- Album list
- Singer Intro
Gary Anthony James Webb (born 8 March 1958), known professionally as Gary Numan, is an English singer, songwriter, composer, musician and record producer. Born in Hammersmith, West London, he first entered the music industry as lead singer of the new wave band Tubeway Army. After releasing two studio albums with the band, Numan released his debut solo album The Pleasure Principle in 1979.
With number-one singles 'Are 'Friends' Electric?' and 'Cars', Numan achieved his peak of mainstream popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but maintains a cult following. His signature sound consists of heavy synthesiser hooks fed through guitar effects pedals, and he is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music. Numan is also known for his distinctive voice and androgynous 'android' persona. He was the winner of the 2017 T3 tech legends award.
Early life
Gary Anthony James Webb was born on 8 March 1958 in Hammersmith, West London, the son of a British Airways bus driver based at Heathrow Airport. He was educated at Town Farm Junior School in Stanwell, Surrey, Ashford County Grammar School, then Slough Grammar School in Berkshire, followed by Brooklands Technical College in Surrey. He joined the Air Training Corps as a teenager. He then briefly held various jobs including forklift truck driver, air conditioning ventilator fitter, and accounts clerk.
When Numan was 15 years old, his father bought him a Gibson Les Paul, which he regards as his most treasured possession. He played in various bands, including Mean Street and the Lasers, before forming Tubeway Army with his uncle, Jess Lidyard, and Paul Gardiner. His initial pseudonym was 'Valerian', probably in reference to the hero in French science fiction comic series Valérian and Laureline. He later picked the surname 'Numan' from an advert in the Yellow pages for a plumber whose surname was 'Neumann'.
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