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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

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Musicians

The Resume

    (1978- )
    Formed in Liverpool, England
    Originally as VCLXI (taken from Kraftwerk's 'Radioactivity' album)
    Commonly referred to as OMD
    Andy McCluskey (June 24, 1959- ) vocals, bass, synthesizers
    Paul Humphreys (February 27, 1960- ) synthesizers
    Recorded 'Electricity,' 'Messages,' 'Enola Gay,' 'Souvenir,' 'Joan of Arc,' 'Maid of Orleans,' 'Telegraph,' 'Tesla Girls,' 'Locomotion,' 'Talking Loud and Clear,' 'So in Love,' 'Secret,' 'If You Leave,' 'Forever Live and Die,' 'Dreaming,' 'Genetic Engineering,' 'We Love You,' 'La Femme Accident,' 'Sailing on the Seven Seas,' 'Pandora's Box,' 'Stand Above Me' and 'Walking on the Milky Way'

Why they might be annoying:

    Humphreys began as McCluskey's roadie.
    Some of the band monikers they used while in school were Pegasus, Equinox, Hitlerz Underpantz and The Id.
    The name Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark came from a song they never recorded but decided to rename themselves after.
    They have gone through several different band members with McCluskey and Humphreys the only constants.
    In 1989, Humphreys quit to form a new band, The Listening Pool (which disbanded in 1996). McCluskey retained use of the OMD name.

Why they might not be annoying:

    They have 11 Top 40 albums and 17 Top 40 singles in the U.K., including 6 Top 10 singles.
    Director John Hughes hired them to write and record 'If You Leave' specifically for his 'Pretty In Pink (1986)' movie.
    They originally recorded 'Goddess Of Love,' but Hughes changed the plot of the film and they found it necessary to write a new song.
    'If You Leave' became their biggest U.S. hit, reaching #4 on the Billboard charts.
    McCluskey founded girl pop group Atomic Kitten and co-wrote some songs for them, including the #1 single 'Whole Again (2001).'
    The ingrate band showed their appreciation in 2002 by suing to end their songwriting/production agreement with him.
    Humphreys rejoined McCluskey in 2005 to record new material together and tour again.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 69 Votes: 68.12% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 9 Votes: 22.22% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 17 Votes: 5.88% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 95 Votes: 53.68% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 72 Votes: 47.22% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 17 Votes: 29.41% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 13 Votes: 7.69% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 19 Votes: 26.32% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 69 Votes: 46.38% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 80 Votes: 43.75% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 49 Votes: 44.90% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 74 Votes: 47.30% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 39 Votes: 41.03% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 69 Votes: 37.68% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 52 Votes: 34.62% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 163 Votes: 49.69% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 598 Votes: 43.98% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 1120 Votes: 42.77% Annoying