Joanne Catherall (born 18 September 1962 in Sheffield) is one of the two female singers, of the synthpop band The Human League. Image File history File links Joannecatherall1. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Human League are an English synthpop/New Wave band formed in 1977, who, after a change in line up, achieved great popularity in the 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success in the 1990s and 2000s. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England. ... A singer is a musician who uses his or her voice to produce music. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... In music, a band is a company of musicians, or musical ensemble, usually popular or folk, playing parts of or improvising a musical arrangement on different musical instruments. ... The Human League are an English synthpop/New Wave band formed in 1977, who, after a change in line up, achieved great popularity in the 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success in the 1990s and 2000s. ...

Born and raised in Sheffield, England. In 1980 Catherall and her friend Susanne Sulley (now known as Susan Ann Gayle were completely unknown 17 year old schoolgirls. They were discovered in the Crazy Daisy Nightclub by lead singer and a founder member of The Human League, Philip Oakey. The pair joined Oakey, Adrian Wright, Ian Burden and Jo Callis in forming the most commercially successful line-up of The Human League making international stars of both girls. Catherall, with Sulley, has remained in the band ever since. NME has called the group "one of the best bands of all time". Much of this is down to the contribution of Joanne Catherall both creatively and behind the scenes. Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the Queen England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2007 estimate 50... Susanne Sulley (aka Susan Ann Sulley, Susan Ann Gayle) (b. ... The Crazy Daisy Nightclub was a Discotheque / Dance club in Sheffield,UK in late 1970s - early 1980s. ... Philip Oakey (b. ... Jo Callis (born May 2, 1951, Glasgow, Scotland) is a musician who played guitar with Edinburgh-based punk rock band The Rezillos. ... Not to be confused with the Canadian music magazine Music Express The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a music magazine in the UK which has been published weekly since March 1952. ...

Sheffield 1980 and "The Crazy Daisy" story

Joanne Catherall with Susanne Sulley early 1980 prior to joining the band

In the northern British industrial city of Sheffield in mid-1980 Joanne Catherall was school friends with the slightly younger Susanne Sulley. Both girls were 17 years old and were socially unpopular in their school for their non conformist attitude and 'eccentric' dress sense. In an era of British youth culture that was only just out of the Punk phase, where rock and Ska/twotone were the dominating subcultures, Catherall and Sulley stood out as they dressed in a newer more eclectic style (which would later become known as New Romantic in the media (although both girls deny ever being New Romantics). One Saturday night, like many others, they went together to the futurist Crazy Daisy Nightclub in Sheffield to dance and socialize. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Ska (pron. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Crazy Daisy Nightclub was a Discotheque / Dance club in Sheffield,UK in late 1970s - early 1980s. ...

Philip Oakey the lead singer of the alternative, but relatively unknown electronic band The Human League also set out that night. The Human League had recently split acrimoniously over creative differences leaving only two of the original four members, Oakey and Adrian Wright to continue. Crucially, The Human League was contracted to a European tour starting within a week. Already in debt to Virgin Records Oakey had to recruit new band members for the tour fast or be sued by the tour's promoters as well; face bankruptcy and the end of The Human League. Oakey had the idea to go into Sheffield that evening to recruit a single female backing singer for the tour. Philip Oakey (b. ... The Human League are an English synthpop/New Wave band formed in 1977, who, after a change in line up, achieved great popularity in the 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success in the 1990s and 2000s. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ...

Later that evening by pure chance Oakey ended up in the Crazy Daisy Nightclub on York Street, Sheffield. He immediately noticed Catherall and Sulley dancing together, and now states that they stood out from the other girls due to their unique dress sense, immaculate make-up and idiosyncratic but sophisticated dance moves. Deciding that two young girls could look after each other on the tour Oakey asked both girls if they would be interested in accompanying him and Adrian Wright on the imminent European tour.

