Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

OMD's 'Modern' take on things
NUNN ON ONE: MUSIC Special to the Online Edition of Windy City Times
by Jerry Nunn
2010-09-29

This article shared 6514 times since Wed Sep 29, 2010
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark ( OMD ) , best known from the hit "If You Leave" in the '80s, returns after 14 years with a new album called History of Modern. Windy City Times had the opportunity to interview one member of the band, Paul Humphreys.

Windy City Times: Hello, Paul. Can you explain the history of OMD and where the name came from?

Paul Humphreys: The name doesn't have any specific meaning. OMD was supposed to only be a one-off concert. Andy [ McCluskey ] and I had been experimenting in my mum's back room, sharing our songs and ideas only with friends. In the evenings we were often hanging out in a Liverpool club called Erics where one night we heard Daniel Miller's The Normal song "Warm Leatherette." We soon after learned of the existence of The Human League also, which gave us the idea to play a one-off concert at Eric's club.

We thought, "Wow other people in the UK are listening to the same German imports we are listening to, and if they can get up and play electronic music, then so can we!" So it was a kind of a dare to get up on stage and try out our songs as a one-time experiment but, of course, we needed a name, so we went to Andy's bedroom where he used to write potential song titles on his wall, and there was Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, so we thought that it would at least serve the job of indicating to people that they weren't about to see a punk band in Eric's ( which was essentially a punk club ) and would indicate to people that they were about to see something a little bit different!

WCT: Who is on the current lineup? Are any of the members openly gay?

Paul Humphreys: It's the original four-piece line-up, Andy McCluskey ( Lead vocals and Bass ) , Paul Humphreys ( Keyboards and vocals ) , Martin Cooper ( Keyboards and Saxophone ) Malcolm Holmes ( Drums ) and, no, we have no gay members.

WCT: This is for our 25th-anniversary issue. What were you doing 25 years ago?

Paul Humphreys: In summer 1985 we completed and released our 6th album, Crush, which had our first American hit single on it—"So in Love," which entered the U.S. top 30, for the first time in OMD's career. That autumn we had been speaking to the director John Hughes about writing a song for his latest movie he had in production called Pretty in Pink. He sent us the script and told us he wanted a song for the climactic end sequence for the film.

After going to the set at Paramount and meeting Molly Ringwald and Jon Cryer, Andy and I wrote a song that was lyrically based on the story in the script, and sent it to him. John was happy with the song so we continued to rehearse and make preparations for an imminent U.S. tour. However, a few days before the tour was due to start, we get a fateful call from John Hughes. After several showings to test audiences, he was now convinced that the end of the film wasn't right and decided to completely change it and re-shoot it and told us, "Sorry guys, but your song doesn't work anymore. Can you write a new one?"

Now with the tour about to start, we only had two days to write and record something new before the tour started. So Andy and flew straight to L.A., booked ourselves into a studio and spent most of the first day with me on piano and Andy with his lyric books; by 4 a.m., the following morning we had written and roughly demo'd a brand new composition called "If You Leave." We sent a cassette in a cab over to John Hughes and went to bed! Anyway, we get a call at 9 a.m. saying John loves it, and can we go straight back into the studio and record it properly which, of course, we duly did. John liked the final version so much he wanted to put it out immediately as the single to fly the flag for the film, so our new single "Secret" was pulled from radio and shops and out came "If You Leave," which, much to our joy, ended up a monster hit!!

WCT: The new album has a rocking start! What can you tell fans about the new album History of Modern?

Paul Humphreys: When we decided to make a new album, we first had to ask ourselves the question, "What should OMD sound like in 2010?" The answer ended up quite simple to arrive at: Both Andy and myself believe that our first four albums were really the definitive sound of OMD so we decided to use a sound palette that reflected those records. It was crucial though for us to not sound retro or a pastiche of ourselves, so it was important to make it with modern equipment and production techniques in order to bring it into the now, which we hope we have done.

We are fortunate that Andy and I have very modern studios in Liverpool and London. The songs are mainly new compositions from the last few years, with the exception of two or three. We have always recycled old ideas if we believe they have a good melody as sometimes you cant find the right spark to finish a song so you shelve it until that final idea which completes it appears. "Sister Mary," for instance, was a melody from 1981, a vocal from 1995 and finished in 2010! Green is also a vocal recording of Andy's from mid-'90s, which I took and wrote new music to. The rest though is all brand new material!

WCT: Is it trying to sound classic but also modern at the same time?

Paul Humphreys: The name of the album came out of us asking questions of ourselves about OMD's place in 2010. Are we retro futurists? What do old modernists do in the post modern era? Is this the History of Modern?

WCT: How did you hook up with Aretha Franklin for the song "Save Me," and what was it like working with her?

Paul Humphreys: Andy had a period of experimenting with mash-ups, mashing up OMD songs with other people songs and "Save Me" came out of these experiments. We've never even met Aretha, unfortunately!

WCT: There are two sides to the CD. Is that a throwback to albums in the past or this going to be released on vinyl? I heard there is a box set.

Paul Humphreys: No, it was simply a song-management tool to split it into side one and side two. It was always Andy's job to sequence the albums as he was always best at it, and in putting the album together he decided it was simpler to put songs into two different categories. It wasn't a deliberate attempt to be retro or 'vinyl' about it though, and in hindsight maybe we should have named them part one and part two! There was a box set, unfortunately we only made 1,500 and they are all sold out!

WCT: I watched the video for "If You Want It." There were lots of dancers, including men dancing with men, and you guys got to just sit and watch! You have not made a video since "Dreaming," correct?

