The whole music industry has completely and totally changed from how it was. It's very, very different. When we started, there were loads of record company people throwing money at musicians, and that did give people a long term career.

The whole music industry has completely and totally changed from how it was. It's very, very different. When we started, there were loads of record company people throwing money at musicians, and that did give people a long term career.

I think a lot of people go in TV talent shows because they want to be famous and not because it's about the music.

The likes of Bob Dylan and David Bowie and probably Elvis Presley or any of the Beatles, none of them would have got through Pop Idol, because they're not conventional. They're not what people think is popular now. I like the individuality in people. I don't want everyone to sound the same.

To be very fair, it was Ian Marsh and Martyn Ware who started The Human League. They brought Philip Oakey in to sing, primarily because Philip was very tall. So it started out as their vision. I don't think anyone ever thought it would be as big as it became. Music evolves and people were looking for something different. We came out at the right time and were just very lucky.

I think for a lot of new bands, although they have a lot of opportunity, this music business is not giving them a long-term career. I think there's some terrible stuff that comes out and we are bombarded by likes of The X Factor, Pop Idol and all those programs that I don't really like and I don't approve of.

Philip Oakey went to Target this morning to have a wander 'round and a guy ran up to him and said, "I went to see you last night and you were fabulous!" It made Philip's day! Whoever says it to us, we're always happy.