Both Numan's music and his transgressive public image are known for his sense of alien coldness and embrace of avant-garde influences. Becoming of the founding fathers of electronic-based pop music, Numan's reach extends far beyond his lone American hit, “Cars,” which still stands as one of the defining new wave singles. That seminal track helped usher in the synthpop era on both sides of the Atlantic, especially his native England, where he was a genuine pop star and consistent hit-maker during the early 80s. Even after new wave had mostly petered out, Numan’s influence continued to make itself felt. His dark, paranoid vision, theatrically icy persona, and clinical, robotic sound were echoed strongly in the work of many goth rock and (especially) industrial artists during the past several decades. For his part, Numan just kept on recording, and, by the late 90s, he’d become a hip name to drop. Prominent alternative rock bands have covered his hits, with Numan himself playing live with Nine Inch Nails briefly to much acclaim, and a goth-flavored brand of industrial-type music christened darkwave looks to him as its mentor.
Numan was born Gary Anthony James Webb on March 8, 1958, in Hammersmith, West London, U.K. A shy child, music brought him out of his shell; he began playing guitar in his early teens and played in several short-lived bands. Inspired by the amateurism of the punk movement, he joined a punk rock group called "The Lasers" in 1976. The following year, he and bassist Paul Gardiner split off to form a new group, dubbed "Tubeway Army", with drummer Bob Simmonds. They recorded a couple of singles under futuristic pseudonyms (Valerium [or Valerian], Scarlett, and Rael, respectively) that attempted to match their new interest in synthesizers. Scrapping that idea, Webb rechristened himself Gary Numan and replaced Simmonds with his uncle Jess Lidyard. Thus constituted, "Tubeway Army" cut a set of "punk-meets-Kraftwerk" demos for Beggars Banquet in early 1978. That work ended up being released several years later as 'The Plan'.
That summer, Numan sang a TV commercial jingle for jeans, and toward the end of the year the group’s debut album, 'Tubeway Army', appeared. Chiefly influenced by Kraftwerk and David Bowie’s Berlin-era collaborations with Brian Eno, the album also displayed Numan’s fascination with the electronic, experimental side of glam rock (such as in some works by Roxy Music and Ultravox) and Krautrock (such as in some works by Can). He also drew much influence from transgressive science fiction writers such as Philip K. Dick, people who challenged conventional thinking through exploring the affects of new technology.
The group’s second album, 'Replicas', was released in early 1979. Its accompanying single, “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?", was a left-field smash, topping the UK charts and sending 'Replicas' to number one on the album listings as well. The record also included “Down in the Park", an oft-covered song that stands as one of Numan’s most 'gothic' outings.
Numan had become a star overnight, despite critical distaste for any music so heavily reliant on synthesizers, and he formed a larger backing band that replaced "Tubeway Army", keeping Gardiner on bass. "The Pleasure Principle" was released in the fall of 1979 and spawned Numan’s international hit “Cars”, which reached the American Top Ten and hit number one in the UK; the album also became Numan’s second straight British number one. He put together a hugely elaborate, futuristic stage show and went on a money-losing tour, and also began to indulge his hobby as an amateur pilot with his newfound wealth.
Numan returned in the fall of 1980 with "Telekon", his third straight chart-topping album in Britain, and scored two Top Ten hits with “We Are Glass” and “I Die: You Die”; “This Wreckage” later reached the Top 20.
In 1981, Numan announced his retirement from live performance, playing several farewell concerts just prior to the release of "Dance". While "Dance" and its lead single, “She’s Got Claws”, were both climbing into the British Top Ten, Numan attempted to fly around the world, but in a bizarre twist was arrested in India on suspicion of spying and smuggling. The charges were dropped, although authorities confiscated his plane. His retirement proved short-lived, but when he returned in 1982 with "I, Assassin", some of his popularity had dissipated - perhaps because of the retirement announcement, perhaps because the charts were overflowing with synthpop, much of which was already expanding on Numan’s early innovations (which were starting to sound repetitive). "I, Assassin" was another Top Ten album, and “We Take Mystery (To Bed)” another major hit, but in general Numan’s singles were starting to slip on the charts; the title track of 1983’s "Warriors" became his last British Top Twenty hit (excluding reissues and collaborations).
