Gary Numan Digest Thu, 29 May 97 Volume 1 : Issue 334 Today's Topics: "THE DIGEST ASKS GARY - March and April 1997" "what's in a name" A Question of Remix Gary Numan Digest Gary to appear live on Canadian radio (and the net) on Saturday I'm in OUTLAND...I'll do anything! I agree with Alex Deacon. Really. More on Gary's appearance on CBC Realtime NEW MIDI FILE - NUMANMANIA remove from list some comments Tower Records Tubeway Army Sales What Numan Needs? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 22:04:09 -0700 (PDT) From: Derek Langsford Subject: "THE DIGEST ASKS GARY - March and April 1997" To: numan@cs.uwp.edu The return of "THE DIGEST ASKS GARY" is here. It seems like an eternity since we last had a session but I only missed one month. A delay has been caused this month by server problems which kept me off line for more than a week. I apologise for missing last month and will try to keep up in future. Though judging by what has come in so far this month, every two months may be a preferable frequency. Despite this being two months worth, there are fewer questions than normal. This is due to the fact fewer were sent but also my newly initiated policy of only forwarding questions that are sent with the correct subject line and with the pertinent personal info. Some questions here don't quite meet that standard as they had been manually transferred into my Gary's Qs mailbox before I got tired of doing it. Past Q&A sessions are available on the web at: http://www.netway.ab.ca/worldwidewebb/ Enjoy! ================================================================================ My name is Dominic Plant. I have been a fan since 1979 when I first heard "We are so Fragile" on a Duke box in a pool hall when I was in College. My favourite Albums were "The Pleasure Principle" & "Telekon" which I played each day when home from Work for about 4 hours at a time week after week. The only great Album since was Berserker. I bought tickets to the farwell gig at Wembely but didnt have the courage to go. and gave the tickets away to a Numanfan I found in the Fan club magazine. Some years later I went to Hammersmith in typical Berserker style a few years late, but went anyway. I have some Questions. Q1. Years ago Gary suggested doing an EP for the Fans. This never happened, however would he consider doing an EP now even if it was for general release, the theme of the EP being Love songs, Such as "This is new Love", "Love needs no Disguise", "You walk in my Soul" (and the other few, the names of which escape me) ? I think it would make a nice item! Also a comment I think the words of "You walk in my Soul" are excellent but the music is completely wrong, it needs a soft, sad, lonely sound along the lines of Complex and if it ends up on such an EP please please do it with such a soft sad sound. A1. A little sad to read that you only think I've made one great album since 1980, I'm a little surprised that you still consider yourself a fan. Also, I don't mean to be rude but, I find your comments about the music on 'You Walk In My Soul', how can I put this, lacking in understanding. 'You Walk In My Soul' is not a sad song, it is not about being lonely, it's theme is very positive and it sounds the way it does because that's what I wanted. As it's my song I would suggest that I'm the best person to decide if it came out the way I intended, and it most definitely did. You may think that you could have produced it better, and you could well be right, but I can assure you that, in it's current form, it is not 'completely wrong'. I was also a little disappointed to see that you didn't know the names of more than 3 of my love songs, or ballads as I call them. In fact one of those, 'Love Needs No Disguise' isn't a Numan song at all and the second, 'This Is New Love', isn't actually a ballad (or love song). Q2. I have not had a fan club magazine in ages, have they been stopped or is my renewal form long since missing ? A2. It would probably be better to write to the Fan Club about this as I don't run the Fan Club and the information you require will be held at the Fan Club office. I live about 75 miles away from that office. Q3. I checked out the Cure on the Internet (being a Cure fan) and found a site (official?) which had Fans info as an item. Any chance of a Fan base being a part of the Official Numan Site along the lines of the PenPal page of the Fan Magazine ? A3. You don't actually explain what you mean by 'Fans info as an item' nor is it clear what you mean by 'a Fan base being part of' NuWorld so I can't answer this question easily. Are you suggesting a simple pen pal address page? If so the chances of such a thing on NuWorld are minimal. It would eat ever more deeply into the time I have to get all my work done and I really think that this sort of contact idea is best