Synth-pop icons Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) made history in Rochdale on Friday 7 August, bringing their acclaimed ‘Summer of Hits’ tour to town alongside post-punk legend Peter Hook with his band The Light, and Manchester’s post-punk/funk band, A Certain Ratio.
Despite recording their debut single Electricity in Rochdale in 1979, OMD had never played the town before. That was put right in style in front of a sold-out crowd of well over 5,000 as the four-piece bounced onto stage and delivered an energetic 90-minute career spanning set featuring tracks from the majority of of their studio albums including Messages, Joan of Arc, Souvenir, Tesla Girls, Locomotion, Sailing on the Seven Seas and Enola Gay. Appropriately, their encore ended with Electricity.
With a career spanning more than four decades, over 40 million records sold worldwide and 18 top 40 hits, OMD remain one of Britain’s best-loved and influential pop groups.
Peter Hook & The Light played a selection of iconic tracks from Joy Division, New Order and Monaco, opening with Transmission followed by classics including Regret, What do you want from me?, True Faith, Blue Monday and Love Will Tear Us Apart.
Manchester’s post-punk/funk band A Certain Ratio were first to take to the stage at Rochdale Town Hall Square - the first time OMD, Peter Hook and A Certain Ratio had played together since 1979.
Inspiral Carpets’ keyboard player, vocalist and songwriter Clint Boon, DJ’d in between the bands and kept the crowd dancing during the historic show.
