GTR (band)

GTR
GTR, 1986. L-R: Phil Spalding, Steve Hackett, Jonathan Mover, Steve Howe, and Max Bacon.
Background information
Origin	Westminster, London, United Kingdom
Genres	Progressive rock
Years active	1985–1987
Labels	Arista, King Biscuit
Associated acts	Asia, Yes, Genesis, Marillion
Website	www.dprp.net/forgotten/gtr/index.html
Past members	Max Bacon Steve Hackett Steve Howe Jonathan Mover Phil Spalding

GTR were a short-lived British rock band founded in 1985 by former Yes and Asia guitarist Steve Howe and former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. In comparison to the two leaders' earlier work within progressive rock, GTR appealed to album-oriented rock radio stations. The band was short-lived, lasting for two years and one album. Hackett has subsequently been strongly critical of the project, though not necessarily of the other musicians involved in it.

The band's name came from an abbreviation of "guitar" as used for track labelling in multi-track recording studios.

GTR were formed following Steve Howe's departure from Asia in 1985, after which he and former Yes manager Brian Lane discussed plans for a new group. Howe expressed an interest in working with Hackett, who was then approached by Lane. Hackett proved amenable, despite some doubts as to the project setup: his last few solo albums (including the atypical all-classical-guitar project Bay of Kings) had sold disappointingly and despite his interest in continuing his acoustic work, he saw GTR as an option for sustaining his career at a prominent level and also financing future solo work. Once the two guitarists were in place, the group was completed with the recruitment of American drummer Jonathan Mover (ex-Marillion, and later to work with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Alice Cooper), bass guitarist Phil Spalding (ex-Bernie Torme, Toyah, Mike Oldfield and Original Mirrors) and singer Max Bacon (ex-Moby Dick, Nightwing and Bronz).