Catherall now states, that she knew immediately it was a genuine offer, as Oakey was well known in Sheffield; and she and Sulley already had tickets to see The Human League on the Sheffield leg of their tour. Catherall and Sulley agreed to the offer immediately.

However at 17 years old, the final decision about the girls going on the tour lay with their parents. Both the girls parents were unhappy with the idea and initially refused to give their consent. This was overturned reluctantly when Oakey, complete with his trademark geometric haircut, red lipstick and high heeled shoes visited both sets of parents to convince them that the girls would come to no harm and that "he wasn't going to sell them abroad". Catherall and Sulley's school also agreed to the absence as it was thought visiting Europe would be educational for the girls.

The first European tour of The Human League got underway with the two young recruits assigned to improvised dancing and incidental vocals. The girls at this stage were just guests in the group on a salary of £30 a week. Although the tour was a success, the crowds were largely hostile to Catherall and Sulley; as the fans had bought tickets for the original all male line up. Catherall recalls dodging several beer cans thrown at her during the tour. This initial hostility was misplaced and short lived. During the tour Oakey had experimented with the girls singing on a number of the original tracks and was impressed with the results, he was also impressed with the girl's professionalism and style during the tour. On return to Sheffield both girls were asked to join the line up full time.^[1]

1981 and the release of "Dare"

Joanne Catherall 1981

The tour of 1980 was not a creatively groundbreaking, but sowed the seeds for further development. On return to Sheffield Wright and Oakey set about composing and song writing, while Catherall and Sulley returned to school full time. Image File history File links Joanne_C_1981. ... Image File history File links Joanne_C_1981. ...

It is worthy of mention at this point, that neither Catherall nor Sulley have ever written or composed any Human League work. This was a conscious decision by both the girls, probably initially born out of self doubt and the fact that they were busy at school, rather than a deliberate snub by the other band members. Decades later Catherall would cite this as the main reason that she and Sulley had remained in the band for so long. As the major cause of disagreements in any band are usually creative differences. This has unfortunately led the media to ignorantly label her and Sulley as 'just backing singers', 'dancers' or to assume a disparity in status compared with Oakey and the other musicians. Oakey himself regularly puts down any such reference to the girls in this way. He points out; verified independently, that he always considered Catherall and Sulley co-vocalists, always referring to them as such. The girls have been, in private, outspoken in their opinions about the merits or otherwise of the various tracks, but they (and all members) always deferred to Oakey for the final decision on any creative issues.

The new line up (Sulley, Oakey, Catherall, and Wright) started to gain ground in early 1981 with the release of the single "Boys and Girls". Even though charting at number 48, the single was a weak effort by future Human League standards. Nevertheless it sowed the seeds of interest in the record buying population.

Soon after lacklustre "Boys and Girls" came the recruitment of professional musicians Ian Burden and Jo Callis which sharpened the bands output considerably. Although no one yet knew it, the band had arrived at its most successful evolution. The release of the next single "Sound of the Crowd" was a creative if not vastly commercial breakthrough. It was also the first single to include both girls' full vocals, rather than incidentals and 'adlibs'. Unexpectedly the single raced up the charts causing them to be invited to play on the UK's principle music programme BBC TV's Top of The Pops with only a few hours notice. The first Catherall would know about her first appearance on UK TV would be Susanne Sulley's mother rushing to collect her and Sulley from school mid lessons for the rapid drive down to London. Jo Callis (born May 2, 1951, Glasgow, Scotland) is a musician who played guitar with Edinburgh-based punk rock band The Rezillos. ... Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, was a long-running British music chart television programme, made and broadcast by the BBC. It was originally shown each week, mostly on BBC One, from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. ...

Thus the classic Human League signature sound was born, a sound that would continue for three further decades, well into the 21st Century. Deep synths, Linn drum, Oakey's semi sung/semi spoken word baritone vocals. Catherall and Sulley's, feminine interaction. "Sound of the Crowd" was a major achievement in the British charts, but was quickly bettered by the next single "Love Action" going to number three in the UK almost immediately.

