Intro

Gary's first band was called Mean Street. He later joined The Lasers, where he met Paul Gardiner who he later formed Tubeway Army with. The first album Tubeway Army recorded was with Gary, Paul and Gary's uncle Jess Lidyard who was on drums. Gary discovered a synthesizer in a recording studio. This prompted Gary to start making music using synths.. Gary,s first hit - Are 'friends' electric was released in 1979 and reached no. 1 in the UK charts. This was followed by Cars which also reached no. 1. Gary Numan is still recording studio albums and performing live, the story continues.........

1978

Beggars Banquet released Tubeway Army's That's Too Bad/Oh Didn't I Say and Gary quit his job as a driver. He was now a full time musician and the single soon sold out all of its initial 4,000 copies. Tubeway Army soon grew into a four piece band. Gary and Paul recorded what would become The Blue Album and Gary changed his name to Numan. The album gained them a small, growing cult of fans who identified with Gary's emotional and often at times cynical views on love and life.

1979

Down in the Park was released, It was the first song Gary did solely on a synthesiser. Are 'Friends' Electric? would prove to be his next big hit and, without any radio play, it achieved a number one position in the UK charts. The success of this single paved the way for Replicas; then the follow-up album, The Pleasure Principle. The single, Cars, was released, Gary dropped the band name Tubeway Army for Gary Numan. The Pleasure Principle would soon also set Gary Numan as the major inspiration for many innovative rock stars to come and earn him the title The Godfather of Electronic Music and all that in one year.

1980

Gary goes on tour, playing throughout the U.S. and Europe. Gary only 22 years old expresses his fraility and strength in the song, We Are Glass. Becoming a public figure would continue to put him in the spotlight with journalists that liked to discredit him. Gary boldly spoke his peace and opinions, and was never too shy to finish a fight. With the release of his next single, I Die, You Die, Gary expressed his anger with the media openly. A few weeks later, Gary's next studio album, Telekon would hit number one on the U.K. charts.

1981

The Teletour Gary's second major tour, featured an elaborate stage show. Gary announced his retirement from touring with a series of even more complex and exhiliarating shows. His retirement did not last, the break provided Gary time to explore his other interests such as flying. Soon he would be competant enough to fly both single and twin engine aircraft, as well as helicopters. Gary returnd to the studio to start work on a new album, Dance, and release She's Got Claws, it was clear Gary was moving into a new direction.

1982

Gary Numan made a return to a more focused approach with I, Assassin, which turned out to be his last truly great album for many years. Much of what would characterize his later music in the 80s did start to show up here, to be sure, but instead of the formless flailing all too apparent. Also In 1982, American based 7 UP got in touch with a UK agency to get a 30 second tune made by someone who was happening at the time to advertise their drink. So the agency contacted Gary and offered a 10,000 pound deal so he recorded 3 pieces these recordings were never used.

1983

In 1983 Warriors was released, Gary toured up and down the country in a 40 date program. The tour was Numan's comeback after retiring from live performances in 1981. He'd just spent about a year as a tax exile in America and was to return in a blaze of Mad Max inspired glory. The stage set for the tour was enormous, a two storey mock up of a post apocalyptic bombed out building. Some venues couldn't house the set, it was that big. The album itself was similarly ambitious.

1984

Numan's contract with Beggars Banquet had ended disillusioned, Numan created his own record label, Numa Records, in order to give himself full control over his recordings. The visual look of the new album, Numan wanted something completely different from the black jumpsuits, grey coats, and black leather that had formed his visual look up until that that point. Instead he appeared on the cover of the new album Berserker (and during the subsequent tour) as a white-skinned, white clad Iceman with blue makeup and hair, resulting in one of the most striking looks of his career.

1985

Numan's next album, The Fury charted slightly higher than Berserker, and featured another new image of white suit and red bow tie. The usage of sampling on the album is especially prominent on the album's anthemic opening track (and second single), Call Out the Dogs. Also 1985 saw collaborations with Bill Sharpe of Shakatak Change Your Mind, did see chart action, reaching No.17.

1986

Strange Charm was the last studio album released on his self-funded Numa Records label before he signed a contract with IRS Records, strange Charm is a fragmented release with no obvious theme on it, either musically or lyrically. Numan admitted that the album was disjointed, concerned more with atmosphere than theme. The majority of the album was produced by The Wave Team. New Thing from London Town was a re-recorded version of the single released by Numan and Bill Sharpe under the name Sharpe & Numan a month before the release of Strange Charm.

