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This page will explain the meaning behind the word Numanoids. Over the years that I have been running Numanme, I have had the chance to meet and talk to many Numan fans. Gary Numan fans come from many walks of life teachers, doctors, builders, warehouse workers and cleaners, you name it you will find a Numan fan doing it. The one thing I have noticed about Numan fan, is that most are very articulate in whatever they do.
Some Numan fans don’t like being labelled as Numanoids, as this term was given to Gary Numan fans by the British press. The word Numanoid become a word to try to humiliate Gary Numan fans, the press often described fans as obsessive freaks that dressed like their idol. But you could say it backfired on the press because the fans embraced the whole word Numanoid.
Gary Numan talking about journalists in the fan club newsletter 34/35: “I have no problem with journalists. Real journalists, In the main I have found them to report accurately what they have seen and heard and I have a great admiration for most of them. However, there are others that I am not so keen on. Men and women who will add comments like ‘He sneered’ when he didn’t. ‘He snarled’ when all he did was laugh. Remarks that give a completely different slant to the way a comment was known to be intended. Men and women who will use only a few words of a detailed explanation to deliberately mislead the reader. People who ‘accidently’ hear things incorrectly and apologise in the small ads. People who ask their most sarcastic and penetrating questions in the privacy of their own home long after the interview is finished and the poor victim has gone home. We rely totally on the integrity of journalists to accurately write down not only what we say but how we say it. To say ‘He sneered’ can completely change the meaning of a very important remark. Unfortunately there are some people who have the integrity of a slug. Some of them are journalists. Not many, but I met one very recently and I will pay for it for a long time to come.”
As a young Numanoid and still at school, you faced abusive comments daily. Often someone shouting out you queer or someone singing cars in some stupid voice and often showing their own stupidit, by singing the wrong lyrics to such a simple song.
We must remember Gary Numan fans were not the only fans that had specific descriptions or nicknames given to them Madness fans where know as 'Nutty Boys', Duran Duran fans were 'Durannies'. But for some unknown reason Gary and his fans were singled out by the music press.
Gary Numan talking about Numanoids on London Feature 1991: “To criticise my lot because they look like me, if you go to a house gig if you go to a rap gig anything like that they all look the same, there is an identifiable way of looking for almost every kind of music there is. Even the chieftains ware the same kind of pullovers, I don’t do drugs I don’t do a whole lot of things I could be really slagged for, yet they seem to be almost desperate to find something to dislike about me for 12 years now I’m getting slightly fed up slightly fed up, and this thing about Thatcher anyone would think I voted National Front or something for Christ sake more people voted for them than anybody else and people look at me as I’m a leper what’s going on…. free society my ass.”
Numanoids had a reputation for fierce loyalty towards their idol. When Radio One held a day of burning Numan records, a group of militant Numanoids threatened to kidnapped Steve Wright in the afternoon and threatened to shave off his moustache and smash his glasses unless all of Numan records were placed on Radio One's
playlist.
Gary Numan talking about radio one fan club newsletter 34/35: “I’ve been told many times, by many people, not to say anything bad about Radio One; not to offend them in any way because the chance of any future success that I may enjoy relies heavily on Radio One playing the records. What these people don’t seem to understand is; I don’t have any anti Radio One feelings at all. The fact that they don’t play my new records, although they regularly play the older ones, is frustrating and undoubtedly has a bad effect on my career. I can’t deny that. I can’t deny that at times it’s upset me enormously to see a record enter the chart and still not pick up any airplay. It does seem unfair; it means that I cannot compete with other acts vying for places in the chart. However, if my records do not suit Radio Ones style then they have every right not to play them. I fully understand that. They have the right to not play something in the top 40 as much as they have the right to play something outside of the top 40. They must not be forced to play any particular artist or type of music for any reason other than whether they actually like it or not. I have, unfortunately, come to the conclusion that my particular kind of music will probably never be suitable, but I live in fading hope. In some ways it’s my own fault. I have always tried to avoid the changing trends and fashions of the business. To be individual is to be out on your own. What that actually means is that I’m always unfashionable, but that’s my problem to solve, not Radio Ones.”
