The Human League, an iconic English synth-pop band, originated in Sheffield in 1977. Initially known for their experimental electronic style, the group signed with Virgin Records in 1979 and achieved massive commercial success with their third album, *Dare*, in 1981. This pivotal release, following a significant lineup change, included four hit singles, most notably the UK and US chart-topping "Don't You Want Me." The band was honored with the Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act in 1982. Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, they delivered a string of memorable hits such as "Mirror Man," "(Keep Feeling) Fascination," "The Lebanon," "Human" (their second US No. 1), and "Tell Me When." Philip Oakey, the group’s lead singer and primary songwriter, has been the only constant member since the band’s inception. In 1980, founding members and keyboardists Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh departed to form Heaven 17, prompting Oakey and Adrian Wright to reimagine the band. This transformation introduced a commercially successful new pop lineup, featuring Oakey, Wright, vocalists Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley, bassist and keyboardist Ian Burden, and guitarist and keyboardist Jo Callis. By the end of the 1980s, Wright, Burden, and Callis had exited the group, leaving The Human League as a trio of Oakey, Catherall, and Sulley, supported by various sidemen. Over their career, The Human League has released nine studio albums, a remix album, a live album, six EPs, 29 singles, and 13 compilation albums. They have achieved six UK top 20 albums, 13 top 20 singles, and sold over 20 million records globally by 2010. As one of the pioneering acts of techno-pop, the band played a significant role in the 1980s "Second British Invasion" of the US, fueled by their extensive presence on MTV and innovative sound.