1987

Radio Heart was an album produced by a friend of Gary Numans called Hugh Nicholson, the song Radio Heart was a Top hit, and saw Gary being played on the radio again for the first time in years, rightly so, with lots of advertising in Smash Hits and other mags. This was a classic radio friendly pop song London Times and All Across the Nation the only other two songs on the album to feature Gary are also great singles the rest of the album is pants. In fact Gary hated the fact that the whole album was packaged.

1988

1988 saw yet another release with Bill Sharpe No More Lies, also the release of an bubble live album Ghost, Gary also released an all new studio album Metal Rhythm, and to singles where released, New Anger and America. Gary also took the album on the road a 15 date tour around the UK.

1989

At the beginning of 1989 we saw yet another Sharpe & Numan release with I'm On Automatic followed by the album Automatic. Gary also toured in 1989; The Skin Mechanic tour was seen at 14 different venues over the UK. The live album The Skin Mechanic was released in the same year, was acutely recorded at Dominion Theatre, London September 28, 1988.

1990

1990 was one of Gray's most unproductive years, but we did see the Japanese Asylum album Collections, theses albums have become very collectible among fans. Gary's Outland Tour was originally scheduled for September 1990, but a lightning storm caused damage to Numan's recording studio, delaying the album and postponing the 14-date tour until March 1991.

1991

Gary went on the Outland Tour in March; March also saw the release of the Outland album and the single Heart. Numan also embarked on the 19-date Emotion Tour the first show was performed in Belgium, the rest were in the UK. To date, no official live albums or videos have been released from Numan's 1991 tours. A single titled Emotion, was also released.

1992

1992 saw the release Isolate: The Numa Years, a compilation album, also two singles The Skin Game and Machine & Soul, and an album titled Machine & Soul. A video was also released of Studio Videos, titled Shadow Man. 1992 saw Gary go back on the road with the Isolate tour Gary preformed over 13 dates in the UK.

1993

1993 saw the rerelease of Cars 93 Sprint. This well filled CD single contains no fewer than seven versions of Numan's classic Cars the original, two remixes by Zeus B, a further four new remixes by Charles Pierre and Francis Usmar of Native Soul. Also the same year Gary embarked The Dream Corrosion Tour 14 dates over the UK. Gary also supported OMD playing seven shows.

1994

1994 started out with Gary singing on a charity single, Like A Refugee with Dadadang Hugh Nicholson. This year also saw the release of Dream Corrosion - The Live EP and of the live album Dream Corrosion. 1994 had to be the most important turning point of Gary's career musically. First we had the single A Question Of Faith then the album Sacrifice this album saw Gary return to he's darker side, this would prove to be Gary's turning point and probably saved Gary's career.

1995

1995 saw Gary release the single Absolution, this single was dedicated to Gary's number one fan, he's wife Gemma Webb. He also released a live EP Dark Light - The Live EP and a live album to accompany the EP called Dark Light. 1995 also saw the release of The Babylon series, seven CD's were released on Salvation Records in 1995 as a way of getting all of the Numan tracks previously released, at that time, on vinyl only onto CD.

1996

1996 saw the release of the last CD in the The Babylon series Babylon seven, we also saw Cars (Premier Mix) back this time for use in an advertisement for Carling Premier beer. There was also a greatest hits album released called Gary numan Tubeway army The Premier Hits. Gary also went on the road with a 15 date tour called The Premiere Tour.

1997

1997 saw the release of the highly acclaimed cover album Random, this is a 2 set CD. Random is an extremely eclectic selection of covers, re-interpretations and outright eviscerations of a bunch of classic old Numan tracks. It's downright surreal hearing Numan's songs being sung by other people, and the thought that there are at least 26 people in the record industry who like him. We also saw the release of yet another studio album titled Exile, this album was another landmark album for Gary. Gary also went on tour with Exile. The Exile tour visited over 14 dates over the uk.

1998

1998 Gary toured the USA with Exile; he played over 24 USA dates his first stateside concerts since the early 1980s. He also released a single from the Exile album titled Dominion Day. The opening track to the album Exile, Dominion Day, set the albums gothic industrial rock tone, describing how a man's nightmare becomes reality as Christ returns to Earth in scenes suggestive of the Book of Revelation. The tale was set against a wall of synthesizers drum loops and distorted guitars.

1999

1999 saw a steady release of old albums and completions on CD. 1999 was a very quiet year for Gary. Gary did do two, the first with Project Pitchfork, Gary remixed a track called Live Your Dreams. Gary also lent he's vocals to a cover of Cars by Fear Factory.