By now video promos were becoming popular for broadcast TV. Spurred on by the pre-filmed promos and live TV appearances the band started to refine their personal appearance styles for a commercial audience. Catherall's slender facial features and dark eyes perfectly suited the early 1980s female make-up fashion for dark eye-liner, bright red lipstick, which her dark brown hair complemented. She stood out as arguably the most glamorous member of the band, something frequently capitalized on by promo directors. No more so than for the fairly low budget promo for single "Love Action". Filmed on a derelict South London council estate, many lingering shots of Catherall in a wedding dress and later on a leather jacket/'ski-pants' dominated the promo, along with Oakey's worried looking lament, and Sulley's theatrical (if a bit too realistic) temper tantrum.

In October 1981 the Human League in their new guise, released their next album Dare. This included the previous 1981 singles plus other less forceful tracks. By now the Human League were in their ascendancy and were becoming extremely popular with the mainstream British public. The cutting edge sound of sequenced synths impressed pure music fans. While aesthetically, the media applauded their style, female fans coveted Oakey and the mutually contrasting, stunning teenage girls (Brunette Catherall and Blonde Sulley) pulled in the male fans. The media picked up on the 'Cinderella-esque' story of the girls recruitment into the band, which inspired teenage girls throughout the UK. Dare! was the third album released by The Human League, and the first to feature singers Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catheral. ...

In mid November 1981, with the Human League fully in the public eye and sales of the album Dare soaring. Virgin records decided to pull one more single from Dare before the end of the year. Oakey had always disliked the track "Don't You Want Me" and considered it such a weak choice for a single that he fought bitterly with Rushent and Virgin about its use; believing that it would destroy the band's new found popularity Oakey finally agreed on the (now seemingly ridiculous) condition that a poster of the band was included free with the single to 'bribe' fans into buying the "substandard" single..^[2] Don’t You Want Me is a single by the British Synthpop group The Human League. ...

Virgin Records had more faith, emboldened by the success of "Love Action"; they correctly believed that the video promo for "Open Your Heart" had increased their profits substantially. So they commissioned a (then) expensive and elaborate promo to accompany the release of "Don't You Want Me". Shot on expensive 35mm film (instead of VT) the promo was filmed in late November 1981 in Slough, Middlesex, UK. The scenario was 'a movie shoot for a murder mystery film' and is lyrically, principally a conflicting duet between Oakey and Sulley with vocal support from Catherall Open Your Heart, a U.S. number one single by Madonna, and the fourth single release from her album True Blue, entering the charts in the winter of 1986. ... Slough (pronounced ) is a town and unitary authority (Borough of Slough) in Berkshire, England. ...

It is worth noting, that although the female vocals are generally evenly shared between both girls on most Human League tracks; where a female lead is required, Sulley has generally taken it on. Various sources consider this is due to Catherall being a more introverted character, who shied away from such prominent roles (something more apparent earlier in her career) Rather than Sulley being a better singer ^[3]

Once aired in December 1981, the video was played on British TV screens frequently. The memorable opening scene of the video has Catherall, in a fur coat standing on a rural road corner. The night is freezing, she is surrounded by swirling mist and accompanied by the deep opening synth chords. The video captured the imagination on the British public; The effects of the infectious synth sequences, powerful lyrics coupled with an emotive subject, good acting and cinematography was something that had not been seen in a music video before. "Don't You Want Me" almost immediately hit the UK number one slot (also a "Christmas number-one" which guaranteed double sales). By Christmas 1981, across the UK The Human League were universally household names. Thanks to the tabloid newspapers every male knew the difference between "The Blonde One" and the "Dark Haired One" as Catherall would be subsequently known in various school yards and workplaces in 1981; and ever since.

