Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Origin	The Wirral, England
Country	United Kingdom
Years active	1979–1996 2006- present
Genres	Synth Pop
Labels	Virgin
Members	Andy McCluskey Paul Humphreys Malcolm Holmes Martin Cooper

Early history

As teenagers, Humphreys and McCluskey were involved in several unsigned Wirral bands, including Equinox, Pegasus, and the short-lived Hitlerz Underpantz. McCluskey would usually sing and play bass guitar, whilst electronics enthusiast Humphreys initially began as a roadie, graduating to keyboards. The pair shared a love of electronic music, particularly Brian Eno and Kraftwerk.

Classic line-up

Classic line-up split

After a compilation album released successfully in 1988, OMD broke in two. Humphreys, Cooper, and Holmes left to form The Listening Pool, while McCluskey recruited Liverpool musicians Lloyd Massett and Stuart Kershaw and continued under the OMD moniker. Initially successful with hits like "Sailing on the Seven Seas" and "Pandora's Box" from their critically acclaimed Sugar Tax LP in 1991, the new line up would release three albums before splitting up in 1996, due to lack of public interest.

Later projects

With McCluskey focusing his talents elsewhere, Humphreys decided to play many revival shows using the OMD banner, whilst also recording with Claudia Brücken, of the ZTT bands Propaganda and Act, as onetwo.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album UK US 1980 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 27 - 1980 Organisation 6 - 1981 Architecture & Morality 3 144 1983 Dazzle Ships 5 162 1984 Junk Culture 9 182 1985 Crush 13 38 1986 The Pacific Age 15 47 1991 Sugar Tax 3 - 1993 Liberator 14 169 1995 Universal 24 -

Compilation Albums

Year Album UK US 1988 The Best of OMD 2 46 1998 The OMD Singles 16 - 2000 The Peel Sessions (compilation of tracks recorded for the John Peel show on BBC Radio 1) - - 2001 Navigation - The OMD B-Sides - -

Singles

Year Song UK singles U.S. Hot 100 U.S. Dance U.S. Modern Rock Album 1979 "Electricity" 99 - - - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 1980 "Red Frame/White Light" 67 - 67 - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 1980 "Messages" 13 - 67 - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 1980 "Enola Gay" 8 - 34 - Organisation 1981 "Souvenir" 3 - - - Architecture & Morality 1981 "Joan of Arc" 5 - - - Architecture & Morality 1982 "Maid of Orleans" 4 - - - Architecture & Morality 1983 "Genetic Engineering" 20 - - - Dazzle Ships 1983 "Telegraph" 42 - - - Dazzle Ships 1984 "Locomotion" 5 - 61 - Junk Culture 1984 "Talking Loud and Clear" 11 - - - Junk Culture 1984 "Tesla Girls" 21 - - - Junk Culture 1984 "Never Turn Away" 70 - - - Junk Culture 1985 "So in Love" 27 26 16 - Crush 1985 "Secret" 34 63 - - Crush 1985 "La Femme Accident" 42 - - - Crush 1986 "If You Leave" 48 4 - - Pretty in Pink soundtrack 1986 "(Forever) Live and Die" 11 19 - - The Pacific Age 1986 "We Love You" 54 - - - The Pacific Age 1987 "Shame" 52 - - - The Pacific Age 1988 "Dreaming" 50 16 6 - The Best of OMD 1988 "Brides of Frankenstein" - - 7 - The Best of OMD 1991 "Sailing on the Seven Seas" 3 - 9 - Sugar Tax 1991 "Pandora's Box (It's a Long, Long Way)" 7 - 11 19 Sugar Tax 1991 "Then You Turn Away" 50 - - - Sugar Tax 1991 "Call My Name" 50 - - - Sugar Tax 1993 "Stand Above Me" 21 - 6 - Liberator 1993 "Dream of Me (Based on Love's Theme)" 24 - - - Liberator 1993 "Everyday" 59 - - - Liberator 1996 "Walking on the Milky Way" 17 - - - Universal 1996 "Universal" 55 - - - Universal 1998 The OMD Remixes (EP) 35 - - - Universal

Video Releases

• Live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane - 1982 (laserdisc & VHS) (laserdisc released only in Japan)
• Crush the Movie - 1985 (laserdisc & VHS) (laserdisc released only in Japan)
• The Best of OMD - 1988 (VHS)

In Print

• There were several fanzines about the band, including Winston and Telegraph, that were active during the post-split period. An official magazine called Messages is still running.

• The book Messages, written by Johnny Waller and Paul Humphreys' brother Mike Humphreys, details the career of the band up to the time of The Best of OMD.

Find out more about Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark on Wikipedia