Long-running British rockers FM are featured in a new interview with MetalSymphony.com. An excerpt from the discussion is available below:

Q: FM is a very important band in the melodic rock scene, You started in 1986 with a wonderful debut and since then have released great albums to 2011. What has musically change in all these years for FM? What remains the same?

Merv Goldsworthy : "The songwriting process remains pretty much the same as it's always been, what has changed since the early days is the advance in technology, this makes the recording process a lot easier."

Steve Overland: "I'll write separately with Merv, Pete, Jim and the we'll take the songs into rehearsals and FMize them. Sometimes they will not change much from the original idea but sometimes there is a radical difference. I really enjoy the writing process you never know what's going to come out."

Q: What do you think of the FM unity after so many years?

Pete Jupp: "When the band split in the '90s it wasn't because we had fallen out, we were still the best of friends but the musical climate had changed so much it was impossible to carry on. When we got back together to do Firefest in 2007 we really did plan it as a one-off, no plans past that one show. We thought if 200 fans turned up that would be a result. Imagine our surprise when we walked out onstage to a 1500 sell out with fans travelling from all over the world. It was such an emotional experience. It was after the success of the show that we decided to carry on and we owed our loyal fans a new album. So the unity between the band members and with the fans never went away which is great."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

FM recently added three more dates to their summer touring schedule for this year and are very excited to confirm two more shows with JOURNEY and FOREIGNER in June (Dublin and Belfast) plus in July they will be appearing in Portugal with D-A-D. I

It's 25 years since FM played with Foreigner at the RDS Arena in Dublin, and the Belfast show will also be a welcome return for them following a successful headline show there last summer. The concert with D-A-D will be FM's first back in Lisbon since their Aphrodisiac tour in 1993 and the band are looking forward to catching up with everyone there.

Upcoming dates include:

April

16 - Sala Heineken - Madrid, Spain

June

9 - Sweden Rock Festival - Solvesborg, Sweden
10 - Download Festival - Donington Park, England
11 - O2 Arena - Dublin, Ireland
12 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Ireland
23 - Rock Temple - Kerkrade, Holland
24 - Graspop Festival - Dessel, Belgium
25 - Rock The Nation - Freilichtbuhne, Loreley, Germany
26 - Rock The Nation - Stadt Aus Eisen, Ferropolis, Germany

July

1 - Pavilhao Do Belenenses - Lisbon, Portugal

FM are currently writing and recording for the follow-up to last year's Metropolis album. Further updates to follow.