King of bleak’s bleakest moment
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Gary Numan says his credibility has never been higher.
Source: Supplied
WHEN British electronic music pioneer Gary Numan was in the process of relocating to LA, he called in the big guns.
Numan was applying for a permanent visa that required convincing the USA he was a unique talent.
It required associates who could vouch for his skills — Numan’s first call went to Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.
“It was about two weeks after he won the Oscar that we filed the application with his testimonial letter, so that was quite good timing and quite helpful,” Numan says.
“Dave Navarro from Jane’s Addiction wrote one, Alan Wilder from Depeche Mode, I had some really cool people coming to help me out.
“It’s embarrassing calling up your friends and saying, ‘Do you mind writing a letter to tell the US government how amazingly brilliant I am?’”
Mission accomplished, Numan moved his wife and children to LA 18 months ago.
Ironically, Numan’s relocation to the sun coincided with his bleakest album yet, Splinter. And for the king of bleak, that’s saying something.
“I was diagnosed with depression in the years before I made the album. It took a long time to get out the other end.
“For me, songwriting is a way of getting bad vibes out. I’ve probably written 400 songs, I don’t think one of them is even vaguely happy. Not one. I have no talent in that area.
“This album seems to have struck a happy chord with people, which is amazing for an album about depression. I’ve never had better reviews in my entire career. I’m peaking late.”
Numan was the first UK electronic act to hit No. 1 — a feat he achieved twice in 1979 with Are Friends Electric? and Cars.
Musician Gary Numan.
Source: Supplied
From the year 2000 on Numan found himself accidentally cool. Foo Fighters covered his Down In the Park, Basement Jaxx sampled him on Where’s Your Head At, Fear Factory covered Cars, Sugababes sampled Are Friends Electric? and Nine Inch Nails covered his Metal.
Kanye West and Prince are also fans.
“It really helps my credibility,” Numan says. “Credibility is worth its weight in gold, it’s so difficult to get.
“I’m in a position where my credibility has never been higher. Even when I was having big hits in the early days I had zero cred compared to now.”
His move to LA is partially motivated by his future. He’s started his first film score.
“I still love making albums and touring, I have no desire to see that end, but I’m 56 now, it will end at some point and it’s probably closer than I like to imagine. So what do I do then?
“Maybe film music is the right thing to do next. I also want to write novels. Now’s the right time to start exploring other things I may or may not be able to do.”
■ See Gary Numan at the Astor Theatre, Perth, May 25; Tivoli, Brisbane, May 28; HQ, Adelaide, May 29; The Hi-Fi, Melbourne, May 30 and Metro Theatre, Sydney, May 31.
