Another month gone by. The tardiness for this month's answers is jointly my and Gary's fault. We've both been very busy.

Past Q & A sessions are at Joey Lindstrom's World Wide Webb site in the Confession section.

Instructions to ask Gary questions are at the end of the Q&As.

'EXILE'. THE DELAY, AND WHY IT'S NECESSARY.

Dear all,

The vast majority of fans have been very cool about the 'Exile' delay and for that understanding I am extremely grateful. However, a few, a small few thankfully, still don't seem able to grasp the importance of this album to my future and so this explanation is for them. It seems that this 'small few' are unhappy with me and so I feel that I have to try just one more time to explain the situation to them. Everyone else can just skip to the Digest answers further on.

So then. If anyone thinks that I'm any less frustrated by the lack of new material being released than some of you appear to be, you are very much mistaken. I know a new album is long overdue and I understand your frustration but I genuinely believe that my future hangs on 'Exile'. This period is the 'second chance' that I've been dreaming of and I'm growing tired of armchair experts telling me what I should and shouldn't be doing with it.

I have no patience with people who talk about the delay in releasing 'Exile' as though it's some big game to me and that I'm being awkward, teasing, foolish or any of the other hurtful and, to be frank, idiotic things that have been said over the past few months. It's even been suggested that I, somehow, OWE fans an album within a certain time period. One person has even written in to call me a 'greedy fucking bastard' because he seems to think I'm making money out of this delay. That's unbelievably stupid.

I try to keep fans informed about what's going on because I'm extremely grateful for your interest and support and I want you to be as aware as possible about the decisions I make with my career. That however is my point exactly. It's MY career. I don't knowingly interfere in anybody elses life and you must leave me to make the big, and small, decisions that affect me and mine. I won't be treated or talked to as though I've broken some kind of sacred promise when those plans don't come together. If plans don't work out, if albums aren't ready or don't come out when they were expected then I'm sorry but welcome to the real world. This is a hard business that changes almost daily and I, more than most, and probably more than any of my fans, know just how hard it can be. I also know exactly what I need to do now and that's what I'm attempting.

For you, hopefully, the new album will be a few hours of listening pleasure but for me it's probably the most important album of my life and I WILL do the right thing. I will NOT release the album, if I can possibly help it, on an inappropriate label, with too little money to properly promote it, without worldwide tour support, and in too few countries. That's what I've been doing for years and I've seen too many Numan albums sink without trace to do it yet again. I WILL NOT waste one of the most creative and innovative periods of my career.

If the price I pay for waiting for the right deal is to lose a few fans who think they know better than me then, no offence intended, but that's a price I'm quite prepared to pay.

Gary Numan.

My sister and I have been huge fans of yours since 1980. Our favorite
by far of your material is the music made between 1977-1980 and of this
Replicas being the best. We like and miss the electro-rock sound, dark
image, futuristic view point, perfect blend of guitars and keyboards,
and high energy and "fast music" of this time. I've seen that alot of
others feel this way too.

Q1.  Whould you consider making another cd similar to Replicas?

A1.  No. The production is sparse and empty and totally unnacceptable to
     the 90's, or at least to me in the 90's. The 'Replicas' songs were written
     by a very young (Nu)man with an isolated and unworldly point of view that
     can never be repeated because I've had such a full life since then and I no
     longer have those interests, opinions or points of view. The music is
     poorly played, as judged by my current standards anyway, and so seems
     simplistic to me now. If a lot of others do indeed feel as you do about
     repeating 'Replicas' again then I suppose they will remain unhappy with my
     future music.

