The Human League

Philip Oakey – Lead ocals
Susanne Sulley - Vocals
Joanne Catherall - Vocals

The Human League was the first electronic act to reach the masses.  They were formed In Sheffield in 1977 by Martyn Ware and Ian Marsh.  Prior to the arrival of the League, Synth players Ware and Marsh had been a duo performing under the names Dead Daughters and The Future.  Vocalist Phillip Oakey and Visual Director Adrian Wright were the next additions to the League.

After signing to the Fast Label in 1978, they released their first single ‘Being Boiled,’ it was a small underground hit, but lead to a role supporting Siouxsie & the Banshees.  Reproduction was their first full length release, again it left little impression on the charts, but Travelogue the follow up which was released a year later reached the U.K top 20.

Internal problems forced the group’s founders Ware and Marsh to quit in 1980; this was a crucial turning point for the group.  Wright was forced to learn to play the synth, whilst Ian Burden was recruited to play bass and schoolgirls Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall were added to provide additional vocals.

‘Boys and girls’ the first effort from the new line up, just made the U.K Top 50, after that the League began to make a stronger impression on the charts.  ‘South of the Crowd’ just missed out on a Top 10 position, and ‘Love Action,’ reached number three.  Despite changing the line up yet again by adding Jo Callis, the hit records continued, ‘Open Your Heart,’ and ‘Don't You Want Me,’ were both massive hits for the Human League.  Both songs were taken from the album Dare!  Topping not only the U.K charts but they were also hits in the U.S.

In 1984 after much anticipation the League released ‘Hysteria’ but the record failed to reach the same dizzy heights as Dare!  In 1989 aided by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam, the band attempted a comeback, and released ‘Crash.’  The lead single ‘Human,’ was another success reaching the top of the U.S chart.

After disappearing from the rest of the eighties, the band reappeared in 1990, despite their notoriety they were unable to break into the Top 40 with their new material.  More changes to the band and unsuccessful chart attempts seemed to be the norm for the next few years, until an unexpected resurgence in electro fuelled sounds enabled the band to release another album in 2001

Secrets 2001 Emi
Octopus 1995 East West
Romantic 1990 Virgin
Crash 1986 Virgin
Dare! 1981 Virgin
Travelogue 1980 Fast
Reproduction 1979 Fast