Heaven 17

Heaven 17 emerged from the British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.), a project created by Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh after leaving the original Human League. Joined by vocalist Glenn Gregory, Heaven 17 became a defining force in post-punk electronic music.

Their debut album Penthouse and Pavement (1981) blended electronic and funk influences, highlighted by the politically charged single “(We Don’t Need That) Fascist Groove Thang,” which was banned by the BBC. The album showcased artistic innovation and complete creative control, with Martyn Ware describing their process as a flood of ideas brought to life.

The band achieved mainstream success with The Luxury Gap (1983), featuring hits like “Let Me Go” and the iconic “Temptation,” which reached No. 2 in the UK charts. Subsequent albums, such as How Men Are (1984), experimented with pop and experimental sounds but marked their commercial peak.

After a hiatus, Ware pursued a successful production career while Heaven 17 returned with albums like Bigger Than America (1996) and Beforeafter (2005), finding renewed acclaim with US dance hits like “Hands Up To Heaven.” By the 2000s, Heaven 17 re-invented themselves as a powerful live act, with Glenn Gregory’s vocals stronger than ever.

Touring Penthouse and Pavement and performing on shows like Later…with Jools Holland, Heaven 17 garnered a new generation of fans. Their socially conscious critiques, particularly in The Luxury Gap, remain strikingly relevant against modern economic struggles, proving their music’s enduring power and necessity.