MOJO
Gary numan opens the door for synth-pop
He began leading London punks Tubeway Army but was diverted into brooding synth-rock by a stray Minimoog. Cue 1979’s mysterious monster hit Are ‘Friends’ Electric? and the adoration of superfans the Numanoids. Follow-up solo 45 Cars also hit Number 1, but soon GARY NUMAN dramatically retired from live performance at the height of his success. “A whole world descended on me,” he says. “I wanted to get out of the burning building…”