Ex-STONEWALL, LUCIFER'S FRIEND, ZAR and URIAH HEEP vocalist JOHN LAWTON released his debut solo album, 'Hardbeat', in 1980 also performed vocals on two REBEL albums; namely 'Rebel' and 'Stargazer', alongside ZAR guitarist Tommy Claus.

Lawton was to form ARK in 1980 with MOODY BLUES producer Tony Clark and vocalist Maggi Ryder, but an album recorded in the Bahamas was never released. Lawton was later to appear as the vocalist with ZAR on the 'Live Your Life Forever' album and subsequently became a member of GUNHILL.

Lawton teamed up with erstwhile URIAH HEEP colleague keyboard player KEN HENSLEY and bassist Paul Newton in 2000 for a band project billed as SALISBURY.