View source for Andy McCluskey

{{Short description|British singer, songwriter and bass guitarist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| image               = 20180728 Köln Amphi Festival OMD 0119.jpg
| caption             = McCluskey performing with OMD in 2018
| birth_name          = George Andrew McCluskey
| alias               = 
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1959|6|24}}
| birth_place         = [[Heswall]], [[Wirral Peninsula|Wirral]], England
| death_date          = 
| origin              = [[Meols]], Wirral, England
| instrument          = {{hlist|Vocals|bass|guitar|keyboards}}
| genre               = {{hlist|[[New wave music|New wave]]|[[synth-pop]]|[[Electronic music|electronic]]|[[post-punk]]|[[Experimental music|experimental]]}}
| occupation          = {{hlist|Musician|singer-songwriter|record producer}}
| years_active        = 1976–present
| label               = 
| associated_acts     = {{hlist|VCL XI|Equinox|Pegasus|[[The Id (band)|the Id]]|[[Dalek I Love You]]|[[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]]|[[Atomic Kitten]]}}
| website             = {{URL|omd.uk.com}}
}}

'''George Andrew McCluskey''' (born 24 June 1959) is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He is best known as the lead singer and bass guitarist of the [[Electronic music|electronic]] band [[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]] (OMD), which he founded alongside keyboard player [[Paul Humphreys]] in 1978: McCluskey has been the group's sole constant member. He has sold over 40 million records with OMD, and is regarded as a pioneer of electronic music in the UK. McCluskey is noted for his frenetic onstage "Trainee Teacher Dance".

McCluskey also founded pop [[girl group]] [[Atomic Kitten]], for whom he served as a principal songwriter and producer, and has collaborated with various acts. His work has received nominations at the [[Ivor Novello Awards|Ivor Novello]], [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] and [[Brit Awards]], and has topped charts in the UK and internationally.

