Post-Pop-Punk-Pioneer, Gary Numan has had a career that spans four decades but he’s back in Glasgow as part of his ‘Intruder’ Tour.
It started back in 1977 with his Punk band, Tubeway Army when Numan pivoted and changed direction around 1979 and steered away from the good ship Punk and went down a dark-synth alleyway that changed the face of music forever. The song Are Friends Electric? cemented his musical credibility forever. An instant hit, the song ignited a huge sale of albums and the beginning of a glittering career that would have many ups and downs. At this time Numan was generally playing small pubs and clubs about London, but the stage was set for superstardom! His first major gig was in Glasgow’s now long gone, but fondly remembered Apollo. The leap from his previous gig in an empty pub in Acton, London to the rowdy crowds of Glasgow’s Apollo must have been a daunting one! Flash forward 40 odd years and Gary Numan is back in Glasgow, this time to play the O2 Academy as part of his Intruder tour.
After he announced back in the early 80s that he’d be giving up his musical career, here we are four decades later waiting in anticipation for him taking to the stage. It’s safe to say Numan is an artist with no ‘hero ego’. His down-to-earth demeaner and shy exterior shelters a massive back catalogue of musical hits that have stood the test of time. Numan is not just a musician; he is an artist and poet and dare I say a bit of a magician too. The magic that he has created has captivated generations of fans and going by the demography of the audience tonight, Numan and his music appeals to the youth of today too as well as time served veterans! It’s a true testament to his appeal and musical status that it straddles multi-generations.
Numan would most probably cringe at the suggestion of his iconic status, but it’s true. Few artists define an entire genre by their name alone. What conjures up in your mind when you hear the name ‘Gary Numan’? For me it is the rich, warm and inviting, yet unjarring melody of ‘Down in the Park’. The darkness his music conveys is flanked with a warm glow and fuzzy feel. Tonight, was set to be one of those musical experiences that would last on in memory.
Tonight’s opening act are French trio Divine Shade made up with: Ren, Nico and Emile. Their fusion of Industrial-electronic and stringed guitars, beat-keeping, skin thumping action, underlined with pitched perfect vocals was right on track for setting the tone for the show. You can’t help but notice the nod and inspiration drawn from European ‘Cold Wave Culture’. This band played tight and with conviction. They won over the Glasgow crowd instantly with their rhythmic, dynamic and driving rhythms.
The feeling you get when the ambient lights of a music venue fade down to darkness and the background music disappears is magical. Seconds feel like minutes as flickers of light illuminate the band taking their positions on stage. The audible crescendo of the fans giving them a walk-on track! Tonight, was one of those nights. Then all of a sudden, almost like clockwork mice, guitarist and bass players simultaneously pick up their instruments in one fluid motion, strap them on and turn up! …Enter Gary Numan! The crowd went wild as flashes and strobes illuminated the name they had come to see. Dressed like a futuristic nomad with three red stripes down his face, Numan wrapped his fingers around the microphone and launched into the first song of the night: Intruder!
Numan is an exciting performer who took us on a whirlwind journey through his career as he played classic songs such as Cars. The good news is that he shows no sign of stopping or slowing down and we wait with anticipation to see what he brings us next. For tonight, the show was nothing short of magnificent. It was a visual treat to behold. The stage lighting was exquisite and pristine and had a cinematic quality to it which only served to enhance the overall experience.
Gary Numan is currently playing dates across the U.K. and beyond! Tickets and further information are available at garynuman.com
Words and pictures: Steven Scouller @gig_photography_glasgow