The Human League story began in 1977.

Originally formed by Ian Craig Marsh & Martyn Ware, both computer operators, in Sheffield, England under the name "The Dead Daughters". This incarnation did not last very long. They recruited Addy Newton and changed their name to "The Future". Demo tapes are recorded, but no success in getting a recording contract.

Addy departs the group, and Philip Oakey joins as singer. Oakey and Ware went to school together, and Philip was working as a hospital porter.

In October 1977, the group change their name to "The Human League", the name being taken from a science-fiction board game called "Star Force".

With an interest in the Synthesiser music of Kraftwerk, Emerson Lake & Palmer etc, and the Pop music of Donna Summer and Abba, they decided they could combine the 2 elements. They recorded a demo tape, and the group was picked up by the Independent Label, Fast Product. Fast's Manager, Bob Last, agreed to release a single.

The group's first live gig is at a local Sheffield Art College, and consists mainly of songs from the first demo tape. They are received well, but believe that something is lacking from their on-stage performance. They recruit former art-student and resident of the building where they are practising, Adrian Wright. He doesn't play any instruments, but has a collection of slides which include all his favourite TV shows such as Dr. Who, The Avengers, Batman & Robin, Star Trek and his obsession with pop-culture & trash, and are shown on four screens. He is appointed "Director of Visuals".  

In June 1978, they release their first single- "Being Boiled"/"Circus Of Death", recorded in Mono. It flops unceremoniously, but the group's name is being recognised. They support The Rezillos in London in August 1978, then go on to support Siouxsie and the Banshees.

In April 1979, they release a 12" EP, entitled "The Dignity Of Labour Parts 1-4", which consists of 4 Instrumental Synthesiser tracks, plus a flexi-disc which contains a recording of the band discussing the merits of including a flexi-disc! However, the group are once again disappointed when it fails to chart.

The group is then signed to Virgin Records, retaining Bob Last as their Manager. They also embark on a European Tour supporting Iggy Pop. Then, another single is released - "I Don't Depend On You", but released under the name "The Men", using session guitarist & drummer and backing vocalists.

In October 1979, their first album is released, "Reproduction", produced by themselves and Colin Thurston, and a single "Empire State Human" follows, with another disappointing response from the record-buying public.

They set up their very own recording studio in Sheffield, in a disused Vet surgery, after getting financial help from Virgin.

In April 1980, a double single, "Holiday '80", featuring a version of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Parts 1 & 2"/"Nightclubbing", "Dancevision", "Marianne" and a new version of "Being Boiled" is released. It achieves No. 56 in the charts.

In May, their second album, "Travelogue" is released. It reaches No. 16. Virgin then try to capitalise on this by re-releasing "Empire State Human", with "Introducing" and "Only After Dark"/"Toyota City", however, this release bombs in a big way.

In November 1980, Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware depart The Human League, after tensions within the group become unbearable, leaving Philip Oakey and Adrian Wright with the name, in return for royalties from the next League album. However, they are already booked to do another tour, and would face financial ruin if they cancelled. So Adrian starts learning to play the synth, and Oakey sets about recruiting additional talent.

He finds this talent in the form of 2 Sheffield schoolgirls, spotted dancing at the local Crazy Daisy Disco. He asks 17-year old Susan Sulley & 18-year-old Joanne Catherall to join the band for the tour, to dance & sing and to add some visual glamour. They are studying for their A-Levels, and permission is eventually granted by their parents and school.

However, the group is still lacking actual musicians, so Ian Burden, bass player with local band Graph, is recruited to play synths as well. They get through the tour, then the girls go back to school.

In February 1981, they are recruited again to sing on the next League single, "Boys and Girls", which attains the position of No 48 on the charts.Catherall, Sulley & Burden become full-time members.

 They begin working with Producer Martin Rushent, and their next single, "Sound Of The Crowd" is released in May. It becomes a hit, peaking at No 12. They appear on Top Of The Pops.

