Heaven 17

Born from The Human League’s early split, Heaven 17—Martyn Ware, Ian Craig Marsh, and Glenn Gregory—emerged from Sheffield in 1980 with a mission: to fuse sharp socio-political commentary with sleek, forward-thinking electronic pop. Their polished, hyper-modern sound made them one of the defining acts of Britain’s early synth era, with “Temptation” becoming a massive breakthrough hit and a lasting club classic.

One of the most intriguing chapters in their story? Despite chart success, they refused to tour throughout the ’80s, convinced that live technology couldn’t do justice to their meticulously crafted studio sound. The decision only deepened their mystique—an electronic band that existed almost entirely through records a