The Human League - Private Eyes (Full Interview Nov 1986) 

No pretentions. Intelligent. Making Sheffield proud.

After I leave this world, I would love to go back to the 80's and re-experience those amazing times and music. They were my teenage years, and nothing in the last few decades has even come close to them in my opinion. I'm so glad I grew up in the 80's and groups like the Human League transport me right back there. 🙂

Phil lives just down the road from me, last week he was behind me in the queue at local Waitrose. Did want to talk to him just to say hello but chickened out. Got to admire him for staying in Sheffield and staying close to his roots.

No they aren't boring, they are honest - it's such a refreshing change to see a group just saying how it was. I loved The Human League.

They are just so gorgeous, down to earth ladies. It looked like it never went to their heads. Just love their accents. I had the biggest crush on Joanne.

It's so refreshing to see a group so down to earth, SO HEART WARMING.

Susan is beautiful too...Give the girl some love!

I used to see Phil around town all the time. shopping, in bars. We live in the same city, Sheffield. I am a huge fan and was proud of the fact they were Sheffield. my neighbor's partner went to Fresville school in the same class.I used to go to the Crazy Daisy downstairs too. I remember on the town drinking, and everywhere we went, there were Phil clones everywhere, hair long on one side, short on the other. Phil claimed, he saw a girl on a bus with the hairstyle first. and adopted it himself. The Limit, Leadmill, Roxys, The Daisy, the stone house is where we used to go. there was a certain exciting vibe around town then, Sheffield had so many great bands. Always wanted to talk to Phil. I love and play Synthesizers too. But didn't want to bother him. phil bought my ex-girlfriends families house. One of my old friends taught Phil to drive.tells me Phil is a nice guy. We are sure to meet one day. Maybe it's meant to be. I heard David Bowie was really impressed with the background films, he was quoted as saying,''Why didn't I think of that''? We are very proud of the Human Leauge in Sheffield.thank you for sharing. great Doc.

Love how down to earth they are, and nearly 30 years later they are still going strong! :)

these are nice people. well spoken and gentle. perhaps there is hope for the human race with human league in it.

Humble then. Humble still now. No wonder people love them and their music. They're just like anyone you grew up around.

Is great to see this interview of The Human League back from the 80's. Even 32 years ago they are still looking good and still touring around the world..... May God bless them in their lifetime.

WOW! What grace and authenticity! I could listen to them speak for hours on end. I now know why I've always had such a strong attraction to them and their music. They simply radiate life's beauty in all that they speak and sing about. I'm so glad I finally accomplished my mission of seeing them perform live recently here in California. I can now die in peace. But before I do I hope to see them perform a million times more as I can't get enough of their Love Action. Hopefully one day I can be so lucky and take a picture with the group, however, I will settle for a picture with those graceful and beautiful babes, Joanne and Susan.

back in 1982, remember meeting phil and the girls at an antique shop in sheffield and talked with them for about 25 min, very humble, honest, and great people. At the time, Phil told me that he and the girls planned to move to California around Los Angeles. However, they didn't think they could afford it for all the band members to all move and live together in California like all 6 of the band members, not just phil and the girls only. They had about 2 mil in the bank at the time, but Phil said it would be better to stay in sheffield because he could produce and record more songs and not be distracted by all the glitz and glamour that plagued America from the hollywood elites at the time. Anyways, phil if you are reading this, it's roger!

What lovely people. So nice to learn they were/are just kind everyday folks. Great band too! Dare, what a blast of happy fresh air! Thanks for all the music!

It's ironic that a successful band from a period, the eighties, known for its pretensiousness and poseurs, is honest and humble during interviewing. Unique! I love their music - true pioneers!

"Men never grow up..." how true, our toys just get more expensive.

I love this interview. They seem like regular people. Very appreciative of the opportunity they've been given. I hope they have continued success. And that they come back to the USA sometime soon.

The make up and the hair styles were so amazing!!! Susans hair is so inspiring, it tells a story!