2000

2000 see the release of Pure the albums style was compared to that of other industrial rock acts, such as Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, who had themselves acknowledged Numan's earlier influence on their own music. Whilst some critics and fans professed themselves weary of a third record apparently obsessed with (anti) religious themes, others such as The Sunday Times described Pure as Numan's best album since his classic 1979/80 period. Numan toured extensively in support of the new album, captured in the Scarred live recording issued in 2003.

2001

2001 saw the release of the tour edition of Pure, including live tracks taken from Brixton Academy on October 20, 2000. And a Grayed up Remixes by Andy Gray, Disc 2 also contained a screen saver and inside the box was an exclusive poster. Each CD box is individually numbered. Gary also embarked on a ten date UK tour, followed by a North American Tour consisting of sixteen dates.

2002

2002 UK pop trio Sugababes scored a number one hit with Freak Like Me - a mashup of Adina Howard's Freak Like Me and Are Friends Electric? by Numan's Tubeway Army. Gary also released a single from Pure titled Rip, Numan enjoyed chart success once again with Rip, reaching 29 in the UK chart, Gary also released Exposure (The Best Of Gary Numan, 1977-2002). Gary also did a mini tour to promote Exposure in the uk of only 3 dates.

2003

2003 saw the release of Scarred, on double-CD, recorded live at Brixton Academy on Gary Numan's triumphant Pure tour in 2000, also in 2003 the Gary Numan vs Rico single was released Crazier, which reached 13 in the UK chart. Rico also worked on the remix album Hybrid which featured reworkings of older songs in a more contemporary industrial style as well as new material. Hybrid was also released in 2003 remixed by other artists and producers who contributed on these remixes included Curve, Flood, Andy Gray. Numan also performed 25th anniversary shows in 2003.

2004

2004 saw Numan launching the label Mortal Records, Hope Bleeds was released as a DVD and on CD; It was released in November 2004 by Mortal Records and is a recording of Numan's 20 September 2003 Manchester Academy concert. Gary also preformed several weekend shows over 2004.

2005

The initial idea behind the Fragment series was to create DVD's that were of a lower quality more 'bootleg' nature. This idea was abandoned and the Fragment series has been filmed with the same quality and attention to detail. Fragment DVDs Fragment 1-04 was filmed and recorded at the Birmingham Academy in September 2004. There is a double CD taken from the same gig. Fragment 2-04 was filmed and recorded at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London in September 2004. This was a very interesting show because the line up reduced from two keyboard players down to just one!

2006

The album, Jagged, was released on 13 March 2006. An album launch gig took place at The Forum, London on 18 March followed by UK, European and US tours in support of the release. Numan also launched a Jagged website to showcase the new album, Numan also released a single from Jagged titled In a Dark Place. Gary made plans to have his 1981 farewell concert, previously released as Micromusic on VHS issued on DVD by November 2006 as well as releasing the DVD version of the Jagged album launch gig. Numan undertook a Telekon Classic Album tour.

2007

Ade Fenton released his debut album Artificial Perfect on May 7 2007. This follows his collaboration on the Fenton vs Numan single, Healing released the same year. In 2006 Ade Fenton co-produced Gary Numan's Jagged. The second single to be released in the UK from the album Artificial Perfect was The Leather Sea on 30 July 2007. In July of the same year Numan did 4 live dates in the UK. Gary preformed The Leather Sea live.

2008

2008 saw Gary perform a sold out a fifteen-date UK tour of the legendary album Replicas in full, including B-sides. The highly successful tour also raised Numan's profile, the tour coincided with his 30th anniversary in the music business. The tour was also notable for the Manchester gig on 8 March 2008 which also happened to fall on his 50th birthday. The band, along with wife Gemma, helped Numan celebrate by bringing a large cake onstage. Also Jagged Edge was released a reworking of the original Jagged album.

2009

2009 the long awaited live DVD, Replicas Live, was also released on audio CD, and The Pleasure Principle 30th Anniversary CD released. Also the re-issue DVD of The Touring Principle 79. In July 2009, Gary Numan appeared as a special guest at the Wave Goodbye Nine Inch Nails concert at The O2 arena, London. Before coming on stage, Trent Reznor explained how Numan was a huge inspiration to him during the past 20 years. Numan then preformed two songs with NIN; Cars and Metal. Numan appeared once again at the final run of the Wave Goodbye shows in Los Angeles.

