Andy McCluskey from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark talking about Depeche Mode

Andy McCluskey from OMD Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark talks about Depeche Mode and the US tour at The Rose Bowl

[@spooookie1]

Good old Andy M.Always worth watching.That bit about Fletch at the end was priceless.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Everything counts, in larger amounts.

[@romeodenis77]

no reason to argue, both are legends!

[@CollectorOfMusic]

I saw the Depeche Mode / OMD 101 tour in San Francisco, and I must say OMD rocked it, the blew Depeche Mode out of the water. OMD left us wanting more

[@jpalvarez4972]

OMD were and are sensational live.

[@solidnakehoho5106]

😆 🤣

[@lwtwrestlingtelevision74484]

Lucky lucky lucky you

[@terrymoney9718]

​@@lwtwrestlingtelevision74484 cracking 101

[@IBIZABIKE]

A really genuine bloke so modest

[@foto21]

Both of these bands are so much better than what is around today, it's possibly even more shocking than it is depressing, because it shows advancing technology really doesn't mean squat in music, which is ironic, since both bands were technical pioneers at the time. However, both still had enough legs planted in real songwriting and musicianship, that the technology merely enhanced their greatness. Today, technology has minimized feel and songwriting practically to nonexistence.

[@VictorMaxol]

And the internet allows us to compare and contrast.

[@lolam.9291]

I got to see DM and OMD in the summer of 1988; Toronto, Canada; love both bands. The album CRUSH has got to be my most favourite OMD album.

[@leonstraatman1857]

As a DM fan for 40 years i have to say that i love OMD too.Andy M.is a nice guy😂😂😂😂

[@angelalanspurry7847]

OMD and Depeche Mode are my two favorite bands with Depeche Mode being at the top. In the 80s members of DM listed early OMD songs as an influence. This interview is funny. Andy McCluskey is entitled to his interpretation of events and I found it funny. The parts about the cricket game and Fletch playing the cash register are hilarious. All the comments he made about DM have been said about DM by the members themselves. I don't think he hides that he was envious of DM's success and hoped to benefit from it by touring with them. Both are great bands who have a lasting legacy.

[@walksfarwolf6070]

OMD is the soundtrack of my 80s.

[@imogenbebb9571]

That last part was so funny :') 'If you snuck up behind him on stage you could see he wasn't actually playing anything...he had a cash register going 'merchandising $57000...'...OKAY everybody put your bands up for that one!!!' Good old Andy ⭐️⭐️

[@jamesdavies542]

Imogen Bebb it’s a classic McCluskey interview, Andy is so funny 🤣😂🤣😂

[@eightieslivenow7579]

North America Andy!!...Canada is one of your biggest fan bases..WE LOVE YOU ALWAYS

[@mop714]

"For Crying out loud" (Didn`t our fathers use this instead of swearing in the old days). Great interview, always liked Andy`s sarcy wit/humour. He also said complimentary things about DM. I have seen both bands, and OMD`s songlist is more entertaining and varied. I wish that they had had better contracts in their day because they deserved it. These guys were in it for the love of their music, and now reaping the benefits of their hard work.

[@solidnakehoho5106]

😆 🤣

[@rosselladinapoli7817]

I love you Andy !!!!

[@snd7622]

It's amazing 😆 I'm a fan of both bands and what he said about Depeche must be absolutely right.

[@mikehartwich1946]

love OMD ...wish I was there in 1988 Pasadena...this cool band opening the show for .... the GREATEST!

[@solidnakehoho5106]

Greatest supporting band

[@strychnyne3530]

That was my first DM show. DM and Omd in chicago 1988.

[@kasaioni7680]

OMD is a success story from my perspective because their last two albums (English Electric and The Punishment of Luxury) are more enjoyable than Depeche Mode's last two albums (Delta Machine and Spirit).

[@deletebilderberg]

Kasaioni WTF? 😂

[@easytigeruk123456789]

DM has a much higher quality of sound production and song production. omd are a good band but always sounds a bit cheap or weak to me

[@brody5211]

Love both bands and Dm my fave , but omd do write more melodic songs

[@jpalvarez4972]

@@easytigeruk123456789 OMD are minimalists: having grand production doesn't fit their ethos. It's also worth mentioning that Depeche Mode wouldn't exist - at least as we know them - if it weren't for Clarke hearing OMD's early records.

