Biography of The Human League

The Human League scored a number of hits in the '80s that crossed the line between post-new wave rock and dance-pop, though that was a very different style from the music the group played at first. The Human League was formed in Sheffield, England, in 1977 by synthesizer players Martin Ware (b. May 19, 1956) and Ian Marsh (b. Nov 11, 1956), along with Addy Newton and singer Philip Oakey (b. Oct 2, 1955). Newton was soon replaced by Adrian Wright and the lineup held for the first two Human League albums, Reproduction (1979) and Travelogue (1980).Ware and Marsh left the Human League in October 1980 (they subsequently formed Heaven 17). Oakey and Wright recruited bassist Ian Burden (b. Dec 24, 1957) and backup singers Joanne Catherall (b. Sep 18, 1962) and Susanne Sulley (b. Mar 22, 1963), resulting in a much more pop-sounding version of the band. Synth player Jo Callis (b. May 2, 1955) was added to the group.The Human League's third album, Dare, was its commercial and international breakthrough. Released in October 1981 in the U.K. and in February 1982 in the U.S., it went to number one in England and number three in the U.S., largely on the strength of the single "Don't You Want Me," which topped the charts in both countries. Subsequent hits in 1982 and 1983 included "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" and "Mirror Man."Hysteria (1984), was far less successful, and the group agonized over a follow-up. Crash appeared in 1986, produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (responsible for Janet Jackson's Control, among other hits). Largely a studio creation, it was nevertheless successful, producing the number one hit "Human." The Human League's sixth album, Romantic?, was released in 1990. ~ William Ruhlmann