When the Heart Rules the Mind

Zoo Freaks, get ready to vibe with the Zoo Crew as they spin the anthemic "When the Heart Rules the Mind" by GTR from their self-titled debut album! This 1986 hit, peaking at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, was a collaboration between guitar virtuosos Steve Howe and Steve Hackett. According to a 2021 Louder interview, the song was born when Howe shared an instrumental opening, and Hackett added a tune, crafting what became GTR’s biggest hit. Hackett later reflected, “It’s the strongest thing Steve Howe and I wrote together,” as noted on his official site in 2018 when he released a re-recorded version featuring his own vocals and Marillion’s Steve Rothery on guitar. However, the song’s UK performance was lackluster due to minimal media support, with Hackett lamenting, “MTV played the video every hour in the US, but that never happened in the UK.”

The track’s creation wasn’t without tension. A Reddit post recalls a VH1 special where Hackett appeared visibly unhappy, later saying GTR was “fun for five minutes.” Some fans on Reddit praise the song’s nostalgic charm, with one user noting, “Max Bacon is such a great singer,” while others wished for a remastered release due to the original mix’s low quality. Despite its US success, the song faced criticism for its AOR shift from the prog-rock roots of Howe and Hackett, with some fans on ProgArchives calling it a “disappointment” for not delivering a classic 70s prog sound.

GTR formed in 1985 as a supergroup blending progressive rock pedigree with mainstream appeal. Steve Howe, formerly of Yes and Asia, and Steve Hackett, a key member of Genesis, founded the band after Howe left Asia, frustrated by his guitar taking a backseat to keyboards. As detailed on Wikipedia, Howe and manager Brian Lane recruited Hackett, whose solo albums were underperforming, hoping GTR would boost his prominence. They added vocalist Max Bacon, bassist Phil Spalding, and drummer Jonathan Mover, aiming for AOR radio play. Produced by Geoff Downes, the band’s self-titled album went gold in the US, but internal conflicts and financial issues led to their breakup in 1987.

The band’s name, GTR, comes from a studio abbreviation for “guitar,” reflecting their guitar-driven sound. Despite their short run, GTR left a mark with “When the Heart Rules the Mind,” a track that still resonates with fans, as seen in Songfacts comments praising Howe’s guitar work and Bacon’s vocals. Hackett’s dissatisfaction grew, leading him to pitch a collaboration with Queen’s Brian May, but the band dissolved before it materialized. Fans can explore more on the Steve Hackett Fan Club on Facebook or the HackettSongs website, where updates on Hackett’s projects, including his GTR revisit, are shared.

Connect with the legacy of GTR and its members online. Visit Steve Hackett’s official site at HackettSongs, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Steve Howe’s updates can be found via YesWorld or his Facebook page. For fan communities, check out the Steve Hackett Fan Club or Yes Fans on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can dive deeper into discussions about GTR’s brief but impactful run.