“Souvenir” contains five CDs and two DVDs in a 10-inch box set, with a hardcover book, poster, and 10-inch prints. As 2019 arrived, the band officially celebrated 40 years as Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark with an anniversary tour, a deluxe box set, and a new greatest hits collection. There was also the departure of Malcolm Holmes, and Stuart Kershaw’s return – which forms the current line-up. The remainder of the ‘10s was filled with sold out shows, the release of the “The Punishment of Luxury” disc (“We remain very proud of ‘Punishment,’ said McCluskey), and the book, “Pretending to See the Future,” which combined the band members’ memories and fan-submitted stories. With Cooper and Holmes joining them, quartet began touring again in 2006 and released “History of Modern” followed by a return to their musical roots with “English Electric.” In a rite of passage for capturing the newest generation, OMD performed at Coachella in 2013 and honestly, seeing McCluskey dancing while playing guitar and having a blast during “Enola Gay” gives me life. Fortunately, the OMD founders made their way back together and rediscovered their desire to create new music. McCluskey retired the OMD name and began writing songs for Atomic Kitten and Genie Queen. The dance pop synth sound had been replaced by the arrival of grunge. Dance pop album “Sugar Tax” hit in 1991 which included somewhat succesful songs in “Pandora’s Box” and “Sailing ton the Seven Seas.” Next up were the albums “Liberator” and “Universal.” But, the unfortunate part of being a band so long is that the music doesn’t always stay with you. With Andy McCluskey as the only original member, OMD would still release music. Thankfully, no one tried to murder the other person or some other tragic situation they could not come back from. Such situations are never about one thing, and reasons given have been the ongoing debt to the record company, distribution of duties, boredom, different opinions on music, etc. Don’t tell me there’s a band break up like every other article you write!) Sadly, co-founder Paul Humphreys was done.
As part of the North American dates, OMD played at the closing concert which hosted 90,000 fans at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. (I must confess I played this to death! “Electricity,” “Enola Gay,” Tesla Girls,” “Locomotion,” “So In Love,” are all part of the soundtrack to my high school memories!) Riding the high of the best of compilation, and the popular new single “Dreaming,” OMD was involved in another piece of history: Depeche Mode’s “Music for the Masses” tour. With so many successful singles in their catalog, OMD released “The Best of OMD” in 1988. They landed gigs opening for Joy Division and then Gary Numan and went right to work on their 1980 self-titled debut album. With McCluskey on vocals and bass, and Paul Humphreys handling keyboards and additional vocals, the duo released their debut single “Electricity” in 1979. Childhood friends, co-founders Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys played together in various bands before they created OMD. With the shutdown, he has the time to create music worthy of the OMD name. A new album should “say what you want to say,” and not just be something to go on tour with. “I t can be difficult to find energy and desire to mine yourself to write new music.” While many bands do the cycle of new album, tour, new album, tour, OMD will only release music they believe in. But as summer arrived and being home got boring, McCluskey was “forced into creativity.” While they were on the road, he found it hard to write, “ The muse was not upon me,” he told me. Like many of us, they got to relax a bit and enjoy the spring weather. OMD played a staggering 75 shows just before the world shut down. Andy McCluskey was nice enough to chat with me about what he has been doing since he was “forced in boredom.” (Spoiler: new music is in our future!) The very foundation of synth-pop music, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), also hit the 40-year milestone! (I understand this can be hard to comprehend since 1990 was like, ten years ago, right?) Fortunately, the English band aged with maturity, yet kept the electric sound that made them stand out.Īfter spending two years touring and celebrating the 40th anniversary of their inception, OMD had to stop when the pandemic hit. If you are still in shock by my last article about The Cure celebrating 40 years as a band… sit down. OMD Looks Forward and Back A Conversation with Andy McCluskey Augby Traci Turner