The story of synth pop legend Gary Numan

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This brief documentary tells the story of Gary Numan and his Tubeway Army. From his origins in the punk scene, to defining the synth-pop genre, up to his recent comeback.
#musichistory #history #garynuman

Пікірлер: 79

  • @daverawcliffe3212
    @daverawcliffe3212Ай бұрын

    I just don’t understand why Gary Numan hasn’t been inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. In my opinion, The Pleasure Principle is one of the greatest albums ever. He changed music and influenced too many artists to mention, I was so fortunate to be able to see him in Vancouver in 2003 . It was the best gig I’ve ever been to, The Pleasure Principle was the first album I bought and I was 10 years old, my cousin used to play cars constantly, and I remember listening to it over and over and I thought his voice was so different from anyone else. Nobody at that time was making music that sounded like him, he was ahead of his time.

  • @ddttranslator
    @ddttranslator4 ай бұрын

    My favorite album is "Beserker". I will never understand how that masterpiece was not very successful.

  • @TheWillHadcroft

    @TheWillHadcroft

    4 ай бұрын

    I love Berserker too. Personally, while it has become unfashionable amongst Numan fans to say so, I *like* the presence of saxophone, fretless bass and female backing vocals. I like much of the Strange Charm album as well.

  • @Sheahan587

    @Sheahan587

    3 ай бұрын

    Beserker is incredible. Should have released with BB.

  • @metaprecise8935

    @metaprecise8935

    3 ай бұрын

    I'm gonna listen to sum Numan Beserker for the 1st time.

  • @TheWillHadcroft

    @TheWillHadcroft

    3 ай бұрын

    @@metaprecise8935 A very different sounding record compared to what precedes it, but I think it is by far the strongest of the Numa Records phase. Personally, the presence of female backing vocals does not bother me.

  • @metaprecise8935

    @metaprecise8935

    3 ай бұрын

    This was cool. Actually, it was warm. A warmer Numan, happier. The sax and female vocals really made it. Very creative.

  • @mathiaskrokus3849
    @mathiaskrokus38494 ай бұрын

    "Berserker". Really liked that album

  • @cherobinson6371
    @cherobinson63714 ай бұрын

    The guys such a overlooked talent. Definitely deserves Rock hall of Fame type status. Legend!

  • @RiverOfBlacklights

    @RiverOfBlacklights

    2 ай бұрын

    RRHOF is a joke. No wonder why there are so many great bands and artists that belong there but, who could give two monkeys about it. Even worse, there's now a ton of "artists" who have been inducted and that have *_NOTHING_* to do with the rock 'n roll side of music, which just adds more insult to an already enraging insult...

  • @rdzu834
    @rdzu8342 ай бұрын

    A small correction. It was actually Gary who was the sole Sci Fi fan in the beginning. He became Valerian as Paul and Jess became “Scarlett” and “Rael”. This is on the back of the Thats Too Bad single. The single’s cover art came from Gary’s short stories involving a city run by a supercomputer where at night there is a curfew and the walls of the buildings glow so there is no dark places to hide. That became the basis for Replicas where in Ballardian fashion, Androids called Machmen arrest the curfew violators (usually “The Crazies” who are just people living in the old Tubeway tunnels, trying to scavenge), put them in The Park and the Machines inside turn on and commit atrocities on them. The collaborators to the computer get to watch from a club called Zom Zoms. The key thing that you alluded to is that “Tubeway Army” isn’t really a band like The Beatles or Led Zeppelin or Sex Pistols where it’s a group of people thinking of songs to write and collaborating on the process. It’s an Autistic sci fi nerd who took the helm whilst his friends backed him up. In the autobiography Praying To The Aliens, it’s mentioned that Gary wanted Replicas released under his own name, which is what should’ve happened but never did. You mentioned it at some point. The American releases have got it right by including Gary Numan’s name in the title instead of only Tubeway Army. I honestly think the re-releases should just be “Gary Numan-Replicas” HMV gets it right by putting the “Tubeway Army” stuff that Gary wrote the lyrics and most of the melody, produced, contributed to guitar and synths, played lead vocals, was the image/face for the band, produced and co-engineered into the Gary Numan section.

  • @cesararzola8380
    @cesararzola8380Күн бұрын

    I saw him live for his most recent album. The concert was delayed as many other due to the pandemic but it was worth the wait. He's amazing on stage! You can't tell he's in his 60s.

  • @keithfulkerson
    @keithfulkerson4 ай бұрын

    If you haven't seen it, check out the documentary "Synth Britannia". It should still be here on KZread.

  • @soundofhistory_

    @soundofhistory_

    4 ай бұрын

    I have not seen that, I’ll definitely check it out

  • @annna6553

    @annna6553

    2 ай бұрын

    You haven't seen that? What are you doing on the internet?

