Gary Numan - Records In My Life (full interview) 

What a lovely guy. Unpretentious, no chip on his shoulder. Very refreshing.

I've been fortunate enough to have spoken to Gary a couple times, and this is *exactly* who he is. They say "never meet your heroes"...but if your hero is Gary Numan, that rule does not apply. He *is* the guy you hope he will be.

I've gone down the rabbit hole today watching Gary on interviews and what a nice humble honest man he is

How cool is the interviewer?!!!!!!! The right questions and plenty of space for Gary to answer.

Bloody hell, the man is amazing. This was a great interview :-)

Not a huge Numan fan, but he does give a good interview and is a pretty self-effacing, modest dude. Very humble likeable guy. Would be cool to have a few beers with him.

What an Ace interview... Good on you Gary... screw commercialism and promote creativity.....

Agree with what you say about not listening to advice. There are millions of people out there telling you how to do everything, but they themselves suck at it. Do your own thing. Thanks Gary.

Great to hear that Depeche Mode helped save him musically. A lovely fella 😊

Nobody is as honest humble about fame from a first person point of view as Gary Numan. I remember drinking a red bottle of pop after a little league game back in 1979 and hearing Cars for the first time and was transformed as if everything before in music was the past and a new era was being kicked off.

He was a creator of a genre not many people have done that

I love when Gary is smilling :)

Love this interview! Gary we all are proud of you! Your music is timeless.

Gary you are freakin cool man!

Gary is such a charming and self assured chap, so much so he can see and accept that he's not infallible. Then there's his work ethic and so he has made his way back from a very dark place. I have no doubt the Numan family are rightly proud of this long standing and hugely influential contributor to the music world. None other than Afrika Bambaataa sites Gary as the unlikely and unknowing founder of Hip Hop in the early Eighties, with Cedric Sharpley's (RIP) drums from "Films" being the most sampled bit of music - probably ever...!

This is a great episode - he's so open and giving of his life, history and muse.

I'm as far removed from electronic music as you could imagine but I have a lot of respect for Gary Numan. This is a brilliantly honest interview from a seemingly very nice, modest guy. In fact, towards the end, I found myself wanting to shake him to make him realise what a major contribution he's made to his genre. Most of the bands he was gushing about probably wouldn't have existed were it not for his influence.

Gary is a sweet little man. I remember when I was little and a member of the Young Farmers Club (don't ask cos I don't know either), we were having a little evening tour of Fairoaks Airport in Chobham - I don't know if he still does but he used to fly his plane from there. Our group leader spotted him by his plane. We all went over to him and stood up and didn't say much - he just stood there smiling, and signed autographs for every single one of us little know-nothing-about-music children of the 80's.

I remember in my senior year in high school ('76/'77), this older guy we hung with came over one day with this new record called 'Ultravox'. I thought that the name was unbelievable. It sounded so futuristic, and blew me away. And I hadn't even heard the record yet. And when a bunch of us jumped in his car to get high, and drive around, he put on a tape of that record. It was so cool, and new sounding. Blew us away, I never heard music like this before . And then a few years later in 1979, I went into my favorite record store and they were playing this record called 'Gary Numan Tubeway Army'. The song 'Me I Disconnect From You' from the album came on and I was blown away again. I thought it was Ultravox at first, till I looked at the cover. I bought it right away and it was fantastic (the song 'Cars' wouldn't come out yet until 1980). No one we knew had even heard of Gary Numan. I immediately thought that these 2 bands, Ultravox (1st 3 albums with John Foxx) and Gary Numan , was the direction David Bowie should have went in after his Ziggy Stardust period. When I played it for people, they thought it WAS David Bowie. Well anyway, been a big fan of this great music ever since those days back in the late 70's, and so glad to see that Gary Numan is still around, and making music, and doing great. Thanx Gary for all this great music, and You Tube for this great interview.

We are extremely proud of you Gary. I am so proud to be a Numan fan and have been for many years. Hammersmith Odeon is waiting for Savage homecoming show. 💋💞

After reading the previous comments, I don't know what to say except that when I discovered Numan in the Pleasure Principle Days, I knew I had found an artist I could believe in. (I was 19) The song 'Films' got me going and got my mind and body in full gear.

