Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (often abbreviated to OMD) are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England. OMD record for Virgin Records (originally for Virgin's DinDisc subsidiary).
The group was founded by Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, and they formed the core of the outfit until 1989, when the group split. McCluskey then retained the name and continued to record and tour as OMD with a new line-up. In late December 2005, OMD's official website announced a 2006 reformation, for both live performances and a new album, with rehearsals beginning in summer 2006. The tour began in 2007, featuring the classic line up of McCluskey, Humphreys, Holmes and Cooper. Spring 2008 saw a further tour announced for October that year. Founders Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys met at primary school, in West Kirby, Wirral, Merseyside, in the early 1960's, and in the mid-1970's, as teenagers, they were involved in different local groups. By mid 1970's, McCluskey formed Equinox, as bassist and vocalist, alongside schoolmate Malcolm Holmes on drums, while Humphreys was their roadie. During that time McCluskey and Humphreys discovered their electronic style playing influenced by Kraftwerk. After Equinox, McCluskey joined Pegasus, & later, the short-lived Hitlerz Underpantz, alongside Humphreys. 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.
Discography
Albums
* Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1980)
* Organisation (1980)
* Architecture & Morality (1981)
* Dazzle Ships (1983)
* Junk Culture (1984)
* Crush (1985)
* The Pacific Age (1986)
* Sugar Tax (1991)
* Liberator (1993)
* Universal (1996)
Print
* There were several fanzines about the band, including Winston and the successful Telegraph, (which McCluskey was heavily involved in) that were active during the post-split period. Telegraph designed by Phillip Marsh and Paul Browne folded in 1994 after 5 issues. Marsh recently started to run the bands Myspace whilst Browne went on to run the bands website and an official magazine called Messages which is still running.
* The book Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, an unauthorised biography by Mike West, published in 1982.
* 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.
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