Gary Numan Digest Sun, 15 Mar 98 Volume 1 : Issue 416 Today's Topics: ADMINISTRIVIA (2 msgs) Beck Beck closet Numan Fan? Dark City/Conan O'Brien Flog flog flog Gary Numan Digest V1 #415 (6 msgs) Hello hi I Die; You Die Numan Convention 1998 Numan in Paris, 13/03.1998 Numan Tracks Paris Concert Photograph L.P. Photograph reply e-mail error R-3 - The GARY NUMAN-FANPROJECT Random 2 (2 msgs) RANDOM 2 vs. TECHNO ARMY Stop the name calling. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 23:29:00 -0800 From: Derek Langsford Subject: ADMINISTRIVIA To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Please DO NOT use the numan-members email address for posting or sending messages. This is only to be used for distribution of the Digest. Post to numan@cs.uwp.edu only! Thank you! Derek ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek H. Langsford "Numanews" San Diego, California, USA The Gary Numan Digest email numan-request@cs.uwp.edu to subscribe ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 08:29:09 -0600 From: David Datta Subject: ADMINISTRIVIA To: numan I am re-sending this copy of the digest (#416) without the copy of the last issue. Sorry for the problem. I missed removing the copy of previous digest that was sent back to the list. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 08:35:35 GMT From: vickers@netcomuk.co.uk Subject: Beck To: numan@cs.uwp.edu In answer to Dryad (in her new cowboy hat): Beck appeared on Top Of The Pops (TV show) last year. My wife (not a Numanoid) remarked how much the music reminded her of Numan, and listening to it, I could see what she meant, although it hadn't struck me - more 1984ish in period than what he is doing now. Then we thought about it more. Beck and the band were all wearing white suits, like Gary and the band in the Berserker and just before Berserker period. But then, hasn't Beck confessed to being a Numanoid? Doesn't he play "Cars" when on tour? And weren't they working together on some project which... I suppose you always get rumours of this sort. Does anyone actually KNOW? Paddy Vickers ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 12:36:42 -0500 (EST) From: Dryad Subject: Beck closet Numan Fan? To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Howdy gang- I recently saw a video of Beck's, I forget what it's called, but for some reason the song struck me as being very Numan - and I have no idea why. ANybody got the goods on Beck and what's influenced him? Dryad, wearing her new cowboy hat "For NASA, space is still a high priority." -- Vice President Dan Quayle, 9/5/90 annagrey at sover dot net ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 12:16:52 -0500 (EST) From: Dryad Subject: Dark City/Conan O'Brien To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hey gang- Saw Dark City last night, and, despite some bad editing and an overly loud soundtrack, it's worth seeing. Especially if your local movie theater has a 'cheap night', otherwise wait for it on video. It's very atmostpheric, moody, great acting, interesting plot, etc. If you read sci fi you should have no problem getting the plot, but some might find it....hard to decipher. If there's a numan track in there i certainly didn't hear it. Emptv is doing these little blurbs from famous people about their favorite videos, their least fav, most amazing, most sucky, etc, and the first amazing video Conan O'Brien remember's seeing is the one for Cars. He said he just couldn't get that tune out of his head - and they even showed some clips from the video, yay. Speaking of videos, I'm watching...Newman Numan or something at the moment, some collection of numan videos, and i have to ask myself, why do most of his videos suck?? (Concert videos excepted, of course) I just don't think they 'get' gary.... Clea, reiterating that Gary looks totally hot in black leather "For NASA, space is still a high priority." -- Vice President Dan Quayle, 9/5/90 annagrey at sover dot net ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 21:50:15 -0600 From: paddygav@kcnet.com (Paddy) Subject: Flog flog flog To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Just to add my two cents on the Exile/belief system thread. If you don't really like what the artist is saying, it should be alright to not listen. Personally, I would not buy a record by, listen too, or in any way support racist groups like Skrewdriver, because I think thier message of hate sucks (Of course, if I got the name of the band wrong up there, please insert the name of your favorite white power/hate rockers in that space and hopefully you will see my point). Despite how good the music is, there are lyrics as well, and it is a whole package. If Numan for some reason started singing about killing jews and blacks, I really don't think some of you would be standing up for him. Sure, it is always sad to see someone leave the Numan fold, but it may