Electric Friends: A Gary Numan Podcast

"Stroll to the cafe, my God, how time flies..." For this episode, we travel way back to one of Gary Numan's first songs. 'My Shadow in Vain' was written before Tubeway Army even existed, and it went on to become one of his most performed songs ever. This episode delves into the different versions of the song, from its punk origins to the 2002 hard rock version. We also hear from Gary as he explain...

For this interview special of Electric Friends, I’m speaking to Andy Gray, one of the most sought-after DJs, songwriters, producers and composers of the last few decades. Andy made a name for himself in the early 90s in the growing dance music scene, with his remixes and work with his group Amoeba Assassin, and for his work with Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto label. He has gone on to produce or remix m...

"Kneel before my altar and drink the wine of slaughter" In 1997, Gary Numan followed his career-rebooting Sacrifice album with the critically-acclaimed Exile . It was the closest thing to a concept album that he had recorded, delving into a world where God and the Devil were the same. In this episode, I look back at perhaps its most well-known song, 'Dark'. Including: An exclusive clip of my inter...

In this interview special episode, I speak to the legend that is Chris Payne! Chris joined Tubeway Army back in 1979 just before 'Are Friends Electric' was released, and stayed with Gary's band for the albums Replicas, The Pleasure Principle and Telekon, and continued performing with Gary's live band for the rest of the 1980s. He also co-wrote Visage's 'Fade to Grey', and has been a prolific compo...

"Move from my window, leave me alone..." In this episode, we look back at the Telekon album track 'Remind Me to Smile' from 1980. The electropop banger is still a live favourite, but it wasn't released a single. Or was it? We take a look at how Gary's struggles with fame and fandom influenced the song, his strange experience with hardcore fans back then and more. Clips used: Gary Numan - 'Remind M...

Gary Numan's 1986 album Strange Charm was not a happy one for him, and while it might be a forgotten LP compared to others, it still has a lot of... well... charm. Its second single 'I Can't Stop' was a bombastic radio friendly track that deserved more radio attention at the time, and it was the first vinyl single I bought 10+ years after its release. This episode delves into the song's history, a...

"This is not love, this is not even worth a point of view..." In 1980, Gary Numan released one of his greatest singles, the top 10 hit 'I Die: You Die'. At the time it was a non-album single, but was later included on the Telekon album, alongside We Are Glass. The episode delves into: How the song was inspired by the press's hatred of him The various versions, mixes and covers How David Bowie got...

As voted for by you, this episode is all about Gary Numan's 1984 album Berserker , and in particular its title track and lead single. The episode delves into its inspirations, from '60s sci-fi books to 1984's biggest hit single, and Gary's own fantastical ideas. It also looks at the album and tour's striking blue and white imagery, Gary's turn to sampling and its disappointing lack of airplay and...

By the late 2000s, Gary Numan had become a father to three girls, and his career had been better than ever. However, for various reasons, he found himself with serious bouts of depression. This depression led to the writing of his next album, 2013's Splinter. One such track that tackled the themes of depression and life apathy, was the epic 'Here in the Black'. This episode looks back on that song...

"Now it's all over for sure, I'll walk back home..." In 1981, Gary Numan said goodbye to his fans with his epic Wembley shows, which was meant to be his retirement from live performance (thankfully, it wasn't). The year before, he had recorded 'Please Push No More', a piano-synth ballad that dealt with his feelings about fame, fans and critics. This episode tells the story of that song, and the em...

For this interview special of Electric Friends, I caught up with a genuine pop legend: Dollar's Thereza Bazar! Ahead of her UK tour, I spoke to Thereza about her amazing career, working with Trevor Horn, her upcoming projects, and of course... what it was like working with Gary Numan. Thereza sang on Gary Numan's 1982 track 'Noise Noise', later included on re-releases of the I, Assassin album. The...

In 2000, Gary Numan released his most industrial album yet, Pure. Well received by critics and fans, it was arguably his best LP for nearly two decades. However, its lead single wasn't released until nearly two years later. And it was a surprising success, sending Gary back into the charts. This episode reflects on the Pure era and the lead single 'Rip', the most unlikely top 40 hit. Clips used: G...

For this episode of Electric Friends, I catch up with Tubeway Days singer and Gary Numan impersonator Chris Fielding. I first saw Chris Fielding when he appeared as Gary on Stars in their Eyes back in 1998, and was amazed at how close he looked and sounded like him. Fast forward to 2020, and Chris joined the lineup of the excellent Gary Numan tribute band Tubeway Days. Specialising in the 1979-81...

