Northern Echo Arena

The Human League are an English synth-pop band formed in Sheffield in 1977. The group initially operated as an experimental electronic ensemble before signing with Virgin Records in 1979. Their third album, Dare, released in 1981, marked their commercial breakthrough following a lineup change. The album included hit singles such as 'The Sound of the Crowd', 'Love Action (I Believe in Love)', 'Open Your Heart', and the chart-topping 'Don't You Want Me' in the UK and US. In 1982, the band received the Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act. Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, they released several successful singles, including 'Mirror Man' (1982), '(Keep Feeling) Fascination' (1983), 'The Lebanon' from the album Hysteria (1984), 'Human' from Crash (1986), and 'Tell Me When' from Octopus (1995). The only consistent member since formation has been lead singer Philip Oakey. The original lineup also included synthesizer players Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware, along with Adrian Wright, who handled slide projection and visual direction. After the release of their second album, Travelogue, in 1980, Marsh and Ware departed to form Heaven 17.