Ian Craig Marsh facts for kids

Ian Craig Marsh was born on November 11, 1956, in England. He is a talented English musician and composer. Ian was one of the people who started the electronic music band The Human League. He helped write songs and played on their first two albums and several hit songs. In 1980, he left The Human League to create new bands called British Electric Foundation and later Heaven 17.

Early Music Journey

Ian Marsh started his music journey in Sheffield, England. He joined a community theatre group called Meatwhistle. There, he met Mark Civico. Together, they formed a performance art band named Musical Vomit. They chose this name after a music paper gave a very negative review to another band.

Musical Vomit was known for its unusual stage shows. They performed at the Meatwhistle workshop. They also played at Sheffield University Drama Studio. In 1974, they even performed a rock opera called Vomit Lost in Space. This show used early versions of synthesizers.

Band Members and Changes

Ian Marsh played guitar for Musical Vomit in 1973. He left the band after being asked to leave school. Mark Civico continued with Musical Vomit. Other members joined, including Paul Bower and Glenn Gregory. Glenn later became the lead singer for Heaven 17. Ian Reddington, who became a famous actor, also joined.

Martyn Ware, who was important in The Human League and Heaven 17, sometimes played with Musical Vomit. He played the Dubreq Stylophone. Martyn Ware also formed a more pop-focused group called Underpants.

Musical Vomit's Performances

Musical Vomit played at the Bath Arts Festival in 1974. A musician named Poly Styrene was in the audience. She later described them as "the very first punk band." The crowd at the festival booed them. They threw bottles, but the band stayed on stage. However, they never played together again after that show.

A plan for the band to reunite was canceled. This happened when Ian Reddington was accepted to study acting. He went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Ian Marsh's New Instrument

Around this time, Ian Marsh stopped playing the guitar. He later said that guitars seemed like a "strange instrument" to him. Instead, he bought a simple synthesizer. He found it hard to use at first, but it could make interesting sounds.

Ian Marsh then rejoined Musical Vomit. He also worked as a computer programmer. He played a big role in the early new wave and punk music scene in Sheffield. He shared the first Ramones album, which he bought as an import, with all his friends.

Forming The Future

In June 1977, Ian Marsh, Martyn Ware, and singer Adi Newton formed a band for one special event. They called themselves Dead Daughters. They played at a friend's 21st birthday party. The three musicians enjoyed playing together. They decided to form a new band permanently. They chose the name The Future.

Electronic Music Pioneers

The Future had a goal: to create pop music using only electronic instruments. This was a very new idea in 1977. Most music at the time used traditional instruments. They also experimented with a computer program. This program could turn words into song lyrics.

At first, record companies were not very interested in their music. Ian Marsh and Martyn Ware decided to continue as a duo. They recorded a short instrumental song called "Dancevision." This song was later released on The Human League's Holiday '80 EP.

The Human League Begins

Another song, "Being Boiled," led to a big change. Philip Oakey joined the group. With Philip Oakey, the band changed its name to The Human League. A collection of their early recordings from this time was released in 2002. It was called The Golden Hour of The Future.

Leaving Heaven 17

Ian Marsh was a member of the band Heaven 17 for many years. In 2006, he seemed to disappear for a while. Even Martyn Ware, his bandmate, did not know where he was. Ian Marsh reappeared in early 2007. He then announced that he no longer wanted to perform with Heaven 17.

He was not present at any of their concerts in 2007. He also did not perform with them on The Steel City Tour in late 2008. This tour included The Human League and ABC. Martyn Ware and Glenn Gregory tried to get him to return. However, in an interview in late 2008, Martyn Ware confirmed that Ian Marsh was no longer an active member of Heaven 17. Today, Ian Marsh works as a music teacher.