just be that whoever doesn't agree with sentiments on Exile will come back some time when the subject matter is different, or still be a supporter, if only for the older material. Hell, after paying over 20 bucks for Machine and Soul, I was so angry I vowed to never buy another Numan album. I thought the man had lost his mind. Of course, I still loved the old stuff, and once I found the digest, discovered that many didn't like it, read that like minded subscribers enjoyed Sacrifice, I was rewarded for staying in touch with the mans music and fans. Myself, well, I haven't bought Exile yet, for the same reasons expressed in a few postings. I am not a fundamentalist, and I often question my own faith, but I don't want an influence as powerful as my music to sway me in a direction that my heart tells me is not the right direction. Even though I do not plan on buying Exile, I will be the first guy in this Numan Free zone to buy all the Cleopatra back catalog when it is released, and I am going to try my damndest to see the tour if and when it comes within 600 miles of me. How was that? Fear This Idiot! Oh, I mean, fear this, idiot! http://www.kcnet.com/~paddygav/images.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 07:04:28 GMT From: vickers@netcomuk.co.uk Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #415 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Pythoness, Yes! We Sleep By Windows is a great track, which no-onw else ever seems to mention. My Breathing - superb! The Skin Game - What a driver. But I'm puzzled about Telekon. Except for the title track (!!!) I think it's a terrific album. Top 10: My Breathing The Sleeproom Remind Me To Smile The Skin Game Love Isolation I Dream Of Wires We Are Glass I Die You Die The Pleasure Skin Miracles Warriors The Iceman Comes Are 'Friends' Electric? Time To Die This Is Love Music For Chameleons Trois Gymnopedies Bombers We Are So Fragile A Child With The Ghost The Hunter Whisper I Wonder Seed Of A Lie Dark Prophecy Exile Bleed Magic She Cries We Have A Technical STOP ME, SOMEBODY. It's easier to select a top 200. Paddy Vickers ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 07:53:05 +0000 From: Jill Matthews Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #415 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu (Gary Numan) Convention: I think the convention was brilliant and I especially enjoyed Garys new version of Friends. I think it should be released, I really think it is a good song. I hope Gary had a nice birthday, and he got lots of snogs!! Hi Jason, it was nice to see you again, you think my bloke looks like your drummer, I never actually got to see him on Saturday, so I couldn't compare, and I have no recollection of saying so at the previous convention, too much alcohol I think. Anyway I can't wait till Gary tours UK again, so I can get together with all my chums again. It was great fun and I had an excellent time, even though Milton Keynes is a very strange and desolate place. Jill ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 11:30:08 +0000 From: Jules Seifert Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #415 To: Gary Numan >As I recall from looking at a friend's copy years ago, it's an illegal >Australian 'best-of' collection. > No, it's German. > > Some record company released it without >getting all the permissions and it was yanked from shelves. It has no >unique tracks on it. The other trivia is that the photo on the cover is >printed reversed, although what detail gives it away escapes me. -- In >short it's only worth 100UKP to a really gonzo collector. > hehe, that makes me a triple gonzo then ;-) I have 3 mint copies, 2 of them signed by the then band (teletour line-up) Jules ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 12:31:26 -0000 From: "Gary Hough" Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #415 To: "Jules Seifert" , The original story behind Photograph was that Gary's European distributor at the time wanted to put out a compilation album but Gary felt it was too early in his career to do this so (As far as I could gather at the time) GMBH the German distributor decided that they would put out without Gary's or Beggars permission Photograph. I got the first 30 copies to hit the UK in HMV in Manchester priced at 3.99 and then 5.99 a few days later and within 3 weeks of the UK getting copies it was selling for 30 - 40. There were 500 copies released according to GMBH but I suspect a good many more as I sold a load of them in the UK at the time. It was withdrawn within a couple of days of release but one or two stores in Greater Manchester (England UK) were still selling it weeks after. I sold a copy that was fully signed by the original band of Chris, Gary, Rrussell, Cedric with additional signatures of Paul Gardiner, Billy Currie, Nash the Slash and Barry Ben & Jes Lidyard (Ex Tubeway) for 150. Today I would