FM - Let Love Be The Leader (Limited Edition Box Set) - 1987 - Portrait
Click above for big pictures, click below to play me…
Did You Know ?
The grunting of pigs is all to do with the shape of their piggy vocal chords. Unlike humans, whose larynxes move forward and down in their throats in early infancy, piggy ones remain towards the back of their throat for their whole lives. While this means that they can both breathe and drink at the same time, it prevents them from communicating in any way other than this simple sound.
Being a pig then is a bit like the song ’Let Love Be The Leader’ : one long grunt.
I have nothing against soft rock per se - Starship released the totally magnificent ‘Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now’ in the same year as this, for example. However, whereas Starship’s lovely record is like being caressed under silk sheets by your favourite fantasy movie star - FM’s is like being gangbanged on an old cement mixer by the entire cast of Auf Weidersehn Pet. ie It can at times be both uncomfortable and unpleasant.
Still, I have often wondered just how bad your record would have to be for your specially numbered limited edition box set to be sold for 8 pence just a few weeks after release.
The answer is now obvious :
This bad.
It’s a Box Set ! What’s In It ?
This record, unfortunately.
Oh, and six separate oh so fucking hilarious autographed ’colour photo-biogs’ giving biographies of all the band members.
Yes, it is time for you to pop off to the photo section and take a look - it is some of the most depressingly blokey slappable nonsense you will ever read…
LAUGH !?!
At a grown man who calls himself ‘Didge Digital’ and who claims to have studied at ‘Venus College Of Music.’
GIGGLE !??!
At vocalist and lead guitarist Chris Overland’s attempt at humour, describing the time ‘a can of Carlsberg Special Brew’ was surgically removed ‘from his left hand’.
POSITIVELY POO YOURSELF STUPID !???!
At the phrase ’Merv the Swerve’
ATTACH A HOSEPIPE TO YOUR EXHAUST AND SIT IN YOUR CAR IN THE GARAGE !????!
If it all gets a bit too much.
What Happened Next ?
Well, it seems FM were formed from ex-members of the following bands : Samson, Streetfighter, Diamond Head, Wildlife and Bad Company. Hmmmm… you’d have really thought they might have guessed the end result may have been a bit disappointing, wouldn’t you?
They then spent their lives being the support band to the (mostly fading) stars : Reo Speedwagon, Foreigner, Magnum, Bon Jovi, Status Quo and Gary Moore.
And then…… they split up, creating such dreadfully named bands such as Andy Barnett’s Barnstormers, The Slaves and SO! The Steve Overland Band.
On the not remotely bitter SO! Steve Overland Band website, our Steve claims that he was buried by ‘general music industry apathy’ and their quest for manufactured disposable drivel…<but the release of SO!’s album means that>…..it’s good to know there are still a few record companies around that look beyond “a haircut and a dance routine”. He then, with no trace of irony, refers to himself as The Voice.
But panic not, FM lovers - all is not lost… because with very spooky good timing, SO! The Steve Overland Band are no more…. and……yes!…..FM are reforming and playing together for the first time in twelve years, performing at something called Firefest 4 in Nottingham on October 27th this year :
http://www.getreadytorock.com/index4.htm
There is bad news though : Leather clad alien Didge Digital will not, I repeat not, be joining them. Sad though this is, what is even sadder is the reason why… he now plays in an Emerson, Lake & Palmer covers band.
Which raises just one further question : Who the fuck pays to see an Emerson, Lake & Palmer covers band ?
Money Update
Cost : 8 pence
Current Value : There are alot of them about - it seems that just about everybody who owns one is trying to get rid of the bloody thing. One person was even asking for 21 pounds, which seems a tad optimistic to say the least. Anyway, the cheapest one I can find is seven pounds and 96 pence which is still a stupid amount of money to pay for this nonsense. Let’s be honest here - who, with the possible exceptions of the band themselves and their mums, who would ever possibly want to buy one ?
Current Profit : 74 pounds and 66 pence : Let Love Be The Loss Leader.
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