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Paul Chandler ~ UK
Paul Chandler was kind enough to agree to be interviewed about what it’s like to be a Numanoid. A fan since 1978, he is one of the core, long-time group of fans that have followed Gary Numan since the very beginning of his career.
When asked, “What drew you to Gary Numan?” Paul had this to say:
“The early electronic sound and Gary’s vocal and image style is what drew me to Gary Numan. I was into music from an early age and was quite happy listening to bands like Slade and other glam rock artists. I did get bored quickly with the pop moulding that seemed to always happen; nothing different was going on, and I needed something that was not mainstream. Punk hit me straight away as it was a great escape from the humdrum. When I first bought (Tubeway Army’s) “That’s Too Bad,” I didn’t think that this was just another punk record. The music may have been of the same trend, but it was Numan’s vocals that drew me, and I felt that this was not quite right for a ‘punk’ record. “Bombers” confirmed that Tubeway Army were not typical punk at all, and something else was waiting to be unleashed! Replicas and The Pleasure Principle were the type of music that I had been waiting for! Ever since, I have filled my life with so much music and all because of Gary Numan and his style and uniqueness.”
Paul continues with an explanation of what Numan’s music means to him. “His music means everything to me. After hearing “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” it blew my mind! His music from the early days still means as much to me now as it ever did. It was like having someone be there for you at a difficult time and they came through for you; a friend who is always there for you.”
“Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” via YouTube user scruffyonion:
Asked to provide the name of his favorite Gary Numan LP, Paul candidly responds, “Can I have 3? The Pleasure Principle, Replicas, and Telekon.”
Fortunately for Paul, there is not a limit in this series for how many favorite songs a Numanoid might list. He cites the following as his favorites:
“Here goes… Listen to the Sirens/Steel and You/Something’s in the House/Me! I Disconnect from You/Are ‘Friends’ Electric?/Praying to the Aliens/You Are in My Vision/We Are So Fragile/Airlane/Metal/Films/M.E/Conversation/Cars/On Broadway (Live)/This Wreckage/The Aircrash Bureau/Telekon/Remind Me to Smile/We Are Glass/I’m an Agent/I Dream of Wires/I Die: You Die/Slowcar to China/She’s Got Claws/Crash/I Sing Rain/Love Needs No Disguise/Music for Chameleons/This Is My House/We Take Mystery (To Bed)/Noise Noise/Warriors/The Iceman Comes/This Prison Moon/My Centurion/Sister Surprise/My Car Slides/Berserker/Cold Warning/Pleasure Skin/Creatures/Tricks/God Only Knows/Anthem/No Shelter/My Breathing/Unknown And Hostile/This is Emotion/Hunger/Voix/Respect/I Don’t Believe/Soul Protection/Confession/The Skin Game/A Question of Faith/Scar/Love and Napalm/Dominion Day/Prophecy/Dark/An Alien Cure/Pure/Walking With Shadows/Rip/My Jesus/Listen to My Voice/ I Can’t Breathe/Hybrid/Halo/Slave/In a Dark Place/Haunted/Before You Hate It.”
Paul recalls his most exciting Gary Numan moment as, “The first time I heard “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” and waiting for new albums!”
As for his favorite way to express his love for Gary Numan, Paul states, quite simply, “Loyalty.”
Paul continues, “When you follow an artist who has changed your life and given you an opening to absorb various other music, you do feel the highs and lows of their career. You want them to rule the world of music and to climb back into the limelight,when all goes dark and comes to perhaps a point of no return. When times were bleak for Gary Numan, regarding record sales etc., I always knew he would find his way again! With each record that was released, I kept hoping that this would be the one!
“Some may not approve of his vocal and music style, but there is much more to Gary Numan than meets the eye. You can hear on tracks such as “Crash” and “This Wreckage” that his vocals can be stretched. Often, because of his distinctive vocals, Numan is dismissed for having a high vocal range. I think that this is far from the truth! These vocal tones are what make him unique, and the great artist that he is and always will be!
Gary Numan gave phenomenally great performances billed as “Back To The Phuture” last weekend at the Troxy in London and the Manchester Academy. In Manchester on April 1, Gary Numan and band shared the stage with Recoil, Motor, and DJ Mark Jones. At the Troxy, on April 2, other artists included legendary John Foxx, Mirrors, Motor, DJ Daniel Miller, and DJ Mark Jones.
There are some fantastic fan videos of various songs Gary Numan performed, including one that he penned just that week (“Obelisk/Everything Comes Down To This”). I’ve linked to some of the better ones below. Enjoy!
