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(Contributor: Anthony Critchley - Original Author of
Frozenheart.co.uk
fansite)
In the beginning…
I was 15 or 16 can’t remember exactly, but my over
protective mother had finally allowed me to attend my
first concert. It was at the GMEX in Manchester and I
was there with a friend of mine to watch Status Quo, not
realising that the band supporting would quite simply
change my life. FM were extraordinary that night, I was
hooked and from that night on I made every effort to
watch FM whenever I could. 12 years ago, I witnessed
what I thought was my last ever FM concert at Bradford
Rio’s. I had no idea the band were splitting up, and I
had no idea they had until I read it somewhere in
Kerrang or Raw magazine. Heartbroken was the word, I
could understand why they had split up but wished it
hadn’t happened.
I found myself in a fortunate position a few years
later, I had gone through numerous courses and landed
myself a job as a web designer at a college. It is
there where I decided to put FM into cyberspace (or the
inter web as Andy puts it), and Frozenheart.co.uk was
born. It was initially designed to put my fond memories
of watching this great band online and for other FM fans
to follow suit. It was a pretty good success I felt, and
from there a number of discussions were made on how we
can get the ‘mighty’ FM back together for one more
show! I spent hours on the phone speaking to Dave
Thomas (SO! Website) on ways and means of pulling
together enough cash to get these guys back together –
even for just one more time! Imagine how I felt (well I
know you will have had the same feelings) when I hear
from Merv Goldsworthy that FM will be playing at the
Firefest in 2007. Goosebumps time.
Summer 2007
After passing on Frozenheart to Craig Lawton (thanks for
keeping it going mate, you’re a star), I found myself in
an extremely fortunate position of being able to find
the time to help the now (there is a god!) reformed FM
with visuals for the Firefest show. I kinda knew how to
create these things, I had the software at work
anyway…oh, but I can’t really blag this as I do day to
day at work, this is FM and this is going to be filmed
for a DVD and shit, there are going to be 1700 people
there. Oh bollocks, I better learn this software quick
sharp-ish.
So there I was with a set list sent to me by the guys in
the band, songs already in my heart – I had the ideas
already on how I wanted them visually displayed. Just
doing it is gonna be difficult. I could really bore you
with the details, but I won’t – I will tell you though
how exciting it was to be able to put my heart and soul
into the music I love, the music I have rarely gone a
day without listening to. I have to thank Pete
especially for listening to me pretty much everyday on
the phone throughout this summer, listening to my ideas
and making sure they work with what they had in mind.
Again to be trusted by my heroes with an empty canvas,
with their genius is so hard to describe.
26th
October 2007
Can you believe it, FM have a rehearsal tonight and I’m
going!!! To a rehearsal, shit I was pretty nervous. I
had met Pete and Steve recently but I was finally going
to meet up with Merv, Andy and Jem again after a very
long 12 years. I had a drink at the hotel before
leaving for the rehearsal studio. And you know what
happened, my fiancée and I had burger king with FM!!!
Okay, the guys in the band are as down to earth as any
guy in the street, but these are still my heroes and I’m
having a Burger King with them. Too good to be true.
Back to the rehearsal, just to make sure I get some idea
on when to start these clips at the big event. Also it
was great to meet up with the rest of the crew,
fantastic people – all with the same intention of making
sure that the FM return was a huge success. Then it was
back to the hotel for a few drinks, before attempting to
get some sleep as we have to be at the venue at 9am to
set up.
27th
October 2007
It
was strange, I was there a while – ages it seemed,
waiting to get the screens up and then to test the
laptop to ensure everything was working. However this
was not to be, the screens only got fitted to the racks
5 minutes before the doors were due to open. But at
least during this time I was able to witness the sound
check, last nights rehearsal was great – but that sound
check blew my mind. I knew they were gonna be awesome
on the night. I spoke to Dave Ling shortly after sound
check, and I think the pair of us had a tear in our eye,
FM are back! Time to wait now, spent some time back at
the hotel with Lisa (my fiancée) but there was no
denying I was nervous, how stupid – I mean all I was
doing was pressing a mouse button…but it had to be right
in my opinion, this is FM and a massive opportunity.
10 minutes before FM were due to go on stage, I watched
Tyketto’s final song, and they sounded fantastic. The
crowd gave them a big send off, but I still hadn’t had
the chance to check that the laptop was working with the
Plasma screens. Off came Tyketto, time to get the
laptop setup, many thanks to Richard Lloyd for easing my
nerves by making sure I was plugging the correct leads
in. I was positioned behind Andy’s speakers, to the side
of Pete – which was perfect as I could watch Pete
closely to get my cue’s. I sat there dying for a piss,
but there was no way I was leaving now FM could be ready
to start at any time. Once Pete was ready, Dad’s Army
began and I pressed play….perfect! I looked out behind
the speakers to see the crowd, it was packed, absolutely
heaving. I didn’t get to see a great deal of the gig,
but what I did get to see on occasions was the joy on
the faces of the crowd, the crowd singing out song after
song. These people feel these songs the same way I do,
and I have been very lucky to play some tiny part to
this evening. It was incredible, FM when I was 15/16
were extraordinary, this FM sounded better than ever
before, better than I could have imagined. Thank you so
much for playing again, it means so much. Once the gig
had ended, we went back to the dressing rooms, there
were smiles and tears of joy there. I realised, it
didn’t just mean this much to the fans, it meant just as
much, even more maybe, to the band members – they
deserved this night more than anyone, as they have
always deserved so much more than they received in the
past.
FM are back, the boys are back and roll on 2008! |