On Replicas , Gary Numan and Tubeway Army kicked it off with this incredibly catchy piece of synthpop/new wave/post-punk brilliance: Me! I Disconnect from You. This episode delves into the meaning behind the song, its sci-fi influence, the various remixes, live versions and covers, and more. Clips used: Gary Numan - 'Me! I Disconnect from You' (Replicas) Gary Numan - 'Praying to the Alines' (Repli...

"They say that I'm all over, I don't know..." In 1988, Gary Numan released his first album under the IRS Records label, and despite good reviews and an improvement on previous albums, Metal Rhythm didn't get him back in the charts. Taking on a Robert Palmer-style hard rock meets electronic album, the LP featured the lead single 'New Anger', about his irritation over his critics at the time. This e...

"You're my assassin but you can't see the crime..." For this episode, let's look back at what would prove to be Gary Numan's final ever top 10 single, from 1982's I, Assassin. A song about an ex-girlfriend, and a track that has everything (funk, synthpop and jazz), it's one of Gary Numan's most intriguing singles. Please get in touch on Twitter ( @numanpodcast ) or email at  numanpodcast@gmai...

"I turned off the pain, like I turned off you all, now there's only m.e." For this episode, we look back at the fantastic sci-fi themed Pleasure Principle track, M.E.. Based on a story from Gary Numan about the last machine on Earth, we look at its inspiration, covers, remixes and more. Clips used: Thomas Newman - 2185 AD Gary Numan - M.E. Gary Numan - M.E. (Hybrid version) Wand - M.E. Metz - M.E....

"Young men need love special." In this episode, we look back at the quirky yet hugely popular fan favourite track, Jo the Waiter, from Tubeway Army's self-titled debut album in 1978. From the person who inspired the song to its various live versions, let's tackle the folk-style track ahead of Gary's acoustic tour later this year. Clips used: Tubeway Army - Jo the Waiter Gary Numan - Jo the Waiter...

"Do you fall like dust on a ruin? Empty and dead like the life you are losing." For this episode, we go back to 2011 and Gary Numan's album Dead Son Rising , for its lead single 'The Fall'. Intended as an 'outtakes' album to fill the gap between Jagged and Splinter , it ended up being its own fully-fledged album thanks to the persistence of producer Ade Fenton. This episode focuses on the lead sin...

"You are attraction, it gets to be routine, you're up, I'm down" This episode looks back at the one and only single from Gary Numan's 1981 album Dance : 'She's Got Claws'. We delve into how the song and album was inspired by a bitter end to a relationship that went rather scary for Gary, as well as a ghostly experience on the London Underground, and how it was influenced by the music of the band J...

"Time will heal you, time helps you forget me..." For this episode, I remember Gary Numan's largely-forgotten album Outland from 1991, and its lead single 'Heart'. The episode delves into the underrated love song from Gary, as well as the difficulties in making the album alongside Miles Copeland, how it was inspired by Janet Jackson and Jam & Lewis, and how it led into what was to come next. C...

"Turn out these eyes, Wipe off my face, Erase me" For this episode, I look back at the Telekon single 'This Wreckage' from 1980. In the episode, I delve into: Why Gary Numan regretted choosing it as a single The meaning behind some of its Japanese lyrics How it was sampled by a classic 2000s dance track Its beautiful B-side 'Photograph' What his fans think about the divisive single Clips used: Gar...

For this episode, I take a look back at the moment when Gary Numan turned a corner. In 1994, he took partner Gemma's advice and made the music he actually wanted to make again, without outsider influence. The album was Sacrifice , and it was the moment that Gary started his long road to recovery. Focusing mainly on the Lord of the Rings-inspired track 'Magic', this episode looks at the making of S...

Revisiting one of Gary Numan's most influential tracks, which featured on his seminal The Pleasure Principle album. Containing an excellent drum break by Cedric Sharpley and bass from Paul Gardiner, the synth-heavy 'Films' was a hugely influential song in the early days of hip-hop. This episode looks at how the song was used in New York block parties, who has sampled it over the years and why it's...

We head to Gary Numan's most recent album, Intruder , and its title track. Gary ponders what the Earth would say to mankind if it could talk, and how angry would it be. Gary took an idea from his daughter Echo's poem and turned it into a whole album, with great effect. This episode looks at the making and meaning of the 2021 anthemic track. Clips used: Gary Numan - 'Intruder' Gary Numan - (R)Evolu...