Vivabeat was an LA-based techno-pop band that was active from 1978 into the mid-1980s. It was most well-known for being discovered and signed to its first record deal by Peter Gabriel, as the first American band on the legendary British label, Charisma Records.
In 1980, the band released one album on Charisma, “Party in the War Zone,” which was produced by Jeffrey Lesser and included the band’s most successful track, “Man From China”. The song became a Top 20 dance club hit in Europe, the US and throughout Asia. The album came out on Mercury Records in the U.S.
In that same year, Vivabeat was included on the British Sounds Album, Volume 6, “Charisma Masterpieces.”
A limited edition eponymously titled EP featuring the production of Earle Mankey and the guitar playing of Rob Dean (Japan/Gary Numan) was released in 1982, primarily for dance clubs. It featured the song “The House is Burning (but there’s no one home)” which, along with its music video, appeared in the Brian DePalma film, “Body Double” and won an 80s music MTV Award for best video from a new band.
The band spent several years touring and playing shows with iconic groups like the B-52s, Depeche Mode, Gang of Four, Human League, The Thompson Twins and Wall of Voodoo, before slowly winding down in 1984.