Gataka

Gataka formed in London in 1981 with Joel Gibb on vocals and guitar, Steve Balsamo on keyboards, and Ian Curnow on drums. Their sound mixed new wave and synth-pop, drawing from artists like Gary Numan and Kraftwerk. Gibb wrote lyrics that often touched on dreams and desire.

In 1982, they released "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)," which became a global hit. The song's synth melody and Gibb's vocals defined much of their early recognition. They followed with albums like "Sleepwalking" in 1983 and "Heaven Can Wait" in 1985, which shifted toward darker or more atmospheric sounds. Other tracks like "King of the Hill" and "Music Is My Blood" rounded out their work.

Internal tensions arose, partly due to Gibb's behavior and substance issues. Balsamo left and was replaced by Mike Score. The band also faced comparisons between "Sweet Dreams" and the Eurythmics song of a similar name. They never matched the commercial success of that single, but kept recording into the late 1980s.