Human league

[mayastar]

What was the original line up of Human League and how did they get together?

[andy hughes]

The original line-up of The Human League was a very different proposition from the masters of the three minute single that produced such gems as 'Don't You Want Me' and 'Love Action'

The band formed from the ashes of Dead Daughters, a Sheffield duo of Martin Ware and Ian Craig Marsh. When that band split, the two drafted in Philip Oakey as vocalist, and Adrian Wright as 'visual director' - the backdrop of slides became an integral part of the band's live performance. Having released a number of Kraftwerk-influenced singles, Ware and Marsh quit to form the British Electric Foundation.

Philip Oakey carried on, drafting in Ian Burden on bass, with Wright switching to keyboards. Oakey also recruited two Sheffield schoolgirls with no musical experience whatsoever, Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall. Against all the odds, the band went on to create a totally new pop-based sound, and with the talents of producer Martin Rushent, they crreated a landmark in synth pop, the album 'Dare' with the groundbreaking 'Don't You Want Me' giving the band global stardrom. Having refused all attempts to lure them to London, the nucleus of Oakey, Sulley and Catherall remain together in Sheffield, although releases are sporadic.

[andyfourtina]

they were actually called "the men" then "the future" b4 "the human league", ian craig marsh and martin ware were the founders and  the original singer [in the early days] was a bloke called  adi newton.......phil oakey and philip aidrian wright were recruited and then ian craig marsh  and martin ware cleared off on the eve of their first tour to start up "heaven  17" so one fateful night at the "crazy daisy" disco in sheffield phil and philip saw the two girls dancing and brought them on board.AND  Heaven 17 were not as successful as the league [ i bet they were sick ]p.s....ive got two tickets to see them in liverpool in december  GREAT !