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Mark Ryan
Part of a unique and vital core of longtime fans, Mark has been a Numanoid since Numan started performing – late 1978, to be exact.
When asked what drew him to Gary Numan in the first place, Mark replies, “He was just totally different to anything I had heard or have heard since.” He continues, “I have listened to him through various stages of my life, good and bad, high and low; every song that he has written, I can relate to.”
A difficult task for any Numanoid is to pin down what their favorite album is. This is what Mark had to say about when asked: “Far too many, but The Pleasure Principle (as it was different and unique), Dance (which is totally underrated and the songwriting is just great on here), and Pure (just far too good to describe in simple words).”
When asked for his favorite Numan songs, Mark explains, “I’ve recently been asked to pick my top 25 favourite Numan songs, but how can you start? However, I do love “Stories” (which I first heard on Numan’s 1980 tour), “Films” (which is like drum and bass before it got popular), and “Please Push No More,” a great song done live at Wembley in 1981 – it was awesome and emotional.”
In describing what excites him most about Numan, Mark declares, “When I hear that a new artist is influenced by Gary, his legacy lives on.” Mark goes on to say that he expresses his love for Gary Numan by “playing his music, and talking and discussing Gary’s music and what it has meant to myself.”
In closing, Mark is happy to report, “Recently, I played Jagged for a couple of work people who are into rock. They now tell me that they are Numan fans.”
Anything else you’d like to add? “NUMMMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!”
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In case you’ve been under a rock for the past thirty years, or simply have never come across the term, Numanoids are Gary Numan fans. A rare and close-knit group, they are loyal, honest, caring, and kind, brought together from all over the world to support and honor a musician who has accomplished much during his more than 30 years in the business.
As a relatively new Gary Numan fan, I have been extremely fortunate to be embraced by his hard-core circle of fans, making contact through the blogosphere, YouTube, FaceBook, MySpace, and other online sources. Most Numanoids have been with him since the very beginning, the Tubeway Army days. Others, like me, have made the connection with Numan because of his dark wave/Gothic/industrial genre of music that he began to embrace in the early 90′s, connecting fully with the release of 1994′s Sacrifice album.
Rob Stuart (Canada)
Rob Stuart shares that he has been a Numanoid since 1978 (age 13). Musically, he had never heard anything like Gary Numan before. He says, “I remember hearing ‘Are “Friends” Electric?’ for the first time on my little AM radio during the top 20 count-down in England on a Sunday afternoon and being totally transfixed by the voice, the music! I knew I had to save my pennies and immediately buy the album. Once I saw the cover art I was completely hooked. Who was this alien, androgynous looking man?”
When asked what Gary Numan’s music means to him, Rob recalls, “It meant so much to me at that age that I started a band as soon as I immigrated to Canada (age 14). We called ourselves ‘The Plastic Omniums’ and played our first gig at a high school battle of the bands contest. All the other bands played Zeppelin and Rush covers while we got up there with our synths, a reel to reel tape deck, and a drum machine and played three songs: Opening with ‘Airlane’ from The Pleasure Principle album, then a cover of ‘Are “Friends” Electric?’ and closing with an original number called ‘Red Shift Expanse.’ I distinctly remember two-thirds of the kids in the audience booing while the others cheered. The cool kids got it! I still have a recording of that show.”
Rob cites Replicas as his favorite Gary Numan album, with the first self titled album Tubeway Army not far behind. He feels that Replicas is a modern-day masterpiece from start to finish. As for his favorite songs, the list is pretty extensive: “My Brother’s Time,” “The Machman,” “M.E.,” “Pure,” “You Are In My Vision,” “A Question Of Faith,” “The Iceman Comes,” “Fadeout 1930,” “Every Day I Die,” “Are ‘Friend’s’ Electric?,” “A Subway Called ‘You,’” “The Aircrash Bureau,” “Bombers,” “My Shadow In Vain,” “Crazier,” and many more.
Rob’s most exciting Gary Numan moment was very recently when he met Numan in Toronto in October 2010. He tells us, “We had a fairly lengthy discussion about doing a remix contest of his music. He told me he didn’t see the point in it. I told him that many of his fans are musicians and would love a chance to remix his work, and that it was a great way to promote his music, especially on social networks. Lo and behold, a couple of months later, he has the ‘Back to the Phuture’ remix contest for ‘Scanners.’ I was happy that he took my suggestion. You can hear my remix here: http://soundcloud.com/rob-stuart
Rob continues, “I was also very proud to be on the same CD as Gary Numan once in Future Music Magazine Issue 101, Aug 2000. GN was on the cover being interviewed about the release of “Pure” and (my group) SLAVE to the SQUAREwave had the song ‘Heavy Bones’ featured on the free CD that came with the magazine.”