Gary has always had the time for his fans, happy to meet and greet his fans and always up for chatter. Also believe it or not looking after some fans on tour, sometimes booking hotel rooms for devoted young fans following Gary on the tour with nowhere to stay for the night. Gary explained this on "The Time & The Place" chat show 1992 saying he felt responsible for the fans. He often worried about them sleeping in bus shelters so did whatever he could to help them.
But sometime fans would over step the mark, stories of fans cutting the tops of every flower in Gary’s garden and camping out in his garden. Also they stole all the goldfish out of his garden pond. All this after a national newspaper released Gary’s address.
Gary Numan talking about fans in the fan club newsletter 34/35: “In the early days my attitude concerning the fans appeared to be slightly hardnosed. I’ve never believed that fans made me and therefore had some kind of right to my private life or to any intimate knowledge. What came first, chicken or egg/pop star or fan. I always saw it as a 50/50 deal. I write songs and make the records; fans buy and hopefully enjoy the records. However, my attitude over the past few years has changed considerably. I still don’t believe I was made by them. But I have been supported by them to such a degree that I now feel that I owe them a great deal. They have lobbied Radio stations, newspapers, magazines, Television companies and anything else that they thought could help. They have organised demonstrations about lack of airplay, Numan only disco’s and so many other things that I don’t have the space here to list them all. All of it was done for no other reason than to help me. It is a loyalty that I never expected and don’t really deserve. It has gone on for years and I genuinely believe that without it the career would not have lasted as long as it has. They may not have made me but they have kept me in a position where I still have a chance to succeed. I will never forget what they’ve done for me, whatever may happen in the future, good or bad.”
Most Numanoids dressed like Gary, so that meant copying every new image Gary spawned. But for most black was the uniform of the day; black shirt, black trousers, side-parting in their hair, either jet black or blond hair, and wore eye-liner and pale foundation if brave enough to do so. Most fans collected most things Numan. For those fans outside London, this could become a harrowing task. I remember feeling panic stricken if I didn’t get the latest release in the same week, but I soon built a good relationship with my local record shop owner. At first I had to order my Numan copy, but soon I was on first name terms with the owner. I walked into the shop and before asking, he used to say yes it’s in, we got it on 12” 7” and picture disc. He always joked about me liking Numan. The main shop owner used to ask if I would like it in a plane brown bag, so nobody could see me leaving the shop with Numan records in my hand. He used to say Numan would never last, but he has, and the shop has sadly long gone like most record shops. Even today Numanoids are still collecting with the same vigour. Numanoids hold events, such as Numan discos conventions and pre concert meet ups. Overall Numanoids are a very nice and interesting bunch of people.
In the early days the fan club was run by, Beryl Webb (Gary’s mum). It made you feel a part of one big family; to be a Numanoid you get a feeling of belonging to something outside the mainstream. Over the years the expression Numanoid has become more acceptable to most fans. As Gary gained cult status, also it helped when Gary was labelled "The godfather of electronic music" and the Electric Pioneer.
Gary Numan now can boast about having fans from many generations, young and old. It’s hard to say if everyone still calls themselves a ‘Numanoid’ these days most just call themselves Gary Numan fans. But you still find the press today referring to Gary Numan fans as 'Numanoids'.
I for one will always consider myself a 'Numanoid' and proud of it.
This qestion was put to Gary Numan on 21 Mar 2011 taken from the web site www.dontpaniconline.com
Q: Any Numanoids still kicking about?
Gary Numan: Ha ha… No, I think they’ve all calmed down a bit. There’s still plenty of people from the early days. But as grateful as I am, you can’t continue with remnants of the past. You need new blood. That’s why people talking about me as being influential and massively important is great. Boosh as well. It introduces me to new people. Younger people. It’s a very cool way to keep the audience going, building it year by year.
This qestion was put to Gary Numan on 19 May 2002 taken from the web site www.independent.co.uk
Q: What's the weirdest thing a "Numanoid" has ever done in the name of fandom?
Gary Numan: One of them, Gemma, married me, which I thought was devotion to fan duty way beyond the norm..
This group has been put together for fans of Gary Numan and
visitors of the Numanme site, to discuses all things Numan
sell/trade share stories and images from all aspects of Numan's
career.
This group has been put together for fans of Gary Numan and
visitors of the Numanme site, to discuses all things Numan
sell/trade share stories and images from all aspects of Numan's
career. |