  • @soundofhistory_

    @soundofhistory_

    2 ай бұрын

    @@annna6553 You're right, I should spend my time on the internet watching everything ever made. That's my fault. I'll do better.

  • @annna6553

    @annna6553

    2 ай бұрын

    @@soundofhistory_ No, you should limit your time but watch important things if you're going to pretend you know what youre talking about, The next doc for you is the how synth pop became synth pop by trash theory. If you can't do that I'll just let you know that kraftwerk did the first techno songs, europe endless and possibly some earlier stuff, electro too, trans europe express. The act Space did a song called magic fly as well around that time, then came moroder, human league, etc etc.

  • @Scotlanz
    @Scotlanz4 ай бұрын

    Always loved Gary Numan and watched a few documentaries about him but there’s lots of stuff here I didn’t know. Well done. 👏👍

  • @soundofhistory_

    @soundofhistory_

    4 ай бұрын

    Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

  • @exile220ify
    @exile220ifyАй бұрын

    "Splinter" is probably the best album I've ever heard, front to back, from any artist. It just beats out "Telekon" for Best Numan Album

  • @jamesmay3941
    @jamesmay39412 ай бұрын

    This is a shorter and less detailed version of Gary Numan's autobiography, mostly written during the Covid pandemic. I encourage anyone who's interested to read it. It allows you into his character, emotions and personality, which this video fails to do.

  • @marpsr
    @marpsrАй бұрын

    Telekon is Gary’s masterpiece. His comeback started with Sacrifice. Jagged is my favorite of his modern era.

  • @davepatterson4774
    @davepatterson47744 ай бұрын

    Cool video! A lot I didn't know, previously. I've played both originals and covers for years, and Gary's music is a whole lotta fun to do. Sometimes staying as close to the original versions as possible, but also doing heavier versions as well. His music, to me at least, is ageless.

  • @SuperNovember28
    @SuperNovember288 күн бұрын

    well done! saw him in 1980 nyc he was great

  • @entropy156
    @entropy1566 күн бұрын

    Sacrifice (or, in the US, Dawn) was the turning point. Gemma convinced him to get out in his home studio and make music for him...with no thought of commercial success or even release. It brought us to where we are now. And check out "Pure" It's glorious....

  • @exile220ify
    @exile220ifyАй бұрын

    Please do something on Chris Whitley. He was *THE* Number-One-With-A-Bullet star of 1991 but had a bumpy ride for the rest of his career. What most people don't know is that he's one of the most INCREDIBLE guitar players to ever live - even covering Robert Johnson songs than nobody else would cover because "too difficult". On his final album, he actually covered Numan's "Are 'Friends' Electric?" He is quoted as saying that he always wanted to be "Gary Numan on a Dobro" - and, he was.

  • @otakarkuby3926
    @otakarkuby39264 ай бұрын

    Great presentation, i didnt expect you to get so much in comparitvly little time. look forward to your next piece.

  • @soundofhistory_

    @soundofhistory_

    4 ай бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @xp8969

    @xp8969

    4 ай бұрын

    ​​@@soundofhistory_hey bro, I just discovered you just now when the algorithm put this vid in my suggestions, I'm not a Gary Newman fan but I love history channels and I love alternative music so I decided to give this vid a chance and I fell in love with your writing and narration and I was excited to see that you had videos on a lot of groups that I really enjoy so I subscribed less than halfway into this vid, it's always exciting to find a new channel like yours that is THIS high quality when it's a smaller channel that hasn't blown up yet, keep up the good work and your channel is bound to explode sooner or later because you're really making excellent content

  • @soundofhistory_

    @soundofhistory_

    4 ай бұрын

    @@xp8969 thank you so much! That’s really nice to hear

  • @rachelseago3473
    @rachelseago3473Ай бұрын

    Getting a number one album seems to be much harder these days. Two number 2's is awsome.

  • @SvenFx-22
    @SvenFx-226 күн бұрын

    Great video. I think the only thing I would have included is how the UK press hammered Gary. He became tabloid fodder

  • @1o1productions25
    @1o1productions254 ай бұрын

    slanging out bangers fr keep up the dope vids :)

  • @user-nk8rk5kd3h
    @user-nk8rk5kd3h3 ай бұрын

    In 1979 I was living in UK in that time my god is a lot of years gon

  • @soundofhistory_

    @soundofhistory_

    3 ай бұрын

    I'm sure you have some great stories of that time!

  • @futureshockxl
    @futureshockxl4 ай бұрын

    I would actually argue that the return to Gary Numans roots started with Pure and was fully in place by Jagged. Dead Son was a mis-step, but then Splinter is a tour de force, not a return to form at all but a perfecting of it.