==Early life and career==
McCluskey was born on 24 June 1959 in [[Heswall]], [[Wirral Peninsula|Wirral]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=David|date=1998|title=Guinness Rockopedia|publisher=[[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Records Limited]]|pages=304–305|isbn=978-0851120720}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|user=OfficialOMD|number=1805184929468195019|title=Wishing our very own Andy McCluskey a happy birthday!}}</ref> and grew up in a [[working class]] home in [[Meols]], on the northern coast of the Wirral. McCluskey's father, James, was born in [[Glasgow]] and was a [[Rail transport|railway worker]].<ref name="Cuddihy">{{cite magazine|last=Cuddihy|first=Paul|date=8 November 2017|title=Let the People Sing|url=https://www.magzter.com/stories/Lifestyle/Celtic-View/Let-The-People-Sing|magazine=[[The Celtic View]]|volume=53|issue=18|access-date=20 July 2022|via=[[Magzter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://travel-almanac.com/blogs/travel-log/92852163-andy-mccluskey-conversation-taken-from-tta1-ss2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624062813/https://travel-almanac.com/blogs/travel-log/92852163-andy-mccluskey-conversation-taken-from-tta1-ss2011 | archive-date=24 June 2016 | title=Andy McCluskey - Conversation taken from TTA1 - SS2011 – THE TRAVEL ALMANAC }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/whats-on/omd-singer-champions-unsung-north-6765139|title=OMD Singer Champions Unsung North Staffordshire Artist in New Exhibition|last=Hiles|first=Hannah|date=9 March 2022|website=[[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|Stoke-on-Trent Live]]|access-date=28 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediscoverthe80s.com/2020/06/interview-with-andy-mccluskey-omd.html|title=Interview with Andy McCluskey of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD)|date=5 June 2020|website=Rediscover the 80s|access-date=28 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://thequietus.com/interviews/bakers-dozen/andy-mccluskey-omd-orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-favourite-albums/9/ | title=The Quietus &#124; Features &#124; Baker's Dozen &#124; Souvenirs: Andy McCluskey of OMD's Favourite Albums }}</ref> He met [[Paul Humphreys]] at Great Meols Primary School,<ref name="CP2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2020/02/omd-interview-stockhausen-or-abba-cant-we-be-both/|title=OMD Interview: 'Stockhausen or ABBA? Can't we be both?'|website=Classicpopmag.com|date=13 February 2020|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref> in Elwyn Road, and played with him in several bands, including Hitlerz Underpantz, VCL XI and [[The Id (band)|the Id]]. McCluskey then attended [[Calday Grange Grammar School]] in [[West Kirby]]. He briefly joined [[Dalek I Love You]] as their lead singer, but left because he wanted to sing his own songs. McCluskey teamed up with Humphreys again to form OMD in 1978, achieving global success. Humphreys and the rest of the band split with McCluskey in 1989, with McCluskey retaining the OMD name:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/magazine/omds-plot-against-rock.html|title=The Plot Against Rock|first=Hugo|last=Lindgren|date=10 May 2013|access-date=15 August 2020|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> he disbanded the group in 1996. McCluskey has sold over 40 million records with OMD,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/features/interview-andy-mcluskey-omd/|title=Andy McCluskey, OMD|last=Awbi|first=Anita|date=19 March 2013|publisher=[[PRS for Music]]|access-date=11 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/oct/28/omd-review-clap-along-electropop-sounds-even-better-with-age|title=OMD review – clap-along electropop sounds even better with age|last=Simpson|first=Dave|date=28 October 2019|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/omd-postpone-benefit-gig-roadies-andy-mccluskey-tests-positive-covid-19-liverpool-725204|title=OMD forced to postpone benefit gig for roadies after Andy McCluskey tests positive for Covid-19|last=Sherwin|first=Adam|author-link=Adam Sherwin|date=16 October 2020|website=[[i (British newspaper)|iNews]]|access-date=11 April 2023}}</ref> and is regarded as a pioneer of electronic music in the UK.<ref>Multiple sources:
*{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/2014/17/sounds-of-the-80s|title=Sounds of the 80s|date=26 April 2014|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=5 April 2023|quote=...the man regarded as a pioneer of electronic music in the UK, Andy McCluskey from OMD.}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/omd-interview|title=OMD Interview|date=12 March 2008|website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|access-date=21 April 2016|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204212047/http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/omd-interview|archive-date=4 February 2011|quote=OMD founder and electro pioneer Andy McCluskey...}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/features/omd-english-electric|title=OMD, English Electric|last=Fisher|first=Kyle|date=8 April 2013|publisher=[[PRS for Music]]|access-date=5 April 2023|quote=Synth pioneer Andy McCluskey...}}
*{{cite web|url=https://virginradio.co.uk/the-graham-norton-radio-show-with-waitrose/124607/omd-andy-mccluskey-graham-norton-new-album-virgin-radio-halloween-party|title=OMD's Andy McCluskey tells Graham Norton about their new album and Virgin Radio's Halloween party|date=23 October 2023|publisher=[[Virgin Radio UK]]|access-date=10 April 2024|quote=Synth pioneer Andy McCluskey, co-founder of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark...}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/13625321.orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-head-back-to-rewind-for-a-trip-to-the-80s/|title=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark make a comeback to Rewind festival|last=Hughes|first=Tim|date=25 August 2015|website=[[The Argus (Brighton)|The Argus]]|access-date=7 April 2023|quote=...electro-pop pioneer Andy McCluskey of OMD.}}</ref>