Asked what his favorite way to express his love for Gary Numan is, Rob states, “Doing cover versions of his music either live or recorded. Here is a cover I did of ‘Films’ back in 1995.”
Electronic Dream Factory – “Films” via YouTube user Akito01:
He also shares, “Like all of my musical heroes (Bowie, Eno, Kraftwerk, Underworld, Tangerine Dream), Numan is an innovator, an original. And like all super-talented artists he is humble and down to earth. He’s not afraid to try something new and hang them out there. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but when it does, it’s life-changing and timeless.”
Meemz (Belgium)
Meemz has been a fan of Gary Numan’s for as long as he has been active in the music scene – since 1979. What initially attracted her to him, as she recalls, was Numan’s voice, music, and appearance, being “different.” And, as for his music, Meemz states, “His music touches my heart and soul any time, good or bad.”
Meemz lists the following albums as her favorites: Jagged, The Pleasure Principle, Telekon, Replicas, Sacrifice, Exile, and Pure. Her favorite songs include, “Jagged,” “Haunted,” “Rip,” “Metal,” “Seed of a Lie,” “Crazier,” “Crawl,” and, in her own words, “so many others.”
The most exciting Gary Numan moment for Meemz was the first time she met him at a concert in Bristol in 2009. An accomplished artist, she not only had the thrill of meeting Gary Numan up close and personal, she also presented him with a portrait that she had painted.
In addition to painting numerous portraits featuring Gary Numan, Meemz also does some very clever photo edits. Along with these creative endeavors, Meemz professes the best way to show her love for Gary Numan is “being and staying a Numanoid for as long as I live and far beyond.”
Finally, Meemz states, “I like his old and new stuff, and hope he’ll be making music as long as he can. When I talk to people about Numan in my country (Belgium), I can’t explain what it really is, the feelings us Numanoids have about him. It’s not only his music and all, but just the person that he is. He’s really one of a kind and we love him for it.”
Vikki (UK)
Vikki has been a fan for 32 years, the entire duration of Gary Numan’s career. When she was only 10 years old, she first saw Numan on the British music show Top of the Pops. Her initial reaction was to fall in love with the song he was singing, “Are ‘Friends’ Electric,” all the while thinking, “Ewwwwwww, he’s weird!” Needless to say, that first impression eventually yielded to a more mature, long-term, and undying love.
When describing the impact of his music, Vikki says, “His music means a lot of things to me. Because I’ve been a fan for such a long time each album reminds me of a different time in my life. Pure is my divorce album!” She also lists Jagged as a favorite. When pressed to list her favorite Numan tracks, Vikki’s reaction is, “Too many to mention. But off the top of my head: ‘Sleep by Windows,’ ‘Haunted,’ ‘Jagged,’ ‘Observer,’ ‘The God Film,’ and ‘My Breathing.’”
Recalling her most exciting Numan moment, Vikki observes, “Has to be the first time I saw him live, October 1983. He was ill, so I didn’t get to meet him. I was gutted!”
Vikki expresses her love for Gary by shouting/writing NUMMMAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! wherever and whenever possible. She adds, “Plus, wearing Gary Numan t-shirts – you cannot wear a Gary Numan t-shirt without someone making a comment or singing ‘Cars!’”
In closing, Vikki shares these anecdotes:
“I once lost my mum whilst out shopping. A record stall was playing “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” and I just had to stop to listen to it. Of course my mother carried on walking and I lost her.”
“And, one thing I must add; Gary Numan fans are the nicest people you could ever meet. I took my friend to see him back in 2009 and she was gobsmacked at how nice people were. I’ve never been to a Numan gig where I haven’t got chatting to someone and shared some great moments. I once spent an evening with the band drinking before they went on stage. All my friends kept coming up to me saying ‘why are you sitting with the band?’ A roadie called Gary (who was miffed because he was called ‘Gray’ in the tour programme) fancied me so I got in with the crowd.
“I also came very close to sharing the tour bus with Gary Numan. His support band Hohokam invited us back to the hotel (nothing smutty!) but some security guy said we could walk as the hotel was only down the street. I still hate that man! Oh, and once my mum had a go at Beryl and his security guard which was very embarrassing!”
Kristin Harris (USA)
Kristin Harris, graphic and video designer, has been a full-blown Numanoid since late 2006.
When asked, “What drew you to Gary Numan?” her reply: “His newer music captured me first. I’ve never heard anyone like him. I was drawn to his beautiful voice and loved how atmospheric his music was. I eventually ventured on to YouTube and once I saw him in action, I was completely hooked. His looks don’t hurt either.”
