The year 1980 marked a fascinating intersection, straddling the influences of the 1970s while gradually embracing the emerging trends of the new decade. Chart-toppers like Blondie, Abba, The Police, and The Jam continued to dominate the music scene. Notable achievements included David Bowie securing his second number one hit, and Kate Bush becoming the first British female artist to claim a No.1 album.
However, amidst the musical successes, 1980 also witnessed tragic losses that left an indelible mark on the industry. Ian Curtis of Joy Division tragically took his own life just before the band's scheduled US Tour, while John Lennon, an iconic figure in music, was shot dead outside his New York City apartment. These losses left families and legions of fans grieving.
The year concluded with John Lennon's posthumous release, "{Just Like) Starting Over," topping the UK charts, serving as both a poignant farewell and a herald of the new decade.
OMD have launched a new official website. The site features the lastest album announcements and blog postings from Andy and Paul. It is also officialy confirmed that their album 'History of Modern' will be released on September 20, 2010. with the following track listing.
1.New Babies: New Toys
2. If You Want It
3.History Of Modern (part I)
4. History Of Modern (part II)
5. Sometimes
6. RFWK
7. New Holy Ground
Side Two
8. The Future, The Past, and Forever After
9. Sister Mary Says
10. Pulse
11. The Night
12. Bondage Of Fate
13. The Right Side?
Check out the website for more updates and announcements and the limited edition box set.
OMD have announced the new tour this autumn. 'The History of Modern' tour will feature the original line up of Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes.
The guys are in the studio putting the finishing touches to the new album this week, the appropriately entitled ’History Of Modern’. Andy McCluskey has called it ‘their best album since 'Architecture and Morality’.
Check out thir official site for ticket info and tour dates.
Mirrors are the sharp-dressed Brighton quartet which supported Delphic at London's The Garage during the NME Radar show. Their music reminds of early 80's synth-pop electronica. You might notice some OMD reference. The simply like to call what they do, 'pop noir'.
Simple Minds together with OMD cover the Kraftwerk classic "Neon Lights". This is from their live performance at the Heiniken Music Hall in Amsterdam, performed on November 26, 2009..
OMD has announced the first track from their upcoming album 'The History Of Modern' which will be released in 2010. Their demo single "Sister Marie Says" has classic OMD sound and shows the hooks and choral samples that have established the band as one of the UK's premier acts. Visit this site to download the song.
Simple Minds and OMD will appear on stage together for the very first time when they perform Kraftwerk's "Neon Lights" on their forthcoming UK tour which kicks off at the Newcastle Metro Arena on 30th November.
The news follows OMD's recent appearance in the BBC 4 television documentary 'Synth Britannia' that chronicled the rise of electronic and industrial pop music in the mid 70s and early 80s. "Neon Lights," originally released on Kraftwerk's 1978 album "The Man Machine," will be performed together by OMD and Simple Minds during Simple Minds' set on every date of their UK tour. Both bands have previously performed Neon Lights in their own right.
Propaganda was a German New Wave group from Düsseldorf which was formed in 1982. During 1984 and 1985 they released three singles and one album. Beside Kraftwerk, Aplhaville and Nena they are one of the few German New Wave groups that have gained commercial success outside Germany.
Propaganda was formed in Düsseldorf in the early 80’s by a former Krupps member Ralf Dörper. He decided to go on with new musical ventures and left his group. Ralf’s new project also involved new musical partners, Andreas Thein, a part- time DJ and their mutual friend Suzanne Freytag who was recruited as a vocalist. Propaganda was born and as a trio they began recording music. Their first musical venture was the cover of a song “Disziplin” which was originally performed by Throbbing Gristle which also gave them a TV airing. “Disciplin”, tough was never released as a single because Gristle refused to allow it.
Following the whole “Disziplin” project the band took new members, musician and composer Michael Mertnes and 19 year old vocalist Claudia Brücken. The band moved to UK and it was signed to ZTT records label. The new Propaganda line up was marketed as a twisted hellish version of Abba leaving Mertens in the background as the invisible fifth member. "Dr.Mabuse" was released in 1984 and short time after Thein left the group not satisfied with the record company which delayed the release of the Propaganda material.
1985 saw the release of Propaganda’s most successful single “Duel” which reached no 21 in the UK charts as well as the release of their debut album “A Secret Wish”. After their second appearance on ‘The Tube’ things went quiet for Propaganda, Claudia Brücken left the group in 1986 and the remaining members of the group took ZTT to court to release them from their contract.
In 1988 a new Propaganda line up gathered and began recording new material. Alongside Michael Mertens were the new line-up vocalist Betsi Miller, bassist Derek Forbes and drummer Brian McGee. The result was a new contract with Virgin and a new album release. The album ‘1234’was released in 1990 as well as the single “Heaven Give Me Words” which actually sounded more like Wilson Phillips than the old Propaganda material. It did not get much airplay either.