  • @julianfountain8025

    @julianfountain8025

    4 ай бұрын

    I agree! Pure was a return to form, but snarling and unfettered.

  • @atheistleopard2484
    @atheistleopard248414 күн бұрын

    depeche mode took over numan's spot

  • @charlottesometimes2020
    @charlottesometimes2020Ай бұрын

    “Dance” is my fave album. Partnering with Mick Karn of Japan was a brilliant collaboration.

  • @rayglover5003
    @rayglover50034 ай бұрын

    Great job! Been listening to the early stuff of Gary/T.A. quite a bit lately. A suggestion for another band I would make is the veteran Aussie psych/art rock band The Church, who had a top 40 hit in the U.S. in 1988 with 'Under the Milky Way' - they're still going but with only one original member left now.

  • @joninterglad
    @joninterglad4 ай бұрын

    Numan just played in Chicago last week and it was a great show. He played Cars but it was more industrial and harder than the synth pop-ish album version.

  • @420greatestqueen
    @420greatestqueen4 ай бұрын

    His live shows are great!

  • @simonp9075
    @simonp90753 ай бұрын

    Wow great info i take my hat off to your research great job you now your stuff and great review. Thanks

  • @jonpilgrim7820
    @jonpilgrim78204 ай бұрын

    Love it man, "Pleasure Principle" is one of my favorite albums. I say take on anything R. Stevie Moore did because he's an important artist that doesn't get much recognition.

  • @dr.smasher4892
    @dr.smasher48924 ай бұрын

    I've seen him live twice since 2022, I kinda took a flier on whether or not he'd be good live the first time I saw him, but man that show was great. The second time he wasn't even headlining (Ministry was the headliner) but he was somehow more energetic and motivated as an opener. It's hard to beat Intruder into Metal as a show opener

  • @prophez23
    @prophez234 ай бұрын

    New subscriber here so forgive me if you have already done a video on the band I'm going to recommend. Being that you did a great job on presenting Gary Numan you should do a deep dive into Skinny Puppy and more importantly into cEvin Key. He's a good friend of Gary Numan as well as an old school underground synth artist responsible for some of the most extraordinary music ever. I believe it's cEvin Key's influence that set Gary Numan on the path of writing Savage and Intruder. If you listen to "My name is ruin" from Savage then listen to some of the stuff cEvin Key was doing at the time with knowing they're good friends it's not a far stretch to figure out where he got the inspiration. Anyway I think you will find a lot of goodness for a future video from the deep history of Skinny Puppy and all it's connective tissue into the realm of synth industrial EBM etc.

  • @girthquake9655
    @girthquake96553 ай бұрын

    Gary Numans song"films" is the one you should listen to. The drum beats are hard af.

  • @soundofhistory_

    @soundofhistory_

    3 ай бұрын

    I’ll check it out!

  • @combikritter
    @combikritter4 ай бұрын

    Since finding your channel, I have been really enjoying your mini-documentaries. Thank you. Numan was, and still is (in my opinion), one of the biggest influences on synth-based music. I have seen him live numerous times (just recently with Ministry) and each show is just fantastic! A true performer. You mentioned liking to receive recommendations. Are you familiar with the works of Fad Gadget (Frank Tovey)? Another, in my opinion, highly influential musician in the synth-based music world. Highly under-appreciated and sadly more or less, unknown. He also got his start around 1977/1978 and influenced bands such as a little up and coming act called, Depeche Mode. Check Fad Gadget out, if you have time. Again, love these documentaries. Keep them coming. :)

  • @girthquake9655
    @girthquake96553 ай бұрын

    Gary is an absolutely amazing man.

  • @wayneowen7213
    @wayneowen72132 ай бұрын

    Very interesting

  • @TheLemonKid01
    @TheLemonKid014 ай бұрын

    Urggh ... that terrible Emotion video. Nice summary of his career though. Thanks for sharing.

  • @daviddimaria5478
    @daviddimaria54784 ай бұрын

    Collective soul

  • @scatton61
    @scatton612 ай бұрын

    For me his comeback started with Sacrifice. For me Pure is as good as the Pleasure Principle, not a bad track on it..

  • @B1GDINO
    @B1GDINO4 ай бұрын

    It should be mentioned that the British press set out to destroy numan, as they tend to do with anyone who reaches a high level of success. They succeeded to a degree.

  • @wesleydewitt9566
    @wesleydewitt95664 ай бұрын

    One more for the synth heads, Yellow Magic Orchestra, please!

  • @user-zf5ux4ci5j
    @user-zf5ux4ci5j4 ай бұрын

    Do a vid on IAMX next. He’s friends with Gary and has made a few of his music videos. He’s mostly a musician though, he’s just also insanely talented at video making too. All around underrated and unknown artist. 😊 Check him out!

