Gary Numan
Gary Numan (born March 8, 1958), a.k.a. Gary Webb, is a British singer, songwriter and electropop pioneer.Numan rose to prominence at the onset of the 1980s, initially as Tubeway Army, for electronic music exploring themes of alienation and the impersonal nature of technology. From 1978 to 1983 he was signed to upstart British label Beggars Banquet Records. His 1979 album The Pleasure Principle featured the single "Cars", that promptly became an international smash hit. Other successful chart singles at that time included "Are 'Friends' Electric", "Down in the Park", and "We Are Glass".
Numan's career nosedived in the mid-80s as electropop became passé and he was overtaken on the charts by such acts as Duran Duran, Culture Club, and Depeche Mode. He spent the decade in a creative malaise, trying to recapture his former chart glory with undistinguished albums stylistically derivative of artists like Robert Palmer and Prince.
During the late 1980s Numan and his wife had their life threatened on several occasions by a mysterious stalker.
In 1994, Numan re-evaluated his career and went in a harsher, more industrial direction with his songwriting on the album Sacrifice. His next two albums Exile (1997) and Pure (2000) restored Numan's critical reputation. After years of ridicule in the press, he found himself an artist respected by his peers, with such musicians as Trent Reznor and Marilyn Manson proclaiming his work an influence and recording cover versions of old Numan hits.
In 2003, Numan enjoyed chart success once again with the single "Crazier," which went into the UK charts at #14.
Numan is also known for his love of flying, and has owned several aircraft, one of which he famously crashed in 1981 while attempting a round-the-world jaunt.
Discography
Not including numerous compilations, many of them unauthorizedExternal link
