The Human League — Susan Ann Sulley, Joanne Catherall and Philip Oakey — join Soft Cell and Alison Moyet for The Generations Tour, coming to Texas Trust CU Theatre June 16
RICH LOPEZ | Staff writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com
For some queer folks of a certain age, the 1980s were a turning point in music. Synth beats took the spotlight, making many listeners feel automatically cooler.
At the same time, that music defied conventional norms of gender and sexuality. A queer, closeted kid of any age found a safe space in the sounds of Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys, Wham and many others. That androgynous aesthetic and ultra-cool vibe created a sanctuary, whether in the bedroom or on the dancefloor.
In The Generations Tour, three iconic groups have hit the road to take us back to the ’80s with their big hits that are timeless across decades.
The Human League, Soft Cell and Alison Moyet are on the road together and headed to Grand Prairie’s Texas Trust CU Theatre for a night of music that shaped a generation. The concert is Tuesday, June 16, at 8 p.m.
Perhaps it’s not specifically queer, but the Pride Month timing adds an extra celebratory note for a slew of queer boomers and Gen X-ers — and hopefully some new fans from younger generations.
Singer Susan Ann Sulley of The Human League reflected on how the band’s sound and style resonated with queer culture.
“It didn’t matter what gender you were, what your sexuality was, what your color was, what clothes you wore,” she said. “There were times in our career where we weren’t very popular… and the one place that always embraced us with open arms was a club in London actually called G-A-Y.”
Nightclubs provided that haven for authentic self-expression and for Sulley, a place that never forgot Human League’s music.
Sulley recalls that support from the community began in the band’s early days. With Philip Oakley’s deep, sultry voice and Sulley and Joanne Catherall’s counter of smooth harmonies and vocals, the band’s sound balance was pristine.
More slick and stylish compared to their counterparts like Boy George or Duran Duran, Human League dropped mega hits for the gay club dance floor that remain staples today.
Sulley expressed gratitude that she still sees queer fans supporting not just The Human League, but also her fellow tour mates, all reveling in that synth-pop sound.
“I love to see any sort of rainbows out in the crowd like t-shirts or fans,” she said. “It reminds me that they are still with us, and we had so many gay friends coming up in this business, and we won’t ever forget them from all those years ago to right now.”
The tour is expected to deliver all the hits that defined these artists’ careers. “Don’t You Want Me” is an official dancefloor classic, but don’t sleep on hits like “Mirror Man,” “Fascination” and the iconic ballad “Human.”
The Human League frontman Philip Oakey expressed his feelings on hitting the road alongside the band’s peers.
“Since our debut in 1980, we have always enjoyed an awesome welcome in America, and we’re really thrilled to be embarking on a coast-to-coast tour of the U.S. in 2026,” Oakey stated in a press release. “Sharing the stage on this visit will be two of the best and most iconic music acts of our generation, Soft Cell and Alison Moyet. Both are personal favorites.
“We’re looking forward to being part of the bill of a lifetime and, once more, getting the chance to play in some of our best loved places in the world. We can’t wait,” he added.
Sulley even gets a personal thrill from getting back to Dallas. The city holds a distinct memory for her from decades ago: “We were performing, and there was this severe storm that brought hailstones that seemed like the size of footballs, and I just remember that we laughed at the sheer spectacle of it.
“It’s that kind of classic Texas-sized experience.”
For tickets, visit AXS.com.