Gary Numan Digest Thu, 13 Nov 97 Volume 1 : Issue 381 Today's Topics: Assorted Ramblings Corpses/Praying To The Aliens EXILE REVIEW IN "Q" MAG Gary Numan in General Intro introduction message (2 msgs) London Gig Review. MTV sighting My armchair critique of Exile my information Numania hits the U.S.... Numan the Godfather Praying to the Aliens requested reply Shepherds Bush > Unlikely Numan pairings.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Sun, 09 Nov 1997 08:33:39 -0800 From: vickers Subject: Assorted Ramblings To: numan@cs.uwp.edu First, I notice that DIgest #380 has no contributions from some of the usual stalwarts. Has Gary offended some people with the lyrics of Exile? The more I listen to the words, the more I am grasping what Gary is struggling with (in cosmological terms, I mean). If you are a keen Christian, don't let Gary's struggle put you off his MUSIC!! EXILE TRACKS. I have no musical qualifications whatsoever, but I LIKE Gary's slow and sensitive stuff. I think Innocence Bleeding is one of the best tracks. It is also essential at that point to have a change of pace, otherwise those who tend to think in terms of "sameyness" would begin to have a point... And what's wrong with "Absolution"? Ha! At last we have it! Someone doesn't like it because their love affair went wrong. Well, that's a genuine reaction, granted. Personally, I think this is a great song, and I don't know why, but it's one of the best features of the live shows!! And "Alien Cure"? A filler?? This has got that catchy guitar hook, and it moves! I went to the Birmingham show, which seemed to be nearly all fans identifiable as such - people with T-shirts from previous tours, etc. There was, however, a good sprinkling of other people. [The methods by which a particular venue is advertised will affect which sections of the population will affect this.] Then the gig at Milton Keynes - a large number of new people, I would guess. The shows themselves - great fun. Do I have to find little details to criticise? Well, you couldn't hear a word of the verses of "Dominion Day", although the power of the track and the great chorus made this a highlight. High points of the evening: Absolution, Dead Heaven, METAL, Are Friends Electric, Noise Noise, Cars, Bleed (isn't "Sacrifice a great Album"?),..... I'd better go, my wife wants her breakfast. Paddy Vickers. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Nov 1997 10:36:05 -0500 From: Matthew Roberts Subject: Corpses/Praying To The Aliens To: Gary Numan I seem to be getting some stick for criticising people who stand still at= gigs. The hard-core fans I have spoken to on tour share my view so I rema= in unrepentant. Maybe it's just people with computers who tend to be boring?= :-) When I decide to concentrate on watching the show, I still can't help moving a little bit. Perhaps I should glue my feet to the floor? I get the impression that the book was rather hurried, especially towards= the end. The early years are given a fair summary but the later ones are just skipped over. No real shocks but a few good laughs like the vacuum cleaner :-) I'm not sure that Gary comes across as a great writer although perhaps in= the circumstances that's not surprising. If he's going to finish Pray, he= really should go and lock himself away for 6 months. For people who think= it's a great autobiography, try David Niven or Bertrand Russell. PTTA is = OK (especially for a first book) but it's a long way from a classic. Matthew Roberts ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 03:57:26 -0600 From: "Harper, David" Subject: EXILE REVIEW IN "Q" MAG To: "'numan@cs.uwp.edu'" NUMANIODS WORLDWIDE...CHECK OUT THE NOVEMBER ISSUE OF "Q" AS THE "MAN" HIMSELF GETS A 3 STAR REVIEW AND GIVES US A VERY COOL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH...HEY CARY AND TOM ABOUT 15 AUTUMNS AGO AT "PARK WEST" IN CHICAGO...CHEERS !!! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 23:19:41 -0500 (EST) From: Hopey77@aol.com Subject: Gary Numan in General To: numan@cs.uwp.edu I am so jealous of you people talking about his latest tour. I know so many people that would drive for days to see him (me included!) in the States. Reading about the instruments screwing up and the Jo the Waiter "forgotten lyrics" would make me enjoy the show much more. He's only human! It seems he's very in touch with the fans - not many musicians do that. What size venues is he playing? 1,000+? Regarding the standing still at a show - I've been to so many shows and been knocked onto the floor by some overactive teenybopper. I prefer watching the show and the crowd too. You can absorb more. (When I saw the Sex Pistols last year I happened to be among the youngest there!) Alas, all I have to look forward to is the Wembley '81 show on video to arrive at my door any day... it'll have to do! So is there any rumor of his coming the the US yet? Do any of you UK fans "host" fans from other countries (hint hint)? Does he really bring along the entire family? How I got my friends into Gary Numan: 1. Started 'em off with an oldie like Listen to the Sirens, or something like Fadeout 1930 or That's Too Bad - these are Motorhead fans we're talking about... 