Years active 1977–1978 Albums The ID | Active until 1978 | |
Past members Andy McCluskeyJulia KnealeNeill ShentonJohn FloydMalcolm HolmesSteve HollasGary HodgsonPaul Humphreys Genres Electropop, Post-punk, New wave Similar Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The Listening Pool, Dalek I Love You, Stuart Kershaw, Nigel Ipinson | ||
The Id was a new wave/synthpop band from the Wirral, Merseyside, England formed in September 1977 by school and college friends Andy McCluskey (bass, vocals), Julia Kneale (vocals), Neill Shenton (guitar), John Floyd (vocals), Malcolm Holmes (drums), Steve Hollas (bass), Gary Hodgson (guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards).
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McCluskey and Humphreys had met each other at school, sharing interests in early electronic artists like Brian Eno and Kraftwerk and played together since 1975. Humphreys went to study electronics at Riversdale College, in Liverpool, where he met Steve Hollas and Gary Hodgson.
The alignment was large, but lasted briefly, because Kneale, Shenton and Floyd quit very soon. The group began to gig regularly in the Merseyside area, performing original material largely written by McCluskey and Humphreys. They had quite a following on the scene.
In early 1978 The Id recorded some demos at the Open Eye studio in Liverpool after some advice from Eric's Club owner Roger Eagle. The three songs were "Electricity", "Julia's Song" and "The Misunderstanding". The Open Eye recordings of The Id were released in December 2002 as an EP on Compact Disc by Engine Records.
In August 1978 the band split up. McCluskey joined Dalek I Love You the same month, but left within a month to reunite with Humphreys to form Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).
In August 1979, a year after the band broke up, "Julia's Song" was included on a compilation record of local bands called Street to Street: A Liverpool Album (Open Eye Records / OE LP 501). Other contributors were Big in Japan, Jaqui & Jeanette, Modern Eon, Activity Minimal, Dead Trout, Tontrix, The Accelerators, Malchix, Fun, The Moderates, and Echo & the Bunnymen. Radio One DJ John Peel, who contributed sleeve notes to the LP, played "Julia's Song" on his programme on 14 August 1980.
The three songs from the Open Eye sessions were re-recorded by OMD for their eponymous debut album in 1980 and "Electricity" was released as the first single. Holmes reunited with McCluskey and Humphreys in 1980 to record the Organisation album and became a member of OMD. Another song by The Id, "Radio Waves", was recorded by OMD for their 1983 album Dazzle Ships. Hodgson worked as a keyboard technician for OMD during their live performances and has provided similar services for Oasis.
EP
The Id (2002) UK: Engine Records / ENG 001
Compilations
Songs
Julia's SongThe ID · 2002
ElectricityThe ID · 2002
The MisunderstandingThe ID · 2002