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Key Points OMD was honored by the L.A. City Council for their music industry impact. Councilwoman Rodriguez declared an official "OMD Day" citing their lasting influence on fans and artists. Band has strong personal and professional ties to Los Angeles, including first performing there in 1981. The popular ‘80s band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, OMD for short, may hail from Meols, Merseyside, England, but they have strong ties to Los Angeles. So much so that the Los Angeles City Council recently honored the band for their impact on the music industry and the citizens of the city. OMD is best-known for the ‘80s alternative and college radio hits “Electricity” and “Enola Gay,” as well as the top 10 pop hit “If You Leave,” which was featured on the soundtrack to the popular 1986 John Hughes’ film Pretty in Pink. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 On Nov. 7, L.A. City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez led a presentation to the band with singer-bassist Andy McCluskey on hand to accept the honor. Vocalist keyboardist Paul Humphreys was in transit and unable to make the ceremony, but support musicians Martin Cooper and Stuart Kershaw joined McCluskey for the honor. The band was in Southern California to play a pair of shows at the House of Blues in Anaheim on Nov. 9 and 10. “It is an incredible honor that today, we are declaring OMD day in the city of L.A. OMD’s music has truly stood the test of time and continues to have a lasting influence on fans and artists alike,” Rodriguez said during the presentation, per Wirral Globe. “They are the band that helped shape a generation, and I am so honored to bring them into the council chambers today. OMD’s music has truly stood the test of time and continues to have a lasting influence on fans and artists alike.” While accepting the honor, McCluskey recounted the band’s experiences in Los Angeles. “We have played many venues in L.A., some really big ones but I find this place quite intimidating actually,” he said. “It has been a remarkable and long journey for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in this area in the city of Los Angeles. As you mentioned, we played our first concert at Whisky Go Go back in 1981, staying at the infamous Tropicana motel on Santa Monica with its black swimming pool,” he added. “Ten years later, I met Belinda Carlisle from the quintessential L.A. band the Go-Go’s. All of the Go-Go’s were at the Whisky Go Go club that day. And then from the Whisky Go Go, we went through The Roxy, The Riviera Country Club, Perkins Palace, The Palace Theatre, The Variety Arts Center, the Wiltern, the Fonda Theatre, the Greek Theatre, Universal Amphitheatre, the Forum, and the Rose Bowl with a little band called Depeche Mode,” he continued. “We all promise we’re going to play the Hollywood Bowl, once we’ve done that, we’ve got the whole set, and do we have to go back to the Whisky again?” McCluskey also revealed that he and Humphreys have some personal ties to Los Angeles. “Both Paul and I have amazing connections to this great city. Paul actually married a girl from [the L.A. suburb] Tarzana, lived in the [San Fernando] Valley for a long time and has a wonderful daughter, Madeline, who still lives here and works here. So we have this personal connection as well,” he added.