     I genuinely believed that with 'Sacrifice' I had taken the key elements of
     those early albums and made them viable for now. It is dark with a dark
     image and it mixes synths and heavy guitars but it has much more 'content'
     and awareness running through it. As for 'Replicas' being 'fast music' I
     would have to point out that many songs on that album were far from fast,
     'I Nearly Married A Human', 'The Machman', 'Replicas' and a few others were
     all medium to slow in pace and yet 'Sacrifice' included some quite fast
     tracks with 'A Question Of Faith' and 'Love And Napalm'. I've heard this
     'Replicas was best' point of view, off and on, since the day it was first
     released. I thank you for liking the 'Replicas' album but it seems, I'm
     afraid, that I can offer you nothing for the future. I'm relieved that,
     while many may agree with you, many others don't or else I would have given
     up long ago.


Q2.  Also have you ever and would you ever work with John Foxx?

A2.  No to the first part of your question and unlikely to the second. I
     have no problem with John Foxx but I have no idea what he's into now
     musically so I'm not looking in his direction for any collaboration.

Hi Gary,

Q3.  With Kinsman possibly on the shelf, do you think you'll put the acting
     lessons to use in a video?

A3.  Possibly, if I ever make another video. That depends on getting a
     decent deal but then again so does almost everything at the moment.

Gary,

First, let me say, your day is long overdue here in the USA, and I'll be
first in line for a tour.

Q4.  Do you see a US tour anytime in the future, since you are seeking a
     contract in the US?!

A3.  Rumours of a July '97 US tour seem to grow stronger each day, with a
     second even larger US tour possible for later in the year. I now have
     American representation and things are really starting to move at last.


Also, let me just say thanks for over 15 years of listening pleasure for
me, a 25 year old, and let's hope you can get another 40 years!


Q5.  Do you see retirement or even think about it?

A5.  From time to time. Sometimes I can't even imagine such a thing, other
     times I would welcome doing nothing for a while.


I hope not!  Thanks for the time, and best wishes to you and your family.

Hello Gary,

I have been a long time fan of yours now (since 1979) and have always
enjoyed the Living Ornaments LPs. I heard a whisper that BB were finally
going to reissue the lot again only complete sets on CD.

Q6.  Any news ??

A6.  No sorry, I don't really have regular info from Beggars but I would be
     surprised if 'Living Ornaments' doesn't come out on CD soon.


Q7.  How about reworking the track 'Observer' for the next tour. One of my
     favourites

A7.  Ah, but not one of mine. I am thinking about reworking many songs that
     I've not touched before, especially after listening to some of the 'Random'
     album, but I doubt that 'Observer' will be amongst them. Still, you never
     know. I didn't think I would ever play 'That's Too Bad' live either.

Hello, Gary. I was wondering if you'd been paying attention to the current
upswing in electronic/techno music, by the likes of Prodigy, Orbital,
Chemical Borthers, Massive Attack, Future Sound of London, et al. FSOL in
fact have a track on the Dead Cities album that reminds me of "Question of
Faith" in some respects. ("We Have Explosive")

Q8.  What do you think of this stuff, and do you have an opinion of whether
     or not this techno trend could make it comparatively easy for a
     pioneer such as yourself to secure a record deal?

A8.  I don't think it will make it any easier to get a deal. Record labels
     are far from romantic when it comes to signing people because they may have
     a 'place in history'. To them I'm probably just history, that's why my new
     material has to speak for itself. I like some of the stuff that the bands
     you mention have put out, dislike a lot of it, but I am beginning to see
     that innovation is alive and well amongst many of these people which is
     cool.


Q9.   Also, would it appeal to you to work with FSOL or any of these artists?

A9.  I would need to be more familiar with their stuff to answer truthfully.
     I'd like to work with Trent Reznor though and Gravity Kills, people like
     that.

Q10. If you do another world tour (which we all hope for) would you include
     Canberra, Australia in the itinerary?

A10. It's more down to regional promoters than the artist actually. We go
     where we're told we have an audience by people whose business it is to know
     such things. I hope that I go everywhere, I love touring.


The reasons that I ask this are:
(1) Although Canberra is the capital of Australia, most of the major
    bands don't go here
(2) I LIVE in Canberra :)

There are many fans here and I have 'converted' many of my friends with
'Sacrifice' which is the BEST album that you have ever done.

