Andy McCluskey - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Original Band Member
George Andrew "Andy" McCluskey (born 24 June 1959
, Heswall, Wirral, England) is the lead singer, bass guitarist, and primary songwriter for the band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).
He met Paul Humphreys at Great Meols Primary School, in Elwyn Road, and played with him in several bands, including Hitlerz Underpantz, VCL XI and The Id. McCluskey then attended Calday Grange Grammar School in West Kirby. McCluskey briefly joined Dalek I Love You as their lead singer, but left because he wanted to sing his own songs. McCluskey teamed up with Humphreys again to form OMD in the late 1970s. They were successful, especially in their native United Kingdom where they had several hit singles. They are best known in the United States for their song "If You Leave" from the Pretty in Pink soundtrack album.
Humphreys and the rest of the band split with McCluskey in 1989, with McCluskey retaining the OMD name. He released three more albums under the band's moniker including their biggest selling album, Sugar Tax (1991). Due to the diminishing sales of the following two albums Liberator (1993) and Universal (1996) he disbanded the group.
Atomic Kitten and The Genie Queen
In 1998, McCluskey founded the UK pop group Atomic Kitten. Their song "Whole Again", co-written by McCluskey, was his first UK No.1, and he and his fellow songwriters were nominated for the Ivor Novello Award for excellence in songwriting. In 2002, the band sued to terminate the songwriting/production agreement between themselves and McCluskey.
More recently, McCluskey formed White Noise Records and publishing label where he tried to recreate the formula of Atomic Kitten with Liverpool girl group, The Genie Queen. He also bought a recording studio, The Motor Museum, in Liverpool.
OMD Reformation
McCluskey and Humphreys reformed OMD for a performance on German TV in June 2005, with the promise of more gigs to follow. 2007 saw the first tour of the reformed OMD, including Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes, commemorating the twenty-sixth anniversary of the release of their masterpiece album Architecture & Morality. The album itself was remastered and re-released to coincide.
The band released a CD and DVD of their triumphant Hammersmith Apollo (London) live gig from the 2007 reunion tour in the spring of 2008 before undertaking a short tour to celebrate thirty years as a band in the autumn of 2008, concluding at London's historic Roundhouse venue on 7 October 2008. A compilation of their singles and videos, Messages: Greatest Hits, was released to coincide with the tour. On 20 September 2010 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark released their 11th studio album History of Modern, their first in 14 years.
Bass technique
McCluskey is right-handed, but originally learned to play bass guitar on a left-handed model. As a result, he plays with the strings "upside down" (i.e., with the lowest-pitched string on the bottom and the highest-pitched one on top), counter to normal practice.
above info from Wiki
Trivia
His favorite songs are "Thank You Girl" by The Beatles, "Telstar" by The Tornados, "Pyjamarama" by Roxy Music, "Atmosphere" by Joy Division, "Starman" by David Bowie, "Autobahn" by Kraftwerk, "Riot Van" by Arctic Monkeys, "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee" by Ms Dynamite, "Sunday Morning" by Velvet Underground & Nico and "Silver Machine" by Hawkwind. (Source: BBC Radio 2 "Tracks of My Years").
Personal Quotes
I wake up some nights and think 'Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark'? What a stupid name! Why did we pick that one?
above info from imdb
Credit
1980 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark [Bonus Tracks] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Bass, Arranger, Keyboards, Programming, Vocals, Electronic Percussion, Voice Bag
1980 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Bass, Arranger, Composer, Keyboards, Programming, Vocals, Electronic Percussion, Voice Bag
1980 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Bass, Arranger, Composer, Keyboards, Vocals, Electronic Percussion, Rhythm Programming, Group Member
1980 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Arranger, Keyboards, Programming, Vocals, Voices
1980 Organisation [Bonus Tracks] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Organ, Synthesizer, Percussion, Guitar (Bass), Programming, Vocals, Electronic Percussion, Treated Piano, Interviewee
1980 Organisation Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Organ, Synthesizer, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Composer, Guitar (Bass), Keyboards, Programming, VocalsElectronic Percussion, Treated Piano
1980 Organisation Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Organ, Synthesizer, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Guitar (Bass), Keyboards, Programming, VocalsElectronic Percussion, Treated Piano
1981 Architecture & Morality [Bonus Tracks/Bonus DVD] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Organ, Synthesizer, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Reeds, Programming, Vocals, Mellotron, Liner Notes, Electronic Percussion
1981 Architecture & Morality [Bonus Tracks] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Organ, Synthesizer, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Reeds, Programming, Vocals, Mellotron, Electronic Percussion
1981 Architecture & Morality Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Composer
1981 Architecture & Morality Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Organ, Synthesizer, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Keyboards, Programming, Vocals, Mellotron
1981 Architecture & Morality Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Organ, Synthesizer, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Reeds, Composer, Programming, Vocals, Mellotron, Electronic Percussion
1983 Dazzle Ships [Bonus Tracks] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Group Member
1983 Dazzle Ships Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Guitar, Composer, Keyboards, Vocals
1983 Dazzle Ships Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