2. Play Tubeway Army at all times in the house when they're over. 3. Constantly played Numan in the car - they can't escape! Eased them into later stuff. 4. Show 'em Urgh a Music War! footage... 5. Tell them about the nice web sites... A few have eventually marched down to Newbury Comics and shelled out lotsa moola for import Numan CDs. Ha ha! My plans have worked! And they told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on... Hopey77@aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Nov 97 11:40:00 PST From: "Smith L (Registry)" Subject: Intro To: "'Numan Digest'" Hi Everyone, I've been off the list for some time (due to extreme personal problems), but I've just resubscribed. So this is a kind of a re-introduction. Anyway, I'm an aging goth of no fixed hairstyle (always black though), and in addition to Gazza my favourite artists are (in no particular order):- Bowie, Killing Joke, NIN, Ministry, Marilyn Manson, Bauhaus, Sisters, Ice-T and Alien Sex Fiend. Unfortunately I have little musical ability, but used to sing in a band. I'm not sure that this counts for much though as we were dreadful :-) I started listening to Numan in May 1979, have bought everything ever since. My favourite albums are Replicas, Sacrifice and the absolutely wonderful Exile (but what the hell is Absolution doing on there?). My least favourite albums are Strange Charm and the abomination which is Machine and Soul. I've seen Gary live 36 times (amateurish compared to the serious fans, I know) and met him on three occasions (and the last two times I've, unfortunately, ended up having an argument with him, once about Bowie and once about Blade Runner). He is the most genuine, approachable and likeable celeb I've ever met, and I'm delighted that he's just produced what will be remembered as one of, if not the, best albums of his career. Well thats enough waffle. Cheers, Leon. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 11:10:08 +0400 From: mje23@cus.cam.ac.uk (Mark J. Elsdon) Subject: introduction message To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Mark J. Elsdon Phone: (01223) 336906 CRC Human Cancer Genetics Group Fax: (01223) 336902 Level 3, Laboratories Block e-mail: mje23@cus.cam.ac.uk Box 238 Addenbrookes's Hospital Hills Road Cambridge CB2 2QQ United Kingdom ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 11:23:48 +0400 From: mje23@cus.cam.ac.uk (Mark J. Elsdon) Subject: introduction message To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Thanks for putting me on the mailing list. My name is Mark Elsdon. I was a fan of Gary's music in the early 1980's but for some reason drifted away! I attended the Premier tour last year at the Cambridge corn exchange. This was the first time I'd ever seen him, and I was at the front too! He was fantastic, and I became hooked. Since then I bought his new album, exile, and can't stop playing it. I love it! Anyway, I was first into the corn exchange last month to see him in concert again. What a performance, and a great band too! The light effects really captured the mood of the whole show. I stood right at the front in the middle snapping away, and i am anxiously awaiting the prints to come through the post. I was told off by the security bloke for using flash, and I can only appologise to Gary for any inconvenience I may have caused! I haven't managed to get a copy of his new book as yet, but it will be on my christmas present list for sure! I just wish I could of had the opportunity to have met him, as I would like to personally congratulate him on his new album, and to congratulate him on his recent marriage. Yours numanically! Mark PS I can't play any instruments as yet, although I did buy myself a guitar some 7 years ago with all goo intentions! PPS Other artists that I'm fanatical about include: Echo & the bunnymen Madonna David Bowie Depeche Mode Mark J. Elsdon Phone: (01223) 336906 CRC Human Cancer Genetics Group Fax: (01223) 336902 Level 3, Laboratories Block e-mail: mje23@cus.cam.ac.uk Box 238 Addenbrookes's Hospital Hills Road Cambridge CB2 2QQ United Kingdom ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 12:50:52 +0000 From: donut@cableinet.co.uk Subject: London Gig Review. To: Numan@cs.uwp.edu Hi All :o) The Shepherd's Bush Empire was a great place to hold Gary's last gig of the tour. The stalls were absofrigginglutely packed with over dedicated Numan fans which was great to see. Much head banging was being enjoyed by some and just about everyone was dancing and having a Numantastic time! The set was played to perfection yet again exept for the last track which was invaded by a pantomime horse who tried nibbling Gary's ear with not much success. Back at the hotel Rrussell Bell was waiting by the bar looking a bit lonely so i just had to have a chat to see what he is up to. He say's that he has co writen a book with Craig charles (of Red Dwarf fame) called THE LOG...i think. We also met John Webb and Gemma. Gary was also there signing stuff and making my life complete!!! A great time was had by all (as usual) especially by me!! See you next year PLEASE Gary...! THANX ANDY The Skin Mechanic ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 17:52:15 -0600 From: mark a hubbard Subject: MTV sighting