McCluskey single-handedly composed a number of OMD singles, including: "[[Enola Gay (song)|Enola Gay]]", which became an international chart-topper;<ref name="AMsouvenir">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/souvenir-mw0003310416#trackListing|title=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: ''Souvenir'' – Track Listing|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=2 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Ed|last=Power|title=Enola Gay: how OMD made poignant pop from the ashes of Hiroshima|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=7 August 2020|access-date= 5 April 2021|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/enola-gay-omd-made-poignant-pop-ashes-hiroshima/}}</ref> "[[Joan of Arc (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)|Joan of Arc]]";<ref name="AMsouvenir"/> "[[Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)|Maid of Orleans]]", which was Germany's biggest-selling single of 1982;<ref name="AMsouvenir"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/mar/07/popandrock1|title=How to lose 3 million fans in one easy step|last=Stanley|first=Bob|author-link=Bob Stanley (musician)|date=7 March 2008|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref> and "[[Pandora's Box (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)|Pandora's Box]]".<ref name="AMsouvenir"/> He also co-wrote hits such as "[[Messages (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)|Messages]]", "[[Locomotion (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song)|Locomotion]]", "[[Talking Loud and Clear]]", "[[If You Leave (song)|If You Leave]]", "[[Sailing on the Seven Seas]]" and "[[Walking on the Milky Way (song)|Walking on the Milky Way]]".<ref name="AMsouvenir"/> ''[[Music Week]]'' asserted that McCluskey has an "immense talent for writing perfect pop songs",<ref>{{cite magazine|date=5 October 1996|title=Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=12}}</ref> while ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''{{'}}s Debbi Voller called him a "master of melody".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Voller|first=Debbi|date=October 1996|title=OMD: Universal|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|page=170}}</ref> In 1993, [[Mark Frith]] of ''[[Smash Hits]]'' dubbed McCluskey "something of a living legend";<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Frith|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Frith|date=7–20 July 1993|title=New Singles|magazine=[[Smash Hits]]|page=47}}</ref> two decades later, ''[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]'' stated that "after 35 years of sonic experimentalism, Andy McCluskey can rightfully be described as a godfather of classic pop".<ref>{{cite magazine|date=May–June 2013|title=Features|magazine=[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]|issue=4|page=4}}</ref>

McCluskey has gained the admiration of fellow musicians including [[Paul McCartney]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/entertainment/1273045192/de-mannen-van-orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-omd-sta-je-ineens-tussen-swift-en-sheeran|title=The Men of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD): 'You Suddenly Find Yourself Between Swift and Sheeran'|last=Heck|first=Jean-Paul|date=13 February 2024|website=[[De Telegraaf]]|language=Nl|access-date=26 April 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240213055144/https://www.telegraaf.nl/entertainment/1273045192/de-mannen-van-orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-omd-sta-je-ineens-tussen-swift-en-sheeran|archive-date=13 February 2024}}</ref> [[The Teardrop Explodes]]'s [[David Balfe]],<ref name="Houghton19">{{cite book|last=Houghton|first=Richard|date=2019|title=OMD: Pretending to See the Future|edition=expanded paperback|publisher=This Day in Music Books|pages=25–28, 414–415|isbn=978-1-9161156-2-0|quote=[Balfe:] Andy was definitely doing something interesting, something with more talent than most, something approaching contemporary. This was such a rarity, as to be almost impossible in those days."<br/> "[Hearn:] What a great frontman Andy was... an inspiration to me.}}</ref> [[The Time Frequency]]'s Jon Campbell,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/JonCampbellArtist/posts/pfbid0RLkpAcRxthX5EyNM3hSGC8Zq1EoaAfzKSRe7f7zKhHv2K4CfVajTYZ5okd8rkXmfl|title=I absolutely love this song|date=18 March 2024|website=Jon Campbell|access-date=20 March 2025|via=[[Facebook]]}} {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20240320081935/https://www.facebook.com/JonCampbellArtist/posts/pfbid0RLkpAcRxthX5EyNM3hSGC8Zq1EoaAfzKSRe7f7zKhHv2K4CfVajTYZ5okd8rkXmfl|date=20 March 2024|url2=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319192539/https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https://www.facebook.com/JonCampbellArtist/posts/pfbid0RLkpAcRxthX5EyNM3hSGC8Zq1EoaAfzKSRe7f7zKhHv2K4CfVajTYZ5okd8rkXmfl|date2=19 March 2025}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and [[Kraftwerk]]'s [[Karl Bartos]], who hailed him as "such an excellent songwriter".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/kraftwerk-karl-bartos-sound-of-the-machine-book-3262065|title=Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?! – Kraftwerk's Karl Bartos|last=Ryan|first=Gary|date=8 July 2022|website=[[NME]]|access-date=5 April 2023}}</ref> [[Joy Division]] and [[New Order (band)|New Order]] co-founder [[Peter Hook]] viewed McCluskey as "really underrated... for what he did with Orchestral Manoeuvres but also those pop songs he wrote for Atomic Kitten."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/on-this-day-in-1956-joy-division-ian-curtis-was-born-22861823|title=On this day in 1956: Joy Division's Ian Curtis was born|date=15 July 2021|website=[[Hot Press]]|access-date=15 June 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715095642/https://www.hotpress.com/music/on-this-day-in-1956-joy-division-ian-curtis-was-born-22861823|archive-date=15 July 2021}}</ref> [[Vince Clarke]] (co-founder of [[Depeche Mode]], [[Yazoo (band)|Yazoo]] and [[Erasure (duo)|Erasure]]) described McCluskey's as a "really good voice" and noted OMD as a "huge influence".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/erasure-vince-clarke-2020-interview-2648175250.html|title=Synthpop King Vince Clarke on Erasure's 18th Studio Album, 'The Neon'|last=Shand|first=Max|date=12 October 2020|website=[[PopMatters]]|access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref> [[The Human League]] and [[Heaven 17]] co-founder, [[Martyn Ware]], referred to "the great Andy McCluskey", labelling him a "true pioneer of electronic pop music".<ref name="Ware22">{{cite episode|title=Andy McCluskey: Show Notes|url=https://podbay.fm/p/electronically-yours-with-martyn-ware/e/1667520032|access-date=5 April 2023|series=Electronically Yours with Martyn Ware|first=Martyn|last=Ware|author-link=Martyn Ware|network=Anchor.fm|date=4 November 2022|number=113|via=Podbay|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405083446/https://podbay.fm/p/electronically-yours-with-martyn-ware/e/1667520032|archive-date=5 April 2023}}</ref>