left to the Digest and/or any of the other fan based web sites. Unfortunately I work flat out seven days a week to keep my career going and I don't always have the time to adopt some of the suggestions that are sent to me, even if they are good ones. I have no idea if this is a good idea or not for NuWorld but it may be something that some of the other sites are interested in. Regards, Dominic. ---- Joseph DeAngelis, Boston, Massachussetts, U.S.A. Hi Gary, Its been a while (a few months anyway). First let me say Thank you for the extra copy of "Dark Light" you let me keep. I gave to a friend of mine who works at a local college radio station and he plays "cuts" from it every night he's on (usually Friday nights). The response has been very positive and he and I are now working on the possibility of getting some songs played on a Boston radio station, 98.5; they air a very popular show called "Back to the 80s" every Friday night and we thought it would be great if we could get them to play some of your newer stuff as well. Q4. Do you have a problem with any of this? Is there any legal matters we should be concerned with? I don't want to try with the radio station if you were to have any problems with it. We all just want to do our part to get your music heard. A4. I don't honestly know what the legal situation is with something like this. I thought that radio stations were required by law to fill out certain forms with details of what they played so that PRS monies were sent on but I don't really know the ins and outs of it. A radio station playing my stuff certainly wouldn't get any hassle from me. Q5. A while ago, after the unfortunate flying accidents involving some of your friends, you mentioned you were going to take some time to think of things, I beleive to think about your future with flying. What ever came of that? Did you decide to take "Curly's" advice in "City Slickers"; you know "the secret to life is 1 thing" and concentrate even more on music, or are you still going to keep flying at the same pace? A5. I've decided to stay flying but the rise in musical work has meant that I've had to pull out of all display flying for this year at least. The aeroplane is still up for sale as well. Someone recently asked a question about Paul Gardner and you mentioned that "you could'nt get over the waste of his death" so I thought I would mention a funny little "thing" that I hear from time to time. The two musicians that mainly influenced my Bass playing are Geddy Lee (from Rush) and Paul. When I do shows (or did shows) around Boston, I would hang out with other musician types afterwards and the question of influences would always come up, and I would say, yeah they're Geddy and Paul. Everyone knows Geddy but most people would say "Paul who??". I'd say "you know, the bass player for Gary Numan" and almost always the response is ... they think a bit and say "Oh yeah he was really good wasn't he". So maybe his death was a waste, but his life certainly wasn't. Oh yeah .. the question ... Q6. Your style of music changed after Telekon (at least in my opinion it did) and that time coincides with Paul going out on his own (I say that since he only worked on one song on "Dance: Nighttalk" and nothing else until "Stormtrooper in drag"). How much of an influence did he have on your musical style and arrangements? I'm sure we must have had some since he played with you from the beginning. A6. Any one that plays well has a bearing on what you do but I tend to think that another bass player would have played different things in exactly the same songs with the same arrangements. No offence to Paul, I think his contribution was impressive and important to all the songs that he played on, it's just that I was never in any doubt in those days about where the music was going. Q7. Since I mentioned him in the previous question I was wondering if my favorite solo artist has an opinion of my favorite group, i.e. RUSH. Have you ever met them? What do think of their music? To me, they remind me of you since they got where they are today on their own terms, and with very little radio play. A7. I've never met them and, to be truthful, I can't recall ever hearing a RUSH song but I guess I must have. I'll find some RUSH stuff and have a listen. Q8. and finally .. I was just reading that you may come to the states and play after all (hurray!!!), and you might play in Boston (double hurray!!!). Any chance that people like myself who have followed you for a while can get a chance to meet you before or after the show? See that, you don't even confirm a record deal yet and people are asking favors already ... geeeeze!! A8. Hhmmm, where to start. The man that was representing me in America has gone missing. I've had no contact for a month and he doesn't answer my e-mails. I therefore have