Gary Numan Digest Thu, 4 Jul 96 Volume 1 : Issue 241 Today's Topics: ADMINISTRIVIA "THE DIGEST ASKS GARY - JUNE 1996" a question Calling Texan Numanoids Eudora Wave File Extended Mixes Gary Numan Digest V1 #240 NU EMAIL ADDRESS Numan disco @ The Dome, London Numan early on Replicas - Derek reminisces Tribute Album ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Jul 1996 11:19:22 -0700 From: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: ADMINISTRIVIA To: numan@cs.uwp.edu July discussion topic --------------------- I worry that we are dealing with the ususal summer slump in posts that comes when the Universities take their summer break. Still I was hoping to get more posts about "Metal Rhythm"/"New Anger" than were actually submitted. Most appeared to prefer MR over NA, no matter which they heard first. So, after dealing with a couple of Gary's mid-career albums lets delve back to the album that pushed Gary to the forefront of the UK music scene - "Replicas". The details (from the discography): REPLICAS released April 1979 Gary Numan (Keyboards, Guitars, Vocals) Paul Gardiner (Bass) Jess Lidyard (Drums) Produced by Gary Numan Engineered by John Caffery Assisted by Harvey Ishiki Mixed by Rikki Sylvan, John Caffery, and Gary Numan Recorded at Gooseberry Studios, London Mixed at Marcus Music AB, London 3:22 Me! I Disconnect From You 5:24 Are 'friends' Electric? 3:07 The Machman 3:59 Praying To The Aliens 4:26 Down In The Park 3:14 You Are In My Vision 5:00 Replicas 4:01 It Must Have Been Years 3:14 When the Machines Rock 6:31 I Nearly Married A Human b-sides and other associated tracks 3:43 Do You Need The Service? [1] 2:56 The Crazies [1] 3:38 Only A Downstat [1] 8:03 We Have A Technical [1] 2:56 We Are So Fragile [1] 6:40 I Nearly Married A Human (2) [1] This album must be associated with a lot of memories as it was for me. I'm sure we'd all like to read about your thoughts and memories on it. My synopsis appears in this Digest. Derek -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu Dept. of Biology Tel. (619) 594 2885 San Diego State University Fax (619) 594 7831 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Jul 1996 09:58:21 -0700 From: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: "THE DIGEST ASKS GARY - JUNE 1996" To: numan@cs.uwp.edu THE DIGEST ASKS GARY - JUNE 1996 -------------------------------- Gary continues to give priority time to the Digest. I sent out the questions Monday July 1 and he responded July 3, despite the fact that his grandfather (Beryl's dad) passed away June 26th. I will be sending my condolences to Beryl, Tony, and Gary and will do so on behalf of the Digest. I hope you don't mind. I just lost my mother-in-law June 10th, so I know somewhat how they must be feeling. Derek --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Phil Whalley (pod04@cc.keele.ac.uk) Accrington, Lancashire, England asks: Hello Gary - read the interesting interview in Record Collector. It seems that, after not enjoying fame as a nipper, you want a second bite of the cherry now that you know the "rules of the game". You have experienced more in seventeen years than the vast majority of people will ever do in a lifetime - the exhilaration, excitement and the incredible pressures associated with being a star. You have carved a niche for yourself in the history of pop music in an era (1979-81) which saw the emergence of an unprecedented number of historic pop figures. Your place among them is secure, and your success has made you a rich man. Yet, you don't seem particularly content. Q1. I want to know whether you feel you fully appreciate what your musical talent has done for you? A1. I think I know better than anyone what it's done for me. The good things and the bad. It's brought in a lot of money at times and some satisfaction although that has always been tarnished and spoilt somewhat by the media. It's given me a lot of excitement but that is always balanced by the pressure of having to constantly come up with things as good, if not better, than things you've done before, not just musically but images, tours, sleeves etc. Most acts have a number of people around them, be it band members, producers whatever who they can lean on to a large extent. These are things that I have had only rarely, in the main I've had to do it pretty much on my own and that has definitely been hard at times, in fact it's been hard for virtually my entire career. For much of my career I've also not had the enourmous support of a major record company which also adds workload and pressure to whatever you're doing. I sometimes feel as though I'm in a very long running race but that I've had my laces tied together. No matter how hard I tried I was impeded and that at every hurdle I've had a difficult climb whereas I see other people in the race gliding effortlessly over and around the same obstacles. No decent record contract, no radio play, no friends in the media. I don't ever want to do anything else but I sure as fuck don't feel that anything has been given to me. I think I've