[@lloydorl9733]

true

[@dbotterell2915]

I loved you guys when I saw you in 88 in Pasadena. I remember the power outage and you make a joke and handled it like a champ. All of us folded up the chairs on the floor and we had the greatest dance party with you period. I believe other than hearing Dave and Depeche Modes songs you put on a better show. Come back to California. In the palm springs area in the winter a lot of bands come here in the winter and do great midsized shows from Erasure (in the past) to 80s house music to even epic festivals like Coachella. You are one of the few bands better in person then on your album like Simple Minds, erasure, etc. You still have a strong loyal fan base and we would love to see you and now adays wont get robbed like you did in 88. 5k prr show? Thats horrible considering what an awesome show you do and how good you actually are. Peace and Love. Doug. A old codger stuck in the 80s lol.

[@NumanFanlfc]

Great interview m8 thanks , was laffin me socks off lol :-)

[@bradwatson7324]

I remember seeing OMD and Depeche Mode at Six Flags in Arlington, TX in 1988. OMD was wonderful! In fact, to me they sounded much more like I'd hear on the radio than DM. I LOVE DM -- their sound is so unique -- but I have to grudgingly admit that OMD are probably the better musicians.

[@ChristopherKeen]

I was there. I remember that there were a lot of people there just to see OMD. The couple in front of us in fact left after OMD finished. Maybe they just wanted to get a hotel room but they left before Depeche Mode came out.

[@brody5211]

Christopher Keen gobshites! !

[@brody5211]

Maybe they wanted some fun ? 🙂

[@PFWilson1966]

When we saw them in Cleveland on the 101 tour, the one member of Depeche Mode's crew, the big dude you see in the movie, was wandering around talking to fans, and then he was on about some cricket match they had played. Now I know the whole story!

[@TtableWhey]

It's very helpful how he goes from almost shouting to whispering inaudibly repeatedly throughout the discussion.

[@Gothiczartan]

Andy, we're sorry for the loss. Andy of Depeche Mode was the greatest ever, he was a good people are people and just can't get enough, Never let Andy down again.

[@JohnCampbellARM]

Love that bit about Andy being the manager. I worded with a bandmate like that .

[@wawawswfc4957]

Andy mccluskey is just saying how it is.....he.s a very modist person....especially when 've met him on quite a few occasions.....

[@ellendelcastillo4279]

Gracias Gely Gonzàlez amo a OMD!! ♡♡♡♡

[@offworldnetwork]

Ironically, its an OMD b side that got Depeche to adopt synths in the first place

[@TheArpomni2]

Funny you should mention that , I just saw OMD live in Hull City and he told us the story before starting the song called Almost , my personal favourite , it was B side to Electricity

[@jorgeccaa]

offworld network True! And now it all comes full circle as OMD asked Vince Clarke to remix “Almost” for the re-issue of Electricity in September 2019 to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

[@jorgeccaa]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWe3Z4CDdtGForM

[@solidnakehoho5106]

😆 🤣

[@leejay2418]

I don’t understand why Alan wasn’t more appreciated in DM. It’s so frustrating to hear about!

[@handsolo1209]

Must be the ego of Andy & Martin being the "originals" and Alan joining their band.

[@mr.coolmug3181]

He's got the Fletch hand-clap down to a T.

[@dukeofpearl]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha he's so right about Fletch!

[@evad520]

I got to see OMD with Depeche Mode May 21, 1988, I get to see OMD tonight June 10, 2016. I'm so excited. :)

[@NeilTaylor]

have a great time, Dave

[@evad520]

Thanks

[@timd8669]

Fletch can play the heck out of the cash machine!

[@jasonatkins8705]

R.I.P. Andy Fletcher…

[@Jimjam1212]

legend

[@niegalotodo2130]

Andy estuvo EN PERÚ chupate esa con la vocalista de PROPAGANDA , SON LO MEJOR DEL MUNDO , ANDO BUSCANDO SUS PASOS DE BAILE QUE VOLVIERON LOCO A TODO EL MUNDO !!!

[@maylloyd3348]

Comments about getting off stage and saying to the main act "follow that" are even more pertinent after their 2018 tour "supporting" a-ha.

[@pac_entretenimento]

❤

[@valle3452]

So I was not just seeing things; Fletcher did not really play much of anything, if at all on that tour. I had the Mode101 VHS movie and watched it lots, but Andy always seemed to just be there clapping and looking like a proper dork. Really liked Alan's playing though, and was sad to see him leave the band later in life. Great bands both, but in all honestly I like OMD way better than DM.

