This is now the 3^rd revise of this  page, originally this page was principally here to convince Susan’s lawyers that I wasn’t a Human League version of Eminem’s ‘Stan’ and to explain to  the wider world why there is a personal site for her, and not Philip or Joanne.

   I’m probably still only one remark (or early 1981 photo) away from a metaphorical glass of wine in the face off the lady herself, but I haven’t been sued (yet).  So I’m now less concerned about writs or  my motivation being questioned; but the story behind the site is still worth telling.  Let's face it if you weren't interested you wouldn't be on this page and I like telling the story

You may be surprised to know that the inspiration for his site was actually BBC Radio One DJ Chris Moyles. More about that that in a minute!

    Typically for me, I thought up and created this site on the spur of the moment, without much thought for the implications and now I'm stuck with it.  What started out as something to learn Expressionweb on, has now really taken off.  Actually, worryingly so! Who would have thought that a site about a petite, 40 something, blonde woman from Sheffield would generate so much international interest?  This is probably the first thing I've created  that people actually want to read.  We are now getting about 150  visits a day from mainly the USA but virtually every other country on earth as well, countries as diverse as Russia, Columbia, Dutch Antilles, Iceland, Peru to name a few. When I created the site I thought that only about 25 Human League fans would visit the site not 25 000. And if I charged £1 for every photo of Sue that has been downloaded I could have paid my mortgage off by now.

     When I set up the site my friends were taking bets on which legal document would drop through my letter box first, a High Court writ or a restraining order from Susan.  Thankfully neither has, I think we are a bit careful with the legal side, and as far as the accusation of being an obsessed fan goes I'm actually probably THLs laziest! Seeing them three times in 27 years is a bit embarrassing and would make me the world's most rubbish stalker. Besides I’m not really a meet and greet sort of person anyway, even though the band are used to meeting fans, I’d feel like a nuisance. Heroes are best appreciated from a distance.

     So then why a site just for Susan and not another THL site or a personal page for Jo or Philip as well? Simply because no one else has (including the band) , and a lot of people are really interested in her and THL.

 Ok.... I also declare a little bit of an interest...

     Since mid 1981 Susan has always been my favorite THL member. I confess I got into The League simply because of ‘the two chicks’ on 'Top of the pops' in mid '81. There are plenty of THL snobs who claim to have been fans since ’77 or it’s all about the music. 

Sorry I can't lie, for me in 1981 it was all about the two girls (actually it more or less still is).  I’m afraid I really didn’t like Phillip until 1984, sorry Phil. And in 1981/82 I had a massive crush on Susanne. Sad I know , but I was 14!.

 I guess Susanne (sorry but she will always be Susanne Sulley to me!) was my favorite, not because she was blonde, although that helped. But because Joanne was just far too pretty, and much too cool. Sue seemed more ordinary & approachable, and when you're a teenage lad that makes a huge difference. That preference has stayed with me ever since and  I absolutely worshiped Susan during the Dare & Hysteria years. 

    Fast forward a quarter of a century and I've still got a little bit of a soft spot for the lady. She still  looks just as good now as she did in the 80's and 90s. But if I was just creating a site because I fancied a singer, right now you would be reading  katie-melua.net. or Avril Lavigne.com.  So it is mainly for historical reasons and about being a fan of the whole group, put simply I grew up with the Human League in the 80s, 90s, 00s and I never lost my interest in the band, or  Susan. Trouble is other ,more talented people have cornered the market in Human League group sites. If I created another  THL group site it would be a poor imitation. So I thought that I would approach the idea from a different angle, and at the same time give the lady some of the recognition I believe she deserves.

    The idea started while researching the band on the net after the Margate gig 22/11/06. It amazed me to see how little online presence THL had, compared to say non-bands like pop bilge ‘Girls Aloud’. And importantly to me, how little coverage Jo and Sue had, which was disgraceful.

Cue the intervention of Chris Moyles. A long commute into work one morning listening to Moyles rave about his unofficial website gave me the classic lightbulb moment.

    According to Moyles an unofficial website is a major status symbol for a celebrity, and is often valued higher than the Corporate 'official’ site (which often have their own agenda). It means your fans like you enough to create a site about you and the amount of hits ‘your’ site gets indicates the strength your real fan base. People don’t visit your unofficial site because they don’t like you. Chris Moyle's unofficial site is now on 2.5 Million hits. (This little site has a long way to go to catch up but we're getting there)

    So with more money and time than sense, I decided that Susan needed her own personal site. Not having such a basic item after 27 years of being a pop legend wasn’t acceptable. The opportunity was there, and in the words of Vinnie Jones “if the Opportunity is there, its best to take it, if its there!”  www.susanne-sulley.net was born at work that morning.

     I do feel a bit guilty in one respect, that I could be in anyway be snubbing Joanne C who I think the absolute world of. But I barely have enough time to keep on top of one Human League website. And I'm not that sure Joanne would appreciate the attention.

    So the site is now up and running instead of just being a random idea. And as you can see is already very well visited.  Personally whilst I'm surprised by the success (it was never planned) I am a bit relieved that I'm not the only one in the world who thinks she is great. So now there is a single place on the net for fans of Susan and another THL site. But more importantly now when some lazy journalist researching The Human League types ‘Susan Sulley’ into Google they will get a detailed history and multimedia resume of her astounding 27 year career and not just “the blonde backing singer of the Human league – waves her arms a bit”

    And as Susan herself was complaining recently that her only presence on the internet said “Susan Sulley – British Rocker”.  She is not too annoyed with the site, even if it goes against her famously modest nature.

 Thanks for visiting and supporting the site, any feedback is welcome – Andy MGE 17/06/2007