earned every smile on my face and every penny in my pocket. Q2. Have you achieved everything you set out to achieve? A2. When I was young I wanted to be a pop star and a pilot so I guess I did alright as far as those ambitions were concerned. The trouble with me is I keep thinking of new things that I would like to be good at or learn about. ---- Brian Winchester in Arkansas, USA asks: I was once a Centurion. I just became a fan of your music a year ago! I listen to your music everyday and have a video copy of "Urgh, A Music War" to keep me company! Your music has almost made me forget about my being abandoned by God! Q3. If you were asked to act or perform in the next "Star Wars" film, would you? A3. I doubt it. I really don't think I'm cut out to be an actor. Q4. What ever happen to that small, black 'wheelchair-like' car, that you drove around when you would sing "Down In The Park"? A4. I only used it for the 1980 'Teletour' and for the three Wembley concerts in 1981. After that I think we gave it away as a prize to a fan. Q5. Do you believe that the 'cure for the Aids virus' will be such a benefit in cellular knowledge to humankind that eventually humans might achieve immortality and in time have the means to revive life and bring back the deceased? A5. No. I'm sure that a handful of people had similar thought about Penicillin. I don't believe in immortality at any time and certainly not as a distant relation to the hoped for cure for AIDS being found. As for reviving the dead, it actually forms part of the story in my faltering attempts to write a book, but I don't believe that it will, could or should ever happen. Q6. If humankind did have the means to bring back life, all life that ever was, and the means to create life and bring all imaginations to reality, do you think that God would still carry out his word that I have to roam this earth forever or do you think God would forgive me? A6. I think that any belief in God is mistaken. Q7. Would you have had me ask music-related questions instead? A7. I really don't mind what people ask ---- Brian Hammond from Denver, Colorado, USA asks: Q8. You have mentioned a couple of times your frustration over the calendars you had made that were in far excess of the expected demand. I can't speak for all USA fans, but something like that would be pretty neat to have, even if they were from a past year. Would you consider offering these calendars for sale to US fans at a certain discount - considering they are not current - on NuWorld or the fan club? A8. We have thought about it. At the monent we are looking into postage costs and packaging requirements etc. We are very keen to make as many things available on the Internet, via NuWorld, as possible but we want to proceed very carefully so that we do not let people down by being disorganised. I've mentioned several times that the entire Numan operation is run by me and my parents. This is already a massive daily task for the three of us and so we must be cautious as to how and when we increase our mail order items. I was wondering if you could let the fans know just where you are in the negotiating process for a new contract. I am specifically interested in knowing the following: Q9. What labels are you talking to (or have talked to in the past 6 months)? A9. I really can't talk about such things until the deal is completed. Sorry. Q10. How many albums would these respective labels want from you? A10. Probably 4 or 5. Q11. Do any of these albums include live recordings or just studio work? A11. Live recordings are normally considered to be 'extra' to the agrred album requirement. Q12. Would any of these contracts include non-European releases (e.g. US or Japan)? A12. I'm hopeful for a world wide deal. If not individual licencing deals around the world would be our next objective. Q13. Would any of these contracts include tours in the UK, US, or elsewhere? A13. If the support in terms of finance and promotional back up was available yes. Q14. Is there a particular label that is leading the others at this time? A14. Can't say I'm afraid. Q15. If you could sign to any label, which would it be? A15. I don't really mind. They are all pretty much as good and as bad as each other. You only have to look at who's working where to see that labels have a massive turn over in staff. The label you sign today is often run by someone else tomorrow. Q16. Have you ever played the game _Doom_? It is very addictive. If you haven't, be certain to get a copy. It's quite fun. A16. I have and thought it was great. I know have a Sony Playstation and my favourite game is 'Alien Trilogy' which is very 'Doom' like. Thank you, Brian Hammond ---- DAN COFFEY of Princeton, New Jersey, USA asks: Hi Gary, Your web-site looks better than ever...keep up the good work:) Q17. When you originally decided to change from 'Tubeway Army' to 'Gary Numan', i read that Beggars Banquet wasn't to thrilled with the idea...right? But, how did your band react? was there any clash of egos over that decision, or did Paul and Jess not care