Birthdays: GARY NUMAN

 Happy birthday to Gary Numan, born as Gary Webb in London on this day in 1958. 

There's a man outside in a long coat, grey hat, smoking a cigarette.

Gary Numan (Tubeway Army)1979

Are ‘Friends’ Electric?

THE OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST

Single of the Day ( bought when they came out! contd.,)

 TUBEWAY ARMY - Are Friends Electric? 

Gary Numan starts his journey . . . . . 

David Bowie on the one artist who surpasses all others . . . . . . .

 🔴 THE ONE MUSICIAN DAVID BOWIE SAID "DOESN'T HAVE COMPETITION"

The late David Bowie knew good music when he heard it. Drawing on a host of areas to create his distinctive sound, the Londoner utilised the best aspects of other artists over the years, giving him longevity that puts most to shame. This meant that in his time, Bowie touched on glam rock, jazz, industrial and disco to create his classic tracks. 

Whilst Bowie didn’t enjoy all forms of music, as he made clear when he discussed his lifelong disdain for country and western, and in his less than courteous treatment of the young newcomer Gary Numan, when Bowie did like someone’s music, the insight with which he imbued his accounts proved to be fascinating. 

Throughout his life, Bowie praised many prominent figures, including John Lennon, Syd Barrett and The Velvet Underground, while also touching on more contemporary acts such as Placebo. Yet, for all of the extensive readings of other artists’ work, there was only one he felt that was so brilliant that he “doesn’t have competition”. Of course, this was Bob Dylan, the folk-rock pioneer who has enjoyed more creative endurance than any other. 

When speaking to the Dutch music programme Countdown in 1990, Bowie was asked about some of his supposed competitors in music. There, he used Dylan as an example of an act without competition before arguing that The Rolling Stones are in a similar boat. However, his argument was much less assertive about the British band. Bowie: “I would say that I stay out of it, I’d like to say that. Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know. You could tell from the outside. But I don’t really feel that. I feel that frankly, over the last 20 years or so, I’m pretty much my own man. I suppose it’s very cheeky of me to put myself in the same light”. 

He added: “But if I look at Bob Dylan, he doesn’t have competition; he is just Bob Dylan. Whether you like him or don’t like him. Whether he does good stuff or bad stuff, he is still Bob Dylan.” “You don’t compare him with anybody. It’s not a competitive kind of thing,” Bowie continued. “It’s the same with The Stones. I know they create mock competitions for them with other bands. I’ve noticed in America, it’s been happening. But there is really no way that you can compare The Stones with anybody. And I would hope, I think, I’m probably in the same kind of position. I’m David Bowie, I’m either good, (or) a pile of shit. I’m accessible or not accessible, obscure, very commercial. I changed all the time. But I’m still me… no? (laughs)”.

Dylan and Bowie

 

Bought this [and the album] when it came out . . .still have it and it was a moment in music history. . . truly

On this day in music history: September 25, 1979 - “The Pleasure Principle”, the third album by Gary Numan is released (UK release is on September 7, 1979). Produced by Gary Numan, it is recorded at Marcus Music AB in London from July - August 1979. Following two successful albums as the front man for the groundbreaking post-punk synth pop band Tubeway Army, musician Gary Numan begins recording solely under his own name in mid 1979. This happens just as the band scores their biggest success in the UK with the single “Are Friends Electric?” (#1 UK) and the album “Replicas” (#1 UK). Continuing to work with Tubeway Army bassist Paul Gardiner, Numan adds musicians Cedric Sharpley (drums and percussion), and Chris Payne (keyboards and viola) to fill out the rhythm section.  Heavily influenced by German synth pioneers Kraftwerk, Numan constructs a more synthesizer dominated sound, alternately layering multiple Minimoog and Polymoog parts treated with various effects. He also uses synthesized percussion, including the Star Instruments Synare electronic drum in tandem with a standard acoustic drum kit. The new album also differs from the two Tubeway Army albums as there are no guitars featured on any of the tracks, giving it an even more otherworldly atmosphere. It is released to a rapturous response in Numan’s home country and establishes him as a star on an international basis. It spins off two singles including “Complex” (#6 UK), and the landmark “Cars” (#1 UK, #9 US Pop). Regarded as a classic of the synth pop genre, “Cars” and the rest of “The Pleasure Principle” album also proves highly influential not only on other synthesizer based musicians, but on Hip Hop culture and the Electro-Funk music genre. In 2009, the album is reissued as a two CD set featuring a remastered version of the original album on the first disc, and a second including previously unreleased demo versions and outtakes. “The Pleasure Principle” spends two weeks (non-consecutive) at number one on the UK album chart, peaking at number sixteen on the Billboard Top 200.

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Are Friends Electric? | Gary Numan

Another classic album bought when it came out and the era was an exciting one. I thought then this was was cool as it was possible to be. Retrospectively that is some admission but hey . . . . . . when I was nine I used to listen to Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen!