In case you did not know, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are an English electronic band that have been around for more than four decades.
There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about this band, but today my aim is to change that.
Here are 21 Interesting Facts you might not have known about Orchestral Manoevres In The Dark (OMD)
1. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) was formed in 1978 in the Wirral, Merseyside, North West England.
2. The current members of the band are Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper and Stuart Kershaw.
3. Malcolm Holmes, Dave Hughes, Nigel Ipinson, Michael Douglas, Graham Weir, Neil Weir, Phil Coxon and Abe Jukes are all former members of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.
4. Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys first met during primary school in Meols in the early 1960s. By the mid-1970s, they were both involved in local bands but shared a dislike for the prevalent guitar-driven rock culture. In 1975, McCluskey joined Equinox as bassist and lead vocalist, with Humphreys as a roadie.
It was during this time that they discovered their electronic style influenced by Kraftwerk. After Equinox, McCluskey joined Pegasus, and both he and Humphreys briefly collaborated in Hitlerz Underpantz, with McCluskey on vocals and bass, and Humphreys on keyboards, reflecting their shared interest in electronic music.
5. In September 1977, Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys formed the seven-member band The Id, featuring drummer Malcolm Holmes and vocalist Julia Kneale. The band gained popularity in the Merseyside area, performing original songs primarily written by McCluskey and Humphreys.
They even had one of their tracks, “Julia’s Song,” included in a local bands compilation album titled “Street to Street – A Liverpool Album” in 1979. Meanwhile, McCluskey and Humphreys worked on a side project named VCL XI, inspired by Kraftwerk‘s Radio-Activity album.
However, in August 1978, The Id disbanded due to creative differences. McCluskey briefly joined Dalek I Love You as lead vocalist but left in September. Shortly after, he reunited with Humphreys, and their VCL XI project evolved into Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).
6. OMD‘s name was derived from a compilation of song lyrics and concepts that adorned McCluskey’s bedroom wall. It was chosen so they would not be mistaken for a punk band. Given that the band only intended to play one gig, the duo considered their moniker to be inconsequential. McCluskey has since expressed regret over choosing “such a very silly name”.
7. Operating on a tight budget, OMD utilized inexpensive, second-hand instruments procured from “junk shops,” including a left-handed bass guitar that McCluskey played upside-down.
Additionally, they crafted their own equipment, with Humphreys repurposing circuit boards from his aunt’s radios. Over time, they managed to acquire a basic Korg M-500 Micro Preset synthesizer, which they purchased through McCluskey’s mother’s mail-order catalog. The cost of £7.76 per week was spread over 36 weeks.
8. The band’s debut performance was in October 1978 at Eric’s Club in Liverpool.
9. “Electricity,” (released in 1979) was OMD‘s debut single. It was later included in their self-titled debut album. Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys share lead vocals on this track. Regarded as a seminal piece in the synth-pop movement of the UK,
“Electricity” has earned widespread acclaim from critics and musicians alike. Originally conceived during their time with The Id, the song features a prominent synthesizer break instead of a traditional chorus. Despite initially modest chart success, subsequent re-releases on Dindisc brought it renewed attention, particularly in nightclubs. In 2019, a reissue through Virgin EMI reached the top spot on the UK Vinyl Singles Chart.
10. “Enola Gay” is an anti-war track by OMD. It was featured as the sole single from their second album, Organisation (which was released in 1980). The song addresses the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the aircraft Enola Gay during World War II.
Despite initial doubts about its chart potential and resistance due to perceived associations with the gay community, “Enola Gay” climbed to No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart, marking the band’s first top 10 hit. It also attained success across Europe, reaching the top spot in Italy, Portugal, and Spain. With over 5 million copies sold, it has garnered acclaim as one of the finest songs of its era and genre.
11. “Joan Of Arc (Maid of Orleans)” was released in 1982 as the third single from their album Architecture & Morality. It’s a tribute to Joan of Arc, the French heroine.
The song, retitled to avoid confusion with their previous single, “Joan of Arc,” became highly successful internationally, reaching the top of charts in several countries, including Germany, where it was the best-selling single of 1982 – it sold over four million copies worldwide.
12. OMD‘s song “If You Leave” was recorded for the soundtrack of the film Pretty in Pink and is prominently featured during the final scene of the movie. The song achieved its highest chart position on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 4 in May 1986, making it the group’s most successful single in the United States.
