Gary Numan Digest Thu, 3 Apr 97 Volume 1 : Issue 318 Today's Topics: An Introduction. Fwd: Hello. Gary Numan - Live Chat On SonicNet - April 2nd 1997 Gary Numan Digest V1 #317 (3 msgs) I'm the Nu-Guy Around Here! North American Woes Premiere Hits Q Mail US / UK fans Who's the Bloke on Page 7? Why the bias, Matthew? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Apr 1997 23:12:33 +0100 From: James Ellen Subject: An Introduction. To: "'numan@cs.uwp.edu'" Hi! =20 Thanks for including me in the Numan Digest mailing list. After being a Numan fan for 18 years I am amazed to find how many fans = there are out there in North America. I kinda know how frustrating this = must be as I came from a small town in the Highlands of Scotland, which = really sucked when it came to getting the local record shop to stock = Numan records. I now live in Edinburgh. But look on the bright side you probably have a better chance of getting = Gary's songs played on the radio than we Brits do. I'll never forget my = amazement when I heard Cars while driving about in San Francisco a few = years back.=20 As I've already said I've been a Numan fan for 18 years, since I first = saw Gary perform 'Are Friends Electric' on Top of The Pops back in June = '79. I think it was sandwiched in between a Bowie video and Roxy music = which seems rather appropriate now. After that I was hooked. I'll sadly = admit that even though I have tried I can't really get into the newer = stuff after Strange charm, although I haven't bought Sacrifice which = seems to be highly regarded ( I do intend to honest!). I think I've got = EVERY Numan record up to the Strange charm era, after that I have a few = singles and the Outland album. After that I spent a couple of years = unemployed and got out of the habit of buying records. I also have quite = a large collection of news articles about Gary from every source I could = find between '79 to about '84. I may consider typing some up, but Gary = never faired well with the British Press..... so then again perhaps not! = Let me know what you think. I'm not sure if it has been Gary's influence, but I have played in a = couple of bands (writing our own material) and I have a small collection = of synths, No classic old synths unfortunately. If anybody out there has = any settings which produce any Numan sounds for the following = instruments I'd really love to hear from ya.=20 Sequential circuits 6 Track Yamaha DX100 Yamaha SY22 Korg X5 Roland MC-303 I'm really enjoying the fact that there is so much interest in Gary = Numans music, I've always been a Lone Numanoid, so it's nice to come = and join the body of the Kirk. FCP - Explosions in RealTime( ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 17:40:56 -0500 (EST) From: MLEB67@aol.com Subject: Fwd: Hello. To: numan@cs.uwp.edu --------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Hello. Date: 97-03-30 17:38:23 EST From: MLEB67 To: numan@cs.ump.edu CC: MLEB67 Hello. My name is Michael LeBlanc. I'm a writer and filmmaker from Michigan in the U.S.A. I've been a Gary Numan fan for about 16 years. It's been hard staying caught up with the new releases. I'm most likely a few years behind. I'm really looking forward to the "Random" cd and I'm praying to the aliens that Gary tours America this year. I've never seen him perform live (except on video or television). I tend to prefer the "older" material, but Gary seems to change his musical styles all the time. From what I've heard on the Gary Numan Home Page, the new material sounds excellent. Other bands that I enjoy are: Aphex Twin, Bjork, Marilyn Manson, Adam Ant, Garbage, Bluegrass, Lounge Style and many others. Well, I'm glad to be part of this group of people with an excellent ear for music! Take care and cheers to all! ---- Michael LeBlanc ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 02 Apr 97 23:13:59 From: "Joey Lindstrom" Subject: Gary Numan - Live Chat On SonicNet - April 2nd 1997 To: "numan@cs.uwp.edu" Gary showed up for a live chat on SonicNet yesterday evening. The full transcript is available on my World Wide Webb site in the "Confession" section (see sig for URL). The high points were: - There is no record deal yet but talks are continuing and they seem fairly promising. - The US tour is "iffy" in July but another, bigger tour later in the year is looking pretty good. - The rumour of Exile being remixed by Trent Reznor is just that: a rumour. Gary's had no contact with Trent, but WANTS to contact him about a variety of things. He's also fairly hopeful that he may eventually sign with TVT Records. - No live Premier Tour material (CD, video) will be released until *AFTER* Exile sees the light of day. - Gary says that if he hasn't wrapped up the US deal in the next four weeks, he'll likely say "piss on it" and put it out on the Numa label. - He may look at getting a regional deal if an American deal falls through. Nettwerk Records was suggested as an excellent Canadian label because of its strong connection to US distribution via Arista Records. Gary said he'd keep it in mind. - He's flying one airshow in May, then that's it for the year as he's got a very full plate. - He's happy with "Random", and was glad that "Techno Army" sank without a trace. It was sold to them one way, but released in a totally different way. - He doesn't want to be thought of as an 80's artist, as it undermines his efforts as a 90's artist. That's it - come see the full transcript for more. /--------------------------------------------------------- / Joey Lindstrom numanoid@netway.ab.ca lindstrj@cadvision.com / http://www.netway.ab.ca/worldwidewebb/ / "There's a reason 'Wheel Of Fortune' is on right after 'Jeopardy'. Once / you've been forced to choke down the foul-tasting tequila shot of your / own abject ignorance, it's nice to be able to bite into the refreshing / lime wedge of other people's incredible fucking stupidity." / - Dennis Miller ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 08:47:16 -0500 (EST) From: DaliFriend@aol.com Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #317 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Numanoids - I have a CD by a band Replicants...came out in 1996....they do a cover of Numan's "Are Friends Electric?"......not bad CD, but catch it on sale somewhere. Tammy ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 14:17:21 -0800 From: David Pipe Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #317 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu (Gary Numan) >>Maximum respect to all you USA fans who are coming over for the UK tour. >>Here's hoping that the American tour comes off, because you guys deserve it. Thanks! I figured everyone just thought we were crazy... ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 21:15:36 -0500 (EST) From: Ultravox5@aol.com Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #317 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu In a message dated 97-03-30 02:41:41 EST, you write: << I have been listening to Gary Numan since about 1980. I have a LOT of Gary's records, especially the older (1979-1984 stuff). I have Living Ornaments set. Love that. I seen Gary Numan at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena CA in 1982. I still remember that like it happned yesterday. GREAT STUFF!!! Hey if is anyone can answer some questions about >> It was Perkin's Palace in 84...not Pasadena Civic in 82. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Apr 1997 10:51:13 -0500 From: kjz@chrysler.com Subject: I'm the Nu-Guy Around Here! To: Allow me to introduce myself: Hello! My name is Kenn Zazula. I'm currently 31 and reside just outside Detroit, Michigan in the old USA. Having seen Gary's performance on Saturday Night Live, I was forced to go out a purchase "Replicas" and "The Pleasure Principal" because "Cars" and "Praying to the Aliens" were on separate albums. I never stopped listening and looking for recordings in local stores, and the occasional special order. I'm one of the fortunate ones who saw Gary on his I, Assassin Tour in the US at The Royal Oak Music Theater. I've never forgotten it. Watching Pino Palladino on stage, and hearing Mick Karn play bass on "Dance" (Still my all-time favorite album) are two things that led me toward being a bass player. I currently write and perform with The Hot Moon with shows mostly in the Detroit and Chicago areas. For those interested the website is: www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/1795 which of course includes a link to NuWorld. I had lost touch with Gary's career after I found a copy of "Outland" in a local record store in about 1989. I even had to wait 2 YEARS for a CD copy of "Dance", which was shipped from a small store in London to a store in Chicago (by rowboat I'm guessing). With the online information I now know what's available and where to get it, I'M SO HAPPY! The possibility of seeing him live again after downloading the new sound clips would be a great boost to this lonely fan in the states. Gary's music is never far from reach, and he's been a big influence in the music that I now write. I also listen to David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Dead Can Dance, Loreena McKennitt, Japan, and Stan Ridgway. Best of luck to Gary in the near future....his music deserves the chance to be heard by more people who haven't yet had the chance. Thanks for letting me speak my piece, and keep the info coming! - Kenn ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 16:08:47 +0000 From: Michael & BethAnn Damrath Subject: North American Woes To: Gary Numan Just an attachment to Joey Lindstrom's message from Digest #317, Thank you Joey for giving voice to the pain that other North American Fans, or should I say Non-European Fans, have felt for many years. No ill will meant to British fans at all, but Joey is right - you guys have had it easy. You can't know the pains that fans in the states have had to go through over the years to keep up with Gary's music. One trip to Toronto back in '82 made me realize that even the fans in Canada were in paradise compared to poor fools like me. Slogging it out in middle America (the Numan Free Zone) searching for the latest Numan output in places like upstate NY, middle and western NC. Often times continuing to search for Gary's music on blind faith alone since I was hearing