Paul Humphreys: "Dreaming" was the last video I made with OMD. However, Andy continued in the '90s and made several more videos after I left. In fact, the video's he made were a damn sight better than most of the video's I made with him! But then again the medium of video making had developed to a new level and standard by the time the '90s came around, the budgets had also reached new heights!

WCT: You are about to start touring in Europe. Are you coming to Chicago?

Paul Humphreys: Yes to both. Our tour begins in UK at the end of October, taking in much of the UK and big cities in Europe. We are planning to tour the US in March and although it isn't confirmed yet, it's looking pretty certain that we'll be coming!

WCT: People can keep up with the latest news at http://www.omd.uk.com?

Paul Humphreys: Yes, the OMD OFFICIAL site is omd.uk.com . It's a brand-new site that's updated on a daily basis.

WCT: There is a feeling with your music that always is uplifting for me. Thanks for the interview from a longtime fan!

Paul Humphreys: Thank you!

OMD's album dropped this week and all merchandise can be picked up at omd.hasawebstore.com .


This article shared 6514 times since Wed Sep 29, 2010
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

'Rumors' performers create alternative drag playground 2024-03-24
- At first glance, Dorian's Through The Record Shop (1939 W. North Ave.) looks like a brightly-lit shop with a handful of records on the wall, but there's a secret world behind those unassuming shelves. Visitors are ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Queer musicians, Marvel situation, Elliot Page, Nicole Kidman 2024-03-21
- Queer musician Joy Oladokun released the single "I Wished on the Moon," from Jack Antonoff's official soundtrack for the new Apple TV+ series The New Look, per a press release. The soundtrack, ...


Gay News

THEATER Chicago's City Lit has anxiety on tap with 'Two Hours in a Bar' 2024-03-21
- Two Hours in a Bar Waiting for Tina Meyer by Kristine Thatcher with material by Larry Shue Text Me by Kingsley Day (Book, Music and Lyrics). At: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.. Tickets: ...


Gay News

Lollapalooza announces lineup; SZA, Skrillex among headliners 2024-03-19
- Lollapalooza has released its line-up for the event that's taking place Aug. 1-4 at Grant Park. Headliners include SZA, Blink-182, Skrillex, The Killers, Hozier, Melanie Martinez and Stray Kids, among others. Some of the other acts ...


Gay News

Jamie Barton brings nuances of identity to her Lyric Opera 'Aida' performance 2024-03-18
- Chicago's Lyric Opera is currently featuring a production of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida starring Michelle Bradley as Aida, Jamie Barton as Amneris and Russell Thomas as Radamès. The opera runs through April 7, 2024, with Francesca Zambello ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Lady Gaga, 'P-Valley,' Wendy Williams, Luke Evans, 'Queer Eye,' 'Transition' 2024-03-15
- Lady Gaga came to the defense of Dylan Mulvaney after a post with the trans influencer/activist for International Women's Day received hateful responses, People Magazine noted. On Instagram, Gaga stated, "It's appalling to me that a ...


Gay News

House-music festival on Aug. 30-Sept. 1; icons, Idris Elba to be part of it 2024-03-13
- The ARC Music Festival—an event celebrating house music—will take place Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Chicago's Union Park, per WGN-TV. This will mark the fourth year that the festival will celebrate the genre at Union Park—less than ...


Gay News

COBRAH slithers into Chicago and brings Feminine Energy 2024-03-08
- COBRAH snaked her way into Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., for two nights March 7 and 8 for her Succubus Tour. This Swedish-born talent has a way with naughty words and ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Jinkx Monsoon, Xavier Dolan, 'Frida,' Lena Waithe, out singer 2024-03-08
- Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon is headed back to the New York stage, joining off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey beginning April 2, according to Playbill. The casting makes Monsoon the first drag ...


Gay News

Queer Eye's Jai Rodriguez is set to slay at The Big Gay Cabaret 2024-03-05
- Out and proud performer Jai Rodriguez is set to play at The Big Gay Cabaret this March for three days. Presented by RuPaul Drag Racer Ginger Minj, this monthly series highlights the wide world of cabaret ...


Gay News

THEATER 'R & J' puts a female, queer spin on Shakespeare 2024-03-05
- Romeo and Juliet is the theatrical gift that keeps on giving. It's been reworked for the masses numerous times, whether in direct adaptations or musicals such as West Side Story. Shakespeare's plotline points have even inspired ...


Gay News

THEATER When growth is paramount: Jim Corti helps fuel Aurora theater expansion 2024-03-01
- Out actor/director/choreographer Jim Corti made his Broadway debut in 1974, in the ensemble of Leonard Bernstein's musical Candide. Director Harold Prince's acclaimed Tony Award-winning revival is often cited as a ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Queer actors, icons duet, Hunter Schafer, Oscars, Elizabeth Taylor 2024-03-01
- Queer actor Kal Penn is set to star in Trust Me, I'm a Doctor—a film that chronicles the final days of actress/model Anna Nicole Smith, whose overdose death in 2007 at age 39 sparked a tabloid ...


Gay News

'Always Olivia' celebrates Olivia Newton-John at Raue Center 2024-02-26
- From a press release: Always Olivia, a tribute to one of the most celebrated and beloved pop culture icons of all time, the late Olivia Newton-John comes to Raue Center in Crystal Lake on Saturday, May ...


Gay News

Samuel Savoir-Faire Williams's violin stylings help COH mark Black History Month 2024-02-23
- As part of its celebration of Black History Month, Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., presented a solo jazz performance by violinist Samuel Savoir-Faire Williams on Feb. 21. The two-hour long performance presented a showcase ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.