no idea what's happening with the record deal search or with the U.S.tour. I could say I'm disappointed with this turn of events but that dosn't come close to painting the true picture. Stabbed through the heart with an axe would be closer to how let down I feel. Still, I"ve had similar disappointments before and so I just step back and start again. It does show the danger of announcing news though doesn't it? I want to keep you all informed as to what's going on, but what's going on changes so drastically from day to day I sometimes wonder whether I should ever say anything at all. Oh BTW, how's that record deal coming? JUST KIDDING. Good Luck!! ---- Hi Gary. We have actually met once. You were just about to fly off to another airshow from Biggin Hill and i persuaded your girlfriend (i think?) to take a photo of us standing next to your harvard. A great moment in my life but here are my questions:- Q9. Are you still flying and can we see you at any airshows in the future? A9. I am still flying but I won't be at any airshows this year. Q10. What ever happened to your white Harvard as i saw it in bit's a few years ago at Duxford? A10. It was probably undergoing routine maintainence. In fact, depending on when you saw it, it may have been going through the two year rebuild. It's painted black now by the way. Many thanx from Andy West, Chessington, Surrey, England. ---- From: Michael Young, Lake Orion (Detroit), Michigan, U.S.A. Gary: Thanks for all your music and participation in this Q & A. I must tell you first off, I support you 100% in your decision to hold back 'Exile." You do not have to apologize to me or any of us fans as far as I am concerned. You gotts do what is right for you and that's it. Now to my question. I know that you are trying to secure a U.S deal for "Exile." In doing so, the record company plays a big role in the single selection. I have downloaded your Exile samples from your Website and have to say that "Dead Heaven" sounds like the best song I have heard from you in years. This song sounds right on time in terms of the industry and some new singles we are hearing here in the states (Trent Reznor's, current "New Drug" and Depeche Mode's new single). Q11. What do you think the chances are for "Dead heaven" to be issued as a single? A11. As I've not been able to get a deal for 'Exile' anywhere I don't really know if I'll put out a single at all from 'Exile'. If I do go for a single it will only be in the UK anyway as I don't have any overseas deals. I hope desperately that this situation changes but we are going ahead with our own plans now anyway, very much a Plan B situation however, and we wait to see what develops. Q12. If not Dead Heaven, what song from "Exile" are you going to lobby and support for the first single? Do you think the record label will have a complete say in this without your or your fans input? A12. If I had secured a deal I would have gone for 'Dead Heaven' or 'Dominion Day'. Thanks again for all the great music. You are an inspiration. Good Luck Mate! ---- From: Laura Hamilton, Denver Colorado, USA Dear Gary, The London Times article is incredibly exciting! I went out and picked up a copy from the local Newsland store---however at $6 a pop, I decided not to buy them out. It was a very positive interview, I was very glad to see that. Q13. Anyway, with that two page coverage with photographs, has there been any cross over in the states. For example, has the New York Times perked up their ears and called for an interview yet? A13. Not as yet. The new interest in me here in the UK is quite amazing, I did FHM magazine yesterday, a big spread in The Guardian is coming out soon, and there is more to come. I've been doing interviews with people in the U.S. as you may already know but also in Canada and soon in Australia and South Africa, so it's all going to help the fight. And many congratulations on your engagement, break my heart -- it's ok ;- ) ---- anastasios mistos, Montreal, Quebec, Canada First, I would like to Thank You Gary for producing great Music for the past 18 years of My Life!!!!!!You are by Far One of the best(if not the best) Musicians out there. This year I finally joined the Fan club, and i've been reading alot of what some fans have been pushing you to do. I strongly agree with you, 100% about making this EXILE CD, The BEST NUMAN CD TO THIS DAY. I beleive this is it, although I have only heard a few seconds of a few new tracks. The fans that want you to rush I beleive are thinking about themselfs, and not what a positive outcome this could mean to you, and FANS themselfs, including myself! I've been waiting a long time, to see you back on the road. Also to see your GREAT MUSIC BACK ON THE HMV RECORD SHELVES!! All I can say is keep up the hard work, because I'm sure it isn't easy outhere, but you