Numan and Beggars Banquet subsequently parted ways, and Numan formed his own Numa label, kicking things off with "Berserker" in late 1984. Sadly, longtime collaborator "Paul Gardiner" died earlier that year from a drug overdose. 1985’s "The Fury" became the final Numan album to reach the British Top 30. Over the next few years, Numan collaborated occasionally with "Shakatak’s" Bill Sharpe, releasing four singles and one album from 1985-1989.
Following 1986’s "Strange Charm", Numan signed with IRS, but the relationship was fraught with discord from the start. IRS forced Numan to change the title of 1988’s "Metal Rhythm" to "New Anger" for his first North American release since 1981 (and also remixed several tracks), refused to release his soundtrack for the film "The Unborn", and would not fund any supporting tours for "New Anger" or 1991’s "Outland". When his contract expired, Numan returned to Numa for 1992’s "Machine + Soul".
1994 brought the release of the industrial-tinged "Sacrifice", the first glimmering of Numan’s return to critical favor and underground hipness. Over the next few years, bands like "Hole", "The Foo Fighters", and "Smashing Pumpkins" covered Numan songs in concert, and Marilyn Manson recorded “Down in the Park” for the B-side of the “Lunchbox” single; moreover, "Nine Inch Nails" cited Numan as an important influence. With his fan base refreshed and expectations raised, Numan delved deeper into gothic, metal-tinged industrial dance on 1997’s "Exile". However, he didn’t truly hit his stride in this newly adopted style until 2000’s "Pure", which was acclaimed as his best work in years and expanded his cult following into new territory.
In 2003, Numan enjoyed fleeting chart success once again with the "Gary Numan vs Rico" single “Crazier”, reaching No.13 in the U.K. chart. Rico, who is an up and coming artist from Glasgow, also worked on the remix album "Hybrid" which featured reworkings of older songs in a more contemporary industrial style. In 2004 Numan took control of his own business affairs again, launching the label Mortal Records and releasing a series of live DVDs as a precursor to his highly anticipated new studio album, "Jagged" which was released on 13 March 2006. An album launch gig took place at "The Forum, London" on 18 March 2006. Numan announced a UK tour commencing in April 2006 and plans to tour other countries, including the USA, during the year in support of the release. Numan also to launched a "Jagged" website to showcase the new album.
Numan contributed vocals to four tracks on the April 2007 release of Ade Fenton’s debut solo album "Artificial Perfect" on his new industrial/electronic label Submission, including songs “The Leather Sea”, “Slide Away”, “Recall” and the first single to be taken from the album, “Healing”. The second single to be released in the UK was “The Leather Sea” on July 30, 2007.
In 2008, he released a double CD remix album "Jagged Edge", based around 2006’s critically acclaimed "Jagged", co-produced with Ade Fenton. The pair are currently in the studio working on Numan’s 18th studio album "Splinter", due for release in 2009.
While Numan is known for his electronic music innovations, he prefers real instruments. He explained in an interview with Songfacts: "I didn't go the technology route wholeheartedly, the way Kraftwerk had done. I considered it to be a layer. I added to what we already had, and I wanted to merge that. There's plenty of things about guitar players, and bass players, and songs I really love that I didn't particularly want to get rid of. The only time I did get rid of guitars was on Pleasure Principle, and that was in fact a reaction to the press. I got a huge amount of hostility from the British press, particularly, when I first became successful. And Pleasure Principle was the first album I made after that success happened. I became successful in the early part of '79 and Pleasure Principle came out in the end of '79, in the UK, anyway. And there was a lot of talk about electronic music being cold and weak and all that sort of stuff. So I made Pleasure Principle to try to prove a point, that you could make a contemporary album that didn't have guitar in it, but still had enough power and would stand up well. That's the only reason that album didn't have guitar in it. But apart from that one album they've all had guitars - that was the blueprint."
The official website can be found here: www.garynuman.co.uk
RIP
Gary Numan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll do anything I can
I'll even walk upon water
I'll burn the soul of a man
I'm so sick with pain
I'm so sick with need
I'll lay before the cross and pray
I'll bleed like holy rain
I'll say I'm searching for the truth
I'll rip the skin from God's face
If it can guide me to you
I'll give life to disease
I'll steal the light from Heavens gate
I'll give life to obsession
And then I'll do as I please
I'll give you one last sin or cure
I've got something for you
The lyrics to Gary Numan's song Rip are intense and reflective of someone who is so consumed with their need and desire for something that they are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. The first line, "I'll get down on my knees," is a clear indication of the singer's desperation and willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve their goal.
