(Forever) Live and Die

7" single pic bag front

7" pic disc side A

**(Forever) Live and Die** is the title of song by OMD, originally released as the group's eighteenth single on 28 August 1986 and successively featured on the album *The Pacific Age*.

The songwriting was initially accredited to "OMD" although later accredited to Humphreys/Weir (*Graham*). The vocal by Paul Humphreys would suggest that at least the lyrics were written by him.

The track was produced by Stephen Hague and engineered by Tom Lord-Alge.

## Single release

The single was released on 7", 12" and limited edition 7" picture disc. Each issue featured new track This Town as B-side and the 12" featured the customary extended version as well as as the standard 7" version. There were no official cassette or CD issues.

### Remixes

For the UK issue a remix by John "Tokes" Poteker was issued on the 12", whereas the US/Canada 12" release features another remix by Tom Lord-Alge.

### Reception and chart performance

Writing for the Singles reviews in Smash Hits, issue dtd. 14 August 1986, Simon Mills described the single as, "*Limp, languid, wimpy and totally inoffensive*", adding that, "*OMD should get a jump doing the incidental music for Trumpton*". Record Mirror's Andy Strickland said, "*Some nice brass touches courtesy of the Weir brothers,..but hardly world shattering stuff.*" (issue dtd. 30 August, p.8)[1]

(Forever) Live and Die entered the UK Top 40 at no.38 (as revealed on 09 September 1986), moving up to no.24 the week after when it was also featured on *Top of the Pops*, then to no.14 before peaking at no.11 on the chart announced on 30 September, with a second TOTP appearance on 02 October. It was OMD's fifth highest UK chart placing, equalling that of Talking Loud & Clear.

In the US the single, as the follow-up to the highly successful If You Leave, entered the Hot 100 at no.87 in the week ending 27 September 1986, eventually reaching no.19 in the week ending 06 December. [2]

The track features on all OMD singles compilations.

### Tracklistings

UK 7" Virgin VS 888 / 7" ltd. pic. disc Virgin VSY 888
A. (Forever) Live and Die

B. This Town

UK 12" Virgin VS 888-12
A. (Forever) Live And Die (Extended Mix) *remix by John "Tokes" Poteker*

B1.(Forever) Live And Die (7" Version)

B2. This Town

This Town is included in the B-sides compilation album *Navigation The OMD B-Sides*

### Promo video

A promo video was made for the single, directed by Lesley Libman and husband Larry Williams. It was filmed in and around Liverpool, including Hoylake beach and on the Mersey ferry, with indoor shots at the Adelphi Hotel. Various filming methods were sued including shooting on 8mm film and also re-filming shots from a TV screen. It was the first to feature the band as a six-piece.

## Live versions

(Forever) Live and Die featured in the setlist for The Pacific Age tour (1986-87) as well as on the US Depeche Mode support tour (1988). It was later included on early shows of the reformed era from 2007 onwards, up to the Souvenir tour in 2019.

See below for officially released live recordings.

## Versions and availability

Audio

* *The Pacific Age* (1986)
* *The Best of OMD* (1988)
* *The OMD Singles* (1998)
* *Messages: Greatest Hits* (2008)
* *Souvenir - The Singles Collection 1979-2019*
 12" extended version remixed by John "Tokes" Poteker (5:45)
* Shame, CDS (1987)
 12" extended version remixed by Tom Lord-Alge(5:50/5:55)

Live recordings
* *Architecture & Morality & More* (recorded 19.05.2007, CD/DVD issued 2008)
* *Live at the Mermaid Theatre, London 03.02.2011* (*Souvenir boxset*, 2019)
* *Live in Berlin* (2011)
* *Live at The Empire Theatre Liverpool. 04.11.19*

Video
* Promo video on *Messages: Greatest Hits* DVD (2008)
* *Architecture & Morality & More* (recorded 19.05.2007, CD/DVD issued 2008)
* TOTP performance aired 18 September 1986 on BBC TV Performances (DVD), *Souvenir boxset* (2019)
	+ *NB 02 October 1986 appearance not included on this DVD*

## Scrapbook

(Forever) Live and Die lyrics in *Smash Hits*, issue dtd. 10 September 1986
## See also

* Smash Hits (issue dtd 10 September 1986)
* Now That's What I Call Music 8

## External links

* Discogs

* Musicbrainz (work)