“Dare” was the first CD I ever purchased as a 19 year old. Classic record I still play on a regular basis👍🇦🇺

The Sound Of The Crowd saw them seen for the first time on Top Of The Pops & it's perhaps only now we realise what a clever move this was to bring two supremely stylish young girls into the band who's slick dance moves added icing to the cake to the band. It all went together with the New Romantic scene. Moreover it serves as a reminder what is missing in today's music scene. Evolving talent with originality. Spontaneous results. Today we have too many people who just want to be famous & too many showmen who see a quick easy buck to be made. Here we have two young girls who never imagined they would be. Nothing has ever surpassed the sheer style these two Yorkshire girls brought to the music scene.

Saw them in Manchester '86 promoting the ' Crash ' album. Great memories and a great interview video. 👍

Absolutely love this band and the girls are absolute gems 💎

I love English people. Love listening to them speak. And they have such beautiful skin! ♥

Love the down to earth attitude they have. Ive heard they are still very much the same. Saw them a few weeks ago in concert and they still sound amazing.

My, what a couple of lovely birds! One of my favourite groups!

The girls were the epitome of '80s female beauty.

80's babes so Amazing looking. and the music , the styles and everything else. the positive energy ...you just had to be there....no decade like it.. eat your heart out

Susan and Joanne style icons!!

big crush on Ms. Joanne Catherall!!

Totally FABULOUS music...love the songs and synthesizer layering...So FRESH sounding...Greetings from New York City

Wow. These two women summed up the experiences of countless artists I've had in my studio. Talented, performed in front of numerous people... but when they're in the studio and the recording light comes on... they freeze up. So true. So real.

Cool, lovely warm girls! One of the best bands ever.

So grounded. Growing up in the 80s, you could not ignoring the Human League. 😎🎹🎶

Really enjoyed this, Human League are a really open and honest in this interview, no pretence just saying it as it is, rare that you get a band so honest about themselves, no wonder they are still going strong they deserve a bit more respect for their contribution to the UK music scene

My favourite band ever! I have all the pic discs,singles,albums, etc. First time I have ever heard them speaking! OMG..total respect, so real world Yea Phil kick some f***ing ass :

I am a female from Finland born in 1980 and I love Philip Oakey.

All 4 are LOVELY PEOPLE, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS, GOD BLESS.KEEP SINGING.JUST BRILLIANT TALENT.

Such awesome nice people. They are down to earth and not at all haughty or stuck up. Lovely.

I've been a fan since the early 80s and seeing this for the first time is amazing. Love that they're so down to earth, but produce such forward thinking music.

I was there at Rotters Nightclub in Doncaster on 12th Nov 1980 to see the Human League's new line up play for the first time. Blimey it's 35 years ago seems like yesterday. Great to see they are still going strong.

What a great watch and still going strong to this day - says a lot!

Thank you for posting it is the best interview I have seen of this band.

Wow, this is one of the only few times I've ever heard Ian talk.

This need so many more views. A great interview about my fave synth band!!

Massive props for the video. Made my day.

Great interview! It really brought me back to the 80's and the realisation of how fast time has flown. Wish there is a time machine to take me back and relive all the moments again. Thanks so much for upload the clip.

I was a freshman in college 1983, and met a bunch of kids that loved music and dancing. We listened to the Fascination ep and danced in our dorm rooms-we drove the older kids crazy I think but we loved it

What lovely people. Thank you so much for uploading this. Love THL. Could never work out Philip Oakley but he's just a nice normal chap. And modest too.

They have great timeless songs..which l still listen to! 🥰

What decent people. I wish I had been friends with them then and now. I wasn’t a massive fan but I saw them and enjoyed them. I really liked the Being Boiled period and Dare was fantastic, particularly Empire State Human.

I remember when I used to listen to British people speaking, I had to pay attention in different accents. Very clear pronunciation. My mother tongue is Spanish and love this band. Regards from Mexico.

Thank you so much for this interview. It is so sweet to see them so down to earth, so human!!

Love The Human League they are so down to earth, thought the interviewer was awful

Brilliant interview! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Notice the Apple MacIntosh. 1:40 Those were very expensive, but the coolest thing ever at the time.

I had such a crush on Phil 🤣 lovely seeing this 💓

Oh Phil, be still my beating heart. You Beautiful man ♡

❤️ The Human League. Great interview! Thanks for sharing

Thanks for uploading, LOVE the Human League

Thank you for putting this out! Enjoyed this thoroughly!