are by far A PROFESSIONAL in the Music Industry!!! I have two questions Q14. I saw that Toronto is on the list of cities you might be touring in July, I beleive that Montreal,would also be a good city to tour. Look at bands like Dead can Dance, they never get air play but there shows have been sold out the past couple of years that they have played in Montreal. The venues are max. 1500. I think you can fill out at least 1500 easily in MOntreal, so do you think Montreal is a possibility? A14. I am honestly happy to play anywhere but where I go, at least to begin with, is very much under the guidance of promoters and agents who, until I learn the situation myself, will send me to where they think is best to build up my profile. At the moment I just hope I get to play somewhere, anywhere, over there. Q15. Now by far SACRIFICE cd is the best cd , you have produced to this day. Congratulations, I love it love it, love it!!!!, now do you think if Exile gets released you might reproduce, or push this cd as much as Exile maybe re promote it, because it deserves that!!!!!! A15. Thank you for the kind comments. Without a deal for 'Exile' I'm not able to push it at all which is why I was hanging on so long for a new deal. Without it I'm wasting my time outside the UK and I'm not doing much better in the UK. Still, can't wait for ever and so we'll have to wait and see about what I can do to try and push 'Exile'. 'Sacrifice' however is coming out in the U.S. this year albiet with a slightly different track listing and with special artwork. I have the details of this on the 'This Month' (May) section of NuWorld. I know I wrote a book here, but thought I should atleast let the MAN know he is One Great Musician, Artist, Name it Your the BEST!! No matter what the outcome of Exile cd, I am And will always be a NUMANOID!!! Thank you and like they say in Quebec MERDE!!! (Good Luck with the futur plans Gary)!!!!! ---- From: Jeff Tolva (The Machman), Elgin, Illinois, USA: Q16. How was your promotional trip to New York recently? Was much accomplished with regard to a US record deal for you? A16. It was very good promotionally but I didn't get a deal. I have a write up about it running in the 'Special' section of NuWorld. Q17. During your recent trip to the US, did you meet with Trent Reznor (ala Nine Inch Nails)? Rumour has it that you might have had Trent remix the Exile album. Care to comment on that one? A17. Having Trent Reznor working on the album would have been great. He has, apparently, taken a few copies of it to listen to but I don't know what's happened as my man in America has, as I've said, gone missing. Best of luck with the new record deal, Gary! I hope during your next visit to the US, you stop by the mid-section (ie Chicago) as well!! Count me as a positive vote for a release of one of the shows during the 1996 Premier Tour!!! I can't get enough of your live music. Your live music is simply the best IMHO :-))) ---- this is from : C. Kenyon Silvey, West Hollywood, CA 90069 Gary, Q18. At what point in your recordings do you generally consider your mature period to have kicked in? Do you see it as sudden or as a more gradual process? A18. I see it as sudden actually and it began with 'Sacrifice' so it took me a long time to grow up. Maturity and me are only recently acquainted. thanks ---- Hi Gary. Recently myself and Phil Marsh (another Digest subsriber) started a little project which involves recording very different sounding versions of you songs. However he wants to name it after one of your songs, and I really want it to be called "Mrs Mop" Q19. Could you possibly help us avoid a big fight, and write a new song for "Exile" called "Mrs Mop". This would leave us both happy, and give you your first single release from "Exile". I'm sure that somehow it could fit into the overall theme of the album (might need some tweaking though...) A19. I'll start first thing tomoorow:-) All the best for the next album Gary, and lets hope you get the major deal you deserve. Andy McHaffie, Reading, Bershire, UK ---- Dear Gary, Q20. Have you ever considered releasing your videos on Laserdisc? A20. Not so far. Is there much of a market for laserdisc? My friend has one but I don't know anyone else that has. Making very small numbers of anything, like vinyl albums for instance, is hard to justify these days. I'll look into it as soon as I can and see what's involved. Thank you for your time! Tania Shropshire. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE END "Gary's Questions" is made possible by the kindness of Gary Numan and Derek Langsford whose job it is to give Gary some privacy while having a presence on the Digest. To ask Gary a question, email it to: dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu with a subject line of: Gary's Qs Don't forget your name, town/city, state/county/province and country with your questions, even those I know where they live. PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS PRECISELY. THIS IS AN INTELLIGENCE TEST!!!! NEW POLICY ---> QUESTIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT THE PERSONAL INFORMATION OR THE CORRECT SUBJECT LINE WILL NOT BE FORWARDED TO GARY! I reserve the right to edit or return questions for rewording or withdrawal. Derek -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek Langsford Ph.D. Environmental Management Specialist County of San Diego, Dept. of Planning and Land Use 5201 Ruffin Road, Ste. B San Diego, CA 92123 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 19:13:42 -0700 From: Miss Marlene Subject: "what's in a name" To: Numan Digest >For once (and maybe the only time:-) I just have to agree with Joey L, >or are we being more formal these days. I can call "strom" whatever I please...thank you very much! ;-) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 12:34:57 +0200 From: Ulf Silverup Subject: To: "'numan@cs.uwp.edu'" Hi Mr Lindstrom is ofcourse absolutely right. Outland really is the worst kind of crap that Gary has ever made. Compare it with anything from his Beggars period or even Numa period! And you dont have to be Mr Gallup to understand that :-) Uffe "discovered Numan by the time of Dance, not Tubeway Army"Silverup ======================================================= Uffe Silverup Klaragatan 3 214 34 Malmo http://www.algonet.se/~silverup ======================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 May 97 15:04:46 GMT From: V.Boston@softech.ie Subject: A Question of Remix To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Despite my previous posting expressing some concern about the Random selections, I remain excited about the prospect of hearing what "today's talent" can do with great material. The press adds that say they won't be pushing it as a Numan Tribute album is typical of marketing execs who couldn't be more distant from the products they sell. Either way, it doesn't matter. The only Numan issues are royalties (which I'm sure will be plentiful) and exposure. If fans of every artist on the CDs gets a copy, together with all the Numan fans, then the sales should be just fine. The shops will have a problem deciding where to display the disk but if Numan is mentioned on the cover, it's gonna get filed under "N". The great thing about this kind of release is the chance for Numan fans to listen to music they wouldn't normally consider, and it will be nice and accessible. I'm not suggesting fans have their head in the sand and don't listen to other music; they certainly do. Much of the whining about Gary sounding more contemporary seems to be either concern for Gary's financial position or worldwide acceptance so they can talk about Gary and won't get slagged off by friends/peers . I can only speak for myself but I listen to a VERY wide variety of musical styles and many are introduced to me thru friends, lovers, radio and such compilation projects. It doesn't bother me that Gary doesnt sell tons of records to teenagers anymore. I like his music, always have. I treat a new release with more reverence than most others. The Random release will be treated with the same reverence because it will answer my question: What would Garys music sound like today in the hands of some "young guns" (albeit without his vocal!). That'll keep me going 'till Exile is released. WHY HAVE NUMAN SOUND LIKE TECHNO WHEN YOU CAN HAVE TECHNO SOUND LIKE NUMAN? Gary has always maintained his own sound and defended this in numerous interviews. There's no need for him to adapt to the current sound because (a) he doesn't like it and (b) he's selling plenty of records thank you very much. If he were to be forced to make music he didn't like (or understand!), his heart wouldn't be in it. Sacrifice is a very personal and tortured album in my opinion and it's all the better for it. I liked the move away from jangly guitars and inane token female backing vocals. (Not that I've anything against female backing on Gary's tracks, but to have them on EVERY track whether they were useful or not is a bit dull. The one Sacrifice track with the female vocal, stands out because it fits perfectly and it adds a touch of class to the track. Spinechilling too!). In a perfect world though, i'd agree with several other postings: Gary keep doing your own thing. Get some alternative mixes on the singles or "extended album", a radio mix, a club mix etc. Trent Reznor would be perfect. I happen to LOVE his stuff. I'm sure they'd kill each other in the studio though (if they needed to be together for "post production") Trouble is Gary's always had problems with collaborators but these 'bust-ups' can add to the creative process and some of