Kristin goes on to explain that Gary Numan’s music is her escape and it has inspired her in her creative work. It’s difficult to pick just one of Numan’s albums when citing a favorite. When pinned down, Kristin chooses Jagged (closely followed by Pure, Exile, and Hybrid). Her favorite singles are “Haunted,” “The Fall,” “Crazier,” “Jagged,” “Pure,” “Replicas,” “Films,” and the song “Slide Away” from Ade Fenton’s album, as well.
Kristin recalls her most exciting Gary Numan moment: “Meeting him for the very first time in July 2007. He is so lovely and down to earth. Also, getting to work for him on the t-shirts. That was a huge honor.” She finds that the best way for her to express her love for Gary Numan is through her music videos and graphics. She also promotes his music using her favorite films and TV shows.
Paula is another lifelong Numanoid who has been a fan since 1979-80. His “distinctive style and amazing electro sounds” are what first drew Paula to Numan and his music. She goes on to say, “I had never heard anything like it before. He wasn’t like other bands of that time; he stood out from everyone else. I was looking for someone to blow me away with a unique style and sound, and found just that in Gary Numan. I remember thinking, ‘this man has come along in the music world, years before his time.’”
Paula continues, “Gary once said, ‘I am just an arranger of noises.’ I say to that, ‘Yes, Gary, you show us just how music is meant to sound.’ The machines rocked in 1979, and continue to do so to this very day.”
When asked what Gary Numan’s music means to her, Paula is very direct in her response: “His music is everything that makes my world tick. He has an album for every mood I’m in, and his music makes me smile, laugh, and cry. You can’t help but connect with his music and lyrics in some form or another.”
Paula pushed back a bit when asked about her favorite album. Stating that it was impossible to narrow the choice down to just one, she settles on her favorite top three: first, Telekon, “a masterpiece in its own right,” Exile, and Pure. She also settled on her top three singles: “The Fall,” “Every Day I Die,” and “My Shadow In Vain.”
Paula shares that her most exciting Gary Numan moment was meeting him in 2009, at Bristol, after waiting over 20 years for just that moment. She had met him back in the 80′s at one of his airshows, but that was only a very brief “Hello Gary” moment. “In Bristol I had a whole 10 minutes with him. I was so excited, we waited for over an hour for him to appear. He was so kind and sweet, and I asked him if he would sign my photo of him. It was an old photo of Gary when he was very young; a fan club photo. I said, ‘You look so young in that photo, Gary.’ He laughed and said, ‘I know (with a grin on his face). My wife keeps finding old photos of me, just to remind me of how old I’m getting.’ And we both laughed. He then put his arm round me so I could have a photo taken with him. It was an amazing moment in my life, and one I won’t forget.
Paula has chosen to put together her own Gary Numan website, “Pure Numan,” (http://www.pure-numan.com/) in order to pay him homage. It is her way of showing the love and respect that she has for the man who not only changed the music world, but has given his fans the best music and live stage shows possible.
Paula shares, “I have been a big fan since the very beginning, and feel like I’m growing old with him. But to put it in a nutshell, I couldn’t think of anything better than being a true fan. I’ve met along the way some fantastic people, and I wouldn’t change any of it for all the money in the world.”
Richard Cubbon (Canada)
Richard is another lifelong Numanoid, following Gary Numan since around 1978-79. Of that time, he recalls, “I was just getting into Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre and heard “Bombers” from a friend of mine. I loved the use of the early synths in a way that no other bands were using them, like on the first Tubeway Army album. I was playing bass at the time and loved the hollow sound of the Moogs and that sort of swayed my intrumental choice towards synths. I got my first synth around the time that Replicas came out over here, and that led me towards more synths and learning how to produce the hollow sounds with that thick Nuclear Reactor sound.
Explaining what Gary Numan meant to him, Richard says, “Gary Numan’s music and the lyrics always meant something special to me. I never fit in with any group growing up, and the songs took on a special meaning to me.”
Asked which album is his favorite, Richard explains that it’s a tie between The Pleasure Principle and Telekon. The same goes for naming a favorite single: Richard finds that it’s a tie once again, this time between “Sleep by Windows” and “Airlane.” But when it comes to his most exciting Gary Numan moment, the answer is direct and without hesitation. It was seeing the Telekon tour back in 1982.
Richard adds, “I always tell everyone who likes any type of music that involves synths, electronics or processors, there are three bands that had the most impact on music we listen to today: Gary Numan, Kraftwerk, and Jean Michel Jarre. To me, it’s in that order of importance, too.”
Richard expresses his love of Gary Numan by writing and playing music that is heavily Numan-influenced, and insists will always remain inside of him.
