Synth pop's first international superstars, the Human League, were among the earliest and most innovative bands to break into the
pop mainstream on a wave of synthesizers and electronic rhythms. Their combination of infectious melodies and state of the art technology haven been an important influence for countless acts following their footsteps. The group was formed in Sheffield, England, in 1977 by synth players Martyn Ware and Ian Marsh, who'd previously teamed as the duo
Dead Daughters; following a brief tenure as
the Future, they rechristened themselves the Human League after enlisting vocalist Philip Oakey. The trio soon recorded a demo, and played their first live dates; they soon tapped Adrian Wright as their "Director of Visuals," and his slide shows quickly became a key component of their performances. Signing with the indie label
Fast, in 1978 the Human League issued their first single, "Being Boiled"; a minor underground hit, it was followed by a tour in support of
Siouxsie & the Banshees. In 1980, the band’s album "Travelogue" reached the UK Top 20, but internal tensions forced Ware and Marsh to quit the group in late 1980, and they went on to start the British Electronic Foundation the same year. Their departure forced Wright to begin learning to play the synthesizer; at the same time, Oakey recruited bassist Ian Burden as well as a pair of schoolgirls, Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall, to handle additional vocal duties. Their true breakthrough was the classic single "Don't You Want Me," from the album "Dare!", which both topped the English charts, and went on to become a major international hit.
