OMD

Meols, Merseyside, England

Information

• • Hometown: - Meols, Merseyside, England
• • Nationality: - English
• • Years Active: - 1978–1996 • 2006–present
• • Genre(s): - Electronic • New Wave • Synth-Pop • Experimental
• • Label(s): - 100%Virgin • Dindisc • Factory • Bright Antenna • A&M • Epic
• • Associated Acts: - The Id • Dalek I Love You • Godot • The Listening Pool • Atomic Kitten • Onetwo
• • Website: - omd.uk.com

Biography

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are an English electronic band formed in Wirral, Merseyside, in 1978. The group consists of co-founders Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards, vocals), along with Martin Cooper (various instruments) and Stuart Kershaw (drums); McCluskey has been the only constant member. Regarded as pioneers of electronic music, OMD combined an experimental, minimalist ethos with pop sensibilities, becoming central figures in the late-1970s/early-1980s emergence of synth-pop.

McCluskey and Humphreys led precursor group the Id from 1977–1978, and re-recorded their track "Electricity" as OMD's debut single in 1979. Weathering an "uncool" image and a degree of hostility from music critics, the band achieved popularity throughout Europe with the 1980 anti-war song "Enola Gay", and gained further recognition via Architecture & Morality (1981) and its three hit singles. Although later reappraised, Dazzle Ships (1983) was seen as overly challenging, and eroded European support. The group embraced a more radio-friendly sound on Junk Culture (1984); this change in direction led to greater success in the United States, and yielded the 1986 hit, "If You Leave".

In 1989, creative differences saw Humphreys and other members form the spin-off band the Listening Pool, leaving McCluskey the only remaining member of OMD. The group returned with a new line-up and explored the dance-pop genre: Sugar Tax (1991) and its initial singles were hits in Europe. OMD then began to founder amid the guitar-oriented grunge and Britpop movements, eventually disbanding in 1996. McCluskey later conceived girl group Atomic Kitten, for whom he served as a principal songwriter, while Humphreys formed the duo Onetwo alongside Propaganda vocalist Claudia Brücken.

In 2006, the band reformed with Humphreys and McCluskey working on material closer in sound to their early output; The Punishment of Luxury (2017) was the group's seventh top 10 entry on the UK Albums Chart. They have also achieved 12 top 20 hits on the UK Singles Chart, as well as three top 20 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100. An influence on many later artists, OMD have sold over 40 million records worldwide.

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Band Members

• • Andy McCluskey – bass guitar, keyboards, vocals (1978–96; 2006–present)
• • Paul Humphreys – keyboards, vocals (1978–89; 2006–present)
• • Martin Cooper – keyboards, saxophone (1980–89; 2006–present)
• • Stuart Kershaw – drums (1993; 2015–present); piano (2010)

Videos

"Messages" is a song by English synth-pop band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) from their self-titled debut studio album (1980).

Messages

"Enola Gay" is an anti-war song by the British synth-pop band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), taken from their 1980 album.

Enola Gay

"Souvenir" is a song written by Paul Humphreys and Martin Cooper of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).

Souvenir

"Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).

Maid Of Orleans

"Locomotion" is by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released as the first single from their 1984 album.

Locomotion

"(Forever) Live and Die" is a 1986 song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).

(Forever) Live And Die