Only a short session this time, perhaps reflecting the low subscriber activity of late. I didn't advertize the need for Qs as last time that resulted in a flood totalling some 53 questions after all was said and done.

Details of how to go about asking Gary a question are given at the end of this section. If you forget the info you can find it at the World Wide Webb where all of the previous "THE DIGEST ASKS GARY" sessions are archived.

Hi Gary!

Here's another music video question from the early eighties:

Q1.  Do you recall where the promotional video to "Metal" was shot?  (It
     looks as though it was at a powerplant of some sort)

A1.  It was filmed in a place just outside Newcastle in the Nort East of
     England. It wasn't actually a promo video as such as it was filmed by a
     local TV company for one of their programmes.


Q2.  Why was this video never released on videocassette to the general
     public?

A2.  As above. It wasn't filmed as a commercial video but as a one off TV
     slot.


It's a great video in my opinion!  Just curious...

Many thanks as always for answering our questions on the Digest.

The V96 Festivals were probably the most important Numan Events to happen
within the last 15 years.  60,000 new pairs of ears heard 45 solid minutes
of the Numan sound.  It also generated a lot of press coverage.

Q3.  It must have been difficult to decide on the balance of new and old
     songs.  IMO, you got it right: the dominance of Exile and Sacrifice
     being the only way to go.  What were your feelings on the choice of
     songs?  Was there a lot of outside pressure, (from the organisers/other
     bands/ fans) to play more of the old hits?

Q3.  I had lots of advice from virtually everyone I spoke to and a great
     deal sent in by post. Didn't get too much actual pressure to do any
     particular thing but the general feeling I got was that I should do old
     stuff. My own thoughts were that I didn't want to go on as a blast from
     the past but as someone who is still very much putting out music that
     is viable today. It seemed to me that the majority of people there
     would be unlikely to have heard most of my early stuff anyway and so
     why not go with the most recent. Most fans seem to like 'Sacrifice' a
     lot and I think 'Exile' is sounding good. I did 'Are Friends Electric'
     on the second day as I'd left it out on the first. I think in hindsight
     it was a mistake to have left it out on day one. Apart from that I
     thought it was the right set.


Q4.  Any good parties?

A4.  No to be honest. There was a party after the Warrington show but it was
     a bit strange. Not many bands as far as I could see but lots of other
     people. I really wanted to talk to some of the other bands.

You did a TVAM interview in the Summer of 1995 (promoting Your
Facination).  Fellow guest was Toyah, who made some wise cracks about plane
crashes.  They asked you about what had prompted the new "normal" image and
you said that you felt that the previous year's "Berserker" image had been
too strong and had had the opposite effect on sales in that it had attracted
1 buyer, but turned off 10.  (I have a very good memory!).

Your "dressed-down" look at V96 was great.  Unlikely to turn anybody off
from buying the record.

Q5.  Is this something you will be doing more of in the future?

A5.  I think the interview you're referring to was on TV in 1985 not 1995
     although this could be a typing error in the question. The '96 image
     wasn't a reaction to Berserker or down to anything I said in 95 or 85.
     I just thought it suited the sound and lyrical content of the the new
     album and 'Sacrifice'.


Many thanks.

Q6.  The last time I asked you a question, it was concerning your
     feelings about cats, and you informed us all about Nog.  How's he
     (she?) doing?

A6.  Nog is a boy and is doing well. Actually Nog is allergic to fleas and
     comes up in horrible sores even if he comes into contact with a single
     flea.


Q7.  I saw a picture of your dad on Matthew Holbrook's web site
     dedicated to you.  You two definitely look like father and son.  I
     think it's cool your father has shown such interest in your career.
     Can you tell me more about him, about your relationship?  My father and
     I were at odds when I was growing up (I think because he had to be more
     of a parent then and I was a brat), but our relationship now is
     wonderful -- I wonder if it was like this for both of you.

A7.  No we've always got on. He just had his 60th birthday on october 28. He
     is incredibly private, very intelligent, doesn't like flying and
     wouldn't step on to a stage if his life depended on it so we obviously
     don't think the same about everything. I'm very proud of him and have
     always tried to make him proud of me. Didn't do too well when I was
     younger but I'm doing better now I think.


Q8.  This may be a bit to personal, but I was wondering if you have
     thought much about having children.  I believe I will be a good father
     (if we could just get pregnant), but I must admit it's taken me a while
     to come to terms with bringing a new life into the world, given the
     world's condition.  Perhaps I'm paranoid.  I'd like to know about your
     consideration of these things -- I don't mean to pry, but much of my
     wonder about Gary Numan goes beyond the music.

