When the Heart Rules the Mind

"GTR" is studio shorthand for "guitar." As the name implies, this was a guitar-driven supergroup founded by acclaimed progressive rock guitarists Steve Howe (Yes, Asia) and Steve Hackett (Genesis, and as a solo artist). The other members were relatively obscure: bassist Phil Spalding, drummer Jonathan Mover and lead vocalist Max Bacon. Their first, and only, album was produced by Howe's Yes and Asia bandmate Geoff Downes, a former member of the Buggles (of "Video Killed The Radio Star" fame).

This song was Hackett's only US Top 40 hit in any capacity, including his six-year stint with Genesis and his prolific solo career. The album went gold, and produced one other minor hit with "The Hunter." However, the response to GTR from prog rock aficionados was mixed, with Bacon's alto-tenor vocals a particularly common target of criticism. A follow-up album was tentatively planned, but never came off, as the group disbanded after a series of misfortunes and disagreements. Hackett used some of the material intended for the second GTR album for his own planned solo album Feedback, but that album was also shelved until 2000, when it was released as Feedback 86.

In 1988, Bacon was a contestant on the British TV series New Faces, best described as the American Idol of its day. Although the show was meant to showcase previously unknown artists, for some reason Bacon's stint with GTR was never an issue, as he made it all the way to that year's finals before losing.