MadPod.com

One of the founding fathers of synth pop, Gary Numan’s influence
extends far beyond his lone American hit, “Cars,” which still stands as
one of the defining new wave singles. That seminal track helped usher
in the synth pop era on both sides of the Atlantic, especially his
native U.K., where he was a genuine pop star and consistent hitmaker
during the early ’80s. Even after new wave had petered out, Numan’s
impact continued to make itself felt; his dark, paranoid vision,
theatrically icy alien persona, and clinical, robotic sound were echoed
strongly in the work of many Goth rock and (especially) industrial
artists to come. For his part, Numan just kept on recording, and by the
late ’90s, he’d become a hip name to drop; prominent alt-rock bands
covered his hits in concert, and a Goth-flavored brand of industrial
dance christened darkwave looked to him as its mentor.

Numan sang a TV commercial jingle for
jeans, and toward the end of the year the group’s debut album, Tubeway
Army, appeared. Chiefly influenced by Kraftwerk and David Bowie’s
Berlin-era collaborations with Brian Eno, the album also displayed
Numan’s fascination with the electronic, experimental side of glam (Roxy
Music, Ultravox) and Krautrock (Can), as well as science fiction writer
Philip K. Dick. Gary speaks with Shadoe from his home in
Gloucestershire.