OMD's Andy McCluskey: Even our best friends hated our first songs

Legendary synth-pop band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) will perform in Tallinn on August 29 at the Birgitta Convent ruins. Singer and co-founder Andy McCluskey shared memories and insights in an interview with ETV's Ringvaade suvel.

He noted that OMD have been popular in Estonia since the Soviet era, when Western music was a symbol of freedom. McCluskey explained that many of their early songs had melodies instead of lyrics in the choruses, allowing non-English speakers to sing along. He also joked about the prevalence of bootleg copies in the past, forgiving fans as long as they buy tickets.

The band's unusual name came from a one-off concert idea in 1978. McCluskey and Paul Humphreys had been writing music since age 16, but even their best friends hated it. They adopted a strange name to match their experimental approach, unknowingly creating pop melodies wrapped in unconventional ideas. Alongside the Human League, OMD were among the first British synth bands, emerging from a post-punk club scene that welcomed anyone. McCluskey had been inspired by German bands like Kraftwerk and Neu.

Their influence has spread widely, from electronic artists like Moby to rock bands like U2 and Red Hot Chili Peppers. One of the most surprising mentions is ZZ Top, who credited OMD for pushing them toward electronic sounds on their album Eliminator. McCluskey confirmed that ZZ Top also copied his swinging bass guitar move, which Billy Gibbons admitted to him years later.

After reuniting, OMD initially focused on live performances, but eventually decided to write new music. Their last four albums have been praised, with the latest reaching number two in the UK, kept from the top by Taylor Swift. McCluskey's personal influences remain rooted in the music of his youth, including David Bowie, Roxy Music and the Velvet Underground.