Paul Humphreys

Paul Humphreys
Humphreys performing with OMD in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Paul David Humphreys
Born	(1960-02-27) 27 February 1960 (age 57)
Origin	London, England
Genres	New wave, synthpop, electronic, experimental
Instruments	Synthesizers, keyboards, mellotron, electronic organ, piano, vocals, percussion, melodica, programming
Years active	1978–present
Labels	Dindisc, Virgin, Telegraph, There(There)
Associated acts	Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark The Listening Pool Onetwo

Paul David Humphreys (born 27 February 1960, in London) is a British musician and songwriter who is best known for his contributions to Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), a new wave band which he founded alongside Andy McCluskey in 1978. John Doran in The Quietus remarked: "If, roughly speaking, McCluskey is the intellect and inquisitive nature in the group, then Humphreys is the heart."

Humphreys provided synthesizer/keyboard work and vocals from the band's inception in 1978 until his 1989 departure, seven years before their dissolution, and returned for their 2006 reformation. Despite this period of absence, his songwriting contribution features on all of the group's studio albums, save for 1991's Sugar Tax. Humphreys sang lead vocals on several OMD tracks, including the singles "Electricity", "Souvenir", "Never Turn Away", "Secret" and "(Forever) Live and Die". He fronted spin-off band The Listening Pool from 1989 to 1996, and recorded with former Propaganda singer Claudia Brücken as the duo Onetwo from 2000 to 2013.

Humphreys grew up on the Wirral Peninsula in North West England, during which time he developed an interest in German electronic music such as Kraftwerk, Neu!, Can and La Düsseldorf. He was also influenced by the work of Brian Eno and early ambient styles of music. Humphreys joined a variety of bands in the mid-1970s but this was mostly defined by progrock and it wasn't until he met Andy McCluskey that they began their own musical experiments which culminated in a one-off gig as Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark at Eric's Club in Liverpool.