Electronically Yours: Vol. I: My Autobiography

by Martyn Ware

This is a music autobiography to remember. This is the story of Martyn Ware.

The Human League and Heaven 17 were among some of the most pioneering bands of the 1980s, with Ware having played an integral role in each of their numerous successes. A young lad from the heart of post-war Sheffield, Ware formed The Human League a few years out of school in his early twenties. Described by David Bowie as 'the future of music', it wasn't long before the band become known for their innovative and infectiously catchy singles such as 'Being Boiled', touring with the likes of Siouxsie and the Banshees and Iggy Pop before Ware's departure. Heaven 17 followed suit, with their soon-to-be classic albums, Penthouse & Pavement and The Luxury Gap, featuring several colossal hits. Ground-breaking icons in new wave and synth pop, both groups remain some of the biggest-selling bands across the UK and worldwide.

In Electronically Yours, Martyn takes us through his incredible route to stardom; from his austere upbringing in various council houses and close teenage friendship with former-bandmate Phil Oakey, to the white-hot experimentation in the 'Synth Britannia' era and his production career, which allowed him to work with some of the world's greatest singers, including Tina Turner. But it's not just his life inside the industry which is compelling; a proud socialist, Martyn writes poignantly about politics - how it can be a soulful, personal, moral duty - and its role in his music creation and Britain today. With charming meditations on culture, humour, travel and sport, Martyn also shares his love of 60s films, explains why Venice is the most beautiful city in the world, and reveals how Sheffield Wednesday has forever been his first and eternal passion.

A huge page-turner and always warmly told, Electronically Yours sees Martyn talk candidly for the very first time about his extraordinary journey. Discover amusing anecdotes, raw confessions, and moving reflections of a life well and truly lived at the height of the music industry.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Biography

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2022

Reviews

[Richard Kerridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heaven 17, along with Ben Elton and Alexei Sayle, gave substance to this 80s teenager's fledgling lefty world view. I suppose I was always going to enjoy this book. I very much enjoyed reading about the gestation of songs, the meaning behind some of the lyrics, the effort that went into producing each record and the showbiz stories. Ware's, sometimes, brutal honesty about the quality of his songs, 'Ouch, not our best work...' and 'Not very good, I'm afraid.', show that time has allowed for an honest opinion to flourish and it makes for better reading. His reviews of the songs in the first three albums (the first two are two of the best 80s albums) are developed and interesting. The reasons behind the split with Phil Oakley and The Human League are explained and you can feel his pain.
The music aside, I really enjoyed Ware's pontifications on life and politics. My favourite chapter entitled 'Sheffield, Politics and Social Conscience' has this nugget, '...my father was a devout trade unionist who regarded the idea of any working man or woman voting Tory as being an offense to humanity which would require committal to the lunatic asylum.' Enough said!
For H17 fans, children of the 80s, music-lovers or lefty-thinkers, this is a great read. Thoroughly looking forward to volume 2.

[Steve Ayers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this on Audible for £2.99, read by the author.

Martyn Ware, out of Sheffield became a founder member of the Human League until he was, literally, out of the Human League, just before they went on to record Dare. His loss is probably everyone else's gain as not only do we get the Human League's greatest album but two fantastic, and three very good, Heaven 17 albums.

There's plenty of interest here, if you're a fan, but ultimately it reads as a bit of a vanity project. I'm not sure that many people are interested in his thoroughly researched extended family history or all the bands and projects of his youth, though some of the details of the tech of his trade might interest others.

He clearly welcomes the chance to put over his side of the split with Phil Oakey and in places comes over as a bit pompous. Strangest of all he includes sections he calls The Outside View, which involves people he has worked with testifying to his greatness. More than a little odd.

I won't be reading volume 2.

[Martin Maenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a Heaven 17 fan since I first heard their songs back in 1982. I owned vinyl of their earliest records and in recent years picked up the Play to Win: Heaven 17 - the Virgin Years boxset on CD. They are one of my all-time favorite 80's synthpop bands. So, I was very excited when I saw Martyn's autobiography had been released.

One of the first things, outside of the music, that struck me was Martyn's interest in science fiction and even comic books. If I already hadn't felt a kinship (sharing the same first name albeit different spelling), this just adds to it. I suspect he and I would have gotten along swimmingly as mates.

