I’ve seen from the setlist, tonight is going to be a greatest hits set, brilliant, there’s something for everybody.
‘Someday (you’ll come running)’ from 1989’s, sophomore album, Tough it Out, as if you didn’t know already, follows. Jem’s keys are swirling as he stands in the back hidden by smoke and birthday candle lighting. This one yet again harks back to when we were youthful and carefree, and Steve had long flowing locks. The stadium rock sound is flooding the Rescue Rooms. The crowd are clearly enjoying this trip down nostalgia boulevard as much as the band are.
‘Don’t Need Another Heartache’ keeps this dynamic sound slammin, it’s great to hear the band getting the support from the fans as they deal out this new one, the opening track on ‘Old Habits Die Hard’, released on the 3rd May, no coincidence there. The band have lost none of its edge, it’s classic FM, hooks, keys and Overland’s silky voice. The Eric Martin cover ‘Every time I Think Of You’ has the crowd singing along again. Steve is back on the guitar again, as he effortlessly croons this fan favourite from back in 1989. The crowd join in with the harmony’s provided by Jim and Merv. The obligatory over-head hand clapping has the crowd joining in. Jim and Steve have a quick harmony guitar part before the song finishes to huge cheers.
The crowd keep the clapping going as Jem provides the swirling beats before Jim hits it with an intro lick on his EVH Wolfgang guitar, it’s sounding great, but then Jim Kirkpatrick could make a stick sing opera, he’s a formidable talent, get and see him in A Band Of Friends, his guitar work is next level. I digress, this is another one from the new long player called ‘Out Of The Blue’, Jim gives it a good rattling as Merv’s 5-string bass keeps the deep rumble bouncing along. Jem’s keyboard work gives it that typical 80’s vibe, the sound track to many of us in here’s teenage life.
A fourth from Tough it Out is up next, The haunting guitar from Jim has the crowd cheering and head nodding as ‘The Dream That Died’ has them shuffling in their shoes. This is classic FM and the crowd are loving it as they join in with the singing. Jim steps up and rips out the solo effortlessly as Overland comes back, he encourages the hand clapping. This is an old school gig, none of this running about at each other that you see today, it’s grown-up melodic rock and its great.
The gritty guitar of ‘Synchronized’ has the crowd clapping once more, as Jim gives the intro some welly. Overland is, once again, pacing the stage with the mic and stand firmly in his grip. Jem, in the corner, is giving it large on the keys, way back in the shadows, dressed in his, now, trademark waistcoat n jeans. The big guitar solo screams away as Merv locks into the beat alongside Jim, the crowd are beaming, clearly loving the set.
At last; we get the first from their debut album ‘Indiscreet’. I caught them back in ’86 (last century) when they supported both Magnum and Bon Jovi at the DeMonfort Hall, Leicester. Little did I or my mates realise that this band would still be treading the boards some 40 years later. They sound as good today as my faded memory cares to remember. Like most good music, it unlocks memories, this one I can remember I’d borrowed my dad’s camera and snuck it in down the back of my combat jacket. This was one of my first ventures into what has now become a passion.
A Twanging guitar and big keyboard sounds herald ‘Closer To Heaven’ the only visit to 1992’s album, Aphrodisiac. Jem’s big sound has a church like feel to it. The drums crash slowly around the melody as this ballad plays out. Overland wanders the stage, his eyes closed as he delivers a stunning vocal, age certainly hasn’t affected his pipes, it’s another banger as, yet again the crowd help out. The steady thump of the kick drum and the hand clapping commences as Jim gives us the gritty intro to ‘Does It Feel Like Love’, the keyboards giving this one the trademark FM sound, a sound that was unified with so many AOR bands during the 80’s, this being another from back in 1989.
The set continues with one of their biggest hits from the debut album, ‘That Girl’; incidentally, Iron Maiden covered it. It was co-written by guitarist Andy Barnet, who was in the development stages of the band and would become the guitarist when Chris Overland finally called it a day in the early 90’s. With a galloping guitar riff and bouncing drum beat the crowd are straight on the vocals, singing along with gay abandon. Its 1986 all over again, Steve’s hair is a lot tamer tonight than what I remember it from the Leicester shows, but the delivery is as slick as when he was a mere babe in arms. The three guitars form up as they riff out the intro ‘Bad Luck’, you’d be forgiven for thinking they were going to cover a Bon Jovi song as the riff is very closer to a certain BJ lick. ‘Hot Wired’ from 1986 keeps things bouncing along. Jim’s guitar playing is great as always, as this one has the hands pumping.
The set finishes with ‘Turn This Car Around’ from the album Thirteen(2022). It’s a riff-tastic tune, another great sing along to number, which the crowd don’t hesitate with joining in with. Again, Jim and Steve pair up and give us a harmonised run down the guitar necks, whilst Merv continues to bash out a thundering bassline that keep the heads a nodding. The “whoas” start as Overland encourages the crowd to give it some welly. There’s a nod to Quo as the song finally concludes with a screaming guitar.
It’s an early finish so the encore features ‘Story Of My Life’ starts with Jem giving us a bit of a Rick Wakeman, on the keys, the crowd cheering as he does so, The piano tinkles as Steve Takes up the vocal, he gives a shout out to Jem as the pair of them get this great song going, from the first Rockville album released back in 2013. It’s a great tune and the crowd love it.
The final song of the night is a jump back to the first album. ‘Other Side Of Midnight’ is a great finish to the show. Jem is up front with his Eddie Van Halen inspired keytar, sharing the mic with Merv he joins in with the backing vocals. He’s bouncing around like an unleashed Tigger, playing alongside Jim and Merv whilst Steve keeps up with the lyrical duties. As Steve thanks the crowd they erupt in huge cheers and applause. It’s a very Partisan crowd, Steve could have sung the Chinese Take Away menu and the crowd would have loved it. The lights flash and the guitars squeal as Jupp’s thunderous drums bring the night to a climactic finish.
That has been a night of great music played by a stunning band to a room full of friends. The ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ tour is 16 nights long and well worth the ticket price. If you are into your AOR, Stadium rock then this is a set well worth catching. Every FM show is a celebration, but this one really is, With Steve’s brother sadly passing last year, it’s a great nod to Chris from the band.
As I sit in the car on my way home, its only just gone 10pm, I’ve a smile on my face, they bring back memories of my miss bent youth, every time I see them, and that now must be a good few times. With it being an early curfew I’m back home in time for a Horlicks and medals, how very grown up.