not pay anymore than 40-50 at best. If you can get one at that price. I also had two cassette releases which I sold for 150 and 120 respectively. The album in my opinion was the best compilation ever of Gary purely because of the sound quality and excellent photo's on the cover which at the time were unique. Deserves to be reissued on CD with the original artwork if it is the same quality. Finally their were rumours approx 1982 of some bootleg copies of photograph circulating with reproduced cover that was slightly faded and the record label was a smudged lighter colour. I saw what was rumoured to be a copy at a Glasgow Record fair which a London dealer had but I'm not sure to be honest if it was a bootleg or not as I have never come across any others. I'm sure there was more info to this but I can't remember off the top of my head. When I'm back home and not in work I'll look up my info and post in the digest any further info if there is any. Incidentally Random 2 is out just now and it is unbelievably weird? One track is identical to a synth track a mate and mine did in 1983. Watch this space as a lawsuit might follow :-) Regards Gary Hough Operations Manager - Prestel on-line GHough@prestel.net www.prestel.co.uk -----Original Message----- From: Jules Seifert To: Gary Numan Cc: Numanews Members Date: 12 March 1998 11:51 Subject: Re: Gary Numan Digest V1 #415 >>As I recall from looking at a friend's copy years ago, it's an illegal >>Australian 'best-of' collection. >> >No, it's German. >> >> Some record company released it without >>getting all the permissions and it was yanked from shelves. It has no >>unique tracks on it. The other trivia is that the photo on the cover is >>printed reversed, although what detail gives it away escapes me. -- In >>short it's only worth 100UKP to a really gonzo collector. >> >hehe, that makes me a triple gonzo then ;-) I have 3 mint copies, 2 of >them signed by the then band (teletour line-up) > > >Jules > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 12:33:30 EST From: Y0UNG 0NES Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #415 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Greetings All, I wasn't able to download this week's digest. Has anyone else had this problem? It had said it could not find the file. Hmm..does anyone know what the problem could be? Thanks. -Angie ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 14:45:55 GMT0BST From: "James Chapman" Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #415 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Derek, Thanks for getting the info on the boxed set. It is good to know that Berserker and The Fury will be the original versions, as I have the extended mixes but not the originals. Some songs on Berserker (My Dying Machine, The Hunter, This is New love) are far too long in my opinion. I haven't got the other albums but have heard a few songs off each one (some only live). Also good to know that B-sides are included. Sounds like it should be called Asylum 4 (i've been reading the back issues of the digest!) . Roll on May 3rd (a Sunday?)! I bought Random 2 the other day. I think it's really awful, becajse several songs are unrecognisable. I think hardcore dance fans will like this more than us lot. At least the people in the shop let me have a refund, and I got Dark Light instead (last one on the shelf). It's absolutely marvellous! Highlights are Everday I Die, I Dream of Wires and Replicas. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- They crawl out of their holes for me...... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 17:46:55 +0000 From: kevin Goodchild Subject: Hello To: numan digest Hello, I didn't want to use the digest as a contact point but I am trying to reach Jason Smith, but keep getting blown out, Jason can you get in touch please !. Thanks Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 20:50:23 EST From: Kap234 Subject: hi To: numan@cs.uwp.edu is the u.s. tour dates announced yet?? is he playing detroit if so, when, where? i need to know asap, planning a trip around it! thanx kevin ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 09:20:11 EST From: stevie@uk.ibm.com Subject: I Die; You Die To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hi Guys, I was at the Convention last weekend and had a thouroughly excellent time. We've even managed to get on guest list for the John Foxx gig in Glasgow next month (Thanks AO). On one of my very few visits to the Video Lounge (I missed the Dominion Day clip) I saw an absolutely earth shattering version of I Die: You Die and very nearly came in my pants. Can anyone tell me where I can get a hold of this video clip as it's a must have. It was honestly like hearing it (the song) for the first time again but totally different to the version released on the single. It's from some TV show. Very raw, different vocals, different keyboards, much more choppy guitar work and a stonker of a video to go with it. He's wearing black jeans, white T shirt and the black leather pilot jacket with the red piping I think. If anyone can tell me where I can get a hold of this, I'd love you forever. Gary Hough, can you help, I know you've got tons of stuff. Regards Stevie EXT. 25661 , MP 17R , E-MAIL stevie@uk.ibm.