his best work was with the likes of Bill Nelson, Dollar(?) and "The Wave Team". Indeed, I'd go on record to say "Your Fascination" is my favourite Numan single. Well now that's off my chest, I can go back to work. Cheers Victor ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 21:14:38 -0700 From: vickers Subject: Gary Numan Digest To: Gary Numan Hi! To Numan News. I have just been added to the mailing list. I have been a Numanoid since 1979 and "Are 'Friends' Electric?" I THINK that I have every Gary Numan recording put out, but obviously not every live recording ever done!!! I used to like The Yardbirds, The Electric Prunes, and especially Jimi Hendrix. But I mostly listen to Numan at home. I also quite like Ultravox. I live in Southam, which is a small town in Warwickshire, England. In the video of "She's Got Claws" there is a scene of a black panther in a cage, at night. That was taken at Southam Zoo. But don't all rush to ask for photos of it, it was closed down by the authorities because the owner used to leave the cages open (lions, tigers, leopards, etc....) His cats were just pets to him. By religion I am a Baha'i (and I'm not the only Numanoid Baha'i). I mention this because the mailing list is brought to us by the UNiversity of Wisconsin, in Kenosha. And where, in the entire Western world, was the first Baha'i group? Kenosha, Wisconsin!! Did you know that, David? Anyway, my wife wants the computer now, so I will sign off. I think she wants to get into the George Michael web-site! Yours Numanly, Paddy Vickers. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 May 97 17:02:22 -0700 From: "Joey Lindstrom" Subject: Gary to appear live on Canadian radio (and the net) on Saturday To: "numan@cs.uwp.edu" Saturday May 31st at 5pm PDT - 8pm EDT - 3am (Sunday) in the UK: Gary Numan will be appearing live on the CBC Stereo FM network's radio program called "Realtime". He will be "premiering" the release of "Random", which I hope means some of the songs from the album will be played. There'll also be question-and-answer and POSSIBLY some IRC stuff going on at the same time. The entire program can be heard live on CBC Stereo in Canada and in US cities close enough to pick up the signal. You MAY also pick it up on USA public access radio. It will also be available on RealAudio on the internet. The address is: http://realtime.cbcstereo.com This is a somewhat different program in that audience participation is the key to the whole thing: it's kinda like an internet live chat program but it's on the radio. :-) Anyways, they are looking for GARY NUMAN FANS TO TALK TO DURING THE PROGRAM. That means you. :-) If you're interested, email your telephone number (even if outside North America) to the host, Leora Kornfeld. I've got two email addresses here: it's a little unclear as to which one you're supposed to send your phone number to, so use both. :-) leora@cbcstereo.com realtime@cbcstereo.com Finally, if you have any questions (about the show, about how to use RealAudio, etc.), you can phone them toll-free (in Canada and possibly the US) at: 1-800-563-2328 /--------------------------------------------------------- / From: The Desk Of Joey Lindstrom +1 (403) 606-3853 / EMAIL: joey@lindstrom.com numanoid@netway.ab.ca lindstrj@cadvision.com / WEB: 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, 25 May 1997 19:20:40 -0700 From: Miss Marlene Subject: I'm in OUTLAND...I'll do anything! To: Numan Digest >Seriously - I've run into many fans right here in the Digest, as well >as several in day-to-day life, that tell me, quite frankly, that >Outland "sucked". In fact, they seem to be a majority of fans (but >I'm not Mr. Gallup). One needs only scan back through the Digest >archives to see the anti-Outland sentiment out there. Heck, even >GARY admits that it wasn't his most stellar outing. :-) But I for >one loved the album (well, 'cept for ONE SONG, but c'est la vie) and >it gets played nearly as often on my CD player as other, more >"popular" albums do. ***MM listens to "Dark Sunday" as she reads Joeys reply*** ;-) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 May 97 18:06:30 -0700 From: "Joey Lindstrom" Subject: I agree with Alex Deacon. Really. To: "numan@cs.uwp.edu" Well, ok, not ENTIRELY, but given the fact that I've vehemently disagreed with him so many times in the past, it's still a stunning revelation. :-) Alex makes the point that Gary's been around so damned long, and has made so many enemies (in the press, in the music-buying public, etc.), that he's never going to make it back to the top. This is almost right. Certainly the odds are *WAY* against him based on that alone, although I think if he was to release something with a commercial sound that DOES appeal to the masses, he could overcome it to some degree. But here's something Alex hasn't