GiGi FM
Over
In the summer of 1984, over a few drinks in a London pub, FM was formed. Comprising the ex-Samson pair of bassist Merv Goldsworthy and drummer Pete Jupp, the formidable Overland brothers – vocalist/guitarist Steve and lead guitarist Chris; both formerly of Wildlife – plus the keyboard talents of Philip Manchester, better known as sci-fi nutcase Didge Digital, the band wrote six songs. In December of that same year they secured a recording contract with the CBS/Portrait label and set off to join Meat Loaf for some shows in Germany. The first UK public appearance of FM (not to be confused with the Canadian band of the same name) was on Valentine’s Day of 1985, attracting rave reviews. The debut album, ‘Indiscreet’, wasn’t far behind. A fully-fledged masterpiece, every single track hit the spot, and the mega-ballad ‘Frozen Heart’ caused lips to quiver and tear ducts to moisten whenever it was played. ‘Frozen Heart’ was heard in many venues during 1986 and FM hit the road in Europe supporting Tina Turner, Foreigner, Gary Moore, Status Quo and Magnum, also opening for REO Speedwagon at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. At the year’s end they were delighted to accept a spot with the white-hot Bon Jovi on the ‘Slippery When Wet’ tour. It seemed that the roadwork was paying off handsomely. CBS folded the Portrait label and FM switched to Epic. The Overland brothers were flown to America to write with hitmaker Desmond Child, returning with a few great stories and the awesome hard rock anthem ‘Bad Luck’. Completing the jigsaw, Queensrÿche/Dokken producer Neil Kernon was engaged to oversee 1989’s ‘Tough It Out’, a harder-edged second album that saw FM at last realising the sound they’d envisaged all along. To promote ‘Tough It Out’ the band set out on a gruelling 42-date UK tour that would see them returning to Hammersmith Odeon, this time as headliners (Romeo’s Daughter were the trek’s special guests). Soon afterwards, however, Chris Overland decided to leave FM, his fi…