much. (granted, you did write all the songs pretty much) A17. I didn't really have a band. Jess had already left and gone back to a conventional job. I decided to go solo and Paul decided that he would stay with me as the bass player in my backing band. It wasn't a case of me changing the name of the band to Gary Numan at all. The band finished. Q18. With the 'Digest asks Gary' going for several months now, I still think it is amazing that you put the time in to answer the questions, I don't think anyone will ever take that for granted. Having said that, how do you feel so far about this correspondence with fans? Do you enjoy it, or is it alot of work? A18. It's a fair amount of work but I think it's useful and helps to bring about a closer feeling between us and a better understanding. Q19. People ask you alot when you will tour the US again, and I know thats hard to answer with no major record company backing you, but, how about your aeroplane? Will Gary Numan ever do a US air show?? I was at one in Geneseo NY with all world war II planes (Corsair F4-u, the Memphis Belle, etc..) Why not your Harvard? :) A19. It would cost more to bring my aeroplane to America than it would to just rent one over there. I would like to but it would seem to be unlikely at the moment. Maybe if I could become a bit more well known over there then flying in a display would be more likely. I would like to. thanks, DAN COFFEY ---- John Stubblefied, Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, USA asks: Q20. Was the 'My Dying Machine' b-side song 'She Cries' an attempt to recreate the mood and feel of the 'Dance' album? A20. No. I've never knowingly tried to recreate the mood or feel of a past album. I think the fact that I used fretless bass for a few albums made one or two songs a little bit similar in sound from time to time. Q21. If Bill Nelson had had complete production control of the 'Warriors' album, would it have turned out very differently? A21. It's hard to say. He had quite a lot to say as it was and only really objected to my ideas so I guess it would have been pretty much as it is but with some of the parts missing. A slightly emptier album perhaps? Q22. Did you read Truman Capote's short story collection 'Muisc for Chameleons' or did you just like the title and decide to turn it into a song? A22. I'd never heard of the Capote book until long after that 'I Assassin' album came out. It was more to do with the changing images that I was involved in at the time and the fans copying of them. ---- Jeff Tolva (The Machman), Elgin, Illinois, USA Hello again, Gary! Some current questions on the forthcoming "Exile" album: Q23. Are there plans for an "Extended Exile" release similarly to the past couple of albums? A23. I won't know until I start mixing it and see what is possible. I often shorten songs so that I can fit as many as possible onto an album and that leaves longer versions with no home to go to. That's how the extended thing started. I don't know what songs are going on the album yet for definite so I can't say whether things will need to be shortened or not. I'm not even sure whether we are going to release a vinyl version or not and so that will have a bearing on the album length. Q24. Do you have a favourite track from the album so far? If so, what is it? A24. 'Absolution' will be on it which I like very much but 'Prophecy' would be my favourite of the new songs. ----- Derek Langsford of San Diego, California, USA asks: Q25. Did you think that Steve Malins did a good job with the commentary in the Premier Hits insert, (presenting warts and all)? A25. Yes and no. The warts were only warts in Steve's opinion. I have my own ideas as to what I've done right and what I've done wrong. They aren't quite the same as Steve's but I do think it was an honest attempt to give a true picture as he sees it. I would imagine that every one of us has his/her own ideas about what my high and low points have been. Q26. Your wardrobe for the Premier Tour and Exile shoots so far is a shift away for the leather look you have had since 1987. You always stated you were very comfortable with that look, so I was wondering why the change to a more image conscious look? A26. I just liked it. I went out with only a vague idea of what I wanted and kind of let it find me really. I was in the shops for about 5 or 6 hours. I found the jacket first and then looked for other things that I thought would go with it and the 'look' sort of evolved as the day went on. Q27. Did you have any say in the decision that resulted in ATCO replacing two tracks on 'Telekon' with 'I Die; You Die' and 'We Are Glass' for the US version of the album? A27. No. I wasn't even aware that it had happened until now. I suppose I must have seen an American copy of the album but it doesn't ring any bells. What tracks were taken off? ************************************************************************** Bye for now, Gary Numan. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE NOTE! Send your questions via email to: Derek Langsford with a subject line of: Gary's Qs Include your real name, town/city, county/province/state and country. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I reserve the right to delete and edit questions for content or length. Thanks again to all who participated. Derek -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu Dept. of Biology Tel. (619) 594 2885 San Diego State University Fax (619) 594 7831 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 11:51:28 +0200 (IST) From: section25 Subject: a question To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I saw a cd a few weeks ago that i have been meaning to ask about... It was a CD5 that said something like ________ and Gary Numan (i cant remember what the bands name was), but it had what appeared to be a remix of 'are friends electric?'. Does anyone know what this is, and if it is any good? thank you brad rhodes ------------------------------ Date: 30 Jun 96 13:04:14 EDT From: Sean Francis <100557.3713@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Calling Texan Numanoids To: Numan Digest Folks, I have moved from the UK and am now based in Houston. Just wondering if there are any Digesters who live around here and who'd like to meet up some time. I do travel around a bit so it would be great to meet anyone from Houston, Austin, San Antonio or Dallas. Let me know if there's anyone out there .......... Later, Sean. Email : sean_francis@realworld.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 00:15:34 +0100 From: colin mccarthy Subject: Eudora Wave File To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hi Steve,Could you please send me the Wave File as discussed yesterday. All the best, Colin McCarthy ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 17:17:02 -0400 From: BDay0000@aol.com Subject: Extended Mixes To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hello! What extended mixes CDs exist? M&S and Sacrafice only, or are there more? Thanks! Brad Day Atlanta, GA USA ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 10:41:20 -0400 From: Ultravox5@aol.com Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #240 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hi.....once again I believe I missed a digest...#239, actually. Is there by any chance a kind soul out there that might have this and be able to send it to me?? I'd really appreciate it!! Alan ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 13:34:13 +0000 From: prophecy@cyberia.ie Subject: NU EMAIL ADDRESS To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hi Derek, I've changed my Email address again because the first internet cafe was crap and I've swithched to a really cool one called Cyberia.Plaese note my nu address,prophecy@cyberia.ie I've now missed the last 4 digests and would appreciate it if you would send me them as soon as possible please. Best wishes, Stephen Barrett ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 12:13:50 +0000 (GMT) From: Andy Subject: Numan disco @ The Dome, London To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I turned up at about 830. The place was pretty quiet, and although it was early, there cant have been more than 30-40 people there by the end. The DJ was very accomodating though, playing some interesting stuff such as Damon Albarn's "We have a tecnical' and an incredible punk rock version of 'Cars' by someone that I dont know...Shit, he even played my techno version of 'Question Of Faith'.... By sheer coincidence it turned out that upstairs was a monthly gay Asian night so my evening was spent sneaking up & down the back stairs in a kind of clubbing time-share.... Anyway, it wasnt very busy, but in a way it made for a more fun night than the last disco I was at which was too busy to really get carried away on the dance floor.. Anyway, the upshot is that I pulled a muscle in my back, and spent SAunday feeling like a pathetic old man, and expecting to drop dead at any moment.. Still - I got a day off work sick on it...I bet it was that aforementioned "Cars" that did it, when I was gettng flung round the dance floor by a cute boy that I've met a few times before at the last disco and the 2 premier gigs I went to.... Anyway - hope to see more people at the next disco at the Williams Wine & Alehouse in London on the 27th (the week before pay day though - Ill have to think about it !) Matthew T - would I be able to crash on your floor somewhere ? Andy ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Jul 1996 11:19:40 -0600 (MDT) From: LISA A DIEDRICH Subject: Numan early on To: numan@cs.uwp.edu (n fan list) Hi fellow Numanoids! I'm a big collector of Numan on video, I was wondering if anyone has Numan's famous Top of the Pops "Are Friends Electric" performance on tape. Does anyone know if any early Tubeway Army stuff exists on video? Please email me at ldiedric@du.edu if you can help me in my Numan video search. Thanks! