FM (Canadian band)

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FM is a Canadian progressive rock band from Toronto, formed in 1976 by Cameron Hawkins and Jeff Plewman, who performed as Nash the Slash. They are known for a space‑rock sound, science‑fiction lyrics, and for not using guitars.

The original lineup was a two‑piece duo. Plewman left in 1977 and was replaced by Ben Mink, while Martin Deller joined soon after as the drummer. Their CBC release Black Noise appeared in 1977 and was later issued commercially; the single "Phasors on Stun" helped them gain attention. They followed with Surveillance (1979) and City of Fear (1980).

In the mid‑1980s they moved through several labels, releasing Con‑Test (1985) and Tonight (1986). Deller left in 1986 and was replaced by Greg Critchley, with Simon Brierley on guitar. Randy Cooke later joined on drums. By 1989 the band’s lineup included Hawkins, Brierly, Marty Shaw (Martin Deller), and Paul Marangoni, but they disbanded soon after.

In 1994 Cameron Hawkins started Now See Hear Records and bought back the rights to Black Noise. FM reformed for a series of concerts from 1994 to 1996, releasing the live CD RetroActive (1995). In 2006 FM played NEARfest with Claudio Vena on violin/mandolin and issued new material.

Since 2011, Hawkins has led a new FM lineup with Paul DeLong (drums), Aaron Solomon (violin), and Ed Bernard (viola/mandolin), with plans for a new album for Esoteric Recordings. Nash the Slash died in 2014. FM released Transformation in 2015, its first studio album in 28 years, featuring Hawkins, DeLong, Bernard, and Solomon.