All the best for Exile, Kinsmen and the Future

Q11. Do you have a working title for the live album from the 1996 Premier
     tour?  What is it?  Is it still to be released sometime in March 1997?
     Will it be a Numa release?

A11. No I don't have a title for it and no it's not going to be released in
     March now. Boy did I get some shit over that idea:-( It would appear that
     another live album is NOT what you want. Another idea will be announced any
     day now on NuWorld.


Q12. Do you know about how many tracks will be on the album?  Can you tell us
     which tracks yet?  I've heard four tracks are from the upcoming Exile
     album.

A12. It will be the entire set that we played that night. I can't remember
     the tracks off hand but they do include four songs from 'Exile'.

Q13. What do you plan to do on your birthday this year?

A13. Oops, It's gone already. I must be late getting these answers back to
     you. I stayed in and had a quiet night as I had a major TV the day after.
     After that TV though we had a mega party back at my house that went on for
     about 3 days or so.

After seeing you at V96 at Chelmsford last year, which I thought you were
great, I would like to ask the following

Q14. Is there a possibility of you doing V97 this year, or if not, any of the
     other festivals?

A14. Not this year no as too much else is going on touring wise. Well, it
     looks as though a lot will be going on anyway.


Just one more question

Q15. As the film 'Kinsmen' now looks unlikely, but you have undertaken all
     those acting lessons, do you think that acting will be something you
     persue in the forseable future.

A15. I don't think I'll persue an acting career but I won't run away from
     it anymore. Actually the 'Kinsmen' film is now very much back on again so
     hopefully a few things will come my way over the next year or two.

I think fans are starving for new material.  This is the longest period
without newly released material in your career, if I'm not mistaken.

Q16. Do you ever plan to make the demo version of Exile you sent out to record
     companies available to fans, perhaps via the Fan Club?  I'm sure many fans
     would relish a demo version, release version and extended version of your
     albums.

A16. If I have a deal it won't be my album to make decisions about anymore.
     If it stays with Numa I guess that it would be a good idea but I doubt I
     would put that out plus an extended version.


Q17. After the excitement and prospects for a big breakthrough last year faded
     with a less than anticipated chart performance for "Premier Hits" do you
     think "Random" will supply the needed boost this year, especially as you
     have a new album to launch soon thereafter?

A17. Possibly. It pays not to expect too much of anything though doesn't
     it? Especially if you don't want to be crushed under the weight of so much
     disappointment. I think the breakthrough is coming but it's fragile and
     precarious at the moment. Why do people think I'm being so cautious with
     'Exile'?


Q18. Have you had any response yet to your looking for a record deal from
     UK or US companies?

A18. Nothing good. Lots of interest from the US but nothing solid yet. The
     UK just sucks. Things are happening but I daren't say what in case I get
     another barrel load of 'do this, do that, we know best' messages from
     people who don't.


Q19. I heard a cover version of "Everyday I Die" by a guy in Australia
     which has not been committed to anything but tape at the moment.  I
     was very impressed by the way it updated the song but kept the essential
     Numanness intact.  It knocked the socks off anything Techno Army did.  Do
     you ever listen to tapes of covers fans send you and have you been
     impressed by any if you do?

A19. I find much of the 'Random' album very impressive. I've liked some
     others that have come in over the years.


Q20. Any progress made on Babylon 8 of late?

A20. It's a bit of a back burner project at the moment but it's on the top
     of the back burner pile. Still can't find a particular missing track so I
     have a decision to make soon about the final track listing.

"Gary's Questions" is made possible by the kindness of Gary Numan and Derek Langsford whose job it is to keep Gary's email address from all rabid fans on the Numan Digest.

To ask Gary a question, email it to:

Derek Langsford (dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu)

With a subject line of:

Gary's Qs

Don't forget your name, town/city, state/county/province and country with your questions, even those I know where they live.

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Have a nice day!