[@Gencoil]

If you look at a lot of early live performances you could tell that what he was doing on the synthesizer didn't corespond to the music at all, he was just hammering random notes.

[@SaabSurpemacy]

Oh my gosh the bit about Fletcher is so great!

[@thephoenix3155]

Fletch is a waste of time! Alan is the only one in Depeche Mode with talent!

[@SaabSurpemacy]

@@thephoenix3155 Well I mean Alan is insane, but I think Martin’s songwriting is what ultimately compliments Alan’s musical genius. I.e. Little 15, Enjoy The Silence, and To Have And To Hold. All great songs written by Martin but improved by Alan. Without Martin the songs don’t exist. Without Alan they don’t become uniquely Depeche.

[@drexlspivey5828]

I don't think he was talking shit about Dave, he was talking about how the others treated him, he even said himself he thought it was strange. Because Dave is the type of guy who always wants to be liked I can see the other members mistreating him a bit, especially during a stressful high stakes tour, apparently Fletch treated Dave so relentlessly bad that Dave genuinely considered leaving DM, Fletch has no idea how jammy his life has been because of performers with actual talent like Dave who contributed to the band brilliantly even in his non writing days.

[@xiaoxia5]

... and this is why Alan was so important to the band. besides being the musician of the band and a great programmer, he was Dave's buddy. Martin and Fletch were close, then Dave and Alan were close. the two could spend time away from the other two, and that's what the band needed at certain times.

[@DxModel219]

@@xiaoxia5 we all miss alan badly. DM never was the same after he left

[@BuyOneGetOneFree]

Probably best not to mention why Andy sometimes refers to this as 'The Snow Plough Tour'!

[@hallreis]

haha did he really?!

[@josea3770]

PLEASE ANDY WELCOM A CHILE FESTIVAL VIÑA DEL MAR CHILE 2021 PLEASE TUS FANS.

[@DJSTOEK]

💘

[@KarlHamilton]

No wonder Alan left.

[@KortKramer]

You'll be missed Andy! 👏 7:16

[@jpalvarez4972]

"Depeche Mode would never have happened without OMD." - Vince Clarke (founder, Depeche Mode)

[@liamobrien5738]

Neat story...

[@Nightdare]

Don't forget Andy, Depeche self destructed as well, it only took a little longer

[@evilgenius4488]

it was after the SOFAD Tour when Alan left

[@Nightdare]

@@evilgenius4488 Rose bowl was '88, OMD crashed in '89 DM's Burnup began in '92 with the start of recording SOFAD, following up with Gahan's drug induced heartattack in '93, Martin running on 80% alcohol during the SOFAD tour (and of course Dave still on heroin), then in '94 Fletch suffering a nervous breakdown, Wilder leaving in '95, (Somewhere here, '5th DM Member' Daryl Bamonte also left) and ending with Gahan trying to kill himself a year later in '96 Regardless, Andy shouldn't feel so bad that OMD selfdestructed, DM did also, and in a much more dramatic way, that left its members personally damaged

[@22Hammy]

Pretty surprising that they were playing alongside Depeche mode. Most bands from that time see each other as arch enemies

[@vanseventy]

Fan of both, but Andy... OMD was loved more by America than DM in the 80’s. Then DM took off in the early 90’s but only had a 5 yr run in my opinion (radio play).

[@blackbeltjones2903]

What are Depeche fans so uptight about exactly? I'm not sensing any bitterness and I'm watching the same interview you did.

[@riley1446]

7:20 😭😭

[@Gaggyboy8]

By far the most successful pop duo In American history are the Pet Shop Boys

[@mhoroky]

Actually, Lifestyles Channel, the most successful Pop/Rock duo in American History is Daryl Hall and John Oates. Numerous music publications mention this. They had numerous songs that made the top 40, many that made the top 10, and quite a few #1 hits, and they packed massive arenas. You need to brush up on your music trivia there, brother!

[@waz3128]

Interesting how Depeche Mode were the bigger band at the time, despite OMD clearly having the more commercially viable hits. Before 101, your average top 40 radio listeners would struggle to name you a single song by Depeche, but everyone knew ''If You Leave''

[@rockycostanzo7349]

I find it interesting as well, however, I was at that Rose Bowl concert and did not know who OMD was but I did know DM and was there to see them. I remember the crowd went crazy for OMD but it wasn't until they played If You Leave that I recognized a song from them. I think even a few years earlier, Depeche would've opened for them but in '87, Music For The Masses was getting lots of radio play. I became a fan of OMD after that concert and still love DM today. Two great bands.

[@rnkmode1876]

Lol you have to be kidding... DM has waaayyy more, better and appealing songs than OMD. If You Leave is so played out, other than that they had maybe a couple more songs that were decent but nothing in comparison to Depeche Mode songs. Strangelove in my opinion blows away If You Leave. Black Celebration, Stripped, Behind the Wheel, I can go on and on with examples and songs that demolish OMD in lyrics, sound and longevity, and I'm talking before Violator came along.

[@BAztid]

@@rnkmode1876 To say that OMD have only "If You Leave" and "maybe a couple more songs that were decent", reeks of bias and vendetta. They are one of the most important electronic acts of their time. They influenced countless bands - including Depeche.

[@rnkmode1876]

@@BAztid lol the only thing that reeks of Bias and Vendetta is this guy with his arrogant pompous BS and what he's saying about DM. I've never heard any other band say that Dave Gahan is ordered around and just the singer as if it's some joke. Sounds to me like someone is Jealous. Yep. I have no Vendetta, I call it how I see it. You or anyone else isn't going to tell me OMD was better than Depeche Mode. Gtfoh. I never said OMD wasn't influential by the way.

[@Isi-1975]

​@@rnkmode1876we're not talking about who is better. We're talking about who was more well known to audiences in 1987-8.

[@keithknobbler9378]

The nature of Depeche Modes music changed with the technology, Andy Fletchers role as the manual bass end of things were taken up more with ready sequenced patterns, but he still performed certain sections himself and was a presence on stage. Unfortunately you will find many people who disliked Andy even from their Liverpool scene days. He does come across sometimes as a bitter old queen which he shouldn't indulge himself in. It's good to have competition between groups as it should inspire better musical output. I've enjoyed both groups over the years on many levels. Depeche Mode do seem to possess far more class in not descending into 'post event banter' or whatever you want to call it.

[@jrstange]

Great fun! What's the source and date for this interview, Neil? :)

[@FuellingObsession]

+JR Stange This was from an unofficial documentary called "Depeche Mode: The Dark Progression", which came out on DVD in 2009.

[@thephoenix3155]

Moby has obviously heard of OMD!

[@jpalvarez4972]

One of his favourite bands.

[@wifikraftofficial8645]

7:40 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Cedde6]

Am I the only one to think that Andy really sounds like Alan Partridge?

[@pifflepockle]

Hilarious

[@jasfan8247]

Did Atomic Kitten crack US ?!

[@ToreHansen]

To bad seen this first after AF dead...

[@robertgibney6245]

Dont think Andy understood how important Fletch was to DM,a not so nice statement from him.

[@BAztid]

McCluskey acknowledged that Fletch was important... to the business side. OMD also made some very touching tributes to Fletch on their social media pages. Onstage he didn't do a tremendous amount... we all know it.

[@mhoroky]

Fletch was not important to DM in terms of musical contributions. The band knows it, and so do the fans. Nothing impolite about acknowledging that.

[@simoharjane7823]

he was unnecessary , just Martin's friend. whatever you wrote in the internet that he was the glue, held band together is bullshit , lies. why he didn't try to keep Alan with them together ??? because he was a major problem. he had a fistfight with Alan and Alan made him cry. he was a fraud.

[@JoeyXSmith]

You tell he was a bit jealous of Depeche Mode but you can't blame him. At least he's honest about stuff. I bet he wishes he was Fletcher in the band. Cashing in all that money.

[@jpalvarez4972]

I don't hear it. Besides, OMD are the single biggest reason that Depeche Mode exist.

[@einc70]

lol cash machine

[@ANONYMOUS-xd3eu]

Yanks missed out respecting OMD there loss

[@nobrega]

Yes... what a rivalry 😂😂😂😂. I really like omd but dm was the show. "Shut up and sing dave gahan" 😂😂😂. Shut up and put some sound omd on the venue while the gods are relaxing 💪🙌

[@BAztid]

He's not slagging Dave, he's saying the other DM members appeared to view Dave that way on that particular tour.

[@nobrega]

@@BAztid i get what you say. Both great bands but with different paths

[@wattage2007]

A bit of sour grapes from Mr McCluskey there.

[@jpalvarez4972]

Explain.

[@wattage2007]

@@jpalvarez4972 He seems subtly upset that they were only supporting DM and that they got beaten by them at cricket 😂

[@jpalvarez4972]

@wattage2007 He clearly states that OMD needed to support Depeche, and that he was glad to be playing to bigger audiences.

