"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.

For this interview special of Electric Friends, I’m speaking to Andy Gray, one of the most sought-after DJs, songwriters, producers and composers of the last few decades.

Andy made a name for himself in the early 90s in the growing dance music scene, with his remixes and work with his group Amoeba Assassin, and for his work with Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto label. He has gone on to produce or remix music by a wide range of artists such as The Human League, Tori Amos, New ORder, Tears for Fears, Moby, U2, John Foxx and many more.

He is also a prolific film and TV soundtrack composer, on projects such as Swordfish, Get Carter and Hunters, and he also composed and produced the iconic Big Brother theme in the UK.

He has also had a long association with Gary Numan, whom he counts as a good friend. He has collaborated and remixed Gary’s music many times, including appearances on the Hybrid, Jagged and Dead Son Rising albums. In particular, he remixed the brilliant version of A Prayer for the Unborn, which we hear at pretty much every Gary Numan gig today.

I caught up with Andy to talk about his career, how Gary’s music inspired him as a youth, and what his experiences of working with Gary have been, and what we can look forward to in the future.

Clips used:

• Tubeway Army - Are Friends Electric?
• Amoeba Assassin - Rollercoaster
• The Human League - Tell Me When
• Elementfour - Big Brother Theme
• Gary Numan - Listen to My Voice (Andy Gray remix)
• Gary Numan - A Prayer for the Unborn (Andy Gray remix)
• Gary Numan - Are Friends Electric (Andy Gray remix)
• Gary Numan - Ancients
• Andy Gray & Gary Numan - For You

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

"Kneel before my altar and drink the wine of slaughter"

In 1997, Gary Numan followed his career-rebooting Sacrifice album with the critically-acclaimed Exile. It was the closest thing to a concept album that he had recorded, delving into a world where God and the Devil were the same.

In this episode, I look back at perhaps its most well-known song, 'Dark'. Including:

• An exclusive clip of my interview with Gary back in 2017, talking about whether he would ever make film soundtracks
• Its use in the 1998 film Dark City
• The epic storyline of Exile and how it compares to Sacrifice

Clips used:

• Gary Numan - Dark
• Gary Numan - Dark (Andy Gray rework)
• Gary Numan - Innocence Bleeding
• Dark City
• Gary Numan - Dead Heaven

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

In this interview special episode, I speak to the legend that is Chris Payne!

Chris joined Tubeway Army back in 1979 just before 'Are Friends Electric' was released, and stayed with Gary's band for the albums Replicas, The Pleasure Principle and Telekon, and continued performing with Gary's live band for the rest of the 1980s.

He also co-wrote Visage's 'Fade to Grey', and has been a prolific composer and conductor of classical, cinematic and medieval music over the past few decades.

In the interview, Chris speaks about first meeting and auditioning for Gary, his musical background, his time as part of Dramatis, reuniting with Gary and much more. He also answers YOUR questions!

Thank you to Chris for giving up your time for this interview, it was awesome speaking to you at such length.

Clips used:

• Tubeway Army - Are Friends Electric? (Old Grey Whistle Test)
• Gary Numan - Complex
• Gary Numan - We Are Glass
• Gary Numan - M.E. (live, 1980)
• Tubeway Army - Down in the Park
• Dramatis - Love Needs No Disguise
• Dramatis - Take Me Home
• Gary Numan - The Fury tour
• Gary Numan - Complex (live, 2009)
• Gary Numan - M.E. (live, 2022)
• Chris Payne - Declamation
• Zaine Griff & Chris Payne - Cars
• Chris Payne - Early Dance

"Move from my window, leave me alone..."

In this episode, we look back at the Telekon album track 'Remind Me to Smile' from 1980. The electropop banger is still a live favourite, but it wasn't released a single. Or was it?

We take a look at how Gary's struggles with fame and fandom influenced the song, his strange experience with hardcore fans back then and more.

Clips used:

• Gary Numan - 'Remind Me to Smile'
• Gary Numan - 'Remind Me to Smile' (live, 2004)

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

Gary Numan's 1986 album Strange Charm was not a happy one for him, and while it might be a forgotten LP compared to others, it still has a lot of... well... charm.

Its second single 'I Can't Stop' was a bombastic radio friendly track that deserved more radio attention at the time, and it was the first vinyl single I bought 10+ years after its release.

This episode delves into the song's history, and the making of the Strange Charm album, including Radio 1's gaslighting of Gary, why the music video was "terrible" according to Gary, and more.

Clips used:

• Gary Numan - 'I Can't Stop'
• Gary Numan - 'My Breathing'
• Radio 1 Chart Show, June 1986
• Gary Numan - 'Faces'
• Gary Numan - 'I Can't Stop (live, 1986)'
• Gary Numan - (R)Evolution (audiobook)

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