Heaven 17

Heaven 17 is a British electropop band originating in Sheffield in the early 1980s. Taking their name from a fictional pop group mentioned in Anthony Burgess's novel A Clockwork Orange, Heaven 17 formed when Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware split from their earlier group the Human League, recruiting singer Glenn Gregory to complete their new line-up.

Related Topics:
British - Electropop - Sheffield - 1980s - Anthony Burgess - A Clockwork Orange - Human League

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Like the Human League, Heaven 17 was heavily dependent on synthesizers and drum machines. They had a few minor hits including the early "At the height of the fighting (He-La-Hu)" which featured on the album Penthouse and Pavement. Also in this early period "(We don't need this) Fascist Groove Thang" from the same album attracted some attention, became a left-wing anthem for a while, and was banned by the BBC because of its overtly political lyrics, but still reached number 45 in the UK singles chart.

Related Topics:
Synthesizer - Drum machine - Penthouse and Pavement

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Major chart success eluded them until the single "Temptation" (in which they were augmented by the vocalist Carol Kenyon) reached number two in the UK charts in the summer of 1983. Other songs from the same album, The Luxury Gap, also charted though not as high - "Come Live With Me" reached number 5 in the UK, "Crushed by the Wheels of Industry" reached number 17, "Let Me Go", 41. The album itself charted at their best ever position, number four.

Related Topics:
Carol Kenyon - 1983 - The Luxury Gap

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since then the band has continued to work and has had some other moderately successful albums (How Men Are reached number 12), but no more Top 10 hits. Also, at the end of 1983, the band helped launch Tina Turner's solo career, producing and providing backing vocals on her debut hit "Let's Stay Together".

Related Topics:
Tina Turner - Debut

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The band also worked on the Band Aid single at the end of 1984, with Gregory supplying vocals alongside Midge Ure and Sting. However, they did not perform at Live Aid the following year.

Related Topics:
Band Aid - 1984 - Midge Ure - Sting - Live Aid

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Heaven 17 still work together but are mostly seen doing 80s revival shows. Martyn Ware became an in-demand producer, working for the likes of Terence Trent D'Arby and Erasure.

Related Topics:
Producer - Terence Trent D'Arby - Erasure

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The British Electric Foundation was a name also used by Heaven 17 for some of its creative and promotional activities.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Heaven 17 is also mentioned in the song "Cubs in Five" by The Mountain Goats. While listing a group of things that will never happen, the lyrics state that "Bill Gates will single-handedly spearhead the Heaven 17 revival."

Related Topics:
The Mountain Goats - Bill Gates

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~