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After Hysteria, the group found themselves in creative stagnation, struggling to record material to follow up on their previous successes. Key songwriter Jo Callis departed, replaced by drummer Jim Russell. Bob Last quit as manager and was not replaced. In 1985, the band spent several months working on a new album with producer Colin Thurston (who had produced "I Don't Depend on You", Reproduction, and the first two Duran Duran albums), but yet more clashes in the recording studio ensued and the project was shelved in September 1985. [27] a b c d e f g h i j k l Turner, Sean. "Complete guide to The Human League 1977–1980". Blindyouth.co.uk . Retrieved 30 January 2014.

TLC vs. Little Boots: Exclusive New York Interview". Tasteslikecaramel.wordpress.com. 26 February 2009 . Retrieved 30 January 2014. The disintegration of that line-up, engineered by their then-manager Bob Last, came about because there were “too many egos” for one group, Oakey freely admits that he and Ware were both “pompous and arrogant” at that time. The founding duo left to form Heaven 17, giving Virgin Records two great synthpop acts for the price of one but, more pressingly, giving Phil Oakey the headache of a European tour with no band members. The Human League at the Brighton Centre 16.12.21 (pics Andy Sturmey) Don’t You Want Me’, a clever duet between Oakey and Sulley, examining the death of a love affair from both perspectives, was a song the band never wanted to release as a single, but it became the biggest selling single of 1981, and proved that the best Christmas Number Ones are the ones which aren’t about Christmas at all and, if this year’s chart topper can even come close, it really will be a seasonal miracle. A change in management at EastWest in 1998 saw the cancellation of the band's contract once again. Afterward, the band co-headlined with Culture Club and Howard Jones on VH1's 1980s "Big Rewind" nostalgia tour [29] and made other concert and public appearances throughout 1997–2000. Jones, Anderson (5 May 1995). "Music Review: 'Octopus' ". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 23 February 2020.Listinn Topp 40 (18.02.1995 – 25.02.1995)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 18 February 1995. p.24 . Retrieved 1 February 2018. In 2003, a second single from Secrets, " Love Me Madly?", was released independently as a private venture by Nukove, a small independent label especially set up to release Human League material, but it did not have funds for promotion and the single did not chart. [33] Also in 2003, Virgin records released The Very Best of The Human League, a DVD of most of their previously recorded music videos. The DVD sold well in the UK and US and was accompanied by a compilation album of the same name. In May 1980, the band toured the UK. Philip Adrian Wright was now playing incidental keyboards in addition to his visuals role. It was the last time all four members performed together live. Also in May, the band released their second studio album Travelogue. More commercial-sounding than Reproduction, it peaked at No.16 in the UK, giving the band their first real success. As a result, "Empire State Human" was re-released and the band made their second appearance on Top of the Pops, even though it only reached No.62 in the singles chart.

On 22 September 2006, the band performed on the US network television show Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The band's highlight of 2006 was a performance to an audience of 18,000 at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, on 24 October 2006, one of their largest concerts to date. This was followed up by an 11-venue tour of Europe in November and December 2006. Manager Bob Last tried to reconcile both parties, and when that proved impossible, various options were suggested, including two new bands under a Human League sub-label. Eventually, it was agreed that Oakey would continue with the Human League name, while Ware and Marsh would form a completely new band, which became Heaven 17. Two weeks before the UK/Europe tour, the band split. [7] [ unreliable source?] Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol.11, no.5. 4 February 1995. p.36 . Retrieved 16 January 2018. The Human League / A Very British Synthesizer Group: four-disc anthology". superdeluxeedition.com. 14 September 2016 . Retrieved 22 November 2016. In 1987, Ian Burden also left the band. In November 1988, a greatest hits compilation album was released that reached No.3 in UK. This was preceded by the release of the single " Love Is All That Matters" from Crash.

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Ankeny, Jason. "The Human League Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved 24 January 2017. Synth pop's first international superstars, the Human League were among the earliest and most innovative bands to break into the pop mainstream on a wave of synthesizers and electronic rhythms, their marriage of infectious melodies and state-of-the-art technology proving enormously influential on countless acts following in their wake. In our list of the best Human League songs, we count down the finest moments from the Sheffield synth-poppers… The band has been the subject of, and appeared in, various TV documentaries and features, including Channel 4's Made in Sheffield and the BBC's Young Guns: The Bands of the Early 1980s. In June 2007, Sulley and Catherall presented a documentary on Sheffield's pop music history entitled The Nation's Music Cities for VH1. In 2000, the tribute album Reproductions: Songs of The Human League was released. It contains cover versions of 16 of the Human League's songs, including performances by Ladytron, Lali Puna, Momus, Future Bible Heroes, Stephin Merritt and The Aluminum Group. [48] Masterton, James (1 January 1995). "Week Ending January 7th 1995". Chart Watch UK . Retrieved 16 September 2021.