===OMD reformation===
McCluskey and Humphreys reunited for a performance on German TV in June 2005, officially reforming OMD in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/magazine/omds-plot-against-rock.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|title=The Plot Against Rock|last=Lindgren|first=Hugo|date=10 May 2013|website=[[The New York Times Magazine]]|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|access-date=5 April 2023|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515163956/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/magazine/omds-plot-against-rock.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|archive-date=15 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/qanda-omds-paul-humphreys-talks-reformation-the-return-of-intelligent-music-and-being-in-hitlers-underpants-7076357|title=Q&A: OMD's Paul Humphreys Talks Reformation, The Return of Intelligent Music and Being in Hitler's Underpants|last=Smyers|first=Darryl|date=18 March 2011|website=[[Dallas Observer]]|access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref> 2007 saw the first tour of the reformed band, including [[Martin Cooper (musician)|Martin Cooper]] and [[Malcolm Holmes]], commemorating the twenty-sixth anniversary of the release of their seminal album ''[[Architecture & Morality]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/omd-2013-interview-2495732413.html|title=The Future Will Be Silent: An Interview with OMD|last=Shin|first=Dennis|date=28 August 2013|website=[[PopMatters]]|access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref>

The group released a CD and DVD of their [[Hammersmith Apollo]] (London) live gig from the 2007 reunion tour in the spring of 2008,<ref>''OMD Live: Architecture & Morality & More''. 2008. [[Eagle Records]].</ref> before undertaking a short tour to celebrate thirty years as a band in the autumn of 2008.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sean|last=O'Neal|title=Paul Humphreys of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark|url=https://www.avclub.com/paul-humphreys-of-orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-1798214499|newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=30 July 2008|access-date=20 July 2024|archive-date=27 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927214814/https://www.avclub.com/paul-humphreys-of-orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-1798214499|url-status=live}}</ref> A compilation of their singles and videos, ''[[Messages: Greatest Hits]]'', was released that year.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=John|last=Doran|title=Messages - Greatest Hits|url=https://thequietus.com/quietus-reviews/omd/|magazine=[[The Quietus]]|date=25 September 2008|accessdate=5 April 2023}}</ref> On 20 September 2010 OMD released their 11th studio album ''[[History of Modern]]'', their first in 14 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/omd-history-modern-bright-antenna/|title=OMD, 'History of Modern'|website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|first=Barry|last=Walters|date=28 September 2010|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015224950/http://www.spin.com/reviews/omd-history-modern-bright-antenna/|access-date=5 April 2023|archive-date=15 October 2010}}</ref> The group's ''Souvenir'' box set, a career retrospective covering their entire oeuvre, was nominated for "Best Historical Album" at the 2021 [[Grammy Award]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/grammy-nominations-2021-see-the-full-list-of-nominees-here/|title=Grammy Nominations 2021: See the Full List of Nominees Here|date=24 November 2020|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref>

