New Wave Complex - Heaven 17

Name: Martyn Ware
Birth date: 19/5/56
Birthplace: Sheffield

Name: Ian Craig Marsh
Birth date: 11/11/56
Birthplace: Sheffield

Name: Glenn Gregory
Birth date: 16/5/58
Birthplace: Sheffield

Name: Martyn Ware
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 12 St.
Sign: Taurus
Birth date: 19/5/56
Birthplace: Sheffield
Ambition: To produce a David Bowie record
Turn-ons: Successfully completed work on tape, sun, foreign countries, new friends
Turn -offs: Negative attitudes, nostalgia, snobbishness, arguments, the word "Art"
Favourite food: Japanese, Indian
Preferred performers: David Bowie, Malcolm McDowell, Robert DeNiro, Tony Benn, Karen Ware
All time favourite song: Beethoven's Choral Symphony
Favourite pastime: Humorous and intelligent conversation
Best films: A Clockwork Orange, 2001
Favourite reading matter: Royalty statements
Favourite outfit: 1940's Saville Row suit
Perfect evening: Cocktails, Japanese meal, a few friendds, videos, fun relaxation and bed
Desert island companion: My wife
Best and worst characteristics: Very intelligent and modest, occasionally overweight
Like to be reincarnated as: Caligula
Secret: The British Electric Foundation is an organisation devoted to Communist subversion

I asked Martyn some questions which might help to bring you up-to-date with what's been happening with Heaven 17 lately.

October 1996

Are you all still Sheffield based?

NO WE MOVED TO LONDON ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, BUT WE VISIT EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS TO WATCH SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY F.C.

Do you still have the original line-up?

YES

What instruments are you using on the new album?

SYSTEM 100, JUPITER 4, ROLAND PROMARS, JUNO 106, E64 AND S750 SAMPLERS

Later in your career you were using hi-tech equipment like fairlights. With this new analogue sound are you going back to basics?

ABSOLUTELY. THE INTENTION WAS TO MAKE A 'WHAT IF...' ALBUM AS THOUGH WE'D NEVER MOVE AWAY FROM ANALOG SYNTHESIS

How long did it take you to write, record and produce the new album?

ABOUT 10 MONTHS

After a long break do you have alot of songs to choose from?

NO, WE BELIVE IN QUALITY NOT QUANTITY

Are you contracted for more material in the future? Do you want to make more music?

WE HAVE A 3 ALBUM DEAL WITH EYE OF THE STORM, AT THEIR OPTION, AND OF COURSE WE'D LOVE TO CONTINUE - I FIND IT MUCH MORE FUN THAN PRODUCTION

With the last original album now about 8 years old, what have each of you been up to in that time?

I'VE BEEN PRODUCING MANY ACTS, INCLUDING ERASURE, SCRITTI POLITTI, LENA FIAGBE, JOE ROBERTS, SHABBA RANKS AND ANOTHER BEF MQD ALBUM FEATURING MAVIS STAPLES, CHAKA KHAN, TINA TURNER ETC..

GLENN HAS BEEN COWRITING WITH MARTIN FRY FOR ABC, AND WAS IN A BAND CALLED UGLY.

IAN HAS BEEN PROGRAMMING FOR VARIOUS PEOPLE AND HAD HIS OWN LABEL CALLED TECHNOCENTRIC.

Are the lyrics still as important as you once said in NME?

THEY ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT

What is the current mission statement for the BEF?

NEXT MQD ALBUM IN 2002 (NOSTALGIC FUTURISM)

Has Heaven 17 ever played live? Any plans to play live in the future?

WE ARE CONDUCTING A SERIOUS FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR TOURING IN SPRING 1997

From a distance I hear there is a revival of the early '80's synthpop scene. Is this the case and is that the reason you are making more music?

Do do know the Swedish synthpop scene? What do you think of it if you do?

GOOD POP MUSIC TRANCENDS ALL NICHE MARKETING BARRIERS

For each of you. What is your favourite