[@wattage2007]

@@jpalvarez4972 Yep, glad to be playing bigger audiences, not too happy that they ‘needed’ to support DM to do so.

[@jpalvarez4972]

@wattage2007 I see you're intent on hearing what you want to hear.

[@julietcardenas9473]

Tons of shit talking here on his part. But both bands were great! DM though has a quality about them that is so fun, dark, beautiful, sexy and memorable. I don't like his poke at Dave. So what if Dave didn't write the songs, his showmanship and voice are a major part of what is so attractive about their sound. In fact, it was Dave's voice I heard first permeating from a neighbors window when I was a kid that caught my attention. Then when my aunt had posters of them all over her room, when I finally put a face to that voice, it was magical. Cannot deny DM's influence. Dave is such an amazing interpreter of martins writing. And that whole business of Johnny Lydon once saying they had no soul is utter BS. They are able to bring feeling through the machines and computers they use. That is artistry and genius. They are fucking legends.

[@jpalvarez4972]

There was no poke at Dave. McCluskey felt that the other Depeche members saw Dave as insignificant compared to them. And OMD are every bit the "fucking legends" that Depeche are (as well as a major influence on Depeche).

[@slumdogjay]

Juliet Cardenas He wasn’t having a poke at Dave. That is the way Dave was treated by other band members and crew. This is why he insists on having some of his own songs on latter albums. Plus he told the rest of the band after Ultra that he would only return to the band for the Exciter album if they let him sing the songs the way he wanted to sing them and not how the others wanted him to sing. There was still even a bit of tension between Dave and Martin on the last album, Spirit because Dave wanted to include more of his own songs.

[@ericgeorge5483]

For me, Dave's voice is Depeche Mode. The guy was a great singer.

[@bodychoke]

If jealousy had a face, this it what it would look like.

[@jpalvarez4972]

Nah. You're hearing what you want to hear.

[@ianbarrett4166]

Have to agree

[@davidgahan-ks5jh]

sweetheart....fletch does play keyboards....get over yourself

[@xII_RoyalTI_IIx]

but it's not plugged in

[@davidgahan-ks5jh]

@@xII_RoyalTI_IIx yeah right....you are the stage manager and keyboard technician on their tour....dummy

[@mhoroky]

Playing a keyboard that isn't plugged in doesn't count! Even Dave Gahan, who was quoted in two different magazines, admitted in 2003 that Fletch's keyboard isn't plugged in and there's "nothing happening" when Fletch is behind the keyboard. Dave Gahan said this. His quotes are even reprinted in "Stripped: Depeche Mode" biography by Johnathan Miller from 2005. Case closed.

[@rnkmode1876]

🤣🙄 ahh Dude sounds pompous & jealous to me. If You Leave is the most overplayed New Wave song ever. Broadcast radio really beat that song to death. Other than that what does this guy think he's comparing with Depeche Mode?? Enola Gay? Electricity?... come on, even pre Violator I can name DM songs that are just all over the board better than anything OMD did. Strangelove, Stripped, Behind the Wheel demolish the 3 OMD songs I just mentioned. That's just off the top of my head. Dave Gahan is a much better front man/ singer then this guy. I'm aware it's all just preference and opinion but let's face it, what 3 OMD albums can compare or even hold a candle to Music For the Masses, Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion??. I can pair up older or albums after too.

[@BAztid]

I suspect you're American: in Europe, "If You Leave" was a flop. Here, OMD are revered for their highly influential output from the late 70s to the mid 80s. You are aware that Vince, Martin and Andy have cited them as an influence? That Vince literally turned Depeche into an electronic band because of OMD's early work?

[@rnkmode1876]

@@BAztid sure I am aware, I was just simply saying that the way this guy was describing all band members and what they do sounded disrespectful and act as if Dave was ordered around and told to sing and shut up or whatever... come on... I'm also aware that DM surpassed these guys long ago and my example of when I said a few songs by OMD was just my opinion. I mean what 80's complete albums by OMD can you say could rival Depeche Mode's top?? Black Celebration, Music for the Masses and Violator smash anything OMD has done. JS.

