After watching a Paul Young show, Geoff Barradale, Vitamin Z's lead vocalist, felt compelled to pursue singing himself. In a curious parallel, the band would mirror Young by achieving U.S. recognition almost exclusively through a single heartfelt ballad from the 1980s, "Burning Flame," which stood as their artistic high point and distilled the mid-'80s British pop landscape where acts such as Young, the Style Council, and Spandau Ballet experimented with blue-eyed soul. Barradale and Nick Lockwood, who played guitar, bass, and keyboards, established the group in Sheffield, England, during 1982. CBS Records quickly extended an offer, yet the musicians declined, believing they still needed further development. They refined their style and later secured deals with Phonogram in the U.K. and Geffen Records in America. Their first album, Rites of Passage, appeared in 1985 and included contributions from Peter Gabriel, percussionist Jerry Marotta, drummer Chris Merrick Hughes, guitarists Neil Hubbard and David Rhodes, and violinist Simon House; Rhodes eventually became a full member. Vitamin Z served as the opening act for Tears for Fears across England while "Burning Flame" climbed the dance charts. The band returned to the track on their follow-up release, Sharp Stone Rain, whose title alluded to the bombing of a Northern Ireland church that claimed eleven lives. Commercial results proved disappointing, however, and the group disbanded. Barradale later formed the Wild Orchids before commencing recordings with Seafruit in 1998.