I didn’t realize that when they collaborated with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis that the Janet stuff wasn’t out yet. Truly innovative collaboration.

Sure miss the awesome 80s. the positive energy the music, clubs and the Amazing looking babes and everything else.

Hate this world I want to go back to the 80's

I prefer the experimental early Human League sound, but some hits with the new line up were brilliant too.

Thank you for uploading this full interview! I love how honest Phil and the girls are about their lives and the industry. You have made a lot of people very happy!

I am writing this in 2024. Flabbergasted at how lovely and refreshingly nice they are. ❤️

ive seen them 2 times in my nearly 45 years....id love to be in a band as they are...im a bass player and have been since 85....so I recall all this and this point in their career...talented down to earth types.....that's why they lasted..no drug no drink...didn't play into the life style. And placed themselves...that in part is what makes acts last..

What lovely, intelligent, unpretentious people they all were from a young age. And in addition they had good looks... Oh, and bags of talent too. Their parents must have been bursting with pride.

The brunette girl is so incredibly beautiful.

Class comment about PG Tips - great band. Warms my heart just watching this.

GOLDEN ARCHIVE FOR THE POSTERITY!

Joanne sounds so cute. Love her

The most honest and truthful people in the pop music world you could ever hope to listen to ! Such a refreshing interview. What lovely people they come across as. Such a candid interview from corporate controlled "pop stars" would never be allowed today. Thank you for uploading this.

I remember the summer of 82, listening to DARE on my Sony Walkman way way back in the cornfields of rural Pennsylvania, sun bathing in the nude as a 14 year old. true story ; )

Honestyl, i can't believe how these bands/musicians from the 80s that were genius and groundbreaking are so normal and humble. Musicians have so much unecesaary attitude and its always nice to see some normal people who just love music. The tears for fears guys are the same. two very normal men who made the most genius music.

I am eternally grateful to have hit 1980 when I was 19. What a time to be young and alive 🎉🥳🎈🍾👯

I felt lucky to finally see them up front in Sydney AUS this month…it was truely surreal after all these decades & they sounded the same with the look & moves, took me straight back to my teens too 🤩🎹🎹💫🌟

I love a good story,the girls joining in the way they did, and to be dragged out of school to get to London and appear on Top of the pops, right place at the right time.

I don't know a lot about them. I liked the interview - nice people!

I really enjoyed this - a great snapshot of where HL were at in late '86, & all the more interesting now of course with the benefit of hindsight. Thanks so much for sharing :-)

Nice down to earth people,and a great band too.And loyal to Sheffield,which is nice.Good looking normal girls.l like them.Good to listen to👍!

most honest and interesting interview with them!! learnt a lot :)

The ladies are wise beyond their years. Way to go Sue and Jo.

I just subscribed. Love my 80s youth. and am looking forward to More interviews.

Thanks for posting

i really love this group there amazing and love there music and i seen them live and met phil jo and sue im going to see them in plymouth

What a beautiful man ❤ Edit: The whole band is beautiful, talented and down to earth they are.

Superb people. I love their down to earth attitude so much. 💙

There are bands that stick with you. I come up through music in the late 60s and enjoyed the progressive rock from then until the mid 70, but there were bands that hit that certain feeling with you and the Human League was one of them. Admittedly I never bought any of there music, but what I heard of them I always enjoyed. Nice down to earth people when so many stars of today loose touch with where they come from and live in there own little bubble.

These guys are so adorable!

The Human League is the best Synth Pop band in the world

They are so down to earth kind of people 😀, pleasant kind of people 😀.

A lot of real wisdom here, Phil and the girls know the deal. Respect.

The old mac in the background

Lovely grounded people. I bet they are still enjoying life.

I had a purple blouse like that in 1986 😊

The good old Macintosh Classic in the background.

Love them, such a very talented group. ❤️

Damn Ian is probably one of band members trying to make great songs. The way he talks about being in the band shows good work ethic and humble. Like they are all great and humble but it seems like Ian was probably one of the two synth players driving the songs.