Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

  • Merseyside, England
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  • 1978
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About Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark


Featuring the core members Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey, the Liverpudlian synth pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark formed in the late '70s. Humphreys and McCluskey began performing together in school, playing in the bands VCL XI, Hitlerz Underpantz, and the Id. After the Id split in 1978, McCluskey was with Dalek I Love You for a brief time. Once he left Dalek, he joined with Humphreys and Paul Collister to form Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. The group released its first single, "Electricity," on Factory Records; the record led to a contract with the Virgin subsidiary DinDisc. Using their record advance, McCluskey and Humphreys built a studio, which allowed them to replace their four-track, and recorded with drummer Malcolm Holmes (formerly of the Id) and Dave Hughes (formerly of Dalek I Love You).

In 1980, the group released its self-titled debut album. Organisation appeared the same year, which featured the U.K. Top Ten single "Enola Gay"; Hughes was replaced by Martin Cooper after its release. The band's next few albums -- Architecture & Morality (1981), Dazzle Ships (1983), and Junk Culture (1984) -- found the band experimenting with its sound, resulting in several U.K. hit singles. Recorded with two new members, Graham and Neil Weir, Crush, their most pop-oriented album, found more success in America than in Britain as the single "So in Love" hit number 26 on the charts. "If You Leave," taken from the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, was their biggest American hit, climbing to number four in 1986. The Pacific Age was released the same year, yet America was the only country where it was popular. Shortly after its release, the Weir brothers left the band, followed by Holmes, Cooper, and Humphreys. McCluskey continued with the band, releasing Sugar Tax in 1991; in the meantime, Humphreys formed the Listening Pool.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark returned with Liberator in 1993. It was followed three years later with Universal, which saw Humphreys return for some co-writing credits. By the late '90s, McCluskey had moved into artist management, while Humphreys revived the OMD name for occasional shows.

A full-blown reunion came in 2006, including both McCluskey and Humphreys plus Holmes and Cooper. Initially, OMD toured around a full-album performance of Architecture & Morality, and released one of their performances as Live: Architecture & Morality and More. Finally, in 2010, the new album History of Modern appeared on the 100% label. The album English Electric followed in 2013, with a guest appearance from Propaganda's lead vocalist, Claudia Brücken. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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Music

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  • If You Leave
    orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark
    Video
    If You Leave
  • Genetic Engineering
    orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark
    Video
    Genetic Engineering
  • Souvenir
    orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark
    Video
    Souvenir
  • Maid Of Orleans
    orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark
    Video
    Maid Of Orleans
  • 69241
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    • So In Love
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/5/6/6/8/0/687708665.mp3
    • If You Leave
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/8/4/6/8/0/687708648.mp3
    • The Right Side?
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/4/1/0/3/255630143.mp3
    • Stay With Me
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/9/2/9/4/984849296.mp3
    • Helen of Troy
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/2/0/5/9/4/984849502.mp3
    • If You Leave
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/7/1/0/8/5/248758017.mp3

Photos

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  • Humphreys, Paul/McCluskey, Andy
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    Humphreys, Paul/McCluskey, Andy
    Andy Phillips

News

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  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    OMD Return With Aretha Franklin Mashup And New Album ‘History Of Modern’
    idolator.com
    The return of UK band OMD—aka Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark—just might be one of the best bits of news we've heard in Music Land in months! Sure, ...
    Read More
  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    New Release: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: History of Modern
    www.pitchfork.com
    Artist: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Album: History of Modern Release Date: October 4 Label: 100% Records Tracklist: 01 New Babies: New Toys 02 I...
    Read More
  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    Listen Up: The XX Covered by Gorillaz, Shakira, OMD and More
    www.rollingstone.com
    Late last week, Gorillaz (watch above) joined a list of artists who have covered songs from the xx's 2009 debut that includes Shakira, Taylor Momsen, ...
    Read More
  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark cover the xx
    www.pitchfork.com
    Photo by O-Ten Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: "VCR" (the xx Cover): Long-running synth-pop duo Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark just recently rel...
    Read More
  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    OMD Looks to 'Challenge' Itself On Next Album | Billboard.com
    www.billboard.com
    get ourselves back in this position. I think we thought it was all over; times had moved on, and so had we. I think we are pleasantly surprised to fin...
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  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Announce New Album and Tour, Share Video for "Atomic Ranch"
    pitchfork.com
    In 2010, long-running synth-pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, best known for 80s hits like "If You Leave" and "Enola Gay", released their c...
    Read More
  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    OMD Still Innovating on 12th Album
    www.rollingstone.com
    Andy McCluskey of OMD performs in Berlin. Jakubaszek/Getty Images On Tuesday, British synth-pop legends Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are releasin...
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  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    OMD Still Innovating on 12th Album
    music.yahoo.com
    Related ContentView Photo OMD Still Innovating on 12th Album On Tuesday, British synth-pop legends Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are releasing, En...
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  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    OMD, Diamond Rings @ Wonder Ballroom, Portland (Pics) (Videos) | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet Photo & Video Gallery of OMD, Diamond Rings at Wonder Ballroom, Portland (April 07, 2013) http://omd.firebrandstore.com/ http://www.diamondring...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • Jul 11 Thursday
    Toronto, ON, Canada Danforth Music Hall
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 12 Friday
    Philadelphia, PA, US Union Transfer
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  • Jul 17 Wednesday
    New York, NY, US Terminal 5
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  • Jul 19 Friday
    Toronto, ON, Canada Danforth Music Hall
    Buy Ticket

Discography

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  • English Electric (2013)
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    English Electric (2013)
    Relativity
  • Live in Berlin (2011)
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    Live in Berlin (2011)
    Blue Noise
  • History of Modern (2010)
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    History of Modern (2010)
    Bright Antenna
  • Live: Architecture & Morality and More (2008)
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    Live: Architecture & Morality and More (2008)
    Eagle Records
  • Universal (1996)
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    Universal (1996)
    EMI Music Distribution
  • Liberator (1993)
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    Liberator (1993)
    Virgin
  • Sugar Tax (1991)
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    Sugar Tax (1991)
    Virgin
  • The Pacific Age (1986)
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    The Pacific Age (1986)
    A&M Records
  • Crush (1985)
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    Crush (1985)
    A&M Records
  • Junk Culture (1984)
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    Junk Culture (1984)
    A&M Records
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