JaggedHaloUK (UK)
JaggedHaloUK has been a Numanoid since 1986. What started this decades-spanning love was a friend playing “I Can’t Stop.” JH UK was instantly hooked on the sound and image that the song and Numan portrayed.
When asked what Numan’s music means to him, JaggedHaloUK replies, “Everything, It’s very inspirational.” He cites these albums as his favorites: Telekon and Jagged, especially the track “In a Dark Place” from the latter.
As with many Numanoids, it’s very difficult for JaggedHaloUK to narrow down a list of favorite songs to one. He provides the following list, instead: “When the Sky Bleeds,” “Jagged,” “Haunted,” “I Dream of Wires,” and insists that “there’s so many more I could list.”
By far, JaggedHaloUK’s favorite moment as a Numanoid was meeting and chatting to Gary after a gig. He was also invited into one of the after-show parties at the hotel where Gary was staying during a tour, and also had a photoshoot with Gary’s official photographer, Ed Fielding.
When asked how he expresses his love for Gary Numan, JaggedHaloUK responds, “Recording my own cover versions of his songs and going to his shows. Also, searching for Numan clothing to wear at gigs.”
In addition, JaggedHaloUK states, “Being a Numanoid is a way of life almost; it changes the way you see things and how you react to the world. If it wasn’t for Gary Numan, I would never have gotten into music and that in itself has led to many happy memories of playing in bands and doing live gigs. I gained live music experience with a band I played synths in called the “hottest state” and have since worked with the fantastic Replicas, a Gary Numan tribute band, and I’m also busy in my studio recording more cover tracks for them. I’m also involved in the running of a Gary Numan fan site called “Pure Numan” (http://www.pure-numan.com) and I’ve been doing some music for the site.”
As if that wasn’t enough, JaggedHaloUK also has his own Gary Numan tribute website: http://www.jaggedhalo-uk.com. The pictures of him on his website were all taken by Ed Fielding, official photographer to Gary Numan.
Karl Lyndon Donald (Ireland)
Karl is a die-hard Numan fan, and man of few words, that I met on YouTube several years ago. He left some comments on several Gary Numan fan-video montages that I had done (and have since removed when Eagle records got on their legal high horse). Karl and I have kept in touch through FaceBook, and he has introduced me to countless other Numanoids. I am very grateful for that.
Karl reports that he has been a Numanoid since the beginning, around 1979. His first recollection was seeing Gary Numan on Top of the Pops and thinking he was really unique.
When asked what Gary Numan’s music means to him, Karl replies, “His music helped me through painful teenage years.” He cites The Pleasure Principle as his favorite Gary Numan album.
Karl’s favorite single is “Remind Me To Smile.” His most exciting Gary Numan moment was, in his own words, “Speaking to him for over an hour at Derry Airshow.” Karl’s favorite way to express his love for Gary Numan was to copy his hair color and style at the time.
I also happen to know that Karl has another very special way of expressing his feelings for Gary Numan. He has a huge tattoo on his back that is the well-known Numan facial graphic from The Tubeway Army LP. Any description of Karl as a loyal Numanoid would not be complete without a picture of this amazing tattoo.
Gary Numan gave his fans a taste of what’s in store from the upcoming and long-awaited album Dead Son Rising. He posted an announcement that segments from three of the album’s songs were available to preview on his site NuWorld.
The three songs are titled, “The Fall,” “Captured Underground Noise Transmission” (please, no comments about the acronym this title forms), and “When The Sky Bleeds, He Will Come.” All three are killer tunes, with Gary Numan’s signature Gothic/industrial sound apparent in each. There’s a full live version of “The Fall” on YouTube that we have been enjoying for some time. All of this begs the question, “When is the long-awaited album going to be released?”
Fans are hoping for a release prior to the Back To The Phuture shows scheduled for the Manchester Academy and The Troxy April 1 & 2. We have learned to live with a great span of time between releases because Gary is a notoriously detail-oriented perfectionist. No complaints there. His collections produced and released since 1994, although painfully few and far between, have been magnificently crafted works of which he deserves to be very proud.
Just a random aside – I posted a comment similar to this on David Marsden’s site in a discussion about what’s wrong with today’s music: The boss and I had an interesting non-work discussion the other day. He is a classically trained musician (as is my husband). I had the boss listen to “Angel Wars” by Gary Numan, and he made mention of the use of the tritone or “devil’s note” in the song. It seems that this tonal dissonance is used by many non-mainstream musicians, and it gives a more raw and cutting edge to the music. This tends to be the music I am most drawn to, because it evokes more than just an aural response – it actually resonates within the body, adding a physical piece to the overall experience.