1981 saw the start up of Cable TV station MTV in the U.S. This was a new station dedicated to only playing music videos. But the station was limited in that, as a new media there were relatively few music videos available. The syndication by Virgin Records of "Don't You Want Me's" promo to MTV and ensuing airplay brought The Human League to new U.S. audiences. The subsequent (and admittedly) unexpected interest prompted Virgin Records to release Dare in the U.S. Almost immediately, mirroring the dramatic effect of the UK, "Don't You Want Me" flew up the U.S. charts to number one aided by the powerful promo. MTV (Music Television) is an American cable television network headquartered in New York City. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ...

The Remaining 1980s

Joanne Catherall 1984, 'The Lebanon' video promo

In 1982, riding on the success of Dare, the Human league embarked on an ambitious and well anticipated international tour consolidating their position as international superstars. On completion of the tour the group returned to the recording studios to start on the follow up to Dare. In November 1982 another successful single, "Mirror Man", hit the UK charts. Motown-inspired, the single was another success which reached number two in the UK charts. Six months later in 1983 the group released another single, "(Keep Feeling) Fascination", aided by a quirky promo the this single made number two in the UK and eventually number eight in the U.S. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ...

Hysteria was released three years after Dare although pre-release publicity ensured the album entered the charts at number three, the initial interest that Dare had created had largely dissipated and Hysteria quickly dropped off the charts. Hysteria is an album recorded by English synthpop band The Human League. ...

With Oakey working on side projects, rumours the band had split were perpetuated in the press. But in 1986 Virgin paired The Human League with U.S. production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The band decamped to the USA to record. Creative tensions bugged their time out there both in the band and with the production team. Sulley and Catherall, who had fortunately absolved themselves of any creative responsibility in 1981 and were exempted from the bickering, were homesick and unhappy in the U.S. Creatively the U.S. recordings ended in acrimony but not compete disaster. James Jimmy Jam Harris III (born on June 6, 1959 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) and Terry Lewis (born November 21, 1956 in Omaha, Nebraska) are an American R&B and pop songwriting and record production team. ...

The well received single "Human" was released in September 1986. A ballad about separation and infidelity; it would give Catherall her most prominent vocals in any Human League single. With her notable guilt laden spoken word lament. The promo was typical of mid 80's gloss and the single entered into the UK charts at number eight. Human is a song recorded by English synthpop band The Human League. ...

The final original album of the decade, Crash, emerged from the Jam and Lewis recordings. Although containing a couple of reasonable tracks and entering the album charts at number eight it was not as well received as Hysteria and disappeared quickly. Track listing Money Swang Human Jam Are you ever coming back? I need your loving Party Love on the run The real thing Love is all that matters ...

Official Portrait of Joanne Catherall 1990

Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ...

1990s

Joanne Catherall contributed vocals to the 1990 studio Album 'Romantic?' But this album was at odds with the growing music trend for Grunge of the year and was not well received, only charting barely and receiving little critical support. By now The Human League consisted solely of Catherall, Philip Oakey and Susan Sulley with supporting musicians. Romantic? is an album recorded by English synthpop band The Human League. ... Grunge music (sometimes also referred to as the Seattle Sound) is an independent-rooted music genre that became a commercially successful offshoot of hardcore punk, thrash metal, and alternative rock in the late 1980s and early 1990s. ...

Then suddenly in 1992, after much internal criticism and acrimony Virgin Records cancelled the band's contract. Without a recording contract for the first time in 14 years and with mounting debts the band began to fall apart. Oakey succumbed to depression after the rejection and sought counselling. More seriously Catherall's best friend and co-vocalist Susan Sulley had a nervous breakdown because of this and other personal issues. It was during this period that Catherall, who is often described as the quietest member of the band, was to demonstrate her considerable strength of character. She is credited as being responsible for keeping the band together during their darkest period. ^[4] Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ...

