Everybody move to prove the groove! Although it’s been four decades since penning topical political classics like “We Don’t Need This Fascist Groove Thang” and “Let’s All Make A Bomb”, the lyrics of Heaven 17 have remained shockingly relevant…even straight up predicting that ‘history will repeat itself.’
The band found its identity almost by accident: originally founding members of pioneering British electro-pop group the Human League, Glenn Gregory was slated to be the frontman, but his unavailability paved the way for Phil Oakey to take over as lead singer. They did appear on the first two Human League albums, Reproduction and Travelogue. By late 1980, personal and creative tensions within the group reached a breaking point: Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware left the band and formed British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.). They recruited their friend Glenn Gregory for vocals and named the project after a fictional pop group in Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange. They’ve played on and off ever since, releasing eight albums in total since 1981’s Penthouse and Pavement. Their last release was 2008’s Naked As Advertised. Until now, however, the band has never played in North America.
After a few touring hiccups due to the pandemic, the British synthpop pioneers have re-rescheduled and expanded their first North American tour to fifteen dates in September and October 2022. Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware announce the “We Don’t Need This Fascist Groove Thang” Tour.
They kick off the tour on September 16th in Pawling, N.Y., making stops in Boston, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, Philly, and more through 6 October in Seattle. Tickets are now on sale.
Here are the full dates:
- Sept. 16: Pawling, NY – Darly’s House
- Sept. 17: Red Bank, NJ – The Vogel
- Sept. 18: Boston, MA – City Winery
- Sept. 20: Detroit, MI – Magic Bag
- Sept. 22: Chicago, IL – Park West
- Sept. 23: Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
- Sept. 24: Philadelphia, PA – Keswick Theatre
- Sept. 25: Alexandria, VA – Birchmere
- Sept. 27: New York, NY – (Le) Poisson Rouge
- Sept. 29: Los Angeles, CA – Belasco
- Sept. 30: San Diego, CA – House of Blues
- Oct. 1: Santa Ana, CA – Observatory
- Oct. 2: San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365 Club
- Oct. 5: Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
- Oct. 6: Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
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