Something Human Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sheffield

The Human League were formed in Sheffield, England, in 1977. They were originally an experimental electronic group founded by two computer operators, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, who loved synthesisers. They then recruited vocalist Philip Oakley who was working as a hospital porter, followed by Adrian Wright, who became a keyboardist and songwriter.

Their performances initially took place in art colleges and small venues, supporting acts like Siouxsie & The Banshees and Iggy Pop. By 1979, they had signed to Virgin Records, releasing their first two albums, 'Reproduction' and Travelogue'.

Answer: Philip Oakey

Philip Oakey was born on 2 October 1955 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and has been the lead vocalist of The Human League since 1977. After moving to Sheffield, he was invited to join the electronic group The Future by his old schoolmate Martyn Ware.

Although he had no musical experience, Ware believed his striking appearance and eclectic sense of style gave him the perfect pop star image. Oakey accepted the role, and his distinctive baritone voice and visual flair quickly became central to the band's identity.

Answer: Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley

Best friends Joanne Catherall, born on 18 September 1962, and Susan Ann Sulley (also known as Susanne Sulley), born on 22 March 1963, were both 18 years old when Phil Oakley spotted them in Sheffield's Crazy Daisy Nightclub. He invited them to join The Human League following the departure of members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh.

They soon became backup vocalists, with Suzanne sharing the vocals with Phil on their single 'Don't You Want Me'. They have remained with the group ever since. In 2025, the Human League did a summer tour, which began on 14 June 2025 at the Hello Festival in Emmen, Netherlands and finished on 24 June at 80s Calling! in Darlington, England.

Answer: Dare

Released on 16 October 1981, 'Dare' was The Human League's third album, which became their most successful. It marked a turning point for the band after the departure of founding members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, with Philip Oakey rebuilding the lineup by adding Joanne Catherall, Susan Ann Sulley, and new musicians.

'Dare' produced four major singles: 'The Sound of the Crowd' (April 1981),' Love Action (I Believe in Love)' (July 1981), 'Open Your Heart' (October 1981) and 'Don't You Want Me' (November 1981).

Answer: Don't You Want Me

Written by Philip Oakey, Jo Callis, and producer Martin Rushent, 'Don't You Want Me' was released by The Human League in November 1981 as the fourth single from their album 'Dare'. The song is a duet between Phil and Susanne Sulley, portraying a fractured relationship from two perspectives. He was initially reluctant to release it as a single, but Virgin Records insisted, and it became the band's biggest hit!

In the UK, 'Don't You Want Me' topped the chart in December 1981, becoming the Christmas number one and staying there for five weeks. It went on to sell over 1.5 million copies in Britain, making it one of the best‑selling singles of the decade.

Internationally, the song hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in July 1982 and also topped charts in Canada and Ireland. Across Europe, it reached the Top Ten in countries including Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden.

Answer: Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough

In 1982, The Human League won the Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act. This recognition came on the heels of their huge success with the album 'Dare' and its singles, especially 'Don't You Want Me', which had topped both the UK and US charts. The award highlighted their transformation from an experimental Sheffield electronic group into mainstream synth‑pop pioneers.

The Brit Award was a milestone that acknowledged their commercial success and also their influence on the emerging new wave and synth‑pop scenes. Their win symbolised the arrival of electronic pop as a dominant force in popular music.

Answer: The Future

Before becoming The Human League, the band was originally called The Future. They were an experimental electronic project inspired by Kraftwerk and other pioneers of synthesiser music. Their early work was largely instrumental, built around synthesisers and tape machines, and they performed in small venues.

When Philip Oakey joined later that year as vocalist, the group reshaped its identity. Seeking a new name, they adopted The Human League in 1978. This saw them transform from an underground electronic collective into a band that would go on to define the synth‑pop era of the 1980s.

Answer: A sci-fi board game called 'Star Force'

The band's name, 'The Human League', came from a science‑fiction board game called 'Star Force: Alpha Centauri'. In the game, 'The Human League' was one of the factions, representing humanity's organised resistance in a futuristic setting.

Band founders Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh were fascinated by technology, futurism, and electronic experimentation, so the name appealed to them, and that's why they chose it. It gave the band a distinctive identity compared to other emerging electronic acts of the time, and the name has remained with them ever since.

Answer: Heaven 17

After leaving The Human League in 1980, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh teamed up with vocalist Glenn Gregory to form the new group called Heaven 17. Their name was inspired by Anthony Burgess's novel 'A Clockwork Orange', where 'Heaven 17' was the name of a fictional pop band.

Heaven 17 quickly established themselves in British synth‑pop. Their debut album 'Penthouse and Pavement' (1981) reached number two on the UK Albums Chart, and their 1983 album 'The Luxury Gap' produced hits like 'Temptation' and 'Come Live With Me'. They had strong UK success but never achieved the same international chart success as the Human League.

Answer: Human

Written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the single by The Human League that reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1986 was 'Human'. It marked a stylistic shift for the band, mixing their synth‑pop roots with smooth R&B influences. The song's lyrics explore themes of vulnerability and forgiveness, with Philip Oakey singing the lead vocals and Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley providing harmonies.

It was released in August 1986 as a single from the album 'Crash', and became The Human League's second U.S. chart‑topper after 'Don't You Want Me' in 1982. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in November 1986, number eight on the UK Singles Chart and also made the top spot in Canada, while climbing into the Top Ten in several other countries.