I enjoyed the evolution of his career, especially going from his starter bands to the Human League and finally to forming BEF and Heaven 17. These are a part of the soundtrack of my late high school and my college years. It all took me right back to that time once again. I really appreciate hearing about how things really went down all those decades ago.

The final one hundred pages is an appendix that does a track by track breakdown of the music he wrote and produced. As a music fan, this is a most appealing section for me. I like that he put this all together in one spot rather than sprinkling it throughout his story as he told it (the exception being his discussion of the tracks he worked on for Tina Turner's Private Dancer album - which perfectly fits in the chapter where he talks about his work with her). It works much better this way, I feel.

I am looking forward to volume 2 to read about the latter half of Martyn's life.

[Steve Cann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so good to read Martyn's book - and cool that I met him at an event where he kindly signed it for me too.

This volume charts his life up until about 1992/3 - with the second volume promised for a future date.

He doesn't go into huge detail about his childhood, covering it in a couple of chapters. Then we see how he meets Phil Oakley at school, and starts to create his own music and form a band.

He's been very meticulous here about this part of his life, and it makes for a fascinating read as we see the genesis of the Human League MK 1, and I loved reading about all the recording processes & how they created those early songs.
Then of course the sudden split into two bands, and the acrimony this caused - as well as really inspiring him to go even further and create something magical with Heaven 17.

He also explains about the BEF & his various production duties that led to him being at the helm for classic albums by Tina Turner and Terence Trent D'arby.

I guess this book is chiefly aimed at fans of his music & genre, but I'd recommend it for anyone who loves great pop music and loves this era.

He's clearly justifiably proud of his achievements and his musical legacy, and this book makes a perfect time capsule for those magical times when British pop music ruled the world.

[Robbie Carnegie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martyn Ware gives fascinating and entertaining insights into his work with The Human League, Heaven 17, BEF and others in a book that is entertaining and forthright.

[Deborah Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I am from Sheffield and heavily into human league and H17 I eagerly awaited the release and this book did not disappoint. Knowing of many of the people and places allowed me to build on what I already knew with some real pearls thrown in. This book will appeal to anyone with an interest in music from a cultural and methodical perspective. I am astounded / overawed with the amount of work that went into the production of electronic music before the days of being able to call yourself a producer by switching on a computer.

[Paul Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heaven 17 were the first band of that era that really hooked me and I have always taken an interest in Martyn's wider work. I enjoyed his well written review of his song writing and production career. He switches between almost arrogant boastfulness about his successes to acknowledging, quite modestly, about some of his later H17 work, which was undeniably really below par. He spends a lot of the second half of the book gently plugging his intention to publish Vol 2, which if it's about his 21st century work is of much less interest to me.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written honest account of his life up to 1992. This is a different approach to a biography which I really liked. Honest recounting if events and in parts where he is looking back brutally honest. I like Martyn as a person and respect that he lives his life true to his beliefs.
A must read and I am looking forward to Vol 2

[Simon Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic account of Ware’s childhood and then his role in The Human League and Heaven 17.

He says there will be a Vol 2. I can’t wait.

[Nigeyb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this on a whim in an Audible sale. I was a big fan of The Human League in their early days and continued to enjoy the two groups which emerged when the original line up split (British Electric Foundation and The Human League).

One fact that I’d never appreciated was that Martyn Ware was effectively thrown out of The Human League and did not leave voluntarily, also that Ian Craig Marsh was originally slated to stay with the League but spontaneously decided to stick with Martyn. Things worked out well for all parties but it was a traumatic moment in Martyn’s life and he relates it all well.

This first volume of Martyn’s autobiography is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in the history of electronic music, British Electric Foundation, and The Human League.

Martyn’s life pre-fame is very interesting. I always enjoy childhood reminiscences and his life in working class Sheffield during the 60s and 70s is full of interest. It’s not just music either, Martyn share memories and opinions on popular culture, travel, football and specifically Sheffield Wednesday FC.

Two important points: in what world do we need contributions from various associates (“The View From Without”) who all laud Martyn’s many fine qualities and all conclude he’s a great guy? And Martyn fails to address the elephant in the room, why did he stick with that appalling beard and centre parting combo for so many years?

