Malcolm Holmes is a British drummer

Drummer

A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

. He is best known for being the drummer with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...

, with whom he had a #3 UK hit with "Souvenir

Souvenir (song)

"Souvenir" is a song written by Paul Humphreys and Martin Cooper of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and released as the first single from their 1981 album Architecture & Morality...

" and a #4 US/#48 UK hit with "If You Leave

If You Leave

"If You Leave" is a 1986 song by the British synthpop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. It was recorded for the soundtrack to the film Pretty in Pink where it was played prominently during the final scene...

."

Biography

His first drumming sessions were for "The Id," who included future members of OMD. He also played on sessions for The Pale Fountains

The Pale Fountains

The Pale Fountains were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1980, and composed of Mick Head , Chris McCaffery , Thomas Whelan and former Dislocation Dance trumpeter Andy Diagram .-Career:...

, Dalek I Love You

Dalek I Love You

Dalek I Love You may refer to:* Dalek I Love You, a synthpop group* Dalek I Love You , the group's self-titled album* Dalek I Love You , an audio play broadcast on BBC Radio...

, The Lightning Seeds and Margi Clarke

Margi Clarke

Margi Clarke is a British actress . She was born in Liverpool and raised in Kirkby , and is known for her Scouse accent and platinum-blonde hair.-Early career:...

, aka Margox in the late 1970s. He joined OMD in 1978.

Often over-looked in the band, Malcolm played on over 130 of their songs as well contributing powerful live performances at hundreds of OMD concerts. On his first Top of the Pops

Top of the Pops

Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...

 TV performance in 1980 he performed 'standing up' playing an electronic drum kit. He used a home made electronic drum

Electronic drum

An electronic drum is an electronic synthesizer which mimics an acoustic drum kit.The electronic drum usually consists of a set of pads mounted on a stand in a disposition similar to an acoustic drum kit. The pads are discs with a rubber or cloth-like coating. Each pad has a sensor which generates...

kit for live performances before they became available to the mass market.

In April 2004 Holmes suffered a major heart attack. He rejoined OMD when they reformed in 2006 and continues to play drums for them.