no news whatsoever on new releases. Upon finding items, I would practically have to open a vein just to pay for them. I have paid over a hundred dollars each for two Japanese import music videos, and over 60 dollars each for the Asylum I & II import CD sets (that last pair a purchases produced a major battle between me and my now ex-wife). I am proud to say I've stuck it out, and I am bursting with anticipation over the possibility of a North American Tour. I know I will be keeping my telephone warmed-up and ready to call Ticket Master the second I hear what date Gary will be playing in Washington, DC. (Incidentally, If any Numan fans in the Richmond/D.C. area want to get together in that event - let me know. It would be a great to get to know some fellow Numan fans face to face for a change!) Thanks again, Joey, for once again hitting the nail squarely on the head! Bye All, Michael J. Damrath damrat@earthlink.net http://home.earthlink.net/~damrath ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 10:06:34 -0500 (EST) From: swarren@smtp.ibes.com Subject: Premiere Hits To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Just bought a copy of the US release of Premiere Hits. I wasn't going to get it because there's nothing on there that I haven't got already, but I'm a bit of a manic completist, and it bothered me that there was a Numan disc available that I don't own (never mind that I didn't bother to get the UK release of the same disc ;-)). What I wanted to say about it, though, is that the sound quality seems to be superior, both to the original vinyl and to the Japanese Asylum pressing (especially regarding some of the Dance and I, Assassin sessions). It does say that it's been remastered on the cover, but I was quite pleasantly surprised. Thing of it is, I'm not completely sure about it. I played "She's Got Claws" and "White Boys and Heroes" from this disc and from the Asylum series, and Premiere does seem better to me, but I don't always have the best ears to judge. I'm not generally as sensitive to sound issues as some of my other friends, but in this case, it really appears that someone has cleaned up what I always considered "muddy" mixes. Sam Warren ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Apr 1997 15:49:09 -0500 From: Matthew Roberts Subject: Q Mail To: "INTERNET:numan@cs.uwp.edu" Bit of a 'setting the record straight' exercise this. If anyone noticed my letter in Q Magazine this month, they might be interested to know what the unexpurgated version said: Dear Q, Q127 may go down in history as a turning point in rock history. On page 14 I discovered a news item on Gary Numan which not only failed to make the usual misrepresentations but even managed to sound like journalism. Flushed with the sort of bitter-sweet joy recently shared by the Bridgewater Three (Numan fans have experienced a unique and peculiar kind of confinement for the last 18 years) I read on. But what's this on page 66? Tory pop stars. Were the cosmic scales of injustice about to swing back again? I pictured the captions: "Tory, fascist, Thatcherite bastard Gary Numan...". But on the contrary, our Gary was given a fair hearing and his true politics, such as they are, were reported. Whatever next? The forthcoming album Exile being given at least 2 out of 5? A re-appraisal of the back catalogue - "Maybe he wasn't the complete wanker we always said he was"? Well I'm not that naive but I do know that all music magazines have ridden a kind of self-created, self-fulfilling credibility wave. Whilst Dubstar, Kennickie, Republica, Beck, The Orb, Damon Albarn, Babybird, The Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters, Garbage, Jarvis Cocker, Pet Shop Boys, Smashing Pumpkins and Trent Reznor continue (as they have) to acknowledge Numan's music, how long can you go on telling us (as you have) that his music is worthless? Yours, Matthew Roberts ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 06:29:03 -0500 From: Matthew Roberts Subject: US / UK fans To: "INTERNET:numan@cs.uwp.edu" To Joey Lindstrom: A (definitely secular) Amen to your comments about US fans. I always thought there might be about 3 US Numan fans remaining, but the Internet has reassuringly proven me wrong. I remember being amazed that fans would come over from Europe to see Numan tours, so my admiration knows no bounds for fans from North America who have made the trip. If UK fans have really been deriding their US counterparts then I can only apologise on their behalf (since presumably they're incapable). In this respect you are absolutely right that fans in Britain have had it easy - all I have to do is make the odd three hour drive to be able to see 90% of Gary's UK shows (although, come to think of it, Scottish and Northern Irish fans might disagree with both of us!). However your comment that it is possible to be a casual Numan fan gave me pause for thought. This may well be the case now, especially with Gary's overnight transformation into a rock god, but it certainly didn't feel that way to a teenager growing up in the 80's. This is where I get horribly patronising (only briefly) but whatever US fans' (admittedly impressive) trials