Gary Numan Is Coming To First Avenue On 3/31

When Gary Numan and Tubeway Army popped on the British Scene in 1979 few would have guessed that that more than 50 years later he would still be as relevant and innovative as his sound was then. His style and music continue to evolve and his live show is as powerful as ever. Tickets for his First Avenue show are available HERE

Any story charting four decades will be a mixed blessing of momentous highs and meager lows. The achievements are remarkable for someone who never made any concessions to mainstream success. Seven Top 10 singles, including ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’ and the debut solo hit ‘Cars’; seven Top 10 albums, three of which topped the charts; and huge critical acclaim, most notably with the Inspiration Award at the prestigious Ivor Novellos.

Naturally, there were times when Numan was very much not in vogue. Sure, there would be ripples of rediscovery but there were years when his increasingly conceptual albums were primarily embraced by hardcore fans. He wasn’t troubling the charts, but audiences were still flocking to see him perform - almost every UK tour would include a sold-out show at the 5000 capacity Hammersmith Apollo.

Gradually, though, praise from Nine Inch Nails, Prince, and David Bowie led to a reappraisal of his work. And that has been magnified in recent years with Kanye West, Lady Gaga, and Dave Grohl citing him as an influence.

And so, a new narrative emerged. An unlikely icon returned to the top while making music that was darker, fiercer, and more inventive than ever.