===Live performance===
McCluskey noted how, in the early days of OMD, the band's work was perceived as "robotic intellectual music that you couldn't dance to". In response,<ref name="Scotsman07">{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/orchestral-leap-dark-2480880|title=Orchestral Leap in the Dark|date=3 February 2007|website=[[The Scotsman]]|access-date=10 June 2021}}</ref> he developed an onstage dancing style that has been described as "manic" and "jerky".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cltampa.com/music/review-in-st-petersburg-omd-provides-soundtrack-for-a-night-of-sweaty-luxurious-synthpop-12186403|title=Review: In St. Petersburg, OMD provides soundtrack for a night of sweaty, luxurious synth-pop|last=Echazabal|first=Gabe|date=15 April 2018|website=[[Creative Loafing|Creative Loafing Tampa]]|access-date=7 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Maconie|first=Stuart|author-link=Stuart Maconie|title=Cider With Roadies|edition=revised|publisher=[[Ebury Publishing]]|year=2005|isbn=978-0091897451|page=142}}</ref> While some journalists – and McCluskey himself – have been critical of his dancing ability,<ref name="Top10">{{cite episode|title=Electropop (no. 5: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)|series=Top Ten|station=[[Channel 4]]|date=7 April 2001|quote=[McCluskey] launched a dance that remains popular at teacher training college discos... Despite the odd piece of dancing derision, OMD were hot.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/07/09/summerfest-2016-summerfest-reviews-cam-skillet-reyna-and-more/87008114/|title=Summerfest 2016|last=Roach|first=Cal|date=9 July 2016|website=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|access-date=7 April 2023}}</ref> the routine found popularity with OMD fans as well as with teaching students, thus earning the name, the "Trainee Teacher Dance" (coined by broadcaster [[Stuart Maconie]]).<ref name="Top10"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Manoeuvring+back+on+scene.-a0329435154|title=Manoeuvring back on scene|publisher=[[The Free Library]]|website=[[Sunday Mail (Scotland)|Sunday Mail]]|last=Fulton|first=Rick|date=12 May 2013|access-date=12 October 2013|quote=Fans love your distinctive dancing, which Stuart Maconie called the 'Trainee Teacher Dance'.}}</ref><ref name="ryan">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/music-interviews/does-rock-n-roll-kill-braincells-andy-mccluskey-orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-omd-2556689|title=Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?! – Andy McCluskey|last=Ryan|first=Gary|date=14 October 2019|website=[[NME]]|access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref> ''[[The Scotsman]]'' hailed McCluskey's dancing as "legendary",<ref name="Scotsman07"/> while ''[[The Times]]'' said that he "deserves credit for making it an integral part of the OMD brand... You can fault his skill, but not his tireless enthusiasm."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-colston-hall-bristol-67b27g6km36|title=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Colston Hall, Bristol|date=2 November 2010|website=[[The Times]]|access-date=7 April 2023|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://archive.today/20221121135926/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/orchestral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark-colston-hall-bristol-67b27g6km36|archive-date=21 November 2022}}</ref>

Rock group [[ZZ Top]] were noted admirers of McCluskey's dancing, incorporating elements of the routine into their own live show.<ref name="ryan"/><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Simmons|first=Sylvie|author-link=Sylvie Simmons|date=July 1–15, 1982|title=Over the Top!|magazine=[[Kerrang!]]|issue=19|page=6|quote=[Billy Gibbons:] We steal our moves heavily off Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. We watch [McCluskey].}}</ref> Electronic musician [[Martyn Ware]] remarked that "his stage performances are exceptional".<ref name="Ware22"/> [[No Doubt]] bassist and OMD fan, [[Tony Kanal]], said in 2012, "McCluskey is the singer and he also plays bass, which is [an] incredibly difficult way to multi-task. I finally saw them live last year and his playing and singing are so incredible."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2012/09/no-doubt-gwen-stefani-tony-kanal-push-and-shove-influences/|title=No Doubt Explain OMD, EDM, and Peter Hook Basslines on 'Push and Shove'|last=Marchese|first=David|date=24 September 2012|website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|access-date=5 April 2023}}</ref> [[Kevin Hearn]] of [[Barenaked Ladies]] called McCluskey a "great frontman" and an inspiration.<ref name="Houghton19"/>

