In 1982, Cox and Drummie formed the band Go West, with Cox as lead vocalist and Drummie on guitar and backing vocals.[4][5] Go West had a publishing deal and possessed a portastudio, but lacked a band or recording company. Cox and Drummie decided, with support from John Glover, their manager, to find a record producer, and record just two of their songs. The tracks "We Close Our Eyes" and "Call Me" found Go West landing a recording contract with Chrysalis Records.[6]
Go West's debut single, "We Close Our Eyes", was released in February 1985 and reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart,[6] No. 5 on the US Dance Club Play chart and No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7] The video for the song, directed by Godley & Creme, was innovative and unusual for its time, becoming an early favourite on MTV.[6] "We Close Our Eyes" would prove to be the band's highest-placed UK single, and their only appearance in the UK Singles Chart's top ten.[8]
The duo's eponymous debut studio album was released in April 1985. It included "We Close Our Eyes" and "Call Me" as well as "Don't Look Down", which served as the prequel to what would be their first top 40 hit in the US. The album peaked at no. 8 in the United Kingdom.[8]Bangs & Crashes, an album of remixes, B-sides and live tracks, was released in 1986, and included the track "One Way Street" which was part of the 1985 Rocky IV film soundtrack.[6] Go West were voted "Best Newcomer" at the 1986 Brit Awards.[9]
In 1987, Go West released the proper follow-up to their debut studio album, Dancing on the Couch, which made the UK top 20. Although several singles were released, the album was not as commercially successful as their first, particularly in the United States. However, it yielded the band's first American top 40 hit single: "Don't Look Down – The Sequel".[10]
Cox and Drummie appeared on Jim'll Fix It: Strikes Again in 2007, to re-create a popular 'fix-it' from 1986; in the original show, a fifteen-year-old girl had sung "We Close Our Eyes" with Go West as a backing vocalist.[16]
In November 2015, a compilation album called 80's Re:Covered featured two Go West covers of the Killers' "Human", including a remix,[17] while a recording of a 2003 concert recorded at the Robin 2 in Bilston was released as Live Robin 2 – 2003 CD/DVD in 2016.[18][19] The concert was previously released as the live DVD Kings of Wishful Thinking – Live in 2004.[20]
^"Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 21 May 1994 – via Google Books.
^ abKent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 126. ISBN0-646-11917-6.
^ ab"Go West ARIA chart history complete to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved 20 July 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.