The Human League

Biography

The Human League are an English synth-pop band formed in Sheffield in 1977. Initially an experimental electronic group, they achieved widespread commercial success after a lineup change and a shift in musical direction. The only constant member of the band since its inception has been lead singer and songwriter Philip Oakey.

Formation and Early Years (1977-1980)

The band's origins can be traced to computer operators Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, who shared an interest in pop music and avant-garde electronic sounds. They formed a band called The Future, and after vocalist Philip Oakey joined, they renamed themselves The Human League in 1978. The group's early work was dark and experimental, influenced by bands like Kraftwerk. They released their debut single, "Being Boiled," in 1978, followed by the albums Reproduction (1979) and Travelogue (1980). These early releases had limited commercial success, leading to tensions within the band.

Lineup Change and New Direction

In late 1980, founding members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh left the group to form Heaven 17. This prompted Oakey and remaining member Adrian Wright to restructure The Human League. Oakey recruited two teenage schoolgirls, Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall, whom he spotted dancing in a Sheffield nightclub, to provide vocals. Bassist Ian Burden and guitarist/keyboardist Jo Callis also joined the new lineup.

International Success with "Dare" (1981-1982)

With a new lineup and a more pop-oriented sound, The Human League released their third album, Dare, in 1981. The album was a massive commercial success, reaching number one in the UK. It spawned four hit singles, including the iconic "Don't You Want Me," which topped the charts in both the UK and the US. The success of Dare and its singles established The Human League as leading figures in the synth-pop movement and the Second British Invasion of the US.

Subsequent Career and Later Albums

The Human League continued to release music throughout the 1980s, achieving further hits with singles like "Mirror Man," "(Keep Feeling) Fascination," "The Lebanon," and "Human," which became their second US number one. The 1986 album Crash, produced by American R&B duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, marked a departure from their previous sound.

The band's lineup has changed over the years, with various members departing. Since the early 1990s, The Human League has primarily consisted of the trio of Oakey, Catherall, and Sulley. They have continued to tour and record, releasing albums such as Octopus (1995) and Credo (2011).