Fireside Chat

Gary Numan

Beggars Banquet, UK

Gary Numan's influence on electronic music is unparalleled. His signature style can be found all over the shop, with his samples leaving imprints on tracks from bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, Basement Jaxx and the Wu Tang Clan (to name only a few). That seminal track 'Cars' helped usher in the synth pop era on both sides of the Atlantic, especially in the U.K., where he was a genuine pop star and consistent hit-maker during the early '80s. Even after new wave had petered out, Numan's impact continued; his dark, paranoid vision, theatrically icy alien persona, and clinical, robotic sound were echoed strongly in the work of many goth, rock and (especially) industrial artists to come. Now in his 30th year as a recording artist and having amassed millions of record sales and 3 number one albums, 2008 saw Numan successfully complete a sold out 15 date 'Replicas' UK Tour and perform to thousands. He has also been widely recognised as influential in recent years by artists such as Queens of the Stone Age, Beck, Tricky, Damon Albarn and David Bowie. Need we say more? We should really let him do the talking in his Fireside Chat...