Review: Gary Numan, HMV Forum

We were having such a fun time gossiping at the Assembly Rooms that we nearly forgot to run across the road to the Forum.

Which meant by the time we got through the doors, the room was heaving. The audience was a delightful mix of all ages and wardrobes, complete with army of excited black-clad Numanoids.

And my God it was hot in there. Negotiating our way through the sauna, we found a fine spot by the stairs (regular readers will know this is always important) and had a fairly good view of the man himself, standing proud in the middle of the stage.

There were slightly disturbing pictures projected on the wall, a tight band, and effective lighting which all ensured our boy was shown off at his best.

With the familiar shock of jet black hair, his compact form encased in the obligatory black, he stomped and strutted, striking Christ-like proses. The sweaty audience lapped it up, punching the air in adoration.

After not much talking but loads of connection, the band left the stage and came back to a unified chant of ‘Nuuuuman, Nuuuuuman, Nuuuuman’ with a rollicking finale of ‘Cars’, followed by a strangely moving ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’ A fitting end.

We were lucky enough to shake hands with the man himself at the aftershow party, and what a nice chap he is. Apparently he never smiled in the early days because he didn’t like his teeth, and then he married an adoring Numanoid and created a loving family.

I can’t help feeling good for a boy who, through being a fan, came up with a unique and ground-breaking image, who even to this day still manages to deliver, to puff and pose, and yet somehow hold on to his humility. Go Gary.

Words: Susie Innes