  • @gregvanblair9096
    @gregvanblair90962 ай бұрын

    Have you covered Peter Hammill?

  • @pissass.8675
    @pissass.86754 ай бұрын

    Enjoyed this video a lot, I've seen him live twice and they were such fun shows

  • @emillion4470
    @emillion44703 ай бұрын

    Gary Numan + Donna Summer + Grand Master Flash = Pet Shop Boys

  • @user-nk8rk5kd3h
    @user-nk8rk5kd3h3 ай бұрын

    The best of the best for me in my life oll way's I was just 12 years old my god

  • @eternalom7038
    @eternalom70384 ай бұрын

    Video Recs: Gary Wilson, No Trend, Roy Wood

  • @karldonald8150
    @karldonald81503 ай бұрын

    Isnt Raven very like her grandmother Beryl

  • @retromaster2000s
    @retromaster2000s4 ай бұрын

    Gary Numan & The Arms are not Synthpop. Darkwave and Progressive and Rock not Pop at all except "Cars" Synth Rock also and like Beautiful Ballads too. lame to so many other overseas hits and deep cuts. You say he claimed to audition for "The Jam'' not claimed he tells the truth. Gary is honest but comes off as humble and very self conscious. Gary Numan's band members are important too they played better then him he even called himself a creator and arranger of noises his unique style of guitar playing and like you said android dystopian vocals. But he was trying to be darker and heavier he told Steve Malins on The Eko - Telekon (2006) CD Set Interview. So yeah he was trying to be darker and heavier other acts of the time more synth pop Bubble Gum type music and he never replaced a conventional line-up he only added synths to enhance them. This is a cool video nice facts I didn't know too love it! Could you do one on Devo or The Tubes too? lol.

  • @user-nk8rk5kd3h
    @user-nk8rk5kd3h3 ай бұрын

    No I am 58 your old ❤

  • @mikesheehan5006
    @mikesheehan50063 ай бұрын

    Not too bad, from what I watched. But I had to stop watching it because the amount of times I heard "quote" and "end quote" drove me up the wall.

  • @user-dg9he2xg2g
    @user-dg9he2xg2g2 ай бұрын

    3:09 to 3:13/1901: "He might have had A.S." So what is "ASBURGER Syndrome"?

  • @ronanzann4851
    @ronanzann48514 ай бұрын

    Ass-Burn'er Syndrome ? .....is that the same as Prickly Heat ???????

  • @winslow-eh5kv
    @winslow-eh5kv4 ай бұрын

    Why do all these people whom you cover feel this need to disparage their own talent?

  • @abritandhisbikeinpoland6802
    @abritandhisbikeinpoland68024 ай бұрын

    I was at the Bristol Colston hall on the Touring Principle UK tour in 79. Then 2 nights Bristol hippodrome 1980, and met him backstage after sound check. And I was at the last 2 nights of the Farewell Wembley shows in 1981. Then at least a nother 8 or 9 shows in the 80s to early 90s. It was mind blowing, i was 17 18 19 at the time. I like his new stuff, but i cant watch the new shows, he has become too friendly, too open and casual with the fans, and throwing himself around the stage is sooooooooooooooooo not Numan for me! I prefer the cold distant Numanoid image that started it all, and I'm lucky to say I was part of the scene, happy days!

  • @BGNRich
    @BGNRich3 ай бұрын

    I had to stop watching halfway through. You really don't need to say the word quote every time you quote someone and then say end quote at the end. Quotation marks are punctuation and don't need to be spoken comma it drives me nuts full stop

  • @soundofhistory_

    @soundofhistory_

    3 ай бұрын

    kzread.info/dash/bejne/h6KtpKyDeZXLodY.html&ab_channel=Kaeks

  • @outpost31737
    @outpost317374 ай бұрын

    Numan was first class for about three years then he dressed up as Mad Max and the god awful Warriors appeared. Since then he's become nothing more than a cult act. Occasionally he writes a half decent track but the last five albums are lacklustre and formulaic. Whatever magic he possessed back in the day has long since disappeared. Numan today is an old man (sporting a seriously dodgy hair system) doing as many gigs as he can with a terrible lazy set list. It's all about the money until pension day. Replicas, PP, Telekon and Dance are pure gold though so I thank him and the band for those albums at least.

  • @paulcollins5586
    @paulcollins55864 ай бұрын

    Mark shreeve is better.

  • @SomeBizarretaSomeBizzareLabel0
    @SomeBizarretaSomeBizzareLabel02 ай бұрын

  • @SteezDickCheese
    @SteezDickCheese4 ай бұрын

    Dude I’m loving this channel it’s all I’ve been watching the last few days, I’d love to see a video about the tragically hip if possible

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