Love Gary Numan❤. He's a great musician and all around lovely, sweet man.

It is so nice to see him back doing what he does so well. The British music press were vile towards him, many of them beyond anything I had ever seen before. Genuine person, genuine talent...Excellent to see him outliving the bitter haters.

what an excellent and very open interview gary is so down to earth.

Great interview. Normal unpretentious guy talking openly about his career and more. Respect ✊

Gary Numan is DEFINETELY a legend in music! We're so fortunate to live in a lifetime that we can say "I seen Gary Numan live in concert" :-)

Nice one Gary, what a nice bloke and humble almost to a fault. Don't do yourself or what you pioneered down, you were the epitome of cool back in the day and the music you made in that era was every bit worthy of Mr Reznor's accolades or anyone else who sites you as an influence. I'm actually proud of the fact that the first album I ever bought was the Pleasure Principal, I loved it then and I still love and play it now. Are friends Electric was my favourite song ever for years and years when I was younger. I've also a great respect for someone who found some light and direction from an album that was itself a product of a very desperate time for Depeche Mode. It is indeed a fantastic album and says a lot about where Gary must have been at this time.

Saw him a few days ago (first time ever) in Detroit at St. Andrew's Hall. Awesome show, so full of energy, emotion, and immense audio/visual joy! Truly an artist and a legend. Such a humble and down to earth guy. Long time fan!!! Keep rockin' Gary, and come back to Detroit soon.

His onstage persona and his records are dark and alienated, yet in person he is a friendly, humble and genuine chap

Dear Gary...Don't be so hard on yourself mate. You are one of the best! I came to your stuff just slightly off the mark, at least as far as the current trend was concerned...about 1984. Loved your work since and before. Have to say, Strange Charm was a really good album. One of my favourites, though it seems it was during a time that you don't value so much. Sod that. You're a brilliant song writer. Nine Inch Nails are excellent, and they do you a good service. But you were there shaping the mold in the first place. Hats off man.

Nice guy, very cool music...TERRIBLE WIG!

I saw his performance for the first time this weekend in Stockholm! And was just blown away! For me it was a whole new universe, haven't listened that much to his music before. Now..I'm gonna listen to every single piece of his fantastic work! What an amazing artist! He also seems like such a really nice guy and just authentic

Bought the pleasure principle the day it came out I was 17 years old and I never looked back and I become a musician myself following his footsteps what a great treasure Gary is!!🤩🤩🤩

I was a music journalist many years ago, and I had to interview Gary over the phone around the time the Crazier single came out. Just before I got the call from his PR my recording equipment stopped working. I was nervous and panicking about it. Gary’s PR calls and puts me on to Gary, who I explained the situation to. He was so understanding and said he was happy to let me type up my responses and he’d wait as I did so. He made me feel so much better, was generous and respectful and basically a gem of a human. I’ve never forgotten that.

Great Interview. Gary's a very humble man.

Sacrifice was the album that made me get into numan and wanted me to hear everything he did

Gary Numan is so awesome! I love his humility. He seems like a really down to Earth guy. It would be so cool to hang out with him.

Bright, talented, revolutionary, sincere, and SO humble artist.

What a cool guy,here's to you Gary.

I also want to say that I love listening to Gary Numan as much as NIN or Depeche Mode. There are certain times in my days when I need to turn Gary Numan on, and no one else can help me like he can during those times. He's as equal to me as Trent or Depeche Mode. I'm just speaking from the heart. And, Savage is a brilliant album, don't get me wrong.

Does Gary know that he created an entire realm of sound and fantasy? I grew up listening to his music, and in the 1980s through 2000s I learned computers at a professional level. Its as if he knew the consciousness of an advanced machine, yet he doesn't seem to know anything of that. Very strange, very special.

What a sincere fella.

17:00 That was one of the most disarmingly charming things I've ever heard anyone say. :)

What a great interview, have always loved Gary Numans music, 40 yrs, the man rock!!!

Can't knock his advice at the end. If you have the talent, then fail on your own terms and not someone else's...

Glad to see he is back and making music. I really like "My Name is Ruin". Great song.

