Russell Dennett

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Russell Dennett (b. November 11, 1965 Sheffield, England) was a guitarist and keyboardist for the band The Human League from 1986-1996. He toured with the band on the Crash tour in 1996, the Romantic? tour in 1990 and the Octopus tour in 1994. He appeared on British television with the band including appearances on The Tube and Top of the Pops. He also made a cameo appearance with The Human League's lead singer Phil Oakey on Reeves & Mortimer's 1992 comedy TV pilot The Weekenders, playing in a club as "Electric Russell". Dennett also instigated Reeves subsequent hit "Black Knight" a uptempo cover of the Deep Purple classic.

[edit] Early career

Dennett's first band was named DOA (Dead on Arrival) (not to be confused with the Vancouver punk band D.O.A. or the New York-based heavy metal band Dead on Arrival). It was formed in 1980 and featured other young musicians from the Sheffield area. Their first gig was at the invitation of local philanthropist Ken Davis to perform at the Mayday celebrations of 1981 at the Dronfield Contact Labour Trades Club in Dronfield, Derbyshire. The gig received mixed reviews but was a starting point for Dennett's subsequent local fame.

[edit] Current career

Dennett did not appear on the Human League's subsequent album Secrets released in 2001. In 1994 Dennett formed the band Deep Down Crazy and self-released a CD titled A Swim in the Ocean. Deep Down Crazy played several gigs in the Sheffield area to excellent reviews in the local press including the Sheffield Star. The members included Russell Dennett and Huma (Mike Dennett) , Ian Burden (also formerly of The Human League), and Chris Broadbent.

Dennett is currently rumoured to be managing a local pub in dronfield called The Sidings , and plays at several pub venues in the Dronfield area with his duo featuring John Richardson a.k.a The Fox ( A good friend of Rick Allen of Def Leppard Fame)