In July, their next single, "Love Action" follows the success of it's predecessor and propels the Human League into the Top Ten for the first time. It gets to No 3. Then former Rezillos, Shake, and Boots For Dancing guitarist and songwriter, Jo Callis is recruited. Their next single, in October 1981, is "Open Your Heart", and is another success reaching No 6.

In October they also release their third album, "Dare", to critical and popular applause. They release their next single "Don't You Want Me", and both of these releases zoom to be Number 1 at Christmas time. To capitalise on their success, EMI release "Being Boiled" again and it gets to No 6.

In 1982, they embark on their biggest tour yet, covering Europe, Japan, Australia, and the United States. They follow up their success in England, with "Don't You Want Me" and "Dare" topping the charts just about everywhere, achieving Number One in the States.

An instrumental version of "Dare" is released, under the name "The League Unlimited Orchestra", entitled "Love and Dancing". This is basically all the instrumental versions remixed together.

 In November 1982, they release the single, "Mirror Man", followed up with "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" in May 1983. Both of these singles chart well around the world.

However the world anxiously awaits the follow-up to "Dare" and has to wait another year to hear it.

In May 1984,the League's Fourth Album, "Hysteria" is finally released. It does well, but fails to achieve the overwhelming success of it's predecessor. The first single, "The Lebanon" is released, and is the first Human League single to contain guitars. It is followed up with "Life On Your Own" and "Louise", but these singles chart only in The U.K. Jo Callis leaves the group.

At the same time, Philip Oakey collaborates with Giorgio Moroder, on the soundtrack to the movie "Electric Dreams", with the single "Together In Electric Dreams", another hit around the world. They follow it up with an album in 1985 "Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder" with further singles: "Good-Bye Bad Times" and "Be My Lover Now"

Meanwhile, after another lengthy delay, in 1986 they begin work with the American producers, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The resulting album, "Crash" spawns the hit "Human" plus "I Need Your Loving" and "Love Is All That Matters". Jim Russell joins as drummer/synthesist.

In 1988, their first "Greatest Hits" album is released.

In 1990, their next album, "Romantic?" is released, along with the singles "Heart Like A Wheel" and "Soundtrack To A Generation", however, despite being full of great songs, is basically unsupported by Virgin and the media and fails in the charts. Group members now include Russell Dennett and Neil Sutton. Adrian Wright having left to pursue a movie-making career.

The Human league disappear from view for a few years until 1993 when they collaborate with Japanese band, YMO for the single "Behind The Mask" .

Then in December 1994, after signing to EastWest Records, a new League single is finally released: "Tell Me When", closely followed by the Album "Octopus". Both do well in the charts in the U.K. but fail to make an impact anywhere else. The group tours the U.K. The album spawns other singles, "One Man In My Heart" and "Filling Up With Heaven". Once again they fail to be supported around the world.

A second greatest hits package is released.

Another single "Stay With Me Tonight" is released in January 1996, also failing to make any impact.

Another 3 greatest hits packages are released through 1996-1998.

In 1998 the band are part of "The 80's Rewind Tour" with Culture Club and Howard Jones in the United States, and Culture Club and A.B.C. in the United Kingdom.

In January 1999, the band is featured in the 4-part UK television series "Young Guns (Go For It)", showcasing bands that made a big impact in the 1980's, whilst a couple of months later, the group also feature in the television comedy film, "Hunting Venus", starring Neil Morrissey & Martin Clunes. 

In August 1999, Philip Oakey teams up with fellow Sheffield group "The All Seeing I" on their single "The First Man In Space", which includes a live rendition on Top Of The Pops.

The group is signed to Papillon Records (a division of Chrysalis) in May 2000. 

In August 2001, The Human League release the album "Secrets", and the single, "All I Ever Wanted". However, due to lack of promotion from  Papillon and poor radio support, both releases fail to make a big  impact on the charts in the UK. They do slightly better in some European charts. In November the group embark on a successful UK tour, finishing up the year in San Francisco for a New Years Eve show.

2002 begins with the news that the Papillon label has been shut down by Chrysalis, leaving the League high and dry once again without a record deal. This means that there is no further singles from SECRETS, although the album is released in the US, Canada, Japan and other countries via other labels. In April, it is announced that the League will be headlining a massive 80's Tour in the UK in December. Other acts include Kim Wilde, Altered Images and Visage.