2010

2010 saw the release of the remastered Micromusic Live DVD, also the Beggars Banquet box set Remastered, Limited Edition of 500 copies, Tubeway Army and Gary Numan 78/79 Boxed Set included The Plan, Tubeway Army, Replicas and The Pleasure Principle. Also in 2010 The Pleasure Principle Live CD/DVD was released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Pleasure Principle's, for the first time in his career Numan performed all of the tracks from the classic album on a UK tour in 2009. Gary also performed some live dates in the UK, toured America with The Pleasure Principle.

2011

2011 see the release of the long awaited Dead Son Rising, Full of reworks of old demos Gary had left from previous projects. Also Gary embarked on a UK tour consisting of 12 dates. 2011 also see Gary awarded the prestigious Inspiration award at the Mojo awards in London and collected Legend award from Artrocker Awards. Gary finished the year with the second phase of Dead Son Rising shows in December.

2012

2012 saw the release of two books, the first was `BackStage' by Stephen Roper, the second was `Tracks - song by album' by Paul Goodwin. 2012 also saw two Numan apps released, the first by Numanme to accompany the Numanme site, the second was the app Artrocker book 'GARY NUMAN: NOW...and then' an official retrospective of an electro legend, with FREE Remix Album. Numan also released the Dead Moon Falling remix CD. Gary also toured twice with the Machine Music Tour and Dead Moon Falling Tour. 2012 also saw Gary move to the USA with his family.

2013

2013 see the release of the long awaited studio album 'Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)'. 2013 also see the release of Machine Music Live CD & DVD. Recorded live on the Machine Music Tour at the Dome, Brighton on 3rd June 2012. Gary also toured the USA and the UK to promote 'Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)' . Gary also playing two Florida shows with the legendary Nine Inch Nails.

2014

Gary kicks of the year with a Israel & European Tour then North America Splinter Tour, then onto a Australia and New Zealand. He also released Splinter as a single, then returned to the UK to Tour Splinter, then back to North America for the Splinter full Tour. Also this year see the release of the DVD, CD, and Vinyl album of From Inside film soundtrack.

2015

2015 see 'From Inside', featuring the Gary Numan penned score, get its DVD release in the UK. Gary Numan also playing the Ink N Iron festival in Long Beach on 14 June. VOWS release Losing Myself in You featuring Gary Numan. Gary Numan played the Royal Festival Hall to a full house. The Arkive Announces Vinyl Reissue of GARY NUMAN/TUBEWAY ARMY - PREMIER HITS Definitive compilation. Three Nights, Three Classic Albums at The Teragram in Los Angeles and the uk at London Forum Residency in October. The Arkive Announces Vinyl Reissues of Gary Numan's Replicas | The Pleasure Principle | Telekon. And to top it all Gary was this year's winners of the 'Q Innovation In Sound' award. Gary launched a crowdfunding campaign for his new album, to be released in October 2016. On November 13, just before lunchtime, the Pledgemusic campaign had reached its target.

2016

2016 Gary kicked of the year with the release of 'Here In The Black' DVD/CD/ and Limited Edition Picture Disc double vinyl album which sold out almost instantly. 2016 also see Gary finally collaborated with he's long time hero hero John Foxx on a track on the new John Foxx and The Maths album with the track called 'Talk (Are You Listening To Me) ''. We also see the world premiere of the Android In La La Land film, made by Steve Read and Rob Alexander, at the Alamo Lamar A SXSW, Austin TX. This year also see the Series premier on the SyFy channel Hunters TV show that used 'For You' by Andy Gray & Gary which Gary was. rather proud of. Andy and Gary also released the Hunters EP which featured 'For You' song plus three new songs. Moog Music announce Gary Numan as the recipient of the 2016 Moog Innovation Award. Also Gary toured in May with the Classic Album shows in the USA. Live At The Forum CD's and box sets and Live At The Forum picture disc vinyl went on sale at the USA shows for the first time. Gary had been planning these live albums for nearly a year. Gary did the MoogFest shows Gary also received the 2016 Moog Innovation Award. He was even given a brand new Mini Moog D, the synth that started it all for Gary back in 1978. On June 7, 2016. Gary's Mum (Beryl) sadly passed away, Gary posed on he's Facebook page I am heartbroken beyond measure. Gary toured the UK in September, Gary also put on a after Tour Boat Party, we also see the release of TV Gary Numan documentary Reinvention on DVD. The DVD edition has 45 mins of extra footage, which brings this documentary completely up to date. Gary appeared on ITV's 'This Morning' program. Gary also announced the working title of the New album as Savage.

