Glenn Gregory

Glenn Gregory is the lead vocalist for Heaven 17, the 1980's English electronic new wave band that consists of three members, the other two being Ian Craig Marsh' and Martyn Ware. Marsh and Ware were, in fact, the founding members of another Sheffield electronic band, The Human League (previously known as 'The Dead Daughters' and 'The Future'), and originally wanted Gregory as their lead singer. Glenn, however, was unavailable at the time and Phil Oakey was recruited. Due to creative differences, Marsh and Ware left The Human League and formed Heaven 17, this time successfully acquiring the vocal talents of Gregory. Between 1981 and 1982, Glenn and Heaven 17 (the name of the band was taken from Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange (1971) produced a scattering of minor hit singles: '(We Don't Need This) Fascist Grrove Thang' (No.45), 'Play To Win' (No.46), 'Penthouse and Pavement' (No.57), and 'Let Me Go' (No.41). Their album 'Penthouse and Pavement' (1981) nevertheless performed well, reaching No.14 on the album chart. It was 1983, though, when Glenn would experience his first real taste of success. Heaven 17 released 'Temptation' that year and witnessed it rocket to No.2 on the singles chart. Carol Kenyon provided backing vocals, and Glenn would get to appear on the 1000th edition of Top of the Pops (1964) performing this synth-driven dance hit. The band quickly followed up the single with the hits 'Come Live With Me' (No.5) and 'Crushed by the Wheels of Industry' (No.17). Their album 'The Luxury Gap' shot to No. 4 making 1983 the definitive year for Glenn Gregory and Heaven 17. Glenn has remained with the band and enjoyed many hits, most notably 'Sunset Now' (No.24), 'This Is Mine' (No.23), ' ... (And That's No Lie)' (No. 52) - and the album 'How Men Are' (No.12) - all between 1984 and 1985. In 1992 'Temptation' was re-released and went straight to No.4, and Glenn has since featured on over twenty studio, compilation, and live albums with Heaven 17. In 1984 Glenn provided key vocals on the Band Aid single 'Do They Know It's Christmas' alongside a myriad pop and rock stars including George Michael and Simon Le Bon. Gregory possesses a deep and distinctive voice that compliments the electronic music genre, similar to that of Phil Oakey and Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode. Tall, blonde, and toothy, he is not dissimilar in looks to Gary Busey and Jake Busey. His vocals talents can be heard in the movies Summer Lovers (1982), Night Shift (1982), Sliver (1993), and Trainspotting (1996). Most notably, though, Heaven 17 feature on the soundtrack to the then state-of-the-art computer drama Electric Dreams (1984), an OST that also boasts Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder (Together in Electric Dreams) and Jeff Lynne (Video!). H17 perform 'Chase Runner'. In 2008 Glenn and Heaven 17 were part of the Sheffield band based 'Steel City Tour' along with The Human League, and Martin Fry & Mark White (IX)' aka 'ABC'. They toured the UK. Gregory further toured with Heaven 17 in 2010, and they appeared on Later... With Jools Holland (1992) shortly after, eliciting a 'rapturous response' from the live audience.