According to Wikipedia, the original Human League was an "avant-garde all male synthesizer-based group from Sheffield". Johnny Rotten called them "trendy hippies" when their debut single "Being Boiled" appeared in 1978. In 1980, the original synthesizer players Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh left the group to form Heaven 17, and instead of playing trendy all male hippie avant-garde, The Human League suddenly made commercially successful co-ed electro pop with a fashion sense. They did not abandon the synthesizers, though, and they were still a band from Sheffield.
Here is the original line-up covering Lou Reed's song "Perfect Day", visually accompanied by some band photos so you don't have to stare at the wall.
The YouTube link is here. I really love the original Human League, so as a bonus here is another rarity, a Peel Session recording from August 1978: Being Boiled (MP3). The only ever protest song against the mistreatment of silkworms...
Posted by: Kira O'Connor | June 02, 2008 at 01:39 AM
Esperanza!
Posted by: Music | June 02, 2008 at 01:40 AM
Early Information Society was also very different from its later incarnations. Details and audio excerpts at http://insoc.org/OldDays.HTML
Posted by: em2 | June 02, 2008 at 02:49 AM
Here's a real video from YouTube of Being Boiled. Link
AND a great live performance of Path of Least Resistance. Link
Posted by: Krys O. | June 02, 2008 at 09:19 AM
The Human League were originally The Future.
Adi Newton of Clock DVA and The Anti-Group was a member.
Look for a CD called The Golden Hour of the Future.
Posted by: Ron D | June 04, 2008 at 11:25 PM