It also reached the Top 5 in Canada and New Zealand, and secured the 15th position on the Australian charts. Regarded as a quintessential track of the 1980s, Interview magazine hailed it as “one of the most influential, zeitgeist-capturing songs ever written.”
13. “(Forever) Live and Die” served as the debut single from OMD’s seventh studio album, The Pacific Age, featuring lead vocals by Paul Humphreys. It achieved a peak position of No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart. Additionally, it entered the top 10 in Canada and various European regions, while securing a top 20 placement in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
14. “Sailing on the Seven Seas” debuted on 18 March 1991 as the lead single from OMD‘s eighth studio album, Sugar Tax. It stands alongside “Souvenir” from 1981 as the band’s highest-charting UK hit, reaching number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.
Additionally, it achieved notable positions, reaching number 3 in Austria and Sweden, number 5 in Ireland, and number 9 in Germany. This release marked OMD‘s first single without co-founder Paul Humphreys, who had departed to pursue his own project, The Listening Pool.
The song draws inspiration from various rock groups, with a direct reference to The Velvet Underground‘s “Sister Ray” (OMD had previously covered “I’m Waiting for the Man” as a B-side to their 1980 single “Messages”). Furthermore, the lyric “people try to drag us down” bears resemblance in melody and content to the opening line of The Who‘s “My Generation”. Singer Andy McCluskey also acknowledged the inclusion of “Glitter Band-style” drumming in the track.
15. “Walking on the Milky Way” made its single debut on 5 August 1996 and was subsequently featured on their Universal album a month later. The track achieved a position of number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, marking the group’s first appearance in the UK top 20 in over five years.
In a November 2001 interview with The Guardian, Andy McCluskey expressed frustration over the track, a song he believed to be one of his best compositions. Despite his efforts, BBC Radio 1’s refusal to play it due to it being perceived as not trendy led to Woolworths not stocking it.
This resulted in the song struggling to reach number 17 on the UK charts. McCluskey’s disappointment ultimately led him to leave OMD and focus on writing songs for the Liverpool girl group Atomic Kitten, alongside former OMD member Stuart Kershaw.
16. In 2006, OMD reformed with McCluskey and Humphreys revisiting the more experimental territory of their early work.
17. History of Modern marked OMD‘s comeback. The album was released on September 20, 2010, by 100% Records. It was their first album in 14 years and the first to reunite the classic four-piece lineup since 1986’s The Pacific Age.
The album was recorded remotely, with band members collaborating on tracks via the Internet. Garnering generally favorable reviews, it peaked at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart. Notably, it achieved significant success in Germany, reaching number 5, their highest-charting album in that country. In the US, it was released on Bright Antenna on September 28, 2010.
18. For their 2013 album English Electric, OMD co-founders Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys opted to write and record together in person, aiming to recapture their artistic synergy from earlier years. The album drew significant inspiration from McCluskey’s then-recent divorce.
Receiving positive reviews, English Electric was praised for harkening back to the band’s early-to-mid 1980s work, particularly the experimental album Dazzle Ships (which was released in 1983).
The album reached number 12 on the UK Albums Chart and topped the UK Independent Albums Chart. Similar to History of Modern, it achieved Top 10 status in Germany, peaking at number 10. Additionally, it secured the 8th position on the Dance/Electronic Albums Billboard chart in the United States.

19. OMD‘s 2017 album, The Punishment of Luxury, delves into themes of consumerism and First World issues. Garnering favorable reviews, it was hailed as one of the best and most underrated albums of 2017.
Debuting at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart, it marked the band’s return to the top 10 in their home country since 1991’s Sugar Tax.
Additionally, it topped the UK Independent Albums Chart. The album also achieved top 10 positions on various European charts and made its mark on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Albums and Independent Albums charts in the United States.
20. OMD’s Bauhaus Staircase album was released on October 27, 2023, through White Noise Records (and by 100% Records in the UK and Ireland). The album draws significant inspiration from global politics during the late 2010s and early 2020s. Prior to its release, three singles were unveiled: the title track, “Slow Train,” and “Veruschka.”
21. To date the band have released 14 studio 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), History of Modern (2010), English Electric (2013)
The Punishment of Luxury (2017) and Bauhaus Staircase (2023).
Well, there you have it, 21 Interesting Facts you might not know about Orchestral Manoevres In The Dark (OMD). If I’ve left out something important, feel free to comment below.
If you live in South Africa, feel free to check out OMD in concert in April 2024!
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