OMD – Pretending to See the Future

£9.99


In stock.

512 pages

Full colour

Publication date 26th June 2019

Description

This softback edition has a bonus extras section which contains an additional 100 stories from OMD fans.

All books have the option of including a personal dedication and being signed by the author Richard Houghton.

Told in the first person, Pretending To See The Future is an oral history of OMD, mixing hundreds of fan anecdotes with memories from the band, their collaborators, other musicians and celebrity admirers garnered from 40 years of recording and performing.

The book contains commentary from OMD founders Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, plus band members Martin Cooper, Malcolm Holmes and Stuart Kershaw, and is packed full of memorabilia and hundreds of photos. With many images in full colour and previously unseen pictures from the band’s own archive, this is the OMD story as it’s never been told before.

Contributors include:
Professor Brian Cox
Gary Numan
Phil Oakey
Stephen Morris
Jeremy Vine
Steve Lamacq
Richard Blade
Adam Clayton
Howard Jones
Peter Saville
Karl Bartos
John Dowie
Vince Clarke

Pretending To See The Future is the first official OMD biography since 1987’s Messages. Taking the reader on a journey from their Merseyside beginnings via debut single `Electricity’ (released on Manchester’s iconic Factory label) into the 1980s and a string of Top 40 hits that includes `Enola Gay’, `Souvenir’, `Joan of Arc’, `Locomotion’ and US smash `If You Leave’, the book also covers the band’s break up in the 1990s and their triumphant return in 2006.

Additional information

Weight 2 kg
Dimensions 24.7 × 19 × 3.1 cm

Reviews

Attractive and classy print. Very informative and worthy 40th anniversary tome at a great paperback price.
-Amazon 5 stars
Recollections from and history of a favourite band, with comments from famous fans and music contemporaries.
-Amazon 5 stars
Quality, with numerous photographs and memorabilia. The history of OMD, and therefore of electronic music since the late 1970s, is told in the first person, both by the members of the group and by the people with whom they have been associated in their vital and creative process, as well as by the audience who followed them. It is much more interesting, thanks to this human factor. Highly recommended, not only for OMD followers, but for fans of the recent history of electronic music.
-Amazon 5 stars
Fantastic - at last the long awaited complete story of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - from their humble beginnings as the British Kraftwerk (although they've always been so much more than that) in the late 70's, right up to their recent thirteenth album The Punishment Of Luxury and triumphant nationwide tour with backing orchestra. Stunning never before seen full colour pictures from Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys' private collections are liberally interspersed throughout. Hard to pick one particular highlight but the fan recollections, pictures and ticket stubs will bring back long forgotten memories of better days for many. An essential five star purchase, not just for OMD fans but anyone interested in the history of British electronic music. Outstanding!
-Amazon 5 stars
As a lover of the music of OMD I was interested to read this book to see how the band started and developed their sound. The book covers their whole career from the front room of a house in Meols to starting to get noticed playing Eric's in Liverpool in the late 70's, to the recording of 2017's The Punishment of Luxury. The period is described through series of reminisencies from the band members, friends, contemporaries and fans; supported by photographs of the players, posters, and record covers. I was not disappointed with the book and can highly recommend it.
-Amazon 5 stars
The book moves between mainly the early formative memories of OMD and the fans and shows why they are so loved and what has driven them to keep producing incredible music for over forty years. Lots of funny anecdotes. The biggest thing I took is how OMD respect their fans and bond with them and almost enjoy their success together. They are incredibly normal despite their fame and always have time for their fans. Excellent read and a lot of insights and great stories.
-Amazon 5 stars
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