To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Just a quick note here. On this past Sunday, the 9th, I sat down and started flipping through the TV channels, and just happened to stop on MTV, when a young musician(that I in no way recognized, and did not catch his name) was just starting to tout artists that had been an influence on him. He was talking about the feelings he used to get when he watched Numan perform, etc., and they cut to Touring Principle clips 2 or three times. A real cool piece, that looks like something that may get aired a few times, as it fits in with a previous add campaign on current artists, and their influences. Take care, Mark A Hubbard ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 19:12:45 -0000 From: "downstat" Subject: My armchair critique of Exile To: Digesters, After 5 months I'm back on the digest. My superb review of Exile follows....... Reference marking: We are Glass, Berserker, Seed of a Lie, Voix, Noise Noise = 10/10 Dark Sunday, Emotion, Skin Game, Bleed, The Need = 1/10 Dominion Day: 6/10. Predictable enough. Shades of "Cities in Dust" by Siouxsie and the Banshees in the chorus? OK - but not my choice of single. Prophesy: 4/10: I can't listen to the first 2 mins 41 secs of this song at all. The lyrics, the clunky percussion and the singing style on the verses are awful. After 2 mins 41 secs the song turns into a anthemic masterpiece with great piano and vocals. Shame really. Dead Heaven: 6/10. This has been suggested by some as a single. Again, like Prophecy, the verses and the lyrics let the song down. "Blessed is dead heaven.......Glory is dead heaven.....Blessed is death in his name". Bit naff. Instrumentation is good though and the sliding scale at 3 mins 20 secs is a particularly favorite moment (?). Dark: 9/10. This is almost perfect. The first verse is ACTUALLY SUNG for a change. Very Sisters of Mercyish in the middle verse. The drum loop is crisp, the guitars chunky, the chorus a real stonker. However the lyric "Kneel before my alter and drink the wine of slaughter" is SO very very bad that it loses a point. Perhaps it should of lost two points. This is my choice of single. But it would have to be remixed to make it a little more radio friendly and the aforementioned line removed. Innocence bleeding. 5/10. Average nice enough song. Nothing to say. The Angel Wars. 10/10. This is perfect in every respect. The man is truly a genius. Again the verses are actually sung properly. It makes such a big difference. The lyrics are well written and structured in such a way to actually make sense. There is a single note "clang" that appears in the instrumental bit before the last verse - a stroke of genius - perfect. A very frightening and intense 5 minutes. This is the best song he's ever written. But would it be a suitable single? No. Absolution. 7/10. Well I like it. An Alien Cure. 8/10. Gary's nicked something here from Higher Love by Depeche Mode. But that doesn't matter. Good instrumentation and the instrumental bit 4 mins into the song, with the ad-libbed lyric, guitar and key shift is very clever. Up with the best. Exile: 8/10: Classic closing track similar to Whisper, Love Isolation, Seed of a Lie, etc. Sleeve design: OK but I still think he could benefit from a professional designer. There is just something not quite right. The tour t-shirts were very very bad indeed. Whoever brought one should be ashamed. Although black t-shirts make very good dusters of course. Photos: Excellent. A bit arty for a change. Sound Quality; Restored to pre-Outland standard. Music: Some top tunes. Lots of humming and singing accompaniments to the main melody - something first introduced in Telekon, Dance and I Assassin and only returned to on 1994's Sacrifice. Lyrics: Generally the weak link in the album. Mostly they are tired, unsexy and repetitive. Occasionally they are brilliant. Overall opinion: I like it very much. Regards, Austin London ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 18:09:36 -0700 From: "Larry Goodell" Subject: my information To: "gary numan" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01BCEE03.CE0CF700 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable My name is Glen Goodell. Some of my favorite artists are Gary Numan of = course , The Cure, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Artist formerly known as = Prince. I have listened to Gary Numan since 1980. I bought The Pleasure = Principle and listened to that till 1997. I then came across a used Gary = Numan Outland CD. That believe it or not got me interested into finding = more Gary Numan stuff because I figured if I came across the Outland CD = there must be more out there. Then I discovered the Internet. Now = anything on the planet is available and maybe stuff from other planets, = I don't know yet. I don't play any instruments but I do race motorcycles = semi-professionally. Just a different talent and profession I suppose. = Well thats all for now. I can't really type so this letter has taken = forever. Maybe Gary Numan will teach me to type.=20 Thanks for answering my e-mail. Glen Goodell ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01BCEE03.CE0CF700 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

