RICHARD BOWES – GARY NUMAN: A PEOPLE’S HISTORY
SPENWOOD BOOKS
BOOK REVIEW BY AARON BADGLEY
Tubeway Army, featuring Gary Numan, released their self-titled debut album in 1978. By 1979, Numan began dominating the charts in the U.K. both with singles and albums. In 1980 he crossed over to North America with “Cars.” Besides developing a healthy, popular and brilliant music career, Numan also established a link with his fans. The devotion his community expressed to and about him rivaled any band’s fan base. This book, Gary Numan: A People’s History is as much a tribute to them as it is to Gary Numan. This is a 500-page book that fans, both famous and not so well known, write about their experiences with Gary Numan and what Numan means to them.
The book is pretty much a chronological history of Numan with fans providing their input about the shows and albums but sprinkled throughout is testimonial as to how much Numan means to them and why. Numan has always sung about social isolation and being an outsider (or rather robotic alien) and this has resonated with some music fans. In much the same way as Bowie attracted generations for his various guises, Numan attracts fans with his dystopian and sometimes frightening view of the future.
Andy McCluskey, of Orchestral Manoeuvers in The Dark, wrote the foreword for the book, in his usual honesty and candor. His story about Numan’s mother offering to iron OMD’s shirts before they hit the stage to open for Numan is very funny. Also, McClusky stated that he was fully expecting to dislike the guy but begrudgingly liking him. Numan contributed the introduction and is very humbled by the content that people wrote. Numan does not take his fans for granted nor does he dismiss their loyalty and admiration of his work.
And they do admire him and his music. Stories about the impact of seeing him live or hearing a specific album or his music helping someone through a rather rough time. These are moving, funny and charming stories that as a music fan, anyone can relate to. For the record, there are fans from around the world, including Canada. I was particularly interested in reading those who saw him at Lee’s Palace in 1998 (a show I also attended). Numan’s manager, co-writer and PR rep, Steve Malins contributes as well.
There are plenty of excellent photos, most of which were contributed by fans/contributors throughout the book, and it is a very enjoyable read. It is a loving tribute to an artist who developed his own community throughout the years and an artist who feels close to his fans.
ISBN-10: 1915858682
PURCHASE GARY NUMAN: A PEOPLE’S HISTORY VIA