The verse continues with a series of powerful, provocative images that demonstrate just how far the singer is willing to go in order to satisfy their needs. "I'll even walk upon water" suggests a level of supernatural ability, while "I'll burn the soul of a man" hints at a willingness to commit extreme acts of violence or cruelty.
The singer's pain and need are so consuming that they are willing to make sacrifices in the name of their cause. "I'll lay before the cross and pray / I've done nothing to you" suggests a sense of guilt or shame, while "I'll bleed like holy rain" is a vivid and evocative image of self-sacrifice.
The chorus of the song features a series of bold, declarative statements that further emphasize the singer's willingness to do whatever it takes. "I'll rip the skin from God's face" is particularly striking, suggesting a level of blasphemy and sacrilege that is both shocking and compelling.
Overall, the lyrics to Rip are a powerful reflection on the nature of human desire, the lengths to which we will go to satisfy our needs, and the sacrifices we are willing to make along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll get down on my knees
I am willing to humble myself and beg for your mercy.
I'll do anything I can
I am willing to go to great lengths to please you.
I'll even walk upon water
I am willing to perform impossible feats to show my devotion.
I'll burn the soul of a man
I am willing to commit unspeakable acts to prove my love.
I'm so sick with pain
My love for you hurts me deeply and constantly.
I'm so sick with need
I am consumed by my desire for you.
I'll lay before the cross and pray
I will turn to any means, including religion, to find you.
I've done nothing to you
I do not understand why you are not reciprocating my love.
I'll bleed like holy rain
I am willing to suffer and sacrifice everything for you.
I'll say I'm searching for the truth
I will use any justification to continue pursuing you.
I'll rip the skin from God's face
I am willing to blaspheme and attack even the divine to get to you.
If it can guide me to you
I believe that any action, no matter how heinous, is justified as long as it leads me closer to you.
I'll give life to disease
I will spread chaos and destruction if it means getting your attention.
I'll steal the light from Heavens gate
I am willing to extinguish everything good in the world if it means finally possessing you.
I'll give life to obsession
I will let my love for you take over my entire being.
And then I'll do as I please
I will let nothing stand in the way of my pursuit of you.
I'll give you one last sin or cure
I am offering you both destruction and salvation, depending on how you respond to my love.
I've got something for you
I am obsessively devoted to you and have much to offer, if only you would accept me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gary Anthony Webb, Gary Anthony James Webb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidjsaul
I'll get down on my knees
I'll do anything I can
I'll even walk upon water
Ill give somebody disease
I'm so sick with need
I'm so sick with pain
I'll lay before the cross and pray
I'll bleed like holy rain
Ive gotten sick of the pain
Oh dear I pray
HEY HEY HEY
I've done nothing to you
HEY HEY HEY
I've got something for you
I'll rip the skin from God's face
I'll say I'm searching for the truth
I steal the light from heaven's gates
If it can guide me to you
I'll give life to obsession
I'll give life to disease
I'll give you one last sin or cure
And then I'll do as I please
HEY HEY HEY
I've done nothing to you
HEY HEY HEY
I've got something for you
@jipsigal
This goes to show ... a WHISPER can be pretty damn HEAVY and as powerful as a scream!
@nise5281
I can't even!! This man is brilliant!! His music just elicits everything you can possibly feel, amazing!!
@keirfarnum6811
Well, I can’t odd! So there’s that.
@nixko2532
The best performer ever. Totally astonishing 🖤⭐🖤
@GHOST-mi4jh
@Nicko Miljovichevich I second that!
@GHOST-mi4jh
👍😘👍.
@cockyburritos4507
I didn't even know gary numan did music like this until recently and its absolutely brilliant
@Sl33zytheclown
I just found out last Sunday. He's a legend
@stevemckenna2401
Brilliant Song. Brilliant musician. Brilliant atmosphere. Brilliant times. Brilliant memories. Brilliant Icon.
@j.dmetalhead7517
I must admit it was this song that brought me back into the fold as a numanoid. After the late 80's and early 90's I'd kinda drifted away but when I heard this on karrang I nealry died it was so fuckin awesome. I went out and got the album along with exile and have never looked back. THANK YOU GARY