If you haven’t experienced Sacrifice (1994), Exile (1997), Pure (2000), or Jagged (2006) with your entire being, you are missing out on some of the most cutting-edge and vital dark wave music made over the last 17 years. Successful as a punk, post-punk, then synth-wave pioneer, Gary Numan has never shied away from experimentation and reinvention. But, he really hit his stride when he crossed over to the heavier side of music. He bares his soul for all to see, building a safe haven for all of our darkest and deepest emotions to dwell as we lose ourselves in the hard-edged tunes born of his own emotion-riddled creations.
Am I anxious for more brilliant Gothic/industrial Gary Numan in the form of Dead Son Rising? Oh, yeah.
This past Fall, synth icon Gary Numan took the US and Canada by storm with his critically acclaimed Pleasure Principle tour. Celebrating the 30-year anniversary of the release of this superb LP, Numan decided to give his North American fans a chance to experience his perfectly-honed live shows by launching an aggressive trek from coast to coast. He had already stolen my heart, but meeting him October 17, 2010 only confirmed my beliefs; not only is he a gifted, cutting-edge musician, he is a sweet and humble man, as well.
While touring in California, Numan and his band (Ade Fenton – keyboards, David Brooks - keyboards, Richard Beasley – drums, Steve Harris – guitar, and Tim Muddiman – bass) performed at the KCRW studios. YouTube user leeleec79 has posted several videos which I have linked below. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
Times are tough – there’s no doubt of that. Each day we worry about losing our jobs, our homes, our prized possessions. But, amidst all the darkness, there’s a thread that keeps all of us going, giving us the will to survive, the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other. And although today is the day in the United States that we choose to reflect on everything we are thankful for, let it be known that I am truly grateful for all the people and things that enrich my life, each and every day.
Topping my list is my husband, who unfairly struggles each and every day with a pernicious and little-known illness. He starts each day anew with a fresh outlook and the determination to not let his sickness overcome him. He is my inspiration, and helps to put my relatively minor and trivial complaints into perspective. He is also the one who continues to stand beside me, taking my idosyncrasies in stride, never judging me, and allowing me to be who I am.
Brian Eno/John Cale’s “Spinning Away” via YouTube user mimosaku:
The rest of my “list” is in no particular order, all of equal importance.
Gary Numan - there isn’t much more that I can say that I haven’t already said in previous posts. His music helps me to face the darkest hurts that life throws my way. He has been able to articulate his pain and disappointment in a way that touches my soul. That someone who has ridden the highest highs and lowest lows that life put in his path, and came out of it with a song on his lips to fight back the anger is truly amazing. How many people use having a “bad life” to explain away being low-life losers? I admire the ones who come out on the other side stronger, better people.
Gary Numan’s “Angel Wars” via YouTube user webbfoxx:
David Marsden - here’s a man who has brought underrated artists to hungry listeners his entire 50-year broadcasting career. He has worked tirelessly to ensure that listeners are exposed to talent that the stuffed shirts in boardrooms deemed trifling and unworthy. Starting out in Canada, and now broadcasting the world over, he remains the champion of the musical underdog, and the master of free-form broadcasting. His friendship, humor, and music playlists have been both uplifting and inspiring.
“A Tribute To David Marsden – Spoons/ “Radio Heaven” via YouTube user missparker0106:
Friends and family - you know who you are. I’ve either known you for my entire life, or you’ve just recently become a friend because of the blog, the Marsden chatroom, FaceBook, a shared love for Gary Numan or 80s New Wave, or YouTube. It doesn’t matter. I’m grateful for all of you because in your own special way you make my life more meaningful. I’ve had one special friend for over 4 decades, and so many others that have enriched my life over the past few years. My family has been with me my entire life, each member playing an important role in making me who I am. You are all scattered throughout the US, Canada, Europe, the Philippines, and even Australia. But, I hold each and every one of you close in my heart, cherished and loved for the riches you give me each and every day.
May you all be blessed eternally ~ and I remain ever thankful for all of you.
Gary Numan’s “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” via YouTube user dashproductions:
It’s hard to believe that it has been nearly two weeks since I met Gary Numan in Orlando, the first stop on his North American Pleasure Principle tour. I am still so jazzed about meeting my music idol and experiencing a show that was nothing short of brilliant excellence, that I have been filling my days plugged into my iPod and methodically going through every Numan MP3 that I have.
