Dave Stewart credits breakthrough to bank manager’s loan

Dave Stewart, the British musician best known as one half of synth-pop icons Eurythmics, has opened up about a defining moment in the band’s rise, saying they “owe everything” to an early supporter who believed in them. 

Stewart told The Times that in 1982 he and singer Annie Lennox were struggling financially, living on just £8 a week, and their first album had failed to make an impact. 

With limited backing from their record label, the duo needed funds to record a follow-up that could change their fortunes.

According to Daily Mail, Stewart approached a young Barclays bank manager in north London with a proposal to invest in second-hand recording equipment to make their next record. 

Moreover, to their surprise, the manager agreed to lend them £5,000, a move Stewart says directly enabled them to create the album Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). 

As per the outlet, the title track would go on to become a global hit and establish Eurythmics as a major force in pop music.

The 73-year-old musician paid tribute to the bank manager, Geoff Williams, sending him gold and platinum discs in gratitude over the years. 

“Without him, nobody would know who we were,” Stewart said, as per the publication.