AS THE front man of electro hit-makers The Human League, Phil Oakey became an 80s music icon.

The band was hailed as one of the greatest, most innovative of the decade and their album Dare was a staple of every record collection.

But the singer himself has a rather modest take on events, especially those which led to his role in the band in the first place.

"I've always said the reason they wanted me was because I was relatively tall . . . and I had funny hair," jokes Phil.

"And actually the hair was just a way to cope with my shyness. I was a really self-conscious person and the only way I could stop myself from hiding away at the back of a room was to look a bit different."

The 'they' in question were Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, two computer operators from Sheffield, who had a shared passion for German electronica pioneers Kraftwerk.

Martyn had been to school with Phil and his appearance prompted them to pin a note to his door inviting him to become their lead singer.

Phil agreed, quit his job as a hospital porter, and the rest is history. Although so, in fact, could The Human League have been had it not been for a chance meeting.

Still going strong after 25 years, Phil admits the band may not have survived more than a couple had it not been for the night at a disco which wrote itself into pop folklore.