Gary Numan continues to inspire a diverse world of musicians, from Trent Reznor to the Foo Fighters. Unlike so many other musicians who were working in the 1980s, he never stopped. When the spotlight left him in the '90s, he continued to build his craft. You have an opportunity to come along for a marvelous ride with a musician at the peak of his powers when he performs at the Fillmore on November 19.
Anyone who is a fan of is well aware of his forays into science fiction. From early in his career, the song "Down In The Park" (1979) envisioned a technological nightmarish future that included "rape machines."
His new album "Savage: Songs From A Broken World" addresses a post-apocalyptic world of climate change; intriguing material, and timely. His music video for "My Name is Ruin" visualizes this desert landscape.
And while Numan, 59, is straight and married with three daughters, he does acknowledge his legacy as part of the '80s New Wave 'queer'-ish aesthetic, where his performance style inspired many.
Not limited by the "retro" category, Numan continues to grow as a musician. In 2014, when I last interviewed the British artist, who now lives in Los Angeles, I was impressed with his pairing of introspection over depression with his industrial sound in "Splinter: Songs From A Broken Mind."
Savage is yet a further step in his evolution as a musician, pairing Middle Eastern sounds with his unpublished novel about tribalism in a chaotic world in decline. That this work was funded by a fan-based pledge campaign shows that he is working with innovative economic concepts as well in a changing musical environment. The result is stunning. I was glad to have a conversation with him about his latest work.
Michael Flanagan: You recorded the album during the last election. Did Trump's election actually change anything in the recording or songs or did it just emphasize the importance of the work?
Gary Numan: I can't honestly say it changed anything. The songs are borrowed for a book I've been working on for six years. I started working on two or three songs in 2015 and then Trump appeared and started talk about global warming. Before that, the issue seemed settled when the world came together in the Paris Accord. What Trump said was shocking and fueled my desire to do the work. I was driven to work on it because of him.
Reviewers often mention the Middle Eastern sound of this album. Did that sound have a particular genesis or inspiration?
There are two reasons for this. First, I really enjoy Middle Eastern and instrumentation. Second, it was particularly suitable for this album, as in this world both cultures have merged. This world is so desperate that there is no longer a separation of cultures - the distinctions between the cultures have disappeared in the catastrophe. The concept is reflected in the design of the album as well. The font appears Middle Eastern but is English.
Although this work is about a very serious topic, it is still quite beautiful, musically speaking. Does it ever seem like a paradox to be writing beautiful music about terrifying topics?
(Chuckles) I wanted the music to have an epic feel to it, as it has to do with vast landscapes. I tried to find a musical way to convey that. I wasn't trying to make it beautiful, just epic. I had a need to highlight the desolation, not the beauty.
This time around, you were motivated by a truly dark turn of events: The Trump election. Do you feel that the best (or only) way to react to this is to become active - either in art or politics?
I think that every person finds their own path. I'm not a particularly political person, but there is something so unpleasant about what is going on that it's hard not to be captivated by it. It's also important to note that I'm British, not American, so I view this all with an outsider's eyes. But I did watch the election with growing horror. The division was horrid and I couldn't imagine how it happened. It seemed like it was all about insulting and not talking. So many people are retreating into their own corners and not talking with each other. I simply can't believe that a third of the American people are nasty. Talking with each other is essential.
The last time I interviewed you, we discussed depression. Do you think bad times make you more focused on the world at large and less on your personal mental state?
I'm not sure. It's difficult to know. When I had my period of depression I didn't care about the rest of the world. Antidepressants level you off and make you lose interest. It has an anesthetic effect. I don't think you care (when you're depressed).
Could you talk a bit about the transition from "Splinter to Savage?" Splinter sounds darker, but actually Savage is about a much darker topic.
With "Savage" I wanted to be more filmic. I was trying to find a way to express what I'd written in the book. I never meant for Savage to be aggressive. For all its dark subject matter people are engaged and concerned about their needs in this world.
Gary Numan performs at The Fillmore, Saturday November 19. Me Not You and Nightmare Air open. $30. 8pm. 1805 Geary St. at Fillmore. https://garynuman.com/ http://thefillmore.com