"We're in the building where they make us grow, and I'm frightened by the liquid engineers, like you."

For this episode, I look back at one of Gary Numan's best-known and best-loved songs, 'Metal', from 1979's The Pleasure Principle.

The track was the first song on the album with lyrics, and was inspired by the writings of Philip K Dick, about a machine with a desire to be human.

The perfect synthpop track was never a single, but it became one of Gary Numan's most-performed songs, and was later covered and sampled by a number of artists, most notably by Trent Reznor's Nine Inch Nails.

The episode looks at:

• What 'Metal' is all about
• Its somewhat forgotten music video
• Why it was never released as a single
• The various live versions
• When Gary performed it with Nine Inch Nails in 2009

Clips used:

• Gary Numan - Metal
• The Beach Boys - Do It Again
• Gary Numan - Metal (live, 1979)
• Gary Numan - Metal (live, 1986)
• Gary Numan - Metal (live, 2018)
• Gary Numan - Metal 98
• Gary Numan - Moral
• Gary Numan - Revolution (audiobook)
• Tubeway Army - The Crazies
• Tubeway Army - We Have a Technical
• Nine Inch Nails - Metal
• Nine Inch Nails - Metal (live, 2009)
• Planet Funk - Who Said
• Afrika Bambaataa - Metal
• Nouvelle Vague - Metal
• Poppy - Metal

Please get in touch on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, or email at numanpodcast@gmail.com.

For the latest interview special of Electric Friends, I speak to Gary Numan's brother John Webb, aka Donovan Silver.

Donovan opens up about his close bond with older brother Gary, what it was like growing up with him and the first time he joined Tubeway Army on stage as a 12-year-old.

He also speaks about joining the band full-time as a teenager and their various tours, as well as working alongside Queen legend Roger Taylor on drums.

Donovan also gives a fascinating account of his impressive aviation career, as well as his return to music, including his most recent album Alpha.

Clips used:

• Gary Numan - (R)Evolution (audiobook)
• Tubeway Army live at the Roxy - Boys (1977)
• Gary Numan - Remind Me to Smile (live, 1983)
• Gary Numan - Crash
• John Webb - The Experiment of Love
• Donovan Silver - Alpha
• Tubeway Army - Me! I Disconnect from You

Please get in touch on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, or email at numanpodcast@gmail.com.

"Stroll to the cafe, my God, how time flies..."

For this episode, we travel way back to one of Gary Numan's first songs. 'My Shadow in Vain' was written before Tubeway Army even existed, and it went on to become one of his most performed songs ever.

This episode delves into the different versions of the song, from its punk origins to the 2002 hard rock version. We also hear from Gary as he explains how Tubeway Army came to be, and the meaning behind the song.

Clips used:

• Tubeway Army - My Shadow in Vain
• Tubeway Army - My Shadow in Vain (The Plan version)
• Gary Numan - (R)Evolution (audiobook)
• Tubeway Army - My Shadow in Vain (live, 1977)
• Tubeway Army - Something's in the House
• Gary Numan - My Shadow in Vain (2002 version)
• Gary Numan - My Shadow in Vain (live, 1979)
• Gary Numan - My Shadow in Vain (live, 1984)

Please get in touch on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, or email at numanpodcast@gmail.com.