Interviews: Gary Numan

When I got guest listed for The Mighty Boosh Festival last week there was one thought in my mind…I wanted to interview Gary Numan. To me, he was as important as anyone else who brought electronic music to the forefront of popular culture in the UK. In the middle of the punk/new wave explosion Tubeway Army burst onto the scene propelling Gary to superstardom. Thanks to Lucius Yeo from Zest PR, I was able to grab a short slot with Gary backstage after his knockout set. I have to admit to being a little starstruck to meet one of my all time favourite artists. I was so glad i prepared for the eventuality!!!!!!!!!

Mark: Hi, Gary. Great to meet you! Do you regret announcing your retirement from live shows back in 1981? I know you have said you did, like when you walked off stage you thought “Fuck what have I done” can we chat about your reasons for this?

Gary: I regret making such a fuss about it because I feel it alienated a lot of fans and I guess I have been trying to recover from that ever since. On the other hand, it was a really sensible thing to do because it gave me a couple of years to calm everything down. I was really young and the whole thing became massive overnight all around the world pretty much. I really needed to calm it down, it was too much to take in. Every part of your life is different…some of it good, some of it not so good. You need that time to take onboard what works for you and what to stay clear of. You just so can’t do that when you are touring and on stage every night. I did two world tours in a year, you just have no time to yourself. So, it was a very sensible thing to do, but very badly executed. I should of just done it then came back and nobody would of known any different!

Mark: When you set up your own label in 1984 (Numa), that was a pretty bold move. Was that to give you full artistic control?

Gary: Well, I had just split up with Beggars Banquet and was pretty disillusioned with whole record label industry thing and wanted to make the kind of record I wanted to make. That was the idea behind it, but I think as it started I was in a bit of a creative slide. It was alright, but I wasn’t entirely happy. It wasn’t from the heart, but more to do with trying to keep my career alive. I set up the label to be creative, but then I didn’t deliver that, I started to deliver these watered down attempts at trying to salvage the career. Massive mistake! I learned from that, but again, it hurt me quite badly.

Mark: You have always been pretty diverse in your styles. I love the darker more edgy stuff like Sacrifice. Which of your albums is your favourite?

Gary: I think Pure is my favourite, although I really love Jagged though it’s not fair to include that right now, but as time goes on I think it will be right up there. From the earlier stuff probably Replicas though I don’t like it so much but thats because of the time that’s passed since.

Mark: I guess if you play something for thirty years in some ways it must become something of a chore?

Gary: I’m alright with it. I appreciate that people have a connection with it. I mean that album was 1979, so I was 21…you listen to it now and the lyrics are that of a younger man. Sometimes, it’s a bit embarrassing, but I have to remember that I was a young man with a young man’s problems and deal with it that way.

Mark: Yea, definitely. We all change as people…our ideas and perceptions of what’s important and the world.

Gary: Exactly!!!!!!

At this point I was asked to speed up as a national Radio Station was waiting. Gary seemed at ease, so we carried on regardless!!

Mark: So as this is the last question I’m allowed to ask…can we do two in one Gary?

Gary: Yea, carry on I’m more than happy.

Mark: So many contemporary artists cover your songs and cite you as an influence. How does that feel and when will the new album be released?

Gary: There is an album out later this year, but that’s just a filler. The new record will be next spring. As for people covering my stuff: I’m just enormously proud of all that, I haven’t taken it for granted at all even though there has been a lot of it. You know people taking samples and covering songs I don’t think there is anything that can make you more proud than your peers saying you are an influence!!!!

Mark: Must be great after you had that little dip through the 90’s then like 2000-2001 people started to appreciate just how important you have been as an artist

Gary: Thank you.

Mark: No, Gary I really want to thank you for the 30 years in the industry and this interview.

Gary: No, thank you! I have enjoyed most of them and it’s been a pleasure to meet you.

With that Gary was moved along. I had so many more questions I wanted to ask, but I hope that has given everyone an insight. I felt he really opened up and gave some great replies. He really was one of the favourite interviews I have done…so relaxed and such a genuine guy.

Tags: Gary Numan