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 11:09:42 GMT From: vickers@netcomuk.co.uk Subject: Numan Convention 1998 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Dear All, It was my great privilege to be able to attend the 1998 Numan Convention last Saturday, 7th March, in Milton Keynes, the nearest thing England has to American ideas of a *planned* town. Doors opened at 12 noon, and a couple of hundred Numanoids, hungry for record rarities and new releases, descended on the half dozen or so stalls. Random was for sale, plus Random 2, the "Dawn" release of Sacrifice, Living Ornaments 79 and 81, various remixes, bootlegs from the past (including several I had never seen), etc. I spent a lot of money, and drooled over the things I could not buy. There was a video room, BETTER THAN EVER, with a proper advertised timetable, including footage of the 82 American tour, including a trip to Parker's Piece (Sacramento was that?), a coupe of numbers performed on a US TV show (Mervin somebody?), and four screenings of the new video for "Dominion Day". (Also, a lot of Numan chat show interviews from 1997). All good stuff. In the evening there was a Numan Disco, but before that we were treated to Ade Orange and his band "DIG" rehearsing a couple of songs. DIG is simply Gary's backing band, although on this occason, there was a mystery keyboard player for one of the tracks. He looked about 39, with black tousled hair, dressed all in black, and seemed to know what he was doing. The disco was remarkable in that they stuck to the *danceable* records, (which is of course a good proportion of them), but didn't suddenly stick on "Telekon" or anything which clears the dance floor. Rrussell Bell was invited onto the stage to pull out raffle tickets. All the prizes were signed by Gary, including a copy of the "Dark City" Soundtrack album and a lot of other stuff... At 10.00 p.m. the lucky fans present were treated to a set by "DIG", with Ade Orange (very ably) singing vocals, including a sort of Are "Friends" Electric? 98, and a rendition of "Creep" (a Radiohead song). The rest were presumably Orange compositions. They were the right shade. Then the mystery keyboard player was invited forward, and turned out to be "The King" himself - Gary Anthony Webb, a.k.a. GARY NUMAN!! He sang what he said was Ade's rearrangement of "Dark", which was rather uptempo, and therefore had a lighter feel to it. Next was "Friends". Since the Random album, and PWEI's new version of this song, Gary has taken to doing something rather similar with this song, with three guitarists (himself, Dave Brookes and Steve Harris), it's powerful stuff! Next was "Metal", though not instantly recognisable at first. Then "Dead Heaven". Then "Are 'Friends' Electric?" done properly, if you know what I mean. The crowd (400 at a guess, as people had been arriving all afternoon and evening) wanted an encore, and got one: "Jo The Waiter". It's not every day you get to go to a private mini-gig!! At 12.00 it became 8th March, which most of you will recognise as Gary's birthday, and he was officially pronounced 40 years old. The crowd was cleared from the dance floor, and Gary, Gemma (she now has blonde hair) and entourage came to the centre to blow out the candles from a large cake. People crowded round, asking for things to be signed, and it became impossible to see what happened for a while, so I went off to chat to Beryl, who introduced me to Tony, "This is Paddy Vickers", like I was someone she had mentioned to him, and she went on to explain to me how come she had mentioned me to him..... Thinking about it, mentioning Beryl like that sounds like name-dropping. The only reason I know Beryl is that when she used to man, sorry, person, the Fan Club stall at these events, I used to go and ingratiate myself with her. I am not a priviliged member of the Numan "inner Circle", if there is such a thing. I'm just a fan, but I am always at these things by myself, so talking to Beryl seemed like a good idea. Anyway, she is a lovely lady. Eventually, the hotel staff had to rescue Gary from the throng of fans, and escorted him off to his room. Tony tapped him on his shoulder as he went past, and said "Hi!" so I presume that Gary had not even seen his parents up to that point. Am I boring you? Sorry. I don't want any sarcastic or unpleasant responses to this, I am just sharing it with those of you whose enthusiasm has not been overcome by negativity!!! Best Wishes, Paddy Vickers ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 