Gary Numan The Junction Cambridge 1st December 2009

 

Between 2006 and 2009 Numan played the tours that I always wanted to see and never thought I would. These three retrospective tours offered much that even the original tours of 1979 and 1980 could not offer. Remember, 'The Touring Principle' featured a live set that covered both the 'Replicas' and 'The Pleasure Principle' albums. Numan had not to date played these albums and associated tracks in full. 

Numan with Paul Gardiner backdrop

December 2009

This album retrospective approach to touring seems to have been thing that has flourished in the last 20 or so years. To my mind it is perfect for artist and fans alike, in that it engages the musicians to learn/relearn long forgotten tracks and it gives fans the opportunity to hear old and well loved tracks often for the first time. It is something that is perhaps best suited to musicians who have enjoyed a long career. Bowie was early on the uptake of the concept when in 2002, as host of London's South Bank 'Meltdown' festival, he played his Berlin classic 'Low' back to back with his then current album 'Heathen'.

So, Numan brought 'The Pleasure Principle' to The Junction in Cambridge, one of my favourite venues in the country, but one that was too small on this occasion. I went with my son who was then 11 and needed to lift him onto a table in order for him to see anything (he is 6'2" now so would be doing the same for me these days!). A few nights later I saw the show at the Indigo in London and access to the stage was easy with perfect views to go with it.

Of this album, there is not much that I need to say for the benefit of this audience. Not as dark as its predecessor, the album took electronic music to a new height. There is not a duff track on the album, with precise instrumentation that perfectly complements the soaring keyboards that dominate the songs. Ever the purist, Numan made the decision to abandon guitar on this album, a decision that he has since stated was a mistake, but in my opinion the combination of bass, drums and keyboards makes for a complete sound. There is no need, or space for guitar on 'The Pleasure Principle'.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-oyHUgCAQ8K

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-pkdDcxsziF

 01. Random
 02. Airlane
 03. Metal
 04. Complex
 05. Films
 06. M.E.
 07. Tracks
 08. Observer
 09. Conversation
 10. Cars
 11. Engineers
 12. Asylum

 01. The Fall
 02. Pure
 03. Down In The Park
 04. Haunted
 05. Halo
 06. Jagged
 07. Are 'Friends' Electric?
 08. Encore Break
 09. We Are So Fragile
 10. A Prayer For The Unborn

Classic Pop Magazine's Gary Numan Special Edition

 

Not new news, but I was happy to pick up this a couple of weeks ago. I have thus far only thumbed through the pages but it looks pretty good. With interviews with Billy Currie, Chris Payne, Pino Palladino and Ade Fenton, it may through up some new information and insights. Of course, I went straight to the 'punk' Tubeway Army pages and thought that there could have been more, but given that I'm talking about a two year slice over a 48 year career, I will respectfully wind my neck in!!

Birmingham Alexandra 22nd October 1989

 

Come 1989 Numan toured in support of 'The Skin Mechanic', a live partial set album from the previous year's 'Metal Rhythm' tour recorded at the show at London's Dominion Theatre. At this point, any diehard reading this will roll their eyes in disgust, but for me, by this point Numan was no longer innovating, he was trying his hardest to keep up, find a niche and stay relevant, but in this task he was floundering. Numan has said this much himself. The shows were still big events in terms of light and sound but the edge was no longer there. Gary Numan started the decade as untouchable in terms of chart success and popularity, Gary Numan ended the decade as untouchable for all the wrong reasons. Radio stations were starving him of airplay and the wider fanbase (with the exception of a hardcore) seemed to have moved over to pastures new. A state of affairs that was reflected in the chart performance of the live album which peaked at at 55 in the UK charts.

Unfortunately, the situation would get worse.... the good news is that it gets better too!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-gW5uC9BYEU

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-7mT1YKThtO

Commodore Ballroom Vancouver 3rd March 2024

 

Sidestepping the chronological thing for the time being I thought I'd bring things up to date for a moment. Here's a Numan support slot that he did with Ministry in the US and Canada in the Spring of this year. Sounds quite nice this one. There is a bit of whooping and hollering... which seems to be a bit of a thing with North American audiences. Also captured here is 'Haunted' from the soundcheck.

Thanks to the original Dime uploader.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-jVWhS9WeJv

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-LV07ho7cx0

Radio Sheffield Interview 1988

 

In 1988, normal service was resumed with an album and tour combination. The album was 'Metal Rhythm' which was supported by 18 live dates across the UK. For me there was one stand out track on this, the nineth studio album from Numan, and that was 'Voix'. The track soundwise was something of a pointer to the diretion that he would take in a few years time that would revive his fortunes and reputation. For me, the rest of the material lacked that inate Numan quality of earlier studio albums as Numan grappled as to where he belonged in the UK msic scene of 1988. The record buying public too seemingly shared his dilema to some extent with a peak UK chart placing of 48.

In the absence of a live recording from the 'Matal Rhythm' tour here is a short telephome interview conducted with Rado Sheffield ahead of Gary's appearance at City Hall.

I saw him on the first of the Astoria dates in London on this tour.

MP3: https://we.tl/t-YNSL9PBawf

Barrowlands Glasgow 21st September 1987

1986 saw the release of the 'Strange Charm' album. With this release, Gary's media exposure in terms of promotion was waning. This was also the last album that I bought on the day of release. To be honest, the album has some half decent tracks, notably, 'My Breathing' and 'The Sleeproom'. The singles lifted from the album, 'This Is Love' and 'I Can't Stop' didn't overly trouble the charts and the same can be said of the album too, peaking in the UK chart at 59. 

'Strange Charm' was not promoted with live dates. The new material got its first airing on the following year's tour that was linked to the release of a hits compilation 'Exhibition'. This was the first serious greatest hits treatment that Gary had received. Previously, a German compilation 'Photograph' was released and quickly withdrawn, making the album a much sought after collectable. That was followed by 'Newman Numan' released by TV Records in 1982 (seemingly a vehicle for an accompanying VHS compilation of promo videos interspersed with some additional footage). The 1987 tour is best documented on the fanclub released album 'Ghost'.

For me, I was at the 'Exhibition' tour at the Civic Hall in Guildford.

Here is an incomplete set from the tour, broadcast late in the year by Radio Clyde, when Numan played the celebrated Barrowlands in Glasgow.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-CZdKG6bJhx

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-vZW6Q5BS6N

Gary Numan and Little Boots BBC 6 Music Session Maida Vale Studios 7th December 2009

 

Was this collaboration really 15 years ago! Little Boots and Gary Numan in session on BBC Radio 6 Music.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-gPw6gramF7

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-g2RIq0jcE5

01. Metal

02. Interview (Numan)

03. Earthquake

04. Interview (Little Boots)

05. Are Friends Electric?

06. Stuck On Repeat

07. Interview (Both)

08. Venus In Furs