The Human League recovered and were able find a new record label quickly, in the form of EastWest records. Using material rejected by Virgin and new material written by Oakey/Sutton, the band released a new studio album in 1995. Propelled by some very radio friendly singles, Octopus quickly went platinum. The band found themselves back at the top of the UK charts again for the first time in nearly 10 years. As well as performing on UK TV music shows, various talk shows were keen to interview the band. On one occasion, during an interview of ITV's 'This Morning' the host made the mistake of telling viewers that the band were making an "80s comeback", prompting an irritated Catherall to firmly put him in his place stating "We've never stopped working, we've never been away!" ..^[5] Now in her mid 30s Catherall (together with Sulley) now had a much more prominent (executive) role in the band and this showed in her prominence on Octopus. However she and Sulley still maintained the principle of absolving themselves of any song writing/composition, a decision originally made in 1981. old logo current logo Eastwest Records was started in 1955 as a subsidiary label of Atlantic Records. ... Octopus is the seventh full-length studio album recorded by English synthpop band The Human League. ...

Despite the commercial success of Octopus, history would repeat itself when in 1997 EastWest records decided to change creative direction and purged their older signings. The Human League were again let go, however this time the band had already diversified into live and studio work and this was not the devastating event that 1992 was.

The remainder of the 1990s saw the band refining their live act, playing relatively small venues. Although the band remained solvent, they seemed to be on a downward slope to obscurity. In 1998 an offer was made to the band to be part of an 80s nostalgia tour "The Here and Now tour". The band who detest being called an "80s" act reluctantly agreed to take part. As Catherall says now "The money was too good to turn down". The decision turned out to be blessing in disguise. The Human League who had refined their live act and who had not stopped recording and performing since the 1980s, stood out dramatically from the other acts. This fielded much further, albeit nostalgic, interest in the band. Oakey, Catherall and Sulley quickly capitalised on this and refined their set lists to include more nostalgia friendly back catalogue tracks. On a personal front, in 1998 Joanne Catherall became a mother, the only one of the trio who currently has children.

2000s

With interest in the band's back catalogue soaring they were able to find yet another record label, this time Papillion Records, willing to sign them and facilitate the release of another studio album. Secrets was released in 2001, which became their most critically acclaimed Album since Dare of 1981. Secrets was not a commercial success for a number of factors but principally because Papillion was wound up mid release. The disappointment of Secrets failure and the stinging criticism that all in their late 30's / 40's the band were now too old to be taken seriously again; brought the band close to calling it a day. But Catherall put this into perspective, when she explained later during a TV interview for GMTV: "It's not as simple as that (disbanding); we are a business, we own studios, and we employ people who depend on us" Papillion Records is a record label started by Chrysalis Group (not to be confused with Chrysalis Records) in 1999 with Jethro Tull. ... Secrets is an album recorded by English synthpop band The Human League. ... DARE or Dare may mean: Dare (album), an album by the Human League DARE (song), a UK no. ...

Although the album was not a commercial success, the live tour that accompanied it was. During the following years The Human League have put all their effort into playing live and touring; both in the UK and world wide where their live profile has continued to grow steadily. On 23 September 2006 they filled the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles with 18,000 fans their most popular concert to date. When asked how long they intend to carry on Catherall gave a typically blunt answer "for as long as we are filling stadiums and people still want to see us". Even though Catherall and Susan Gayle are in their mid 40s they are still almost always referred to as "The Human League Girls" in the media. Hollywood Bowl opening night 2005. ...

Today

Joanne Catherall continues to record, perform and tour with the Human League, whilst still living in Sheffield with her family. Behind the scenes she is heavily involved in the organisational and financial side of the business. She has also guest presented on Music TV channel VH1. VH1 (VH-1: Video Hits One until 1994) is an American cable television channel that was created in January 1985 by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communications and owners of MTV. VH1 and sister channel MTV are currently part of the MTV Networks division...

References

External links

Joanne Catherall does not currently have a personal website, and as a matter of band policy there is no official Human League Website. A number of unofficial ones exist:

• http://www.humanleague.dk
• http://www.the-black-hit-of-space.dk/menu.htm
• http://www.thehumanleague.net