The League continue to be recognised as the icons they deserve to be. The film "CHERISH" uses (Keep Feeling) Fascination in it's soundtrack. They are featured in the UK Documentary by Eve Wood, "Made In Sheffield", which chronicles the importance of the Sheffield music scene in the late Seventies/early Eighties. And in July, George Michael releases his single "Shoot The Dog", which features a huge sample of "Love Action". The group continue their live performances, with appearances at the Lokerse Feesten in Belgium, at Paradiso in Amsterdam and also at the Newmarket Racecourse in August. They are also featured on the ITV music series SMASH! and in November appear on "V Graham Norton" in the UK. They finish the year with the successful "Here and Now Tour" .

2003 saw another very busy year for the League. They were back in the spotlight with the release of Richard X's single, "Being Nobody", featuring the vocals of Liberty X and mixing Being Boiled with Chaka Khan's "Ain't Nobody". Richard X also featured the League on the follow up single  "Finest Dreams", featuring Kelis and mixing "The Finest" with "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of". Philip Oakey also collaborated with master DJ Alex Gold for the single "L.A. Today". Mid 2003 saw them perform a few one-off gigs at Midtfyns Festival in Denmark, Amsterdam Paradiso, Ascot Races and at the Ocean in Hackney. July saw the League in the U.S. for a major 18-date tour. A new "Very Best Of" compilation CD and DVD was released to rave reviews in October. November saw the Human League back in Australia for the first time in 21 years for five "Here and Now" shows in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. Their busy tour schedule continued as they finished the year off with a 15-date UK tour in December, culminating with the final show in Brighton being filmed for DVD release. December also saw the long-anticipated limited-edition release of the 2nd single from "Secrets", "Love Me Madly", produced by Dutch fan and record producer, Michiel van Bokhorst. 

After a break, 2004 saw the League play various gigs around the world in Gothenburg, Sweden in April; Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina in May; Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire, Alton Towers, Newark Water Festival in June; Bournemouth Here and Now in July; 2 shows in South Africa, The prestigious V Festival in August, then once again finished off the year with a 19-date Christmas UK Tour. Rob Barton joined as drummer.

In October, the League are presented with "The Q Innovation In Sound" award at the 2004 Q Awards in London. The "Live At The Dome" DVD filmed at Brighton in December 2003 was released in November. Once again, the League finish off the year with a 20-date UK tour, with Trademark as support.

2005 saw another quiet beginning to the year, however the League continued with a busy schedule of one-off dates around the world, including Brussels, Leipzig, the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona and Homelands Festival in May, Belgium, Belgrade and the Big Gay Out in London in July. Killarney and the Electric Picnic festival in Ireland, Brazil in September, and Bahrain and Dubai in November. Releases included the  "Live at the Dome" CD in July and "Original Remixes and Rarities" in October. Another 15-date UK tour capped off the year, this time with Scottish band Hoboken as support.

2006 Followed much the same pattern as the previous few years, with a fairly quiet start and some festivals and one-off shows mid-year. In September the League visit the U.S. again, including an appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, and a very successful show at the Hollywood Bowl, with Psychedelic Furs, ABC and Jane Wiedlin from the Go-Go's. December sees the now-traditional UK tour, along with another round of shows in Ireland, Belgium and Holland. Robbie Williams included a version of the League classic 1984 single "Louise" on his album, "Rudebox".

Another similar year with 2007, shows included The Big in Falkirk Festival in May, Genk Festival in June, Godiva Festival in July, FIB Festival in Benicassim, RetroFest at Culzean Castle and Skegness in September. November and December saw another 13-date UK tour, plus 7 European dates. This was the "DARE" Tour, featuring the legendary album being performed in its entirety for the first half, followed by all the other hits. Tour support was "OneTwo" (Claudia Brücken and Paul Humphries) and "Cassette Electrik".

Rumours abound that Philip and Co are hard at work in early 2008 recording the follow-up to "Secrets"......