 My name is Glen = Goodell. Some of=20 my favorite artists are Gary Numan of course , The Cure, Gene Loves = Jezebel, The=20 Artist formerly known as Prince. I have listened to Gary Numan since = 1980. I=20 bought The Pleasure Principle and listened to that till 1997. I then = came across=20 a used Gary Numan Outland CD. That believe it or not got me interested = into=20 finding more Gary Numan stuff because I figured if I came across the = Outland CD=20 there must be more out there. Then I discovered the Internet. Now = anything on=20 the planet is available and maybe stuff from other planets, I don't know = yet. I=20 don't play any instruments but I do race motorcycles = semi-professionally. Just a=20 different talent and profession I suppose. Well thats all for now. I = can't=20 really type so this letter has taken forever. Maybe Gary Numan will = teach me to=20 type. 

Thanks for answering my = e-mail.

Glen Goodell

  ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01BCEE03.CE0CF700-- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 09 Nov 1997 12:55:43 -0600 From: Dave Carlson Subject: Numania hits the U.S.... To: numan@cs.uwp.edu ...or at least Chicago...for at least one night. As reported on some of the Numan sites, there was a charity concert (Make-A-Wish) held at the Double Door in Chicago, November 8. Although I tried desperately to get a ticket, by the time I found out about it, it was sold out. A Gary Numan Tribute Band composed apparently of Billy Corgan, and members of Ministry, and others was a main attraction. Now, I don't know what happened during the show, what was played, or who was really in the band (any digesters manage to make it?) but Sunday morning I was listening to the Chicago alternative station (WKQX "Q101" 101.1 FM) and two djs were having their usual transitional banter between shifts. I was in the shower at the time, and not paying much attention, when I heard the name of Gary Numan mentioned. I immediately turned off the shower and listened intently. These are the bits I manged to cull: Someone named Chris Connelly was mentioned as being excellent..."He was channeling Gary Numan"..."He *was* Gary Numan". (Who's Chris Connelly?) They also remarked what a great job the band did, how they hoped that they would do more shows, and, get this, how they are going to try to get a few of the guys into the studio to do some live on-air Numan songs! The name Numan was mentioned at least 5 or six times, and the possibilty exists that Numan covers will be done by popular artists on Chicago's only alternative and extremely popular radio station! These 3 minutes of chat represent the greatest exposure Numan has had in this town since the early '80s, I'm sure (how sad). Perhaps some folks will finally be inspired to investigate. If anyone out there made it to the show, please give us a report. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 19:08:12 -0000 From: "downstat" Subject: Numan the Godfather To: Digesters, This is an extract from the Saturday Telegraph a few weeks back, previewing the Exile Tour. "Gary Numan. Pioneer of electronic music; now acclaimed as the godfather of dance and hip-hop. Shame about the voice". Mmm. As good as GN is, can he really be credited with inspiring dance and hip-hop? I tend to agree with Tommy Udo in NME on that one. However, "the voice" is part of the attraction surely? More later. Austin London ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 10:36:26 -0500 From: "Terrence Thoman" Subject: Praying to the Aliens To: numan@cs.uwp.edu This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------0C305EB6826BD66447C9492F Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Can someone with the Numan autobiography supply the particulars for the book. I'm sure that if I want to get it here in the US, I'll need to special order it. Please fill-in/ correct the blanks Title: Praying to the Aliens Author: Gary Numan with Steve Malins ISBN:_______________________ Publisher:_____________________ thanks Terrence --------------0C305EB6826BD66447C9492F Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Thoman, Terrence Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf" begin: vcard fn: Terrence Thoman n: Thoman;Terrence org: Clinical Research Computing Unit adr: 500 Blockley Hall ,CCEB/CRCU;;423 Guardian Drive;Philadelphia;PA;19104-6021;USA email;internet: tthoman@cceb.upenn.edu title: Senior Network & Systems Support Specialist tel;work: 215-573-4420 tel;fax: 215-573-6262 x-mozilla-cpt: ;0 x-mozilla-html: TRUE version: 2.1 end: vcard --------------0C305EB6826BD66447C9492F-- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Nov 1997 04:01:32 -0000 From: "Philip Davies and Kelly Wright" Subject: requested reply To: This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0012_01BCEFE8.D43622A0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable An Introduction. Hi, my name's Phil and I've recently been added to the Numan Mailing = List. Apparently, my first task is to introduce myself....this won't be the = most riveting of reads. Here goes nothing..... I'm 30, I live in the UK, I've been into Garys music since around 1989. = I've seen him live 5 times on 4 different tours and I've been lucky = enough to meet him a couple of times. I've recently discovered we have a = mutual friend who gets a couple of mentions in the new autobiography. A = fascinating read by the way. Some of the last two weeks have been spent on the road seeing the Exile = Tour. In my opinion it's the best tour he's ever done. On the nights I = saw him he certainly seemed to be enjoying himself.=20 Apart from Gary I'm into Depeche Mode (since 1983), again, I've seen = them live a couple of times. And The Sisters Of Mercy (since 1993) seen = them live twice, including this year in London.=20 I'm not the big music fan I used to be. The above are the only people I = actively go out and collect now. My main interest is films, of which I have a massive collection. As I said, not exactly a riveting read. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Phil ------=_NextPart_000_0012_01BCEFE8.D43622A0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