A8.  I've thought about children. More so recently than ever before funny
     enough. I'm a little concerned about the way of the world but not
     enough that I would not want to be a father. I think, horrible as some
     things are, most people get through life without too much
     unpleasantness. It's taken me a long time to feel that I was remotely
     sensible enough, and calm enough, to be a father but I think I'm about
     there now.

If any of these questions make you uncomfortable, I would certainly understand.

Q9.  For fear of joining the stampede of people offering ideas for the
     success of EXILE, I have but one suggestion. Would you consider
     choosing perhaps a more spectacular name for this release?

A9.  (The answer is after the next bit actually as it forms an extension to
     the question)

You have said before that it may be difficult acquiring a contract since
your music is not in line with the current malaise. Maybe your music could
be promoted as a cure for the rather bland music scene, today. You could
almost call it "An Alien Cure". I remember when I bought my first Gary
Numan album, The Pleasure Principle. I had never heard a single note of
your music. I bought it as a result of a magazine article I read. What I'm
saying is, many record buyers might have their interested peaked by a
rather unique sounding album title. And when you start doing concerts for
the release, you could call it "An Alien-ated Tour". Whatever you do, be
rest assured your fans, like myself, will be fully supportive.

A9.  In many ways 'An Alien Cure' could possibly be a better title except
     for the fact that I have spent my entire career since the 'Replicas'
     'Pleasure Principle' era trying to get away from the science fiction
     tag that was stuck on me then. To call the new album 'An Alien Cure'
     would therefore be unwise. More importantly than that it would give the
     impression that the album was a sci fi album when it is in fact a slant
     on religious belief and interpretation of The Word. The song 'An Alien
     Cure' actually sits quite well as part of the general exploration of
     this theme but would give a very misleading impression if it were to be
     the title track of the album. Besides, I feel as though I've been in
     exile, I don't feel like I've been cured by aliens. I do think 'An
     Alien Cure' is a good title. I think it would be a good name for a band
     too.

Q10. One of my favourite songs is "A Subway Called You". Can you tell me
     what it is  about?

A10. I have no idea without looking at a lyric sheet and I can't find one
     for that song. I would hazard a guess, with such a title, that it's
     about some kind of wierd sex.

Thanks ever so much,

Q11. Are plans still on schedule for the Nov. 25 (or so) reissues of "The
     Fury" and "Strange Charm" and what artwork changes have you had to
     make?

A11. Still on schedule surprisingly enough. The only changes that are
     really noticeable are barcode being added, slightly different pictures
     on 'The Fury', slightly different lettering on 'The Fury', a slightly
     different layout on the lyric print on both albums, slightly different
     colour on 'The Fury' as it was wrong on the original. Some lyric
     corrections probably, not too much really.

Q12. What inspired you to write more material for 'Exile'?

A12. Normally when an album is finished and you go back to it you always
     think you could have done better. The current delay has meant that that
     process is now underway at a time when I can actually do something
     about it.


Q13. Did you just get a fine for your speeding ticket?  I imagined Gemma
     playing chauffeur in her pink 2CV and you cringing every time you
     showed up at an event in it :-)

A13. I got a fixed penalty of œ40 (UK Pounds) and 3 points on my licence.
     To be honest I was very lucky to get away with so small a punishment. I
     was going very fast.


Q14. Did you bother to pay any attention to the increasingly alienating
     political races in the US?  It'll be all over later today and most
     in the US will be heaving a huge sigh of relief.  Any opinions?

A14. It didn't seem to get the coverage it has done on previous occasions
     but it could have been that I was just too busy to really take notice.
     I've had some huge career decisions to ponder upon over the last month
     or so. Clinton won, is that correct?

Q15. Any further details on Babylon 8 (apart from the 2 new AFE mixes)?

A15. I'm recording a duet with Saffron of 'Republica' tomorrow of my Nancy
     Boys mix of 'Are Friends Electric?' I will mix a version of that with
     just my vocal for inclusion on Babylon 8. The other tracks shortlisted
     are ready and so I'll put the final thing together later this week. I
     intend to use most of the digest suggestions that you've supplied to
     me. Not all of then as I still don't want to use songs that are not
     mine but most of them. I believe we found the italian remix of 'My
     Dying Machine' for example.

Derek says 'Yay!' in response.


Bye for now,

Gary Numan.

Send your questions via email to:

Derek Langsford (dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu)

with a subject line of:

Gary's Qs

>> Include your real name, town/city, county/province/state and country. <<

I reserve the right to delete and edit questions for content or length.

Thanks as always to all who participated.