GTR (band)
| Company type | Supergroup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Steve Howe, Steve Hackett |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Rock music, albums, live performances |
GTR was a British rock supergroup established in 1985 by guitarists Steve Howe, formerly of Yes and Asia, and Steve Hackett, ex-Genesis member. Despite its roots in progressive rock, the band focused on appealing to AOR (album-oriented rock) radio listeners. Over a span of two years, GTR produced a single album before disbanding. Hackett later expressed criticism of the project itself, though he did not fault the other participants.
The band’s name, "GTR," originated from the studio shorthand for "guitar" used during track labeling.
History
Following his departure from Asia in 1984, Howe teamed up with former Yes manager Brian Lane to form a new band and invited Hackett—whose recent solo records had underwhelmed commercially—to join. Hackett viewed GTR as an opportunity to sustain his visibility and finance future endeavors. The lineup was completed with American drummer Jonathan Mover (formerly of Marillion), bassist Phil Spalding, and vocalist Max Bacon.
GTR pursued a modern sound that notably excluded keyboards, which Howe believed were overly prominent in Asia’s music. Instead, both Howe and Hackett incorporated Roland guitar synthesizers connected to rack-mounted synthesizers to achieve their desired textures.
While Lane worked on securing record contracts with limited early success, the group recorded under producer Geoff Downes, who had collaborated with Howe in Asia and Yes. Howe preferred investing heavily in studio time, whereas Hackett advocated for minimizing recording expenses while allocating more funds toward instruments. Howe’s perspective ultimately dominated, resulting in significant debt for the band. Hackett later criticized Lane’s management approach as divisive, suggesting it encouraged internal strife aimed at finalizing a deal that primarily benefited Lane.
Album
GTR's eponymous debut album was released through Arista Records on 24 April 1986. In the United States, it earned gold status and climbed to on the album charts. The record featured the successful single "When the Heart Rules the Mind" (), which remained on the charts for 16 weeks. Another track, "The Hunter," garnered some radio attention but peaked modestly at . Although commercially successful, the album received mixed critical reception—especially among fans of Genesis and Yes. Reviewers pointed out filler tracks beyond the singles and criticized Max Bacon’s vocal delivery. Notably, J. D. Considine’s infamous one-word review "SHT" published in Musician magazine became widely recognized; Hackett later admitted that this notoriety helped boost album sales.
Tour
In 1986, GTR embarked on tours across North America and Europe. Due to difficulties replicating guitar synthesizer sounds live, keyboardist Matt Clifford was added to the touring ensemble to reproduce studio elements on stage. Their setlists incorporated songs from Genesis, Yes, and solo works by both Hackett and Howe. Additionally, Howe, Hackett, and Bacon appeared as guest VJs during MTV’s "Guest VJ Hour." A concert recorded at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles was broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour radio program and later released as a live album. This performance demonstrated their cohesive live musicianship with renditions of Yes’s "Roundabout" and a reimagined Genesis piece "I Know What I Like." The live set also included "Prizefighters," a track later developed for Hackett’s intended solo album Feedback 86, which was eventually issued in 2000.
Decline and legacy
By tour’s end, Hackett observed that GTR was unraveling due to dissatisfaction with musical direction and financial handling, alongside mounting tensions with Howe. He perceived GTR shifting toward more of a project than a conventional band and considered collaborating with Queen’s Brian May. Although May recorded demos for three songs with Hackett, this partnership did not advance further.
Financial issues continued to plague the band, leading Hackett to dissolve GTR in 1987 because monetary problems made continuation unfeasible. He departed to focus on his solo career, reflecting that despite commercial achievements, GTR lacked the creative autonomy he desired. Mover also exited to join Joe Satriani’s band.
Howe attempted to resurrect GTR alongside Bacon, Spalding, ex-Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler, and singer/guitarist Robert Berry. Early sessions under the tentative name Nerotrend featured shared vocals between Berry and Bacon but were ultimately discontinued. Some material from these recordings resurfaced in other projects by members—for example, one track evolved into "Birthright" on the Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album.
Following GTR's dissolution, Howe resumed his solo work and rejoined Yes through Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe; Berry became part of Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s offshoot group 3; Spalding continued session work; Glockler returned to Saxon; and Bacon released a solo album containing GTR-related songs. In 2018, Hackett revisited "When the Heart Rules the Mind," issuing a new recording as a single.
Founding members
- Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals (1985–1987)
- Steve Hackett – guitar, backing vocals (1985–1986)
- Max Bacon – lead vocals (1985–1987)
- Phil Spalding – bass guitar, backing vocals (1985–1987; deceased 2023)
- Jonathan Mover – drums, percussion (1985–1986)
Subsequent members
- Matt Clifford – keyboards (1986–1987)
- Robert Berry – guitar, both lead and backing vocals (1987)
- Nigel Glockler – drums (1987)
Studio albums
- GTR (1986) – Reached No. 11 in the US, No. 41 in the UK, and No. 30 in Canada
Live albums
- King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents GTR (recorded in 1986, released in 1997)
Videos
- The Making of GTR (released 1986)
- Live (filmed in 1986, released 2008)
Singles
| Year | Song | US Hot 100 | US Rock | UK Singles | Canada (RPM) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "When the Heart Rules the Mind" | 14 | 3 | 82 | 62 | GTR |
| 1986 | "The Hunter" | 85 | 14 | - | - | GTR |