Word Down Your Way: Does Gary Numan regret throwing the glo-stick that hit David Bowie?

Gary Numan is about to set out on a UK acoustic tour, some of it in churches and one date in a cathedral. He talks here - from the Scottish estate house he’s just bought - about some of the first shows he saw and what he’s learnt about live performance. This includes ...
… the peculiar effect of seeing Nazareth at the Rainbow in 1973.
… the fate of the £5 note he’d asked Queen to autograph.
… why he doesn’t talk onstage, and why that’s about to change.
… what musicians take for granted.
… the church that insisted on his lyrics before they let him perform there.
… what happened when he dodged the security for Bowie at Wembley Arena.
.. what’s involved in creating a “relentless” live act.
… a fondness for the Monkees and Marc Bolan and the secret of his 1981 Bogart hat.
Gary Numan’s tour dates here ..
garynuman.com/tours/
Tickets for Word In Your Ear Live at 21 Soho on October 30th here: www.tickettext.co.uk/ysY3FvyFae
Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon for early - and ad-free! - access to all of our content: / wordinyourear

[@walsingham-xxiii]

A lovely chap. The music press treated him disgracefully.

[@SamLowryDZ-015]

It's nice to see he can finally relax in an interview.

[@257ian]

I'm big fan. I've met Gary a few times, he is a genuinely nice guy.

[@danieladams9950]

How did Numan end up being the most down to earth musician? What a lovely, self effacing chap.

[@robertthrossell4321]

He always was 👍👍

[@jimcondon762]

Lovely interview with a super, down to earth genuine rock star.

[@jaydee4674]

Star?

[@Scratiznutz]

​@@jaydee4674Why? Is not one of the most covered and sampled artiste not a star? One who is namechecked as an influence by other reknowned 'stars'?

[@headron66]

@@Scratiznutztotally agree, re my comment on the main page, some folk have absolutely no idea!👍

[@original.dwornboy]

Nice mention for Bolan on what would have been his 76th birthday.

[@iannumanfanwright1743]

Such a lovely guy..met him so many times

[@kennethtaylor541]

Wonderful interview, best episode in a long time. Reinvented himself so many times and great to see him doing so well personally and in his career.

[@nigelgoodwin5094]

Very relaxed interview. Love it. The Birmingham acoustic gig was AMAZING. MOre talk Gary! Kick that Asperger's! NUMAN IS!

[@thelightdreams]

Fantastic interview - Gary is always such a joy to listen to.

[@leighfoulkes7297]

Love his last three albums, just keep playing them all back-to-back.

[@kevincross9206]

Great interview. So down to earth, honest and straightforward. Would loved to have seen him down on Brighton tonight, but tickets (naturally) went in minutes.

[@OtelliSandrina]

Very glad he said Marc Bolan was more important to him than Bowie,especially after learning how Robert Jones treated him...also how he would have liked to meet Marc!

[@colinfuidge8660]

Great interview, could have easily been an hour longer.

[@lastschicker]

They forgot they interviewed him on Whistle Test in 85, almost 38 years ago.

[@janicemccreery8170]

Great interview!

[@markwatkins8309]

Talented, innovative, one of the greats of modern music. History WILL judge him more kindly. Never really got enough credit up until recently.

[@martinlawrence8427]

Great interview. Gary is so humble and engaging!

[@darrenlawrence587]

Great interview. Try and get a longer one in the future as Gary seems like not only a lovely chap but a bit of music geek too.

[@danielszabo505]

That'd definitely be a great idea!

[@headron66]

It was lovely listening to Gary, funny he ends up getting a house in my neck of the woods. I remember the magazine NME once saying that ‘Numan will never influence future bands’ Kanye West Nine inch Nails Dave Grohl Shirley Manson Marilyn Manson Sugar babes Franz Ferdinand To name but few! I’m of to see him in May on his pleasure principle and replicas album tour and to think I traveled to Wembley in 81 to see his retirement concert😂 ❤❤🖤🖤

[@robertthrossell4321]

Well said mate 👍

[@stephennash3665]

Great interview, can’t wait for Hackney 👍

[@paulmichaelconnell495]

Tie a Yellow Ribbon! The same backing singers on Isaac Hayes' 'Shaft' went on to form Dawn with Tony Orlando.

[@alisonkovacs9519]

I love darling gorgeous Gary so much I just wish he wasn't atheist

[@sim5847]

Apart from the swearing - Numan seems like a nice guy

[@OtelliSandrina]

I wish Gary was a vegetarian it would prove his love for animals even more ....

[@fuckamericanidiot]

Now I'm imagining if he swore in his early hits xd