Gary Numan
The man who made synthesisers sound alien, then spent his second act making them sound industrial: 'Cars' to Nine Inch Nails gravity, one career.
Where to see Gary Numan
- The Showroom at Wild Horse Pass Resort & CasinoTickets
- House of Blues Las Vegas Tickets
- The Fonda TheatreTickets
- Ace of SpadesTickets
- Neptune TheatreTickets
- The Regency BallroomTickets
- Golden State TheatreTickets
- The Observatory North ParkTickets
- Spark ArenaTickets
- The O2Tickets
- Utilita Arena BirminghamTickets
- Motorpoint Arena NottinghamTickets
- Leeds First Direct Bank ArenaTickets
- Utilita Arena NewcastleTickets
- OVO HydroTickets
- 3ArenaTickets
- The Showroom at Wild Horse Pass Resort & CasinoTickets
- House of Blues Las Vegas Tickets
- The Fonda TheatreTickets
- Ace of SpadesTickets
- Neptune TheatreTickets
- The Regency BallroomTickets
- Golden State TheatreTickets
- The Observatory North ParkTickets
- Spark ArenaTickets
- The O2Tickets
- Utilita Arena BirminghamTickets
- Motorpoint Arena NottinghamTickets
- Leeds First Direct Bank ArenaTickets
- Utilita Arena NewcastleTickets
- OVO HydroTickets
- 3ArenaTickets
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About Gary Numan
Gary Numan is a synth-pop artist from London, UK.
Born Gary Anthony James Webb in Hammersmith, London, Numan came out of the British punk scene fronting Tubeway Army, a band that included his uncle Jess Lidyard on drums and Paul Gardiner on bass, signed to Beggars Banquet Records. He later turned to synthesisers, a shift that produced the UK number-one album Replicas and its chart-topping single "Are 'Friends' Electric?" at the end of the 1970s.
His debut solo album, The Pleasure Principle, also reached number one and gave him another UK chart-topping single in "Cars." These records paired cold, mechanical keyboard textures with detached vocals and science-fiction imagery, delivered through an androgynous, android-like stage persona that was widely imitated across new wave and synth-pop.
Numan's signature sound ran heavy synthesiser hooks through guitar effects pedals, a technical approach that helped mark him out as a pioneer of electronic music. He has sold more than ten million records over his career.
After a period out of fashion, he rebuilt his sound around industrial rock in the 1990s and 2000s, with darker production and heavier guitars replacing the earlier synth-pop clarity. Trent Reznor, Marilyn Manson and numerous electronic producers have cited him as a direct influence, and he received the Ivor Novello Inspiration Award in 2017. He continues releasing albums and touring, performing his older material within that harsher framework.
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Questions about Gary Numan
What festivals is Gary Numan playing in 2026?
Gary Numan is booked at 1 festival we cover: Darker Waves 2026.
Is Gary Numan on tour?
Yes. Gary Numan has 16 shows listed, from Chandler, AZ on Nov 12, 2026 to Dublin, Ireland on May 17, 2027, plus 1 festival on the page above.
When does Gary Numan play at Darker Waves?
Saturday, November 14, 3:30 – 4:05 PM at Darker Stage.
Where is Gary Numan from?
Gary Numan is from London, UK.
What was Gary Numan's first album?
Gary Numan's first album was The Pleasure Principle (1979). The latest is Intruder (2021).
What kind of music does Gary Numan play?
Gary Numan plays synth-pop and industrial.
What festivals has Gary Numan played before?
Gary Numan has played Glastonbury 2025.