I have also been reading other fan reports as they have rolled in. I have not found a disappointed comment in the lot, not counting the show that Numan was forced to cancel at the beginning of the tour. After rocking the house at Firestone LIVE! (Club Firestone) in Orlando, Gary promptly lost his voice. He postponed and then finally ended up canceling the second stop on the North American Tour in Atlanta. I can only imagine how crushed those fans must have felt, and Gary felt even worse. He sent out an email apologizing profusely and remarking that this is the first time he’d had to cancel an appearance due to health issues in over 31years of touring.
Since then, rave reviews abound as Gary Numan and his accompanying band gain momentum throughout North America.
From Review online, reporting about the show from the Trocadero in Philadelphia:
Make no mistake; Gary Numan can still bring to life an era that captured his true signature sound. Adding the live performance recently at the Trocadero in Philadelphia during his mini Tour of America proves that Gary Numan is still an amazing entertainer after all these years. Any one who attended the show would agree…hands down.
They trekked up the east coast playing Washington DC, Philly, Boston, New York, then wound their way over the border into Canada. Their one date in Toronto was sold-out sublime, with all fans raising their voices in unison to sing Numan’s praises. An exciting twist to the Toronto show was an assist by home-grown artist Nash the Slash who originally played electric violin on several of Numan’s early creations, including “The Joy Circuit.” This time, they collaborated on “Complex” which had the crowd absolutely transfixed. The talent on that one stage must have been truly overwhelming.
Here is Gary Numan’s tour schedule, past, present, and beyond:
10/17 – Orlando, FL @ The Firestone LIVE!
10/18 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
10/20 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
10/21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
10/22 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
10/23 – New York, NY @ Nokia Theatre
10/24 – Toronto, ON @ Opera House
10/25 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theater
10/26 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
10/28 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
10/31 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
11/01 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre
11/02 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
11/03 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
11/04 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
Watch out West Coast – Gary Numan (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Ade Fenton (keyboards), David Brooks (keyboards), Richard Beasley (drums), Steve Harris (guitar) and Tim Muddiman (bass) are on their way to knock you out and take you prisoner with the best concert you can possibly imagine attending. I can confidently guarantee that the West Coast in particular, and the whole of North America in general, will never be the same once this unparalleled British invasion sweeps through. Already, I simply cannot wait for Gary Numan to return to these shores to capture our hearts and souls once again.
One of the biggest events in my life took place on Sunday, October 17, 2010. I wanted to write about it immediately after, but decided to wait a few days for a couple of reasons. First, I wanted to let the warm, joyous feelings from that day wash over me, and be replayed over and over in my mind, savoring every moment, nuance, note, gesture, sight, touch, taste, sound… And second, I wanted to try to separate the rabid fan in me from the music critic, in hopes of writing a purely objective review. It’ll be close.
The Arrival
My husband and I arrived in Orlando around 2:30 pm following a long drive. Gary Numan was playing the Club Firestone that evening, but we had been informed to queue up for the meet and greet no later than 4:15. After figuring out the parking situation, and having a picnic in the vehicle, we walked to the back of the venue and asked the people setting up the show if we were in the right place. Everyone we spoke to related to the venue and the show could not have been more helpful throughout the entire event. Hubby has a rare medical condition, and necessities for his comfort were cheerfully attended to.
The Sound Check
Around 4 pm, one of Gary’s staff came around to check ID for the meet and greet, and to provide us with further instructions. A short time later, all of the VIP ticket holders were ushered into the building and directed to sit on the two stairs that separated the levels of the half-moon shaped venue. Up on the stage, amidst equipment that was being set up and tested, was Gary Numan and his band: Ade Fenton (keyboards), David Brooks (keyboards), Richard Beasley (drums), Steve Harris (guitar) and Tim Muddiman (bass).
For the next two and a half hours, we were treated to the awe-inspiring spectacle of a master form his craft in front of our eyes. In a word, it was mesmerizing. We even heard snippets of songs that were about to be played in their entirety in the near future. Talk about an adrenaline rush! Gary and Co. were absorbed by what they were doing, but at one point when I led a cheer following a partial song, Gary looked up and flashed us one of his polar icecap-melting grins. It was as if to say, “You finally woke up!”
The Meet and Greet
We were called up by name to talk to Gary Numan and have a picture (or two) taken. The man is incredibly gracious, friendly, and has the priceless ability to make whomever he is talking to feel like they’ve known him forever. I really worried that I would be so gobsmacked that I would be speechless. But, I felt so at ease, we actually had a brief conversation about immigration, Florida, and what his music has meant to me. Looking back at the photos my husband dutifully shot during our exchange, Gary looked so animated and connected, giving the impression of a meeting between old friends.