In live performances, McCluskey often plays bass guitar and occasionally, keyboard instruments and guitar. He is right-handed, but originally learned to play bass guitar on a left-handed model. As a result, he plays with the strings "upside down" (''i.e.'', with the lowest-pitched string on the bottom and the highest-pitched one on top), counter to normal practice.<ref>{{cite web | title=A Message from Andy McCluskey of OMD | quote=I play bass with the strings upside down even though I am right handed....because my first bass was a left handed Wilson Rapier... | url=http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/mp3downloads.htm | access-date=2009-04-25| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090410090417/http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/mp3downloads.htm| archive-date= 10 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>

==Atomic Kitten and the Genie Queen==
In 1998, McCluskey founded the UK pop group [[Atomic Kitten]], serving as songwriter and producer.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cragg|first=Michael|date=2023|chapter=Now Here's a Story from A to Z: Who's Who?|title=Reach for the Stars: 1996–2006: Fame, Fallout and Pop's Final Party|publisher=Nine Eight Books|isbn=978-1788707244}}</ref> Their song "[[Whole Again]]", co-written by McCluskey, was his first no. 1 song on the [[UK Singles Chart]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Grounded |title=The Official Charts Company – Atomic Kitten – Whole Again |website=[[OfficialCharts.com]] |access-date=2010-09-19}}</ref> and he and his fellow songwriters were nominated for the [[Ivor Novello Award]] for "International hit of the year".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1945959.stm |title=Gray and Healy battle for Ivors |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=23 April 2002 |access-date=2010-09-19}}</ref> The song also received a [[Brit Award]] nomination for "Best British Single".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1832486.stm|title=Brit Awards 2002: The winners|date=20 February 2002|publisher=[[BBC News]]|access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref> McCluskey was also a writer of the Atomic Kitten hits "[[Right Now (Atomic Kitten song)|Right Now]]", "[[See Ya (Atomic Kitten song)|See Ya]]", "[[I Want Your Love (Atomic Kitten song)|I Want Your Love]]" and "[[Cradle (Atomic Kitten song)|Cradle]]". He parted ways with the group during the recording of their second album, ''[[Feels So Good (Atomic Kitten album)|Feels So Good]]'' (2002).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.axs.com/atomic-kitten-is-back-and-they-re-playing-a-few-dates-for-the-greatest-63593|title=Atomic Kitten is back and they're playing a few dates for The Greatest Hits tour|last=Ulibas|first=Joseph|date=13 August 2015|website=[[AXS TV|AXS]]|publisher=[[2929 Entertainment]]|access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref>

McCluskey subsequently formed the White Noise records and publishing label where he worked with [[Liverpool]] girl group, the Genie Queen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/music/2003/09/geniequeen/index.shtml |title=Three Wishes for Genie Queen |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=9 October 2003 |access-date=4 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031009054735/http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/music/2003/09/geniequeen/index.shtml |archive-date=9 October 2003}}</ref>

==Other work==
McCluskey has written with, and provided session musicianship for, various artists. Some of his collaborators include: [[Gary Barlow]], with whom McCluskey wrote the song "Thrill Me" for the soundtrack of the film ''[[Eddie the Eagle (film)|Eddie the Eagle]]'' (2016);<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/fly-songs-inspired-by-the-film-eddie-the-eagle-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0002906947 ''Fly: Songs Inspired by the Film Eddie the Eagle'']. [[AllMusic]]. Retrieved 11 November 2016.</ref> [[The Lightning Seeds]], for whom he played keyboards on their debut album ''[[Cloudcuckooland (album)|Cloudcuckooland]]'' (1990);<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/cloudcuckooland-mw0000207504/credits ''Cloudcuckooland'']. [[AllMusic]]. Retrieved 11 November 2016.</ref> and [[Karl Bartos]], whose record ''[[Esperanto (Elektric Music album)|Esperanto]]'' (1993) – released under the Elektric Music moniker – features McCluskey as co-writer on "Show Business" and "Kissing the Machine" (and as lead vocalist on the latter track).<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/esperanto-mw0000114843 ''Esperanto'']. [[AllMusic]]. Retrieved 11 November 2016.</ref> Bartos also co-wrote the song "The Moon & the Sun", which featured on OMD's ''[[Universal (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album)|Universal]]'' (1996). "Kissing the Machine" would later appear in a reworked form on the OMD album ''[[English Electric (album)|English Electric]]'' (2013).<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/english-electric-mw0002483459 ''English Electric'']. [[AllMusic]]. Retrieved 11 November 2016.</ref> McCluskey recorded the song "A Million Stars" with members of [[Fun (band)|Fun]], for the soundtrack of 2015 film ''[[The D Train]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/192972-a-million-stars-from-the-d-train-soundtrack-video-premiere-2495535519.html|title='A Million Stars' from 'The D Train' soundtrack|last=Ezell|first=Brice|date=5 May 2015|website=[[PopMatters]]|access-date=6 April 2021}}</ref>

