| The Humans | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Years Active: | 2007–2020 |
| Current Members: | Toyah Willcox Bill Rieflin Chris Wong |
The Humans were a British-American rock band featuring singer Toyah Willcox, drummer Bill Rieflin, and musician Chris Wong. They have released three studio albums and have performed live in the UK, Estonia and the USA before disbanding in 2020, following Rieflin's passing.
The Humans were formed in 2007 when musician Robert Fripp, who is married to Toyah Willcox, was invited to play at a birthday party for the President of Estonia. Too busy at that time, Fripp declined the invitation. Willcox then contacted the Estonian Embassy, who had issued the invitation, and offered to put an act together for the tour.[1] On acceptance by the Embassy, Willcox contacted friend and former R.E.M. musician, Bill Rieflin, and suggested a collaboration to "do something that is just completely off the wall [with] just one bass and a voice". Rieflin and Willcox hired musician and musical director Chris Wong, who had previously worked with Willcox on her solo music tours and concerts, thus completing the three-piece outfit.[2]
The band released their debut album We Are the Humans on 1 May 2009. The release was celebrated with a concert at a music festival in Tartu, where the band was joined by Fripp on guitar. The album was promoted by the single and music video with a cover of "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". In February 2010, the band embarked on a short UK tour.[3] The Humans released their second album Sugar Rush on 27 September 2011. Robert Fripp appeared on guitar on every track of the album.[4] Igor Abuladze joined The Humans on their US and UK tour in 2011 in support of the album.[5] In 2013, the band released a live album, Live at Scala London, recorded three years before at London's Scala.
The third album entitled Strange Tales was released worldwide on 1 March 2014, initially only in digital format.[6] "Get in Your Car" was chosen as the lead single. A UK tour, Telling Strange Tales, took place in April 2015, and the album was then made available on CD.[7]
Bill Rieflin died on 24 March 2020 from cancer at the age of 59. In July, the band released a box set compilation called Noise in Your Head containing all three previous albums, a live album, and a DVD with a live concert. The box set was credited to Toyah & The Humans and dedicated to Rieflin.
]
.