Martyn Ware - Sheffield born electronic music pioneer Heaven 17 Human League Producing Tina Turner;

Martyn Ware tells Steve Blame his side of the Human League split—and how he turned that setback into a new beginning with Heaven 17 and B.E.F.

From the sound of Sheffield’s steelworks to “Penthouse and Pavement,” “Let Me Go” and “Temptation,” Martyn traces the experiences, friendships and creative risks behind his music. He recalls working with Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory, making The Luxury Gap, and producing Tina Turner’s “Let’s Stay Together.”

He also shares the story of Tina recording “Ball of Confusion,” explains how a missed Top of the Pops appearance damaged Heaven 17’s momentum, and reflects on losing confidence, staying creative and helping younger musicians find their way.

Recorded in 2021. References to current events and the music industry reflect the time of recording.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Inside Martyn Ware’s studio
01:17 Sheffield’s steelworks: the sound of childhood
03:21 Family, poverty and a loving upbringing
05:11 Working-class roots, socialism and creativity
09:46 Meat Whistle: finding fellow outsiders
15:25 Ian Craig Marsh and the first equipment
17:28 Science fiction and imagining the future
22:05 Sheffield, London and creative communities
24:31 Heaven 17, B.E.F. and moving closer to Virgin
25:25 Martyn’s account of the Human League split
28:25 Starting again with Heaven 17 and B.E.F.
28:49 Penthouse and Pavement: building an audience
30:19 Making The Luxury Gap with Virgin’s support
32:52 Let Me Go, Temptation and Carol Kenyon
33:18 Success, television and the MTV era
35:12 Tina Turner, Let’s Stay Together and creative daring
37:34 Tina’s Ball of Confusion studio session
40:08 Success, confidence and the Top of the Pops setback
42:43 Losing Heaven 17’s sound and direction
45:40 Why early-80s music still connects
47:04 Punk, opportunity and record-company money
50:41 The synthesizers Martyn still owns
51:22 Teaching creativity and surviving in music
54:35 What Martyn learns from younger artists
56:23 Final reflections and farewell

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