FM is a Canadian progressive rock music group formed in 1976 in Toronto, by Cameron Hawkins and Jeff Plewman (renamed Nash the Slash).
[2] A few months later, TVOntario recorded an in-studio performance for the Night Music Concert TV show, first broadcast on November 3.
The half-hour show, shown with no commercial breaks, presented the band playing three long pieces: "Phasors on Stun", "One O'Clock Tomorrow", and "Black Noise".
FM's first public performance took place in November 1976 at the A Space art gallery in Toronto shortly after the TV show first aired.
After appearing on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation TV variety show Who's New, FM was approached by the CBC to make an album, ultimately titled Black Noise, which the group presumed would be distributed in stores like a normal release.
In 1981 the Passport label declared bankruptcy,[6] but was rescued again the following year by new Canadian distributor A&M Records, who reissued Black Noise again.
Ben Mink also recorded an instrumental solo album, Foreign Exchange with the other members of FM as his backing band.
The double bill concept was retained, with Nash playing a solo set as the opening act for FM concerts.
A live show at the Masonic Temple in Toronto was videotaped and aired by the CBC as one of its Rock Deluxe TV specials in 1985.
The Quality Records company had existed since the early 1950s, and by the 1960s was Canada's biggest domestic label; but they ceased operations shortly after the album was released.
In 1986, FM replaced Deller with Greg Critchley (ex The Partland Brothers and The Spoons) on drums, and added Simon Brierley (ex Lee Aaron's band and Strange Advance) on guitars.
Before this time, FM (and Nash as a solo artist) were notable for not using electric guitars, therefore this change made a significant alteration to their sound.
In 1989, FM consisted of Hawkins and Brierly, augmented by the new members Martin Shaw (also known as Marty Warsh) on mandolin and violin and drummer Paul Marangoni.
The reissue was followed by a reformation of the group's classic lineup for a series of concerts from 1994 to 1996,[6] resulting in a new live CD titled RetroActive recorded November 1994 in Toronto, and issued on Now See Hear in 1995.
This release was not approved by the other members, and did not mention the name FM; the artist was listed as "Nash the Slash, Cameron Hawkins & Martin Deller".
Joining Hawkins are Paul DeLong on drums, Aaron Solomon on violin, and Ed Bernard of Druckfarben on viola and mandolin.
The lineup was Hawkins (bass, keyboards), Paul DeLong (drums), Edward Bernard (viola, mandolin), and Aaron Solomon (violin).