"Young men need love special." In this episode, we look back at the quirky yet hugely popular fan favourite track, Jo the Waiter, from Tubeway Army's self-titled debut album in 1978. From the person who inspired the song to its various live versions, let's tackle the folk-style track ahead of Gary's acoustic tour later this year. Clips used: Tubeway Army - Jo the WaiterGary Numan - Jo the Waiter (live, 2004 - Shepherd's Bush)Gary Numan - Jo the Waiter (live, 2022 - Wembley Arena)Gary Numan -...

"Do you fall like dust on a ruin? Empty and dead like the life you are losing."

"You are attraction, it gets to be routine, you're up, I'm down"

"Time will heal you, time helps you forget me..."

"Turn out these eyes, Wipe off my face, Erase me"

For this episode, I take a look back at the moment when Gary Numan turned a corner. In 1994, he took partner Gemma's advice and made the music he actually wanted to make again, without outsider influence. The album was Sacrifice, and it was the moment that Gary started his long road to recovery. Focusing mainly on the Lord of the Rings-inspired track 'Magic', this episode looks at the making of Sacrifice, what came before, and its enduring legacy. Clips used: Gary Numan - 'Magic'Gary Numan -...

Revisiting one of Gary Numan's most influential tracks, which featured on his seminal The Pleasure Principle album. Containing an excellent drum break by Cedric Sharpley and bass from Paul Gardiner, the synth-heavy 'Films' was a hugely influential song in the early days of hip-hop. This episode looks at how the song was used in New York block parties, who has sampled it over the years and why it's still one of Gary's very best songs. Clips used: Gary Numan - 'Films'The Fatback Band - 'King...

We head to Gary Numan's most recent album, Intruder, and its title track. Gary ponders what the Earth would say to mankind if it could talk, and how angry would it be. Gary took an idea from his daughter Echo's poem and turned it into a whole album, with great effect. This episode looks at the making and meaning of the 2021 anthemic track. Clips used: Gary Numan - 'Intruder'Gary Numan - (R)Evolution (audiobook)Gary Numan - Making Music campaignGary Numan - 'Intruder' (demo)Gary Numan - 'Aeon'

For Gary Numan's 1980 album Telekon, he channelled his anger and frustration when dealing with the harsh words of the music press of the time. But he was also still inspired by the sci-fi writings of Philip K Dick. For the album track 'I Dream of Wires', Gary imagines a man who was once called 'The Sparkle', and is now the last electrician alive. It's a fascinating idea for a futuristic story, and is pure Gary Numan. This episode looks at the writing and meaning of the song, its brilliant...

For the latest episode, we go back to 1979 and Replicas - a song about terrifying androids with human skin who terrorise humans for fun: 'Down in the Park'. The episode looks at the song's influences, lyrics, history, cover versions, remixes and more. From Machmen to electronic car machines to beautiful piano versions, it's time to look back at one of Gary Numan's best ever songs. Clips used: Tubeway Army - Down in the ParkGary Numan - (R)Evolution (audiobook)Steeleye Span - Long...

For this episode, we're tackling perhaps Gary Numan's best-known song, and the track which made him an international star at the turn of the 1980s: 'Cars'. From its scary inspiration, to its multitude of covers and remixes, we look back at one of the best ever synthpop songs that inspired countless artists, and turned many of us into instant Numanoids. Clips used: Gary Numan - 'Cars'Gary Numan - 'Asylum'Gary Numan - (R)Evolution (audiobook)Gary Numan - 'Cars (Premier Mix)'Gary Numan - 'Cars...

40 years ago, Gary Numan had just completed his round-the-world trip in a plane, and then released his latest album I, Assassin. The album continued the experimental nature of Dance, but with a twinge of funk that later influenced Prince among others, and featured the fretless bass work of the soon-to-be in-demand Pino Palladino. This episode focuses on the album's main single, Music for Chameleons. Including its video that may have inspired Michael Jackson, and its infamous use in I'm Alan...

Gary Numan's first full album was the self-titled Tubeway Army, released on Beggars Banquet in 1978, when he was just 19. Recorded with his bandmates Paul Gardiner and Jess Lidyard, the album saw the band transition from punk to a new style of music, helped by Gary's discovery of a Minimoog and his interest in sci-fi novels. Featured on this album was the largely-acoustic track 'Everyday I Die'. The short song had a rather naughty subject matter, but would go on to become a fan favourite for...

In 2006, Gary Numan released his first new album in six years: Jagged. It was the first album to be produced with Ade Fenton, starting a fantastic partnership that continues to this day. This episode focuses mainly on one of the most popular songs from the album: 'Halo'. We learn about how Gary was nervous about following up the critical success of Pure, the introduction of a Nine Inch Nails star, and a particularly comical moment from my first meet and greet with Gary at the launch of the...

For Gary Numan's fifth solo album, he went for a completely new image, brought in new musicians and tried some brand new styles. The album's title track was its lead single, and gave him another top 20 hit. This episode delves into: How Gary was inspired by Mel Gibson's Mad Max 2 for the album's imageBringing in the sweet sax sounds from Blade Runner's soundtrackGary butting heads with his first ever co-producerThe introduction of female backing singers in Gary's musicA silly chart rule that...

The lead single of Gary Numan's 2017 album Savage was 'My Name is Ruin', a soaring track about a man in an apocalyptic future who is trying to get his daughter back from a dangerous religious group. The video featured his daughter Persia Numan on backing vocals for the first time, with a stunning Egyptian sound and imagery, backed by one of his most memorable music videos in years. The song helped Savage to become Gary's highest-charting albums in nearly 40 years. But what is the song about,...

Wa-cha! 'Stories' is one of the most popular songs from Gary Numan's 1981 album Dance. The album saw Gary take on a new jazz-electronic style, and this song was a particular standout. While not released as a single, it has become a favourite with fans over the years, and has an intriguing tale about a potential estranged mother and son in a surprising and unexpected reunion. This episode delves into the making of the song, its meaning and its recent comeback at Numan shows. Clips used: Gary...

One of Gary Numan's biggest hit singles, 'We Are Glass' was originally a standalone single before being included in future Telekon releases. It's one of Gary's more poppy numbers, and has always been a solid live favourite. But what is the song about? And how did the BBC scupper its chances of being a bigger hit? Clips used: Gary Numan - 'We Are Glass' (Telekon - Beggars Banquet)Gary Numan - (R)evolution: The Autobiography (audiobook) (Constable)Gary Numan - 'We Are Glass' (Live at Wembley...

Looking at the song which Gary Numan has described as his favourite of all time: 'A Prayer for the Unborn' - from the original version on 2000's Pure to the Andy Gray remix heard at most live shows from the past 20 years. It is one of Gary's most personal songs, written after a tragic family moment that is a moving track for many people who have gone through something similar. Clips: Gary Numan - 'A Prayer for the Unborn' (Pure)Gary Numan - 'A Prayer for the Unborn' (Andy Gray Remix)...

Electric Friends' first episode delves into the song which started it all for Gary Numan, and the song that changed many of us fans forever: 'Are 'Friends' Electric?'. The episode looks back at the song's origins, lyrical meaning, chart performance, cover versions, samples and beyond. We also hear just how important the song has been for Gary's fans over the past 4+ decades, and hear extracts about the song from Gary's autobiography. Stories include: How stumbling upon a Moog changed...

A short intro to the podcast from the host, Gary Numan superfan Tom Eames.