The original line-up of Propaganda met once more in 1998 with a new deal to record a new album which was never released until some songs from the album leaked via file sharing networks. In 2005 Mertens and Freytag resurrected the name Propaganda again while Claudia Brücken teamed up with Paul Humphreys of OMD for the Onetwo musical project.
Dalek I Love You is a band from Liverpool which was formed in the late 70’s. Originally the band appeared under a name Radio Blank… and was fronted by Adam Gill. Later they changed their name into Dalek I Love You which came about as a result of a compromise between two of the members: Balfe wanted to call the band Dalek (after the Doctor Who villains) and Gill wanted to call the band Darling, I Love You. They released three albums and several singles in the first half of the 80’s.
The original lineup of Dalek I Love You included: Alan Gill (vocals, guitar), Keith Hartley (vocals, guitar), Kenny Peers (drums), Dave Hughes (keyboards), Martin Cooper, Chris Hughes (record producer) aka Merrick and for a very brief time, Andy McCluskey. McCluskey only stayed with the group one month, realizing he could not be happy in a band as singer alone. By the time they were releasing their debut album ‘Compass Kumpass’ they were pared down to Alan Gill and Dave Hughes, while other members were involved in other musical projects. Before the first album release through Phonogram the name of the band got shortened into Dalek I without telling it to the band members so they emerged as Dalek I. The band released three singles form their debut album including the debut single “Freedom Fighters” This is how New Musical Express described the music of Dalek I.
“A prime example of living-room music construction, it features catchy, interlinking little riffs over a plodding beat formed by combining elements of both drums and drum-machines and Gill's calmly urgent vocals. Ingeniously simple but infuriatingly infectious -- rather like an adult Human League on speed -- "Freedom Fighters" is one of the year's best singles so far, and from what I heard of their other material, there's plenty more where that came from.” New Musical Express
After the first album was released the only remaining member Alan Gill joined the group Teardrop Explodes. He co-wrote some songs on the album and even appeared together with the band in the US and UK. Dalek I Love You returned under the original name with a new lineup which also saw some old names including Gordon Hon and Keith Hartley. Together they recorded the second self-titled album. The album was released through Korova and was preceded by two singles “Ambition” and “Holiday in Disneyland”. The sound on the new album was different compared to the debut album. The songs were more upbeat with the funky bass groove. The cover by Geoff Halpin looks like a still from a fifties sci-fi flick (or maybe Dr. Who). The tinted photograph is of a woman, dress torn, reacting to a horrific presence. The lush colours and campy subject matter play off each other -much like they do in Dalek I Love You's music.
After the last single release “Horrorscope” Dalek I Love You split and the band members went different ways. Alan Gill contributed two tracks to the soundtrack of Letter to Brezhnev (1985). This film, directed by Chris Bernard, was set in Liverpool and starred Margi Clarke. In 1985 ‘Naïve’ was released the third album on his own Bopadub label. This record was released on a tape only and it is considered extremely rare. The songs from the album Naive are avilable on http://www.dalekiloveyou.com/.The other two records were reissued ‘Compass Kumpas’ in 1989 and ‘Dalek I Love You’ in 2007.
One of my favorite New wave bands is turning 30 this year. Back in 1978, they had their debut performance at Eric's club in Liverpool. Since then they have had numerous hits at both sides of Atlantic, they were innovative, futuristic, experimental, they have been formed and reformed and in October they celebrate their 30th anniversary. These are the most significant moments and facts in the OMD's musical history.
1. Liverpool
In 2001 the Guinness Book of Records declared Liverpool 'City of Pop' due to the many number one records to have emerged from the city. The most famous band to have come from Liverpool is The Beatles, who played many of their early gigs at the Cavern Club. During the late 70's and early 80's many great bands emerged including OMD who were formed in the second half of the 70's out of the ashes of few local bands who used to experiment with electronic and guitar driven music.
2. German Electronics
The founders of the group Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys both shared their love for early electronic music produced by Kraftwerk and Neu!. These two bands made a great impact on their early records. Even their side project was named after a valve from the diagram on the back cover of Kraftwerk's Radio- Activity album.
3. Eric's Club
Eric's club was a music club in Liverpool which opened in 1976 in a building basement on Mathew Street. It became notable for hosting early performances by many punk and post-punk bands including Elvis Costello, Buzzcocks, The Clash, Joy Division, Ramones, Sex Pistols, Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Slits, The Stranglers, Ultravox, Wire, XTC and many other contemporary acts of that time. OMD had their debut performance in this club in October 1978.
4. "Enola Gay"
"Enola Gay" was one of the best selling singles released by OMD in the European countries. It reached number one in France, Portugal and Spain. The song appeared on OMD's second album 'Organisation' which was released for Virgin in 1980. The song also caused some contraversary as it was named after a plane which dropped the first atomic bomb in an act of War on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 to bring an end to the Second World War.The song was also released during a major controversy surrounding then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's decision to allow US nuclear missiles to be stationed in Britain.