and tribulations, I don't think you can ever understand what it was like being a Numanoid in the UK in those days. Let me try and put the popular image of Numan during that time into focus. He was a one (or two) hit wonder who, if he still made albums, was churning out new versions of The Pleasure Principle ad infinitum. Even the two songs that were known were two of the worst, least creative, most derivitive, tedious durges that were ever recorded - that must have been true, because EVERY national music magazine said so from teeny bopper Smash Hits to the oh-so-serious New Musical Express. Besides, Numan didn't really have any interest in musical creativeness: He was more interested in flying aeroplanes (incompetently - the architypal dumb rock star with more money than sense) and protecting his considerable stash of cash by voting for the evil Conservative party. On top of all this, your mates thought he was, heaven forbid, gay! Let's not imagine that Numan fans were numerous either. About 3,000 in the fan club out of a population of 57,000,000. I reckon that's about 1 in 19,000 and in Numan's case that means about 18,999 people who either didn't know who he was or if they did, thought he was the spawn of Satan - we're not talking U2 here or David Bowie where even non-fans tend to respect the artist. My over-riding impression of being a Numan fan in the 80's is of some horrible little oik asking what music you liked and then saying "Oh yeah, he's REALLY good!" and then the entire group of people sniggering. There are worse ills in the World but it didn't seem that way at the time. Another example of fine British camaraderie might help: It seemed that wherever my girlfriend and me went, as soon as someone realised we were Numan fans, they would start talking very loudly and very publicly about how rubbish Gary was. Where eloquence failed (as it often did), a laugh of derision was substituted for words. With the acceptance that Gary is now finding, I wait for those same people to tell how they have always liked his music! Just wanted to get that off my mind and I hope i haven't unintentionally added to any friction. I think mutual respect is called for here. After all, Numan fans arguing between themselves now would be the ultimate irony. America's a big continent and the idea of more Numan fans on that side of the Atlantic than here may be daunting but it's one that I welcome. I'm sorry to hear that you can't make the UK tour this year but I sincerely hope that you do see Gary live in 1997. Regards Matthew Roberts. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Apr 1997 13:57:01 -0600 From: austinbaggett@ex-or.co.uk (Austin) Subject: Who's the Bloke on Page 7? To: numan@cs.uwp.edu (Gary Numan) Digesters, Postie pushed the GNFC Yearbook through the letterbox yesterday. In pre-Internet and phoneline days the newsletters and yearbook were the cause of great excitement and were the only source of news. Now that we can read of GN's every waking thought on NuWorld, its all rather old hat I suppose. Shame there were no captions to any of the photos. Whilst I can work out most of them, I was wondering who that bloke is, pictured with Gary, in the full page pic on Page 7? Is it one of the Barnes' lighting designers perhaps? Anyone know? Now for some good-hearted sarcasm: 1. Has Gary spilt his glass of milk down his suit trousers? Why then has he got his scruffy old jeans on with his Premier tour suit jacket in the page 7 pic? It looks ridiculous! 2. Also it seems that after at least two years of being lost in the bottom of the dirty linen basket (a good thing), the famous GN "several sizes too small and going crusty under the armpits" white t-shirt has been found and is back with its happy owner. It makes a comeback on Page 5. At least he doesn't wear it for photosessions anymore. Oh no - spoke to soon - there it is again under the bikers jacket on page 4! (BTW, was a rusty old fence and bit of wasteground purposely chosen for the photosession???). 3. Spot the "Strange sitting posture to have your photograph taken in" somewhere on Page 15. Oh - don't tell me - you hadn't even noticed! BTW for those with Channel 5 reception don't forget to watch Gary mime to Cars sometime on Saturday. Regards to all, Austin Wanstead, London ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 02 Apr 1997 22:50:54 -0700 From: "David J. Daren" Subject: Why the bias, Matthew? To: numan@cs.uwp.edu In NU-Zone, I note that Mr. Holbrook states "The following is a summary of the most recent Numan news stories.". Clearly, Mr. Holbrook didn't report news/gossip of a possible North American tour as suggested by Gary on his NuWorld site. I suppose that Mr. Holbrook's statement in his web site should be changed to "The following is a summary of a selection of the most recent Numan news stories". Needless to say, I cannot rely on Mr. Holbrook for all the 'news' any more. If NU-Zone is "Produced by Matthew Holbrook for Gary Numan fans WORLDWIDE", Mr. Holbrook apparently has yet to be informed that North America is, in fact, a part of "the world". Why the bias? ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ******************************