Vivabeat: Wild World Live in Los Angeles 1980-84

Track list:

1. Jet Set (Live at the Whisky a Go Go 1979)
2. On Patrol (Live at the Whisky a Go Go 1979)
3. Not Dead Anymore (Live at the Whisky a Go Go 1979)
4. Wild World (Live at the Whisky a Go Go 1979)
5. I Know Your Room (Live at the Whisky a Go Go 1979)
6. Pop Girl (Live at the Whisky a Go Go 1979)
7. I'm Right (Live at the Whisky a Go Go 1979)
8. Glisse le Rat (Live at FM Station 1984)
9. Angry Red Planet (Live at FM Station 1984)
10. Last White Man (Live at FM Station 1984)
11. Grey, Grey, Grey (Live at FM Station 1984)
12. The House Is Burning (but there's no one home) (Live at FM Station 1984)
13. Shine (Live at FM Station 1984)
14. Man From China (Live at Lhasa 1983)

Formed in 1979 as one of the earliest US techno-pop bands, Vivabeat was influenced by Roxy Music, the Velvet Underground, and early funk bands. Fans of Talking Heads, Human League, and B-52s will appreciate their distinctive synth-meets-guitar sound. "Wild World" features 14 tracks from the only three recorded shows of Vivabeat's seven-year career, 1979-1986. The recordings have never been available previously and were performed at famed Los Angeles venues The Whisky a Go Go, Lhasa Club and FM Station. The songs feature original members Terrance Robay on lead vocals, Marina Muhlfriedel on keyboards, and Mick Muhlfriedel on bass. The recording also includes Jeff Gilbert on guitar and vocals, Chris Schendel on drums, and Cindy Hope on additional keyboards. The track "Man from China" first appeared on Vivabeat's debut album, Party in the War Zone, and became one of the band's most successful songs. It had caught Peter Gabriel's and Charisma Records' attention, leading to the band's signing. Its haunting whistle hook is said to have inspired Gabriel's "Games Without Frontiers." "Man from China" became an underground classic and a Top 20 dance hit in Europe, the U.S., and Asia in the 1980s. After parting ways with Charisma, the band spent several years touring with iconic groups such as the B-52s, Depeche Mode, Gang of Four, Human League, R.E.M., and The Thompson Twins. They continued recording, releasing a limited-edition EP featuring former Gary Numan/Sinead O'Connor guitarist Rob Dean. The EP included "The House is Burning (But There's No One Home)," which became another dance club hit. It appears in the movie Body Double, was licensed for Amazon Prime's new animated series The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, and its video won an MTV award. In 2023, Vivabeat's discography expanded with remastered reissues of Party in the War Zone and a best-of package, The House Is Burning, on Rubellan Remasters. In 2025, Liberation Hall Music reissued both albums on CD and digital.