S.O.S. was an AOR act centred around much travelled UFO, HAMMER, WHITESNAKE and BABE RUTH guitarist BERNIE MARSDEN. The guitarist's first attempt at forming a band after his departure from WHITESNAKE in 1982 included a line-up of former PAT TRAVERS and WILD HORSES drummer Clive Edwards, STRAIGHT EIGHT bassist Steve Cherry and ex-TURBO vocalist Tommy Jackson.

S.O.S. toured the UK alongside SAMSON but problems ensued almost immediately with Jackson being ousted in favour of ex-STRIDER, THE BUSINESS and LAST FLIGHT man Rob Hawthorn as the group morphed into ALASKA. Previously, Hawthorn had contributed vocals to BOW WOW guitarist Kyoji Yamamato's solo album 'Electric Cinema'.