The Human League

‘I never worked in a cocktail bar’: How the Human League made Don’t You Want Me

‘Philip turned up to meet my parents fully made up, with red lipstick and high heels. My dad locked himself in the bedroom and refused to come out’

Interviews by Dave Simpson

13, Dec, 2021 @3:34 PM

The 100 greatest UK No 1s: No 7, The Human League – Don't You Want Me

Phil Oakey might have hated it, but his hook-laden hit about sexual power politics brought synth-pop in from the cold

Luke Turner

28, May, 2020 @8:00 AM

Sheffield's post-punk explosion: synths, steel and skinheads

In the late 70s, the city’s bands set out to create the sound of the future – while trying to avoid getting beaten up. Jarvis Cocker and other leading lights recall a revolutionary scene

Daniel Dylan Wray

12, Dec, 2019 @5:00 PM

New Year's Eve celebrations to go ahead despite Storm Dylan

Tens of thousands expected to join Edinburgh Hogmanay street party despite forecasts of high winds

Kevin Rawlinson

31, Dec, 2017 @2:25 PM

The Human League – 10 of the best

From a DIY debut that cost £3 to make, to the sleek pop perfection of Open Your Heart, here are 10 standout tracks from the Sheffield synth maestros

Ian Wade

03, Aug, 2016 @11:42 AM

The art on your sleeve: visual artists on album covers

The best record covers are often as much a part of the whole work as the songs themselves. We asked six artists to choose the designs that inspire them

Interviews by Kathryn Bromwich, Imogen Carter and Katie Forster

26, Jun, 2016 @10:00 AM

Martyn Ware's seaside soundscape: a feeling of calm in a manic world

The Human League co-founder releases his Sea Inside Us All project, an 82-minute recording of familiar sounds of the seaside

Steven Morris

21, Mar, 2016 @12:01 AM

Forget 1966, because 1981 was pop's year of revolution

While Jon Savage has been hailing the mid-60s, there’s a case to be made that we’re about to mark the 35th anniversary of pop’s greatest year

Bob Stanley

17, Dec, 2015 @5:12 PM

Shoot-'em-ups and crashing waves: Martyn Ware seeks that seaside sound

Former Human League star tells of his love for the sea as he takes his recorder around Brighton, part of project to capture the sounds of Britain’s coastline

Steven Morris

21, Jun, 2015 @11:01 PM

The Human League may jump back into the top 10 … thanks to Aberdeen FC

Facebook campaign by football fans could give the synth-pop band its first top-10 appearance since 1995

Tim Jonze

20, Mar, 2014 @4:58 PM

Martyn Ware of the Human League on the mindbending power of 3D sound

The Human League's Martyn Ware has used 3D sound to calm Brighton drunks. Now he's using it to explore Alzheimer's. Ben Beaumont-Thomas reports

Ben Beaumont-Thomas

04, Feb, 2014 @6:30 PM

Alan Partridge picks his pop playlist

The star of Alpha Papa talks us through some of his favourite pop hits – from wuthering women and songs about horses to the 'decent beat' of the Human League

Alan Partridge

01, Aug, 2013 @2:09 PM

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