16:26:51 +0100 From: DE VISSCHER Luc Subject: Numan in Paris, 13/03.1998 To: "'numan@cs.uwp.edu'" So, we did it, up and down from Brussels to Paris in one afternoon/evening/night. Well, what can I say? First I'll start with a critical view: 1. The venue was in the Parisian "Sex district", Place Pigalle for the people who know Paris. And it was *very* small (I suppose fully crowded, maybe 250 people can enter. So, this was a "club"-Euro-Tour? 2. The "crowd" (if I dare say so). This is simply unbelievable that a MONUMENT like Gary can only attract about 90 to 100 (!!!) people for a gig. Take away the 12 Belgians, the 10 English and the 8 Germans, this means that only 60 French fans were there (and some fans brought their partner, who might not really be a fan. E N O U G H N E G A T I V I T Y ! ! ! ! ! ! Because, since there were so little people, there was a very intimate atmosphere, and the crowd present was great. everyone could speak to everyone. Also, if One person shouted something, everyone could easily hear it (Gary smiled at my "fan-fuckin-tastic" after Metal). And at the end of the concert, we all sang Happy Birthday, in the end, it was only 5 days ago... Also, Gary didn't show any frustration on stage and, in my eyes, gave his best performance since a very long time (I rate this gig far higher than the Exile tour I saw in Shepherd's bush). The choice of songs was also perfect for a European tour. I know most of you people out there don't want to hear so many old songs any longer (even including AFE), but Gary was a little famous here in '78-'80, and that's it. Also the releases were quite erratic. So the perfect balance between the older days (AFE, Cars, Me! I disconnect..., Metal, Every day I die, Down in the park, Friends) and the to-days (A ? of faith, Dark, Dominion day, Absolution...) and also Voix, simply great and Noise Noise. Don't get me wrong, for the UK tours I attend (all of them since '83), I also want the new songs, but it simply wouldn't work here. (that was also the small mistake for Brussels '91). Well, I will still go to Utrecht and Brussels, but I have to admit that the Brussels venue is a "real" venue (KRAFTWERK comes there, Ultravox, etc...), and about 2,500 people (I think) can enter. The only thing that REALLY bothers me is that there is ABSOLUTELY NO ADVERTISING for this concert. In '91, on the popular radio station, we heard Gary in the morning and in the evening on the prime time, but now, nothing! A little story still, Gary forgot the lyrics of.... Are friends electric? Can you imagine, he probably sang this song 5,000 times so far and he got it completely wrong. In the middle of the song, he simply cut off everything, said "Sorry, I completely fucked up. I thought I'd get away with it, but I didn't" And he started all over again. Two AFE's for the price of one. Since the venue had to be used for a fashion show later the same night, we didn't get the whole set (I saw We are glass on the setlist, but we didn't get it). Conclusion, I wasn't sure to go to Cologne, but now I will definitely try to go! Any ?, Shoot! Luc, >Belgium. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 07:04:30 GMT From: vickers@netcomuk.co.uk Subject: Numan Tracks To: theartdept@att.net Dear Rod, No!! For goodness sake, do not include "New Thing From London Town". Every time I play the album, and I hear those drums break in, with no atmosphere behind them, my heart sinks, and I know I have to suffer a couple of minutes of "poppy" synth. It simply isn't a Numan track, and it spoils the album for me. "The Sleeproom" and "Time To Die" would be much better.... "In A Glasshouse"? Is that on "Machine and Soul"? Why not "The Skin Game" or "Love Isolation"? Otherwise, good choices. Paddy Vickers ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 15:42:53 +0100 From: "joeri" Subject: Paris Concert To: "Gary Numan" The trip from Brussels to Paris took about 2 1/2 hours with Luc driving at high speed. We were with 5. First we searched where the venue was, where Gary and his band would perform that evening. It was a small venue without any posters with the tour dates on it. Just an A3-paper with: "This evening: Gary Numan Live", that was it. At 19.30 pm the doors opened. I couldn't believe my eyes! It was a like a large pub, only a small PA and a minimum lightshow. At 20.00 pm I counted only about 50 people!!! Just before the show started at 21.00 this number was doubled.