The Human League

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The Human League are playing Saturday on the Main Stage

Media fascination with the League continued in January with the screening of a documentary called 'Young Guns' that focused on the leading artists of the early 80's. Brilliantly researched for the most part, the programme documented the early beginnings of the band and featured Phil Oakey with
Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh being interviewed together for the first time since 1980. Filmed around Sheffield, 'Young Guns' also featured contributions from Joanne, Susan, Jo Callas, Simon Draper and the much missed Adrian Wright. Running for 30 minutes, a glorious backdrop of analogue keyboards was also shown whilst Phil & the girls were interviewed in their rarely seen studio. Narrated by long time fan and singer of the original synth pop duo Soft Cell - Marc Almond, this particular episode was pure heaven for Human League fans.

Another TV appearance followed in March this time playing themselves in the made- for- TV comedy film 'Hunting Venus' that starred British comedians Martin Clunes and Neil Morrisey. The film featured the fictitious reunion of an old 80's band in the 90's and ended with the League performing 'Don't You Want Me' - 'Hunting Venus' was never released on video and is locked away in a film vault where it will never be seen again..

Things remained quiet until August when it was revealed that Phil had recorded some guest vocals on the forthcoming All Seeing I single. Also from Sheffield, All Seeing I had scored two impressive Top 20 hits with the infectious 'And The Beat Goes On' followed by 'Walk Like A Panther' with 60's crooner Tony Christie (a track written by Pulp's Jarvis Cocker). Before its release, the League played two gigs firstly at London's Astoria followed by a PA in Ibiza.
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''The First Man In Space' (again written by Jarvis) became Radio One's 'Single Of The Week' during the week of the total eclipse in the UK ('total' only for those in a boat moored 20 miles south of the Isle of Wright). It was a wonderful track with lyrics that wouldn't have seemed out of place on either Reproduction or Travelogue and the song also featured cameo vocals from Joanne and Susan. To promote the single, Phil unexpectedly joined the All Seeing I live in the dance tent at Reading festival to perform the track to a wildly enthusiastic audience whilst Blur played on the main stage. All Seeing I also performed 'And The Beat Goes On' with a delightful, but shy female vocalist and Jarvis Cocker came on to sing 'Walk Like A Panther'. It was a memorable evening with Stuart Pearce's superb Las Rhythm Digital performing in the same tent just a few hours earlier.
The song entered the UK charts at Number 27 in early September and appearances on 'Top Of The Pops' (where Phil sang live) and 'The Pepsi Chart Show' for Channel 5 followed. Phil was also interviewed by Jamie Theakson for the 'O-Zone' (BBC) on the same tram line in Sheffield that
featured on the 'Young Guns' documentary. When asked what the meaning was behind the bizarre video, Phil replied that he had no idea, "the director wouldn't talk to me" he joked.

Phil's association with All Seeing I continued when he recorded two stints as a DJ entitled 'The History Of The Synthesizer' that were streamed from the official All Seeing I website. Phil played a selection of his favourite electronic records that included Alice Deejay's 'Better Off
Alone' before retreating back to the studio in Sheffield for another mini-hiatus..

2000 and beyond...

After much time spent mulling over their various options the band again defiied their critics and the overwhelming sense of lethargy that can overcome ‘older’ acts by signing to new label ‘Papillon’ and, in 2001, released the widely critically acclaimed ‘Toy’ produced album ‘Secrets’, the first single from which ‘All I ever Wanted’ was the bands first Top 40 hit since 1995.

This was followed by a successful December tour of the UK and, since Papillon was closed by it’s parent company in early 2002, live work has continued to be the main focus of the band’s activities with live shows in Europe and, this coming November, Japan and Australia. This has been accompanied by widespread sampling of the bands extensive back catalogue by other Artists, most notably by Richard X on the Top 5 single ‘Be Nobody’ with Liberty X and on his next release ‘Finest Dreams’ featuring Kellis which is currently on the Radio One ‘B’ list.

September 2003 sees the release of a new Virgin compilation ‘The Very Best Of’, bringing fans right up to date with all the bands singles and followed two weeks later by the ‘Best Of’ DVD, the first time any the bands promo videos have been available on this format. For more information on these releases or the tour dates in general please contact Sarah Watson at Virgin EMI on 020 7605 5000.