The Show
Gary Numan doesn’t just use synthesizers as an accompaniment – the synthesizers are used to orchestrate the very core of the music. It takes a huge amount of skill to use synthesizers as the foundation of song after song without sounding cheesy. Numan is an absolute master in drawing out the very heart and soul of a song by giving a heartbeat and breath to electronics. He also ensures that his light show is up to par with the music. It was breathtaking to behold, especially considering he packs the whole kit ‘n kaboodle along with him as he travels.
Numan was true to the sound of the original Pleasure Principal selections. The reason behind his reach for absolute perfection during the sound check was apparent throughout the performance. During the past week, I have listened to live recordings of The Pleasure Principal tracks performed in the early 80′s. Aside from Numan’s voice being slightly throatier, Sunday night’s music was nearly identical, giving it an authentic, rich feel.
The love and energy flowing between the crowd and Gary Numan was actually palpable. As the show wore on, Gary became more animated and energized. It was like watching batteries recharge. Numan interacted with the audience, becoming one with his fans, drawing them up into his magical sphere.
As he skillfully moved through the set, the instruments changed along with the music. Midway through the set, Numan’s keyboard was removed and replaced by his guitar. The wired mic was replaced with wireless when Numan sang sans instrument. He was poetry in motion, bringing us up to date in time with his later genre of Gothic/Industrial, mining for the deepest emotions, pouring his heart out and laying it bare for the audience to envelope.
The Encore
When Numan and co. exited the stage following an exhausting, satisfying set, the crowd refused to let up their applause and adulation. Gary and the band returned for another three songs, including “Are ‘Friends’ Electric.” The show defies adequate description. Those that paid the ridiculously reasonable general admission rate of $25.00, certainly got so much more than their money’s worth. Those of us that paid the VIP rate also received well over our tickets’ face value.
I had high expectations for this, in my case, once in a lifetime event. I could not have been happier with the results. The music critic in me was satisfied with a professional and energetically performed show. The rabid fan in me is eternally grateful for my best concert experience ever, hosted by a most gracious and unassuming artist. Thank you Gary Numan for October 17, 2010. It is a day I’ll happily relive in detail for the rest of my days.
“Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” via YouTube user GaryNumanOfficial:
“Replicas” montage via YouTube user knightvision1228:
“Pure” via YouTube user deadliner:
The Pleasure Principle Live Tour play list:
Random Airlane Metal Films M.E. Tracks Observer Conversation Complex Cars Engineers Asylum The Fall Pure Down In The Park Haunted Halo Jagged Are ‘Friends’ Electric? We Are So Fragile A Prayer For The Unborn
Before I embark down this slippery slope, I want to preface it with the caveat that this is a purely subjective list. Anytime anyone is asked to come up with favorite *anythings* the resulting list must be viewed from the perspective of my mother, whose favorite saying is, “Everybody’s taste is different. That’s what makes the world go ‘round.” Well put, Mom.
This was a difficult task, indeed. Ask any audiophile to pare their list of favorite music collections down to a mere 10, and the frustration level is sure to climb quickly. It’s tantamount to asking a long-distance runner which leg they’d like to sacrifice, or a hoarder which pet they’d like to keep. OK, maybe it’s not all that bad, but it’s certainly not a walk in the park.
After much consideration, I have narrowed my list of well-loved 80’s LPs to the very paltry ten listed below. This was a thought-provoking and extremely painful process. There are no explanations (excuses) as to why, only a profound sense of loss when imagining not being able to hear these treasures again. Yes, I know the Gary Numan selection missed the 80′s by a year….but it’s my blog and my rules. Feel free to chime in with your own list – I’m always happy to see what floats someone else’s boat.
Armoury Show – Waiting For The Floods (1985) “Waiting For The Floods” via YouTube user RNregina:
Chameleons – Strange Times (1986) “Soul In Isolation” via YouTube user LefthandOfDarkness:
Gary Numan – The Pleasure Principle (1979) “Metal” via YouTube user amenka:
Japan – Quiet Life (1980) “All Tomorrow’s Parties” via YouTube user ghostsonatasong:
The Lucy Show – Undone (1985) “This Is No Heaven” via YouTube user Robertpere1:
Peter Murphy – Wild Birds (1985-1995) “Indigo Eyes” via YouTube user sweatingfretboards:
Roxy Music – Avalon (1982) “Avalon (Live)” via YouTube user higmadon:
Simple Minds – Sons & Fascination (1981) “Love Song” via YouTube user Dexbam:
Strange Advance – Worlds Away (1982) “Worlds Away” via YouTube user mysweeteventhorizon:
Vis-A-Vis – Heart and Soul (1985) “I Am The Night (Colour Me Black)” via YouTube user JAMR1977:
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