McCluskey owns the [[Motor Museum]], a recording studio in Liverpool.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Studiofile: Motor Museum, Liverpool, UK |journal=Future Music |issue=224 |date=March 2010 |page=22}}</ref> Producer [[Mike Crossey]], who worked at the studio, has credited McCluskey with being a "great mentor".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.audeze.com/blogs/audeze-artists/mike-crossey-new|title=Audeze talks with producer, mixer, and studio owner Mike Crossey|website=Audeze|date=6 August 2024|access-date=22 January 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life==
McCluskey's girlfriend in the late 1970s was [[The Id (band)|the Id]] bandmate Julia Kneale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article/4962/Orchestral-Manoeuvres-in-the-Dark-Interview|title=Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Interview|last=Clarkson|first=John|date=11 January 2009|website=Pennyblackmusic.co.uk|access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref> She wrote the lyrics to "Julia's Song",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.omd.uk.com/story/auction_-_julias_song_lyric_sheet|title=Auction - Julia's Song Lyric Sheet|date=17 February 2016|website=Omd.uk.com|access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref> which appeared on OMD's [[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (album)|eponymous debut album]] (1980).

McCluskey later married Toni,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/manoeuvres-dark----3508684|title=Manoeuvres in the dark... on new knees|last=Price|first=Pete|date=26 July 2007|website=[[Liverpool Echo]]|access-date=26 December 2018}}</ref> with whom he had two children.<ref name="key">{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/New+Manoeuvres+are+on+the+cards%3B+the+interview+Andy+McCluskey+talks...-a0158365408|title=New Manoeuvres are on the cards|last=Key|first=Philip|date=26 January 2007|website=[[Liverpool Daily Post]]|publisher=[[TheFreeDictionary.com#TheFreeLibrary.com|TheFreeLibrary]]|access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="lindgren">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/magazine/omds-plot-against-rock.html|title=The Plot Against Rock|last=Lindgren|first=Hugo|author-link=Hugo Lindgren|date=10 May 2013|website=[[The New York Times Magazine]]|access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref> A prominent reason for OMD's reformation was that his children had never seen him on stage; in 2007 he said: "I was happy to stop working to be with the kids, but strangely enough they have been the most vocal in encouraging me back."<ref name="key"/> The couple divorced in 2011 and Toni returned to her native [[San Diego]], [[California]], with the children.<ref name="lindgren"/>

He lived in [[Dublin]] in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hotpress.com/culture/omds-andy-mccluskey-im-really-happy-that-i-dont-have-to-pander-to-a-tiktok-generation-to-get-my-songs-heard-22960473 | title=OMD's Andy McCluskey: "I'm really happy that I don't have to pander to a TikTok generation to get my songs heard"}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/andy-mccluskey-omd-universal-appeal | title=ANDY MCCLUSKEY (OMD): Universal Appeal}}</ref>

McCluskey is a supporter of [[Liverpool F.C.]]<ref name="CP2020"/> He also acquired a fandom of [[Celtic F.C.]] through his Glaswegian father.<ref name="Cuddihy"/>

McCluskey is a longtime [[Atheism|atheist]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Nunn|first=Jerry|url=https://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/I288025|title=Andy McCluskey|magazine=GoPride|date=21 September 2011|access-date=12 September 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000035976}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0566057}}

{{Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCluskey, Andy}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:British male new wave singers]]
[[Category:British synth-pop new wave musicians]]
[[Category:English atheists]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English new wave musicians]]
[[Category:English people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:English pop keyboardists]]
[[Category:English record producers]]
[[Category:English rock singers]]
[[Category:Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark members]]
[[Category:People educated at Calday Grange Grammar School]]
[[Category:People from Heswall]]