Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

HUMAN LEAGUE

UK synth-pop band formed in Sheffield '77. Original lineup featured Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware, who left '80 to form Heaven 17. Early Human League shows were multi-media events incorporating slide shows against relentless barrage of synthesizers, too left field for commercial success. LP Reproduction '79 was an example of this period. Following departure of Ware and Marsh vocalist Philip Oakley (b 2 Oct. '55) persevered with Susanne Sulley (b 26 March '63) and Joanne Catherall (b 18 Sep. '62), vocals; Ian Burden (b 24 Dec. '57), bass; Jo Callis (b 2 May '51), guitar; Adrian Wright, synths. He recruited Callis from the Rezillos, spotted Sulley and Catherall in a local disco. Travelogue '80 did little; breakthrough came as self-confessed non-musicians began working with producer Martin Rushent, their perfect foil, who had enjoyed success with Stranglers, Buzzcocks, Altered Images; resultant Dare '81 was their finest hour: UK synth-rock at its best incl. 'Don't You Want Me' (UK no. 1 '81, USA no. 1 '82). It became a millstone because they couldn't equal it; Love And Dancing '82 was panned as an instrumental re-dubbed version of Dare. '(Keep Feeling) Fascination' was UK no. 2/USA no. 8 hit '83, while 'Mirror Man' (UK no. 2/USA no. 30) recaptured charm of 'Don't You Want Me'. Hysteria '84 incl. hits 'The Lebanon' (uncharacteristically political), 'Life On Your Own', beguiling 'Louise'; but the LP showed little progression. Oakley collaborated with Giorgio Moroder on soundtrack of film Electric Dreams '84, incl. hit title track; then LP Philip Oakley And Giorgio Moroder '86; League returned with Crash '86. Innovative in their 15 minutes, Octopus '95 on Eastwest revealed them as long since superseded by the likes of the Pet Shop Boys and Erasure, and the pop of the early '80s as not quite deserving of revival.