As much as I gravitated towards punk in the early 1980s (I am 56 so missed the whole Year Zero experience) it was Numan at this time that was one of my biggest musical educators in 1979 and 1980 (Adam Ant had a part to play as well). 'Telekon' and the 'Teletour' were perhaps the most influencial part of that education, even more so than 'The Touring Principle'. It's hard to explain but just the sight of those parallel red bars can throw me back in time to my bedroom with its heavily postered and painted walls. I was quite artistic back then (or at least I could copy well) and I was allowed to paint my walls with logos and stuff. Actually, I think that this was a parental compromise arrived at in order to prevent me from painting the room black with red illumination! In the end the walls did not turn black, but the Tubeway Army face, circular logo and the Telekon stripes loomed large on the walls... all lit by a bare red bulb. Teenagers eh!
Missed the 'Teletour' and Wembley. I pleaded with my parents to let me go to the latter but to no avail. I had to wait until 2006 and the Forum in London to witness 'Telekon' 2.0 as they say. This was the point at which the previously reticent Numan first realised the value of retrospection. I think that once again it was Bowie who was early on the uptake of album retrospective tours when for the first time he played 1978's 'Low' in its entirity on the 'Heathen' tour of 2002. By 2006 Numan too had bought into the concept and understood that rather than being a backward career move, such tours, if done with care, sensitivity and a sharp eye for detail could be a boon. Indeed, such tours are win, win really. A challenge for the artist and band and a gift for the fan base. Throw some well designed merchandise in too and you have something that could (almost) compete with the original.
So I look forward to a bit of red and black nostalgia in November!
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