The Human League plan new album!!!!!
The legendary Sheffield synth-poppers have loads of new material ready for their tenth album. There's just one problem - they don't have a label.!!
The Human League ... still touring, still synthing and still popping.
The Human League have big plans for their tenth album. There's only one problem – they don't have a label.
"We're all keen to put out new music," singer Joanne Catherall recently told BBC 6 Music, "our only problem is that the way we have traditionally put out music is not available to us anymore."
The legendary Sheffield band are still touring, still smiling, still synthing and still popping, but after Papillon Records closed down in the early 2000s, the Human League were left out to dry. Their 2001 record, Secrets, was quick to fall off the charts – and certainly it wasn't helped by the dissolution of the label that released it.
"It's quite scary having to think about it, because [in the past], we make the records and someone else does everything else for us," Catherall said. "Now we've got to do it all ourselves, and as everyone knows we're incredibly slow, and lazy!"
Frontman Phil Oakey and drummer Rob Barton continue to write new songs and in the meantime, the band are considering an independent release. "We've always been supported by record companies and that's not really happening to as many groups anymore, so we'll have to find another way of getting it out to the public," Catherall explained.
The band's last full-length release was a remix and rarities compilation in 2005. That record was released by EMI, but perhaps the major label is no longer returning the band's phone calls.
Nevertheless, the Human League continue to tour with gusto. After Bestival and Lovebox performances this summer, they played a US tour and have announced a UK "Steel City" tour this winter.
Human League "Steel City" tour dates
November
11 – Glasgow (Academy)
December:
1 – Newcastle (Academy)
3 – Nottingham (Royal Concert Hall)
4 – Liverpool (Echo Arena)
5 – Brighton (Brighton Centre)
6 – Bournemouth (Bournemouth Arena)
8 – London (Hammersmith Apollo)
10 – Manchester (Apollo)
11 – Wolverhampton (Civic)
12 – Newport (Newport Centre)
13 – Sheffield (Hallam FM Arena)
Sean Michaels
guardian.co.uk, Monday October 20 2008 10.07 BST Article history