[@BAztid]

@@rnkmode1876 Again, you don't seem to be terribly aware of OMD. The likes of 'Architecture & Morality', 'Dazzle Ships' and 'Organisation' are acclaimed, highly influential albums. You seem to want to relegate OMD to some dark corner of electronic music, a band defined by "If You Leave", when in reality they are a seminal act. Aside from Depeche members citing the band as an early influence, Martin collaborated with OMD's Paul Humphreys on the latter's Onetwo project, and Vince served up his own remix of OMD's "Almost". It's odd to see a Depeche fan with such vitriol for a group that was of significance to their heroes.

[@rnkmode1876]

@@BAztid I'm aware of it all. Just didn't like how dude was down playing DM. My point still stands. OMD wouldn't have been able to play at the Rose Bowl in 1988 without DM as well.

[@krasteff]

I kind of miss the "anti-nuclear" Enola Gay-related comments. My respect to this band but they were never hugely successful in the UK. In fact the British made them starve.

[@Boxnudger]

What are you on about Boris? You must be talking about a different UK to the one I grew up in.

[@krasteff]

Enola Gay, one of their biggest hits was no. 8. All their singles would not equal the sales of one single from Kylie or Rick Astley for example. They only survived (like all new wave acts) due to live performances. The UK you grew up in was the land of Kylie and Jason.

[@Boxnudger]

I get what you're saying, but I think it's a mistake to try and compare them to Kylie or Rick Astley and then dismiss they're success based on that. The band were huge in 1980/81 with had 4 consecitive top 10 hits ( 3 of them performing better than Enola Gay) plus a platinum album IN THE UK. They continued to be successful throughout the decade. They were hardly made to starve by the British public - probably not enough to make them millionaires but many families would give their right arm to have the sort of money and lifestyle they could afford.

[@jpalvarez4972]

@@Boxnudger OMD had three platinum albums (their 'Best Of' going triple platinum). They were the most successful of the first wavers, selling way more albums than Gary Numan, Ultravox, Visage or Japan, and about the same as the Human League.

[@user-yc5um2pl5v]

@@jpalvarez4972 Only if we take the worldwide sales. In the UK, speaking of albums, they were on the level with Ultravox and Numan.

[@k.stevenson]

Money "artist".

[@thoughtfulprofessor4198]

Envy pours out of him

[@jpalvarez4972]

Enlighten us. Perhaps you're hearing what you want to hear, champ?

[@ericgeorge5483]

McCluskey, bitter guy and so jealous of Depeche because OMD never cracked America.

[@NeilTaylor]

But they did and just a couple of years completed a US tour, If You Leave from Pretty in Pink cracked the US nut.

[@ericgeorge5483]

@@NeilTaylor Not to anything like the same degree that Depeche mode did. They filled arena's OMD would have struggled to fill a phone box.

[@jpalvarez4972]

Nah. You're hearing what you want to hear.

[@ericgeorge5483]

@@jpalvarez4972 Like what?

[@jpalvarez4972]

@@ericgeorge5483 I dunno, bitterness and jealousy, maybe? OMD absolutely made a splash in America (a gold record and three top 20 hits from '86-'88, including the huge "If You Leave"), then the band lost momentum with Paul, Mal and Martin leaving. And Depeche wouldn't even exist if it weren't for OMD's influence on Clarke.

[@eightiesmusic1984]

Always going on about how successful OMD were. In truth they were a reasonably successful band but nowhere near as much as many others who don't keep telling people that they sold so many records. Depeche Mode were a band that stepped into the big league in America. OMD did not, regardless of If You Leave. Live as well OMD sound weak, particularly in the eighties.

[@gita_andani]

Andy is a bit of an ambitious dick, yeah, always complaining how "unsuccessful" they were. But you can't deny that they were a very influential band. Depeche Mode wouldn't exist if it wasn't for "Electricity". Also, don't drag the whole band down because Paul Humphreys is a sweetheart and has an opposing personality compared to Andy lmao.

[@SuzLa1]

British people were more into the German type electronic music at that time, but it was good to break into the USA as a big market, so they made Tesla Girls because their record company thought having women dancing on the video would be more liked by USA market

[@krasteff]

SusieLa1, British people were into Kylie/Jason and buried their own legends by not buying their records. Vanessa Paradis' Joe le taxi had more sales than Morrisey's debut single.

[@jpalvarez4972]

OMD and Human League *were* very successful, particularly among the first-wavers. People like Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys came along and did a more glossy, digestible version of what had come before. Have you actually been to an OMD gig? Anything but weak. The rabid enthusiasm they inspire from audiences is something to behold.

[@netherhoricky6162]

idiot

[@eymerichinquisitore9022]

If the world were perfect, the Omd today would be considered more of the Cure