Songs of Faith and Devotion...if you've never heard it, listen a few times...

Ill be going to see him in Dublin in March (2018) at the Olympia Theatre and I would advise all Numan fans to go THERE to see him. He is unreal live and the Olympia is a fucking superb venue....just that perfect size of intimate and large...you won't be disappointed.

That comment about the Joy Division quote was completely backwards, they were somewhat dismissive of Gary, like many of his contemporaries were...I love them both though...

😊i love Gary's interviews! he is so down to earth and cool, a truly amazing person. Thanks for posting ❤

Funny they talked about Captain Beefheart . A good friend of his , Frank Zappa never cared if his music was commercially successful . He wrote music that he liked and if other people liked it that was good enough for him . Many musicians have called him a genius . You either loved his music or you hated it . Gary seems to have picked up on that a bit . Write music that you like .If others like it then great . Well done Gary.

Ive liked gary numan since 79 up until now.amazing singer amazing man .Be proud G Numan uv done yaself v proud.🫶

Great interview, captivating, and inspiring too. I admire GN's frank and raw approach to the posed questions, there is clearly an unshakable drive in him still, which I respect...

I've never heard of Gary Numan before tonight. I supposed, being British, his music wasn't played much in the U.S. which is too bad. He seems to be another British singer who came upon some bad times. The British have really impressed me with their musicians. Those that have fallen and gotten back up are so humbled by their experiences. Unlike some like Motley Crew or G&R from the states. I think they're getting old and need to grow up. Just my opinion though!

very good interview. shows everything about the ups and downs of life and the career of gary. a very humle and normal guy. good that he´s back.

Saw Gary last month he did the whole Savage album, it was absolutely spectacular, I wish i could go again.

I have owned the Gary Numan single Cars for 41 years and recently realised it was a rare red vinyl print.Hold the 45 up to the light i was told insisting it was black and them a red beam hit my vision.

Replicas, Pleasure Principe, & Telekon… ALL 3 ARE AMAZING ALBUMS. I still play all 3 to this day. I wasn’t born yet until 1980 but I remember getting all my Aunts “hand me down” 45 Vinyl Singles & 12 Inch Vinyl, & Regular Vinyl Albums all the time when I was 5 to 8. I had about 5 singles & 5 albums I played 24/7. 2 singles were “CARS” & “ARE FRIENDS ELECTRIC” by the great Gary Numan. It’s truly incredible how his electric electronic music he made opened up doors for FUNK to ELECTRONIC METAL then to RAP MUSIC of the 1990’s with all those electronic songs and albums were sampled. I truly love Gary Numan because he made songs that will live on way after I’m dead.

Gary Numan is one of the kindest and humblest artists we've had the pleasure of interviewing. Thanks for watching XC

That bloody wig KILLS ME.

Love Gary, such a humble and inspiring person.

Hands down one of the most influential individuals in modern/post-modern music. It's amazing he's maintained (or regained) humility. So glad you're back to doing your thing, your own way, Maestro Numan!

The more of his music I hear, the more interviews like this I listen to, the more I like/respect him and his amazing music.

Respect to Gary, like his brief punk roots also, got his first single.

Living Ornaments '79, '80... dance, pleasure principal, I assassin. Those are my favourite records... I have them on vinyl, cd and also on cassette... John Foxx's Metamatic is one of the records that I feel it's the most similar to the music designed by Gary Numan... both have a bit of Kraftwerk inside them... (to me)

Gary: I FEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeelllll YOUuuuuuuuu! Great interviewer...he really listens, in respect, to what the artist has to say.

...THIS guy...is my musical hero!

just saw him last night here in Winnipeg, thanks for sharing this!

This interview alone makes me even more excited to be going to his show tonight.

I love Numan’s honesty, he says it like it is...

What an absolute legend!!!! Humble, talented and still passionate!!!!

songs of faith and devotion is arguably Depeche's best album ever and I know this might sound crazy but perhaps one of the best albums ever released (seriously listen to a tune like Walking In My Shoes) . And to think it was released when "grunge" was at its peak is crazy.

Came for Gary Numan record preferences, instead got Gary Numan downward spiral / career depression / bankrupt stories... and I think everyone has these stories, he's just the only one modest enough and connected to reality to freely admit it. Great guy.

