In 1985, Steve Howe of Yes and Steve Hackett of Genesis united to form GTR, a project initiated by Howe's manager who recognised how their musical approaches might enhance one another. The ensemble featured vocalist Max Bacon, bassist Phil Spalding (a veteran collaborator with Mike Oldfield), and drummer Jonathan Mover (associated with Marillion). Their songwriting partnership, demonstrated in 'When The Heart Rules The Mind,' merged Howe's instrumental foundation with Hackett's melodic sensibility into what became the group's signature work.

The supergroup achieved immediate commercial attention with their debut single but struggled to build lasting momentum. GTR released only one album before the project effectively ended after several months of existence. Hackett later reflected that under different circumstances the band might have pursued an extended career arc comparable to other legendary acts, yet instead the group remains historically significant primarily for a single standout track rather than as a consequential creative partnership.