2017

Gary Numan has kicked off his Savage UK tour after signing a deal with BMG for his new album, "Savage: Songs From A Broken World," which was released in September. The first single from the album, "My Name Is Ruin," was selected by BMG and is accompanied by a promotional video directed by Chris Corner from IAMX, who also directed the "I Am Dust" video in 2014. Notably, Gary's daughter, Persia, sang on the track and appeared in the video. This year marks their first-ever live performance together. "Savage" entered the UK charts, becoming Gary's first top 5 album since 1981. The Savage live show was filmed at Brixton..

2018

In 2018, Gary had another outstanding year. He returned to the Old Grey Whistle Test studios to perform "My Name Is Ruin" alongside Persia Numan and AFE. He then embarked on a Scandinavian and European tour, followed by the Savage Part 2 tour in the UK, which included several festival performances. After that, he set out on a 25-date tour in the USA. The highlight for Gary and his fans was his collaboration with The Skaparis Orchestra for seven dates at prestigious venues, including The Royal Albert Hall. Who would have ever imagined Gary performing with an orchestra? Afterward, he went back to Europe for another tour, completing a total of 73 shows across 19 different countries. Additionally, he released The Fallen EP on CD and vinyl, as well as the DVD/CD Savage (Live at Brixton Academy).

2019

2019 see Gary embark (R)evolution 40th Anniversary Tour. We also see the release of The First Recordings of Replicas, and The Pleasure Principle also the release of When The Sky Came Down CD .

2020

Gary released his autobiography titled R(evolution). He also released When The Sky Came Down on vinyl. Additionally, Gary contributed to Tower Of Strength, a new charity recording originally released by The Mission, but renamed TOS2020 to ensure that funds are diverted from the original version. The charities supported will be personally nominated by those involved in its recording and release. Furthermore, Gary released acoustic versions of Are ‘Friends’ Electric? and Stories as part of a lockdown session.

2021

In 2021, the concept album *Intruder* was released, centered around an apocalyptic theme. It represents the perspective of an anthropomorphized Earth, expressing its anger towards humanity due to environmental degradation. Numan explained in an interview, “The planet sees us as its children who have grown into callous selfishness, showing total disregard for its well-being. It feels betrayed, hurt, and ravaged. Disillusioned and heartbroken, it is now fighting back." Additionally, Beggars Banquet released *The Singles Collection 1978–1983* Ltd Edition Box Set and *Warriors* on limited edition orange vinyl. Numan also recorded a live online concert for *Intruder*, which is available to rent on Stabal TV..

2022

Gary Numan toured for his album "Intruder" across North America, the UK, and Europe. This year was particularly special as it marked his return to Wembley. To commemorate this occasion, Wembley presented Gary with a lovely memento. Gary Numan addressed the audience: "We are here, Wembley Arena. I can’t begin to tell you what this day means to me, but I want to express my gratitude. I wouldn’t be here without your incredible support. Tonight, we should all celebrate together, as being here is as much about you as it is about me; it’s your achievement as well as mine." Additionally, the Sky documentary "Gary Numan - Resurrection" was made available on Sky Arts

2023

At the beginning of the year, Gary devoted his time to staying by his wife Gemma's bedside in the hospital, as she was experiencing a dangerously high heartbeat that reached 226 beats per minute. Thankfully, Gemma made a full recovery. In April, Gary celebrated a significant milestone by performing his 1,000th live show. He put on three sold-out concerts at the Electric Ballroom in London, with all tickets selling out in just ten minutes. His daughter, Raven, supported him during these performances. Additionally, Gary joined Ministry and Front Line Assembly for their North American tour in April, while also scheduling a series of his own headline shows in between. This year marked the 45th anniversary of the release of "That’s Too Bad." In October, Gary launched an 8-date acoustic tour in the UK, which turned out to be very successful—an impressive achievement for a synth legend!

2024

The incredible adventure with Ministry and Front Line Assembly continued with additional shows, accompanied by a limited edition of 1,000 coloured and individually numbered 7-inch vinyl records. These records were recorded at Gary Numan's 1,000th show in London in April 2023. At each show on the Ministry tour, 20 copies were available at the merchandise table, as well as in the US Store. To commemorate the 45th anniversary of the release of the "Replicas" and "The Pleasure Principle" albums, Gary decided to tour both albums in the UK. Additionally, a limited 7-inch coloured vinyl single was released to celebrate this milestone. During each night of the UK tour, 100 copies were available at the merchandise stall. One side of the single features "Down In The Park," while the other side features "Metal," both recorded at The Roundhouse in London during the (R)evolution tour. This year also marked the arrival of the first phase of Gary Numan's back catalogue re-releases through BMG. The "Gary Numan: The Numa Years" albums are now available digitally for the first time, with more releases to come.

Outtro

The story continues........