Alt-Fest

"There are still people trying to work out what a genius Gary Numan is."

– Prince

The influence of Electronic and industrial music pioneer Gary Numan has been recognized by a diverse array of the world’s greatest artists—from Prince to Lady Gaga, Jack White to Kanye West; Beck to Queens Of The Stone Age, and The Foo Fighters to Nine Inch Nails, many of which have collaborated with Numan and covered or sampled tracks from his vast back catalogue. While Numan’s unique, pioneering style continues to connect he has never stopped trying to innovate and his latest album, ‘Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)’, is evidence of this desire to never standstill.

Marking Numan’s first full-length studio album since 2006, ‘Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)’ sees the Award winning electro-pioneer team-up with Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck and producing partner Ade Fenton to unleash his heaviest and most accomplished album to date. Whilst writing and recording of ‘Splinter’ Numan has toured extensively, including marking the 30th anniversary of the classic and hugely influential ‘Pleasure Principle’ with a tour and he was personally invited by super-fan Trent Reznor to join Nine Inch Nails during their set to perform several of his own songs including ‘Cars’ and ‘Metal’, which NIN had previously covered, on the band’s 2009 ‘Wave Goodbye’ tour. Numan also co-wrote the Battles single ‘My Machines’, and his music continued to stay in the spotlight thanks to bands such as Jack White’s The Dead Weather covering the classic ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’.

"I was always impressed by the way Gary Numan found his own voice–and it was unusual–but it was unmistakenly him and boldly him. I see me doing what I learned from him."

- Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails

Numan’s permanent relocation to the US at the end of 2012 reinvigorated his creativity and had an immediate positive effect, with ‘Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)’ eventually being finished in his LA studio at the start of 2013. Numan’s unique vocal style evokes a feeling of machinery and icy alienation whilst provoking strong emotions within the electronic noise of classic albums such as ‘The Pleasure Principle’ and ‘Telekon’ that connects with his loyal and ever-growing fan base of self-proclaimed Numanoids.

Gary Numan will be playing the main stage at Alt-Fest on Saturday 16th of August.