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Jul 1996 11:20:06 -0700 From: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford) Subject: Replicas - Derek reminisces To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Back in the heady days of high school in Liskeard, Cornwall, UK (a cultural backwater if there ever was one) by the spring of 1979, punk was clearly on its last legs and teenagers were looking for something new to latch onto in the music world. While my peers turned to heavy metal I was looking for something different, something more challenging, something that broke new ground. Something that spoke to me. In earlier years I had an obsession with Abba, then ELO, then Kate Bush but when "Are Friends' Electric?" hit the airwaves in May 1979 (during my O'level exams) I found my calling. AFE was beyond my wildest dreams: rich textures, otherworldy sounds, a refreshingly different vocal approach and not least, the derision of my peers. I soon picked up 'Replicas' and was in musical heaven. Replicas for me is a classic album, perhaps one of Gary's few (maybe 'Dance' and 'Sacrifice' would be others). While not giving up his punk roots completely ("You are in My Vision", "It Must Have Been Years") this album was Gary's first full fleshing out of his songs with synths i.e. the beginning of his 'machine music' phase. It was also the first hugely successful synth album that was not new age or ambient (Jarre, Tangerine Dream) as it is referred to today. This was the beginning of my Numanoidism. None of my peers would admit to liking him but even though I was alone at school, I was not alone because AFE and Replicas enjoyed simultaneous stays at the top of the UK single and album charts. It was nice to bask in the success of Gary to the annoyance of my "friends" :-) "Replicas" was Sci-fi set to music. I loved Star Trek, UFO (a UK TV show), Star Wars, Close Encounters and this album stirred that same intrigue. While also futuristic, it also was not all sweetness and light. There was a seemier, seedier side to this world that Gary had created, something that Soft Cell perfected on their albums. Gary wrote 'Replicas' portraying a future with androids and 'rape' machines, a world with few soft edges and the realisation that something had gone terribly wrong somewhere in human societal evolution. There's not a dud track on there. "Me! I Disconnect from You" has been performed so often live that it probably needs a break but the album version still remains refreshing. It acts as the album intro for the big hit - AFE. I'm glad Gary didn't put AFE as the first track. It would have ruined the flow (I hate albums which have the big hit first as usually the remainder of the album takes a long time to get used to and rarely seems as good, simply because it is less familiar to me). "The Machman" and "Praying to the Aliens" are followed by the side 1 closer "Down in the Park" which has always been a favourite. Such an enormous song and it transfers so well to piano too where it is equally stunning. I didn't hear this until I had the album. I never heard it on the radio even though it has been released as the first single. I am not so fond of the more guitar laiden "You are in My Vision" and "It Must have been Years" but they work. "Replicas" really piles on the atmosphere. Then it's a complete change of pace with "When the Machines Rock", an instrumental which as Gary said on the radio at the time "the only dancable track on the whole album". Finihsing off with "I Nearly Married a Human", another instrumental, may not have been the best way. I feel "We Have a Technical" would have been a better choice but the album track order is so engraved in my brain, any messing with it doesn't sound right. At least the CDs give you the opportunity to easily experiment. I didn't hear any of the CD bonus tracks (apart from "We Are So Fragile") until I picked up Asylum in 1990. Add a pleasant surprise they were. Gary was clearly not short of material for the album. So, I have fond memories of "Replicas", a seminal album in many ways for Gary, for me and the music industry. For most Brits this was the start of our fandom. I finally found an artist whose music I could call my own without having to share it with everyone I knew. I could close my bedroom door and drift into another world. Derek -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu Dept. of Biology Tel. (619) 594 2885 San Diego State University Fax (619) 594 7831 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Jul 1996 13:06:55 +1000 From: Ashley Fletcher Subject: Tribute Album To: Numan Digest This may have been covered without my knowledge but........ Various Artists: Ghost of A White Face Clown (Gary Numan tribute) 1. Offworld - Down in the Park 2. Silence- Bleed 3. Kill Switch...Klick - Are Friends Electric? 4. Einer Ask & the Same - Praying to the Aliens 5. Jon the Beloved - Warriors 6. Nocturnal - Listen to the Sirens 7. Henry's Life in Hell - Change Your Mind 8. Schweigen Projekt - This is New Love 9. Bytet - Cars 10. Faith & Disease - Down in the Park Anyone know if its any good? Ashley (Australia) ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ******************************