1984 Junk Culture Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Synthesizer, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals, Multi Instruments, Emulator, Fairlight, Latin Percussion, Fairlight CMI
1985 Crush Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark Guitar, Guitar (Bass), Keyboards, Vocals, Group Member
1986 Pacific Age Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Guitar (Bass), Keyboards, Vocals
1986 Pretty in Pink Original Soundtrack Composer
1988 Best of OMD [UK Bonus Tracks] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
1988 Dreaming [UK #2] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
1988 In the Dark: The Best of OMD Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
1989 Cloudcuckooland The Lightning Seeds Keyboards
1989 Cloudcuckooland The Lightning Seeds Keyboards
1989 Merge Arthur Baker & the Backbeat Disciples Keyboards, Vocals
1991 Then You Turn Away Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Engineer
1992 Absolute Music, Vol. 13 Various Artists Composer
1992 London Weekend [Bonus Tracks] Another Sunny Day Composer
1993 Dream of Me (Based on Love's Theme) [#1] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer
1993 Dream of Me (Based on Love's Theme) [#2] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer
1993 Everyday Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer
1993 Liberator Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Programming, Producer
1994 Esperanto Elektric Music Vocals
1995 Loaded, Vol. 1 Various Artists Producer
1996 New Romantics [EMI 1996] Various Artists Composer
1996 Now, Vol. 34 [UK] Various Artists Composer, Producer
1996 Now, Vol. 34 [UK] Various Artists Producer
1996 This Is the 80's [Alex] Various Artists Composer
1996 Universal [Single w/ Heaven Is] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer
1996 Universal [Single w/ King of Stone] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer
1996 Universal Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer, Mixing
1996 Walking on the Milky Way [w/ Joan of Arc] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer
1996 Walking on the Milky Way [w/ Matthew Street] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer
1998 Club Hits '98-99 Various Artists Composer
1998 OMD Singles [Bonus Disc] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer
1998 OMD Singles Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer
1999 Esperanto Plus Elektric Music Vocals
1999 Now: 1980 [2 CD] Various Artists Composer
1999 Now: 1982 [2 CD] Various Artists Composer
1999 Now: 1984 [2 CD] Various Artists Composer
2000 Maybe Baby Original Soundtrack Composer
2000 Smash Hits 2000 Various Artists Composer
2001 I Love Ibiza [EMI] Various Artists Composer
2001 Messages: Modern Synthpop Artists Cover OMD Various Artists Band
2001 Modern Rock: Love Songs Various Artists Keyboards
2001 Navigation: The OMD B-Sides Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Bass, Composer, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer
2001 New Woman Various Artists Composer
2001 Not Another Teen Movie Original Soundtrack Composer
2001 Now Dance 2001, Vol. 2 Various Artists Composer
2001 Now, Vol. 48 [UK] Various Artists Composer
2001 Right Now [Japan Version 1] Atomic Kitten Keyboards, Programming
2001 Right Now Atomic Kitten Keyboards, Programming
2001 Smash Hits Summer 2001 Various Artists Composer
2002 Feels So Good [Canada] Atomic Kitten Keyboards, Programming, Producer
2002 Feels So Good [France] Atomic Kitten Keyboards, Programming, Producer
2002 Feels So Good [Japan Bonus CD] Atomic Kitten Keyboards, Programming, Producer
2002 Feels So Good Atomic Kitten Composer, Keyboards, Programming, Producer
2002 Feels So Good Atomic Kitten Keyboards, Programming, Producer
2003 Original 80's Album Various Artists Composer
2003 Original 80's Album Various Artists Composer
2004 Beautiful: 40 Timeless Love Songs [BMG International] Various Artists Composer
2004 Clubber's Guide To Ibiza 2004 Various Artists Composer, Writer
2004 Greatest Hits Atomic Kitten Guitar, Keyboards, Programming
2004 Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the '80s Undergroun Various Artists Synthesizer, Bass, Vocals
2004 Original Electro Album, Vol. 2 Various Artists Composer
2005 Access All Areas: Remixed and B-Sides Atomic Kitten Guitar, Keyboards, Programming
2005 Cradle Atomic Kitten Composer
2005 Justified: The Best of Natalie Browne Natalie Browne Composer
2005 Mad About the Boy. Vol. 7 Various Artists Composer
2005 Original '90s Album Various Artists Composer
2005 Original '90s Album Various Artists Composer
2005 Renaissance, Vol. 1: The Mix Collection Sasha & John Digweed Producer
2005 Renaissance: The Mix Collection, Vol. 1 Sasha & John Digweed Composer, Producer
2005 Retro: Active, Vol. 4 Various Artists Composer
2006 Collection: Autumn 2006 Various Artists Composer, Producer
2006 Maria Lawson Maria Lawson Producer
2006 Sleepwalking, Pt. 1 Maria Lawson Producer
2006 Sleepwalking, Pt. 2 Maria Lawson Producer
2007 Original Electro-Pop Box Set Various Artists Composer
2007 RMF Najlepsza Muzyka: Na Impreze Various Artists Composer
2008 100% 80's Various Artists Composer
2008 80's Top 100 Various Artists Composer
2008 Divas [Sony] Various Artists Composer
2008 Messages: OMD Greatest Hits Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer
2008 Pure Hits [Emd] [3 Discs] Various Artists Composer
2008 This Is 1983 Various Artists Composer
2008 This Is 1984 Various Artists Composer
2008 This Is 1996 Various Artists Composer
2008 Top of the Pops 1984 Various Artists Composer
2008 Top of the Pops 1991 Various Artists Composer
2008 Top of the Pops 1996 Various Artists Composer
2009 Anthems: Electronic '80s Various Artists Composer
2009 Charts Pur: Pop & Wave Various Artists Composer
2009 Charts Pur: Pop & Wave Various Artists Composer
2009 Credit to the Edit, Vol. 2 Greg Wilson Composer
2009 Golden Instrumentals, Vol. 4 Various Artists Composer
2009 Original Hits: Eighties Various Artists Composer
2009 Original Hits: Number 1's Various Artists Composer
2009 Ü30 Party: Simply the Best Various Artists Composer
2009 Ü30 Party: Simply the Best Various Artists Composer
2010 Now That's What I Call the 00s Various Artists Composer
Bedroom Tapes, Vol. White Virgins Producer
Original Hits: 80s Pop Various Artists Composer
above info taken from allmusic
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