An Introduction.
Hi, my name's Phil and I've recently = been added=20 to the Numan Mailing List.
Apparently, my first task is to = introduce=20 myself....this won't be the most riveting of reads.
 
Here goes nothing.....
I'm 30, I live in the UK, I've been = into Garys=20 music since around 1989. I've seen him live 5 times on 4 different tours = and=20 I've been lucky enough to meet him a couple of times. I've recently = discovered=20 we have a mutual friend who gets a couple of mentions in the new = autobiography.=20 A fascinating read by the way.
Some of the last two weeks have been spent on the = road seeing=20 the Exile Tour. In my opinion it's the best tour he's ever done. On the = nights I=20 saw him he certainly seemed to be enjoying himself.
 
Apart from Gary I'm into Depeche Mode (since 1983), = again,=20 I've seen them live a couple of times. And The Sisters Of Mercy (since = 1993)=20 seen them live twice, including this year in London.
 
I'm not the big music fan I used to be. The above = are the only=20 people I actively go out and collect now.
 
My main interest is films, of which I have a massive = collection.
 
 
As I said, not exactly a riveting read.
 
 
I look forward to hearing from you = soon.
 
 
Phil
------=_NextPart_000_0012_01BCEFE8.D43622A0-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 08:50:41 +0000 From: Andy McHaffie <"Andy McHaffie amchaffie"@meto.gov.uk> Subject: Shepherds Bush > To: Gary Numan <"Gary Numan numan"@cs.uwp.edu> > I am also a musician so perhaps my comments and opinions >may be considerably different than many of you on this list. All hail the mighty one ! -- Anyway, the last night at Shepherds Bush was MUCH better compared to the 1st date. I wont run down the set list, but basically it was much the same as the 1st gig, with the exceptions of Prophecy and The Angel Wars missing, and the inclusion of a Jesus Jones style We Are So Fragile, which Gary apologised for in advance, and indeed as promised, fucked up, and Jo The Waiter, complete with a pantomime horse. (!!) I wanna be the pantomime horse roadie next year... Only down points being that upstairs was no-smoking, and the upstairs bar shut before 10pm (just as id arrived fopr my final pint) Other highpoints were meeting the famous Sean Francis, and trying to spit on Matthew Tamea's head from the balcony (just kidding) Andy McHaffie -- *********************************** * * Due to my email fouling up, * you cant directly reply to this * message. * * To reply, please enter my email * address manually. Thanks * * amchaffie@meto.gov.uk * *********************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 22:27:50 -0500 (EST) From: DCGaySLP@aol.com Subject: Unlikely Numan pairings.... To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Ok World...the Digest has taken on a dark tone of late...I'm feeling goofy and after talking with dalifried@aol.com, we've come up with some unusual (and funny) pairing for Gary......I hope Eagle isn't listening...and this is NOT a mockery of Numan...just a collection of funny "what if's" Numan and Barney: "Oy luf yow, yow luf may...down't loik Gawd now, downt yow see" Numan appears on Hee Haw Numan with Brooks & Dunn The Gary Numan Christmas Album: "Soylint Noiight...Howwly noiiight" Aside from the unlikelihood (thank goodness) of a second Numan/Nicholson pairing (Eeeek) or Sharpe/Numan...any other ideas? I've often wondered what would happen if Numan paired up with Laurie Anderson or something...maybe Gary, Gemma, Laurie and Lou Reed will get together and go bowling... I'm in Exile, killing the angels...slash slash TTFN....Rick in DC (the Stormtrooper...no drag) ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ******************************