(there was room for 300). We talked to "BIG G" (as friendly as always). He told us that at 10.30 pm the show had to be finished and at eleven the stage had to be free because some other event had to take place. At around 9 pm the lights went out. The intro was great as always and Gary started the show with the new version of 'Friends'. Then followed Dominion Day, A question of faith. The atmosphere was great, we amused ourselves very much. People were dancing, singing, shouting, ... A French guy next to me was shouting between every song ' London Times'. My god didn't he understand that song just doesn't fit in Gary's music nowadays. After all, the light show was great because of the small venue, although there wasn't any lasershow. When Gary did 'AFE' , Ade Orange keyboards went down in the first chorus, so the song had to be redone, Gary apologized but wasn't nervous at all (I think). I looked at the paper with the track listening on it ( I was standing a few meters away from Gary two meters above the floor) and normally Gary would have finished the concert with 'We are Glass' but because it was 10.30 there wasn't any time left. When Gary was shaking hands, everybody began to sing 'Happy birthday'. Gary smiled, thanked us and off he was. These are the songs I remember, from Exile: Dominion Day Absolution Dark Dead Heaven An Alien Cure from Replicas: Me! I disconnect from you. Are 'friends' electric ? Down in the park. from Sacrifice: A question of faith. from the blue album Every day I die Friends from the pleasure principle Metal Cars Films (I love this song very much!) from New Anger Voix (new version) and the B-side 'Noise Noise'. For me the concert was one of the best I went to. Because I was standing above the stage I could hear nearly all the monitors and hear Gary's voice very loud (GREAT).(In the beginning he used very small headphones) I liked the versions of the songs (and his choice) because they all sounded quite aggresive. I can understand people who like the berserker-styled albums are going to be dissapointed. Gary's sound is DARK now, but vital, and we all loved it. Numan was dressed in black (the same as the UK tour) with black nail polish. Brussels is waiting for another great show. Joeri Peeters joeri@planetinternet.be (the 'Prophecy' site from Belgium) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 16:39:52 +1100 From: Bart Tieman Subject: Photograph L.P. To: "'numan@cs.uwp.edu'" I have a copy of the Photograph L.P. that I would like to part with. If anyone is interested drop me a line and make me an offer. Bart Numan Down Under ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 12:08:46 -0000 From: "Gary Hough" Subject: Photograph reply e-mail error To: I would like to apologise unreservedly for any inconvenience that I caused when I replied to all on the recent digest e-mail I received regarding Photograph. As Ops Manager for one of the UK major ISP's I should have known better. I was busy replying to 230+ e-mails at the time and quickly replied to one that I had received from Jules and thought I had replied only to the author not everyone else. Anyhow it won't happen again and please don't worry about your e-mail addresses being on any mailing list, they are not. I can assure you I have not retained any of your addresses whatsoever. Regards Gary Hough Prestel On-Line - No 1 Internet Service Provider 1997 as voted by Internet Magazine ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 12:09:33 +0100 From: Klaus Sauer Subject: R-3 - The GARY NUMAN-FANPROJECT To: "numan@cs.uwp.edu" , The deadline for the R-3-project (aka RANDOM 3) has moved to april the 30th 1998. The URL of the project-website has also moved. The new URL is: http://privat.schlund.de/r/random/ I have now also added a few mp3.files (more mp3.files into the next weeks) and new coverarts. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 09:40:40 -0000 From: "Craig Land" Subject: Random 2 To: Well after reading Numan Digest 415, I am not too surprised to see the negative response from Numan fans on the content of Random 2. I personally think this is an excellent piece of work, but then everyone is entitled to their opinions! I think it would be safe for me to say that in the 20 years Numan has been around, his fans who have grown up with his music from the start have also developed their own music tastes. I for one have always loved the synth and mainly prefer instrumental works from the likes of Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, right upto modern Techno. There seems to be those fans that are stuck in the past, still dressing like Numan, wearing the make-up, copying his every move. I admit that I did this at one time,...but then I was only a teenager! Seing grown men and women copying him looks silly to me, it's like they have no identity or life of their own! Other fans have moved onto more industrial and rock/goth orientated music which remains dark in style with strong guitar/acoustic styles. Myself, I love the modern repetitive Techno rhythms, but then I always used to say that Numan could switch on a synth and play the beginning to 'I'm An Agent' or 'Telekon', and I would listen to that all day! Random 2 is deeper than alot of the digest members are giving it credit for. I know that alot of Numan fans will disregard it purely because Gary dosn't 'Dig' (sorry for the pun!), the