There’s a little too much technical information for my level of interest and the pompous Partridge-esque style rankled sporadically, but this is just nitpicking as overall I really enjoyed it. Definitely one for the fans though.

Volume Two is coming at some point, that really will be one for the hardcore fans.

[Chris Corpora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great autobiography, painting an interesting and rich picture of 60s, 70s and 80s Sheffield and the rise of popular electronic music there and throughout the country. Like memoirs written by other UK musicians from this era, Ware paints a darkish picture of the post-war period and the bleak future seen by many of his contemporary working class peers. Although this theme is consistent with other musician-penned memoirs from this generation, each story has its own context and vibe. Ware's memories and attitude is positive and even upbeat at times, which gives a different color to his experiences, as opposed to this of Lol Tolhurst or Will Sergeant (both of whom wrote wonderful memoirs worth reading). This seems to have more to do with his loving, close-knit family, despite the poverty. The stories about his formative musical years are similar to others, but the thing that makes this an enjoyable read is Ware's sense of humor and humility throughout the telling. The extended appendix of track-by-track recollections and the many candids he included from characters in his life story made this book stand out. I can't wait for volume 2. Read this book for a great window into an era and a person's life who made a mark on many of us with so much fantastic music -- both as a writer/performer and a producer.

[Tim Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Electronically Yours Vol. 1, Martyn Ware—co-founder of pioneering synthpop bands The Human League and Heaven 17—delivers a refreshingly candid and richly textured memoir that goes far beyond the standard music biography. With sharp wit and deep introspection, Ware chronicles his journey from a working-class upbringing in Sheffield to becoming one of the key architects of British electronic music. What makes this book so compelling is not just the behind-the-scenes tales of '80s music evolution, but Ware’s genuine passion for innovation, social justice, and sound design. His reflections are as philosophical as they are technical, offering a unique lens into how creativity intersects with technology and identity.

Ware’s voice is authentic and unfiltered, pulling no punches when discussing the music industry, fame, or even his personal missteps. Readers looking for gossip or rock ‘n’ roll excess might be surprised—instead, they’ll find a thoughtful meditation on artistry, friendship, and the struggle to maintain integrity in a rapidly commercializing world. Whether you’re a fan of electronic music or just fascinated by cultural history told from the inside, Electronically Yours Vol. 1 is a standout memoir that resonates with heart, humor, and a healthy dose of northern grit.

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it difficult to rate this book. Another reviewer described it as a bit of a 'vanity project' for Martyn Ware and with all due respect, was writing and producing electronic based music for an 80's pop group, with no musical background, rocket science?... It's definitely worth reading this book and listening back to discuss!

So, I'll say that I found this book a very entertaining read - there are lots of claims to fame by association, and 'we nearly worked with this artist and nearly worked with that one', which often tickled me. However, as a teenager myself, growing up in the '80s, Ware's candid autobiography provides an engaging way to reminisce.

For what it's worth, I've just listened to Chaka Khan's 'Someday We'll All Be Free' on Music of Quality and Distinction Vol ll, and if Ware pieced that together from 16 takes - hats off to him.

Will I read Electronically Yours Vol ll, .... probably not. Will I listen to Temptation again .... Yes, It's on my exercise playlist :-)

[Ray Smillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recall being gutted on hearing that the Human League were splitting up, or so the music press reported, as I loved and still love the first two albums. They didn't split up but split in two. Half carried on as the Human League (a lot of their success was down to bringing Jo Callis on board). Heaven 17 was the other (and better imo) offshoot.

But you already know that if you are interested in buying this. What I didn't know was the successful career Martyn Ware has also had as a record producer.

The technical stuff was a no interest to me (as a non-musician) but most of the rest was very interesting and informative.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written with great insight and anecdotes in the early history of electronic music developing into synth pop. Great companion to Martyn’s equally engaging podcast series of the same name where he interviews a who’s who of legend in synth pop.

[Aaron Badgley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining book and look behind the curtain.

[Ipswichblade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big fan of Martyn Ware so would have been surprised not to enjoy this. Written in very chronological way which always pleases me as not a fan of biographies that go back and forth.
Bring on volume 2

[Mark Wasiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a fan of the group, I think you will find it very interesting. I also appreciated his song-by-song commentary that was included as an appendix or part of a PDF. I listened to the audio version and it was nice to hear it read in his own voice.