Reading his autobiography at the moment and I he only thing I would say is that's he's too tough on himself

Wow! What a refreshing interview. Gary is such a humble person and truly appreciates his journey. Kinda guy you could have a beer with:)

Always loved his early stuff and the way he explains it is so spot on, what an intelligent individual, almost on the level of Bowie right here- a true, success story!

what a lovely man he is...

I'm struck by how utterly comfortable he is in these circumstances now. I remember the very fragile, withdrawn, painfully self-conscious man who was in Swap Shop in 1981 or whenever it was.....even as a kid I felt so sorry for him. His Asperger's seems to have be non-evident now. So genuinely easeful and natural.

Thanks so much for all your music. This interview has been such a great insight in to you. Ultravox, joy division, depeche mode, Nine Inch Nails. Awesome. Stay true to your dreams and passions not anyone else's and it'll work out.

He's spot on about Pretty Hate Machine. That is one stunning work of genius: there is so much raw, concentrated anger on that record that you could cut through tempered steel with it.

Great artist and man - excellent interview letting him talk and not interrupting

A groundbreaker and always ahead of the pack. Outstanding artist and one nice, genuine fella. His output just seems to get better and better.

What a fantastic interview, open and honest. Respect to you sir for giving him all the breathing space required. Beautiful.

Are friends electric??

Major influence on Detroit techno.God Bless Gary Numan.

Queen must have had electric guitars though. He sounds really down to Earth and sane. The most inspired music comes from the fun we get from it and the pleasure we feel when we listen. The best musicians do not forget that energetic feeling that makes great music.

Omg I'm so with Gary. If I could be a fly on a wall with Gary I'd go for Pretty Hate Machine too. I mean it blows my mind that that album came out in 1989. I mean holy crap talk about being ahead of their time. But Gary is the influence and legacy behind so so many bands, including NIN & Marilyn Manson ( who did a killer cover of Gary Numan's 'Down in the Park') Gary is the shit, he's the real deal, and I wish more people respected him for what he's done for music. He's one of the most underrated, underappreciated artists out there. And just about everything he's every put out is incredible and evolved each time. I wish people knew more songs of his than just 'Cars'.

Amazing . No words ❤

I'm very glad he mentions T.Rex as he once said Marc Bolan was his hero !

3:19 Any pop archeologists here? When Gary says "some other band left behind a synth in the studio" - which band or who might that have been? Because without that synth lying around, things would probably have been *VERY* different - for us, and Gary! EDIT ok at 4:37 he says he never found out who it was

Had no idea Absolution sold so badly. It's one of my all time favourite Numan songs!

Great Advise... Laser Focus...Don't Deviate...No Distractions...Execute your dream & Ideas...Hmmm...Life!!! Ok, got it...

I was a massive fan from Replicas, bought all the albums posters and saw him live. I thought he had left the music scene when he went flying and doing airshows and so forgot about him and moved on musically. Through RU-vid I dropped onto 'Savage' now I am back and would like to see him live again.

Great Interview.

the most modest yet most amazing guy some people should listen and learn

Have been a fan since 81 what a wonderful human and such amazing music.

Great interview! Thanks so much for this. I’ve been following Gary since ‘81 - huge fan and he’s the reason I’ve played synths most of my life. Gary, if you’re reading this, I saw the Monkees live at their last show in Los Angeles for the end of their “That was then, this is now” tour. The drummer of my band (I played bass) and his mom took me as she was a close friend of Davy Jones. So we all hung out together at the after party and while I was sitting on a tiny sofa, Davy came over and sat by me and basically was interviewing me about our band. It was surreal! All 4 Monkees were there and I was thrilled to meet and talk with them. Peter came over and offered Davy and me some snacks. I hope to meet you Gary sometime soon. If you music fans want a good tip, get an iPad... there are so many great synth apps for it and they are super inexpensive! Ok, I’m done. :-)

I'm glad Gary loves DM,.. both their music is so futuristic \m/ Underground bands are the best Gary....screw commercial.

Roll on March for next gig,,, respect to a true great of music,

Absolute legend. Just saw him live in Dublin, incredible show.