modern Techno scene, but if you understand the Techno culture and in particular the artists who are appearing on Random 2, then some of you would like me appreciate that this is again further respect and adulation from great artists in their own field to an icon of the British synth music. In my mind, the artists who are appearing on Random 2 have more weight to their praise for Gary's music than any of the artists who appeared on Random 1. To be fair, if you don't like the repetitive underground dance rhythms, you will probably not like Random 2. But if like me you want real energy in your music and can dance to beats 120bpm and above (judging by standards at the Numan convention, I would say that this is not many!), then get this album. Appreciating this is not everyone's viewpoint, Craig. PS. Miss Marlene,...............yes I do! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 17:49:27 EST From: Jamesy999 Subject: Random 2 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Random 2 is the biggest pile of doggy doo since the last big pile of dogg= y=0Adoo..... a total waste of =A313.99 ....I won't even bother to give my "track by tr= ack"=0Areports....I listened to it once and it gave me a nose bleed and a= blinding=0Aheadache...... Every single track is rubbish,tosh and a waste of time....no doubt these= =0Aproducers were payed a load of dosh to do these mixes.......and I hope Numan got lo= ads=0Aof dosh out of Random 2.......Don't buy this rubbish....spend =A313= .99 on a=0AHumperdink C.D.........I leave you with this thought..... . .boink, boink, boink, bo= ink,=0Ab,b,b,b,b,b,b,b,b,boink,boink, boink, boink ooohhh nnoo....my nose= has started=0Ato bleed again !!!!!!!!! ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 18:03:34 -0000 From: Markus Dietrich Subject: RANDOM 2 vs. TECHNO ARMY To: "'numan@cs.uwp.edu'" Hello, I bought RANDOM 2 just half an hour ago, AND ... I don't like it very much (to say the least)! But that is techno nowadays!!! I don't like techno nowadays, I prefer techno of the 'first' generation, means more melodical elements (done by great synthy sounds), BUT NOT only drum and bass. But this was years ago, where techno bands always remind me on Kraftwerk and Numan. Sad, but only my own problem :-) And that is the discrepancy between TECHNO ARMY and RANDOM 2! I would like to have something between!!! bye, Markus from Nuremberg/Germany P.S.: Looking forward to see Gary soon the first time in Germany :-) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 02:35:41 +0000 From: Ken Subject: Stop the name calling. To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hello All! Why is it that only Christians can be bigoted and hypocritical? If one chooses not to listen to Exile for religious reasons, so be it. That is a personal right and no one should be attacked for it. If you were walking through an airport and were offered religious pamplets by someone, would it make you narrow minded or bigoted if you simply chose not to read it? If so,most of us are bigots. Truth is, you can find hypocrisy ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE. The album Exile itself is hypocrisy. Gary Numan says he does not believe in God. If so, why does he spend so much time and effort blaspheming something he believes dosn't exist? There is no need to hold so much spite and contemt for something that isn't there. Why do some people hate Christians so much? I'm a Christian, and as such I've never done anything to harm anyone. I can't understand why there is so much hate-driven anger toward people who are happy in their beliefs in God. There is a very vocal minority of "christian" people that seem to harbor hate for everyone, even each other. They are not true followers of Christ, and I ask that all Christians not be put in that group. I personally can not understand why someone would choose to be "antiGod". God, to me, represents all of the good in the universe. I can not imagine living in a state of mind where good does not exist. To call someone a bigot on the basis that he or she is a Christian is definatly not without prejudice. While on earth, Jesus was a teacher of tolerance. Blasphemy saddens me, but Gary has the right to say what he wants. Just as I have the right to listen to and read what I want. I have listened to Exile quite a few times. I will not let my children listen to it, and it has ended up on the CD rack to collect dust right next to Sacrafice. I really enjoyed the sounds, but after a while I began to tire of the repetitious "hate God" message. I really hope Gary grows past this. I hope the fans grow past the name calling. If you want to respond, send me some e-mail. I'll be glad to discuss it more. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Gary for thousands of hours of entertainment. Sincerely, Ken ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ******************************