mentioned: everything he has said applies, essentially, *ONLY* to the United Kingdom. Gary doesn't have 15 years of all-negative press going against him in North America. Now do people understand why Gary wanted to push very hard into the American market? To even be willing to come over here to LIVE, at least for a while? He realizes that in the UK, his career is in the toilet and only a HERCULEAN effort can revive it. But over here.... jeez, he's been out of the loop for so long that 95 out of 100 people on the street have never heard of the guy. America has become virgin territory again. And you can see that in Gary's cautious approach. He's not looking to become an instant success here... he wants to build up his career gradually, as if he were starting all over again. Which, in essence, he is. THIS is why America offers such a tremendous opportunity to Gary. It has nothing really to do with the size of the market, but rather its diversity and the fact that he hasn't been played there since "Cars". And as a great many people have said.... material such as "Sacrifice" and "Exile" actually does stand a good chance of getting airplay here, particularly on "alternative" stations. Perhaps I was wrong before... when I said it was the UK fans who were "lucky" compared to us. Maybe it's us in North America that are about to find ourselves in the BEST place in the world to watch Gary's career. Or maybe not. But it's fun to watch anyways. /--------------------------------------------------------- / From: The Desk Of Joey Lindstrom +1 (403) 606-3853 / EMAIL: joey@lindstrom.com numanoid@netway.ab.ca lindstrj@cadvision.com / WEB: 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: Wed, 28 May 97 17:24:33 -0700 From: "Joey Lindstrom" Subject: More on Gary's appearance on CBC Realtime To: "numan@cs.uwp.edu" The Digest tends to sometimes sort messages out of order - if you're not sure what I'm talking about, read on ahead until you find my earlier message. :-) Now... Earlier I was confused as to which email address to use for what. Here's the scoop: 1) If you want to PARTICIPATE LIVE (as in talking on the phone and having your words broadcast across Canada), contact Leora Kornfeld at leora@cbcstereo.com 2) If you have a QUESTION FOR GARY that you would like him to answer on the show, email that question to realtime@cbcstereo.com with the words GARY NUMAN in the subject field If you don't have access to CBC Stereo (ie: if you're not fortunate enough to live in this wonderful country), it'll be broadcast live on the 'net in, appropriately enough, real time at the following web address (the RealAudio player is required): http://realtime.cbcstereo.com Final tidbit: here is how Gary's appearance is being promoted on the Realtime site: "May 31st: electro-pop pioneer gary numan will be setting his alarm for 3 am local time in london to call into realtime and talk about all things new and numan - like the forthcoming gary numan tribute album entitled "random" which is slated for a june 9th release, and the gary autobiography (working title: praying for the aliens) with a tentative release date of october 1997." /--------------------------------------------------------- / From: The Desk Of Joey Lindstrom +1 (403) 606-3853 / EMAIL: joey@lindstrom.com numanoid@netway.ab.ca lindstrj@cadvision.com / WEB: 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: Wed, 28 May 1997 09:49:54 +0200 From: "Patxi Ltd" Subject: NEW MIDI FILE - NUMANMANIA To: "Gary Numan Digest" New MIDI file "M.E." & The Complete Avalaible CD-Discography. N U M A N M A N I A - T H E F I R S T G A R Y N U M A N W E B F R O M S P A I N --------------------------------------------------------------------- NumanMania ======================== http://www.kender.es/numan ======================== e-mail: patxiltd@kender.es ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 22:46:11 -0700 (PDT) From: Derek Langsford Subject: remove from list To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Dave, Remove this address: "Chris Brown" from the Numan mailing list. He posted: >Hi. I'm sure you have a great list. But why am I receiving it? I >sent an info request, not a subscribe command. and then proceeded to include the whole of the previous Digest in the current issue. Hitting "reply" is just too danged easy and you still get the odd person who doesn't realise they are sending everything they recieved in the message to which they are replying. Sigh. Derek P.S. Chris, recieing the list is a good way to see if you want it or not. Requests for removal should be sent to the same address you originally used to inquire about the GN Digest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek Langsford Ph.D. Environmental Management Specialist County of San Diego, Dept. of Planning and Land Use 5201 Ruffin Road, Ste. B San Diego, CA 92123 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 19:22:58 -0500 (EST) From: MHDST4@vms.cis.pitt.edu Subject: some comments To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I have one thing to say to the gentleman who made a comment about Gary not looking "cool" on his WB&H single. You ever see the video for Rio? Kinda sorta? And about Outland, I dont think its a bad album at all. It also is his last studio album to crack the Uk top 40 since The Fury. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 13:11:28 -0400 From: Matthew Roberts Subject: Tower Records To: Gary Numan I trust everyone who can will be going to Tower Records on June 12th (better check the date!!) for Gary's signing session. It would be nice to think that there will be so many people there that Piccadilly Circus will have to close & we get on the 9 o'clock news for bringing London to a stand still. More realistically, if a lot of people turn up there should be a great atmosphere and we can remind the record industry that Gary is a force to be reckoned with. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 13:11:05 -0400 From: Matthew Roberts Subject: Tubeway Army Sales To: Gary Numan Nicholas Sullivan mentioned (#332) it was strange that the first album so= ld few copies on first release. On the contrary, it's strange it sold any at all. I believe 5000 copies o= f the "Blue Album" were pressed and it's been said that they sold out befor= e Replicas or Are 'Friends' Electric? were released. Who WERE the people wh= o bought it??? Gary had zero radio play, zero TV coverage, he wasn't playin= g live at the time and there was just one interview in an obscure undergrou= nd magazine. Like many Numan fans in the UK, I only became aware of Gary when he made his first "Top Of The Pops" appearance with AFE?. I WISH I'd known about him before but there was really no way I could of. So naturally I'm a little sceptical whenever someone says they've been a Numan fan since the= beginning! Incidentally, I agree that it's a great album. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 09:28:55 -0800 From: alexander way Subject: What Numan Needs? To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I don't think that being a politically conservative popster hurts you at least on this side of the Atlantic. Numan's appeal for me, in 1980, was the fact that someone with all these strikes against him (political conservatism, anti-booze and droga, complete distrust and disinterest in fans and of playing live) could pull it off in such a big way. It was an interesting time, with innovative and powerful music. Now, much of that has changed (Lager commercials, comments about being an "ex-conservative," "(fans) mean everything to me... absolutely everything"). I doubt he'll be forgiven since so many people were against him in the first place. I think back on it and there was what might now be termed (for someone in the USA at least) a Howard Stern-like fascination about his honesty. Prince also used to have this appeal in connection with honesty what with overtly sexually-explicit lyrics and performances (he too made it no secret that he was politically conservative and believed in no intoxicants). I've noticed that both James Brown and Mick Jagger are open about being politically conservative and neither seem to get flak from the USA. At least one Numan website has a picture of Rush Limbaugh right near Numan. It seems that there's a pattern, a pretty weird one for my tastes but what can you do? Everyone's entitled to their Blah, Blah, Blah. A friend of mine loved "Sacrifice" but said in the same sentence that, "it's the best demo tape I've ever HEARD!" Demo tape. Hmmm. There's something to be said about that. With a real drummer and bass player, as tiresome as that sounds to Numan himself, it could be more than just a fantastic demo tape. Human rhythm sections are powerful- more powerful than machines (much of the time), especially in the kind of rock songs that Numan writes. I prefer the "Dark Light" performance of "Desire" to the "Sacrifice" version. That's a fantastic song and deserved more power. I, too, must jump on the bandwagon of "new production values," "new managerial decision-making." My brother says that the record-buying public were ready for that voice, that music, those sonics in 1980-'81, but they're no longer applicable (whatever that means) for the moment. They may be "applicable" in the next moment. I think that's the main thing that makes Mr. Webb Numan and makes him a cult phenom instead of a big rock star- the sound of his VOICE and singing style- which will never change. It might be just a little while longer until "the masses" are ready for That Voice again. ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ******************************