5. Artwork
The key figure of the artwork design of OMD's record sleeves was Peter Saville. The legendary cover of the New Order single "Blue Monday" (1983) and for example, the sleeve of the Joy Division album 'Unknown Pleasures' (1979) were to bring the Manchester graphic designer worldwide renown. Using a reduced, Modernist style Peter Saville has made key innovations in the field of visual communications, and in recent times he has had a profound effect on the interplay between art, design and advertising. He created the visual design for all OMD's record releases.
6. The Architecture of Sound
In 1981 OMD released their third album entitled 'Architecture and Morality'. It's considered as the group's landmark album which sold over 3 million copies and reached No.3 in the UK and No.1 in Belgium and Holland. The album is gloomy, synth-driven and it struggles with new techniques in sound. Two of OMD's best selling singles were taken from the album including their most successful single in the UK "Souvenir", the first song to feature Paul Humphreys on vocals, as well as "Maid of Orleans" which was their biggest hit in Germany.
The album was reissued last year in May(2007) and it includes a remastered CD and DVD.
7. OMD's Musique Concrete
1983 saw the release of OMD's fourth album 'Dazzle Ships' whose title and cover art alluded to a painting by vorticist artist Edward Wadsworth based on dazzle camouflage. Dazzle Ships was OMD's musical experiment which took them to a whole new level of musical creation. The album contains sound collages, shortwave radio recordings, the sound effects of ships and submarines, speaking clocks and eastern bloc themes. "Genetic Engineering" and "Telegraph" are the only songs that were released as singles.
The album was reissued on 3rd March 2008. The new release featured remastered tracks, bonus tracks and sleeve notes along with new sleeve art which recreates the original 1983 vinyl sleeve.
8. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Pink
In 1984 OMD released their fifth album 'Junk Culture' which marked their return to a poppier sound. They adopted of a classic verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure again and their songs were returning to the charts in UK and they had their first hits in America. The single "So In Love" entered the American Top 40 establishing the group success in the US. In 1985 the band wrote the song "If You Leave" for the John Hughes movie 'Pretty in Pink'. The song was featured on the soundtrack and was a major hit, notably in the US and Canada where it reached the Top 5.
During 1988 the band appeared poised to consolidate their US success. But despite a support slot at Pasadena Rose Bowl with Depeche Mode, a top 20 US hit with "Dreaming" and a successful "Best of" album, OMD split.
9.The New 90's Line Up
While Humphreys, Cooper, and Holmes left OMD to form The Listening Pool, McCluskey recruited Liverpool musicians Lloyd Massett and Stuart Kershaw and continued under the OMD moniker. Initially successful with hits like "Sailing on the Seven Seas" and "Pandora's Box" from their critically acclaimed 'Sugar Tax' LP in 1991, the new line up would release Liberator (1993), Universal (1996), before splitting up in 1996, due to lack of public interest. After the definite split in 1996 the band members were involved in different music projects including songwriting, management and recording with other bands.
10. Reformation
On January 1 2006, Andy McCluskey announced plans to reform OMD with the McCluskey, Humphreys, Holmes and Cooper line up. The original plan was to tour the album 'Architecture & Morality' and other pre-1983 material, then record a new album.
The band released the remastered 'Architecture and Morality' CD with a DVD featuring the Drury Lane concert from 1981 that had previously been available on VHS and 'Dazzle Ships' album's 25th anniversary was celebrated.
The original line up is currently on tour celebrating 30 years of Orchestral Manoevrues in The Dark.
Any OMD activity always brings good news. This is the photo from their recent rehearsals which was published on the official OMD Myspace. You can also find more interesting items and info on their excellent Myspace page. They will also be going on tour this fall.
Great news for OMD fans. Their album 'Dazzle Ships' album from 1983 is scheduled to be reissued on 3rd March 2008. The new release will feature remastered tracks, bonus tracks and sleeve notes along with new sleeve art which recreates the original 1983 vinyl sleeve.
Innes Marlow has supplied images for the OMD’s current tour. The stunning architectural images are used for the opening number on the Architecture And Morality tour.
"I love their music, the band loves the photos, so it made sense bringing the two elements together, and while OMD got to do the hard work on stage, I was able to sit back and enjoy being part of a fantastic project" IM
The main photography featured in the OMD tour programme and in the show was shot by Innes at Marchwood, Redbridge, Segensworth, and in Fareham. The backdrop to the opening number, the title track from Architecture and Morality, featured all these images, and also included a shot of the Tyne Bridge, and a staircase on Solent Business Park.
The concept was edited together by the visual director Hambi Haralambous for Tallboy Films working with Andy McCluskey from OMD on selecting the images.
