In April 1981, Gary Numan completed the last of three extravagant, no-expense-spared retirement shows at Wembley Arena, walked off-stage and immediately realised he had made a massive mistake. Calling it quits at the age of just 23 dented his credibility as it was inevitable he would return to the live stage, as he did just eighteen months later. But it would be another 41 years before he would return to headline the OVO Arena. And as the roar of the crowd greeted him as the opening notes of ‘Intruder’ boomed across the cavernous room, Gary Numan had finally exorcised the demons that had haunted him for half a lifetime.

That momentous occasion has been documented in the aptly-titled ‘A Perfect Circle: Live’ album which will be released on July 25th. The set is today previewed with the live recording of ‘Intruder’. In his notes for the album, Gary reflects on the two shows:

“When I retired (albeit a rather short-lived retirement) from playing live back in 1981, at Wembley Arena, I undoubtedly did lasting damage to my career. The reasons for taking that break were sound, and essential. In fact I very much doubt I would be here writing this if I hadn’t. But that decision haunted me for a very long time. Rebuilding that damaged career back to a level that could see me playing at Wembley once again became an ambition that was to last another forty-one years. Playing there became a symbol, the symbol, of that recovery. More than chart positions, more than anything. As the years came and went I often wondered if it would ever happen.
 
So when it did, in May 2022, it came with a wave of emotions, many of which I was unprepared for. It was a glorious moment, a victory for determination and ridiculous optimism. The reward at last for the countless disappointments along the way. For some people that play there it might be no more than a warm up show for something even bigger, but for me it was everything. It was undeniable proof that even though I’d fallen from the mountain, or thrown myself off it to be more exact, all those years ago, I had crawled my way, slowly but surely, back up it once again. Before the show I cried like a baby, overwhelmed in the moment, in the happiness of it, and the fact that now I could mess it all up. I was terrified of ruining the moment I’d dreamed of for decades. But I didn’t need to worry. The crowd lifted me – carried me – through every spectacular second of it. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier or more grateful. Thank you to everyone that came, and to all those who have helped me along the way, for making it one of the highlights of my life.”
 
‘A Perfect Circle: Live’ is available to pre-order HERE. It will be released on triple-vinyl with a gatefold sleeve, as a 2CD and Blu-ray set, and on digital/streaming.
 

Gary Numan’s resurrection was a labyrinthian journey. While a devoted following still gathered for shows throughout the rest of the ‘80s, praise from Nine Inch Nails as they took industrial music into the mainstream in the ‘90s started a rediscovery of his work. That inspired a darker, more visceral approach to his own music which grew in power from his 1994 album ‘Sacrifice’ onwards. In that same year, the ‘Random’ tribute album was released, featuring his songs reinterpreted from fans as diverse as Damon Albarn, The Magnetic Fields, The Orb and Lauren Laverne’s Kenickie.

It wasn’t until 2013 that he achieved a major second chart breakthrough when ‘Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)’ broke into the Top 20, followed by ‘Savage (Songs From A Broken Heart)’ (2017) and ‘Intruder’ (2021) both powered to #2. The latter also earned his strongest critical acclaim in decades, with NME, Clash, The Line of Best Fit and The Quietus amongst its many champions. His live shows spread internationally, consistently selling out London shows at the likes of The Roundhouse, The Royal Festival Hall and The Forum, en route to his OVO Arena Wembley comeback.

This summer will see Gary Numan play Glastonbury for the first time in his storied career when he hits the Park Stage on June 28th. Remarkably it comes 48 years – almost to the day – since playing his first ever show with Tubeway Army. He will prepare for the big occasion with a series of intimate warm-up gigs at Brighton’s Concorde II (June 23rd, 24th and 25th) and the Cheese & Grain in Frome (June 27th). These are all already sold-out.

‘A Perfect Circle: Live’ tracklist:
  1. ‘Intruder’
  2. ‘Remind Me To Smile’
  3. ‘Halo’
  4. ‘Metal’
  5. ‘Ghost Nation’
  6. ‘The Gift’
  7. ‘Films’
  8. ‘Pure’
  9. ‘Resurrection’
  10. ‘Down In The Park’
  11. ‘Dead Sun Rising’
  12. ‘Is This World Not Enough’
  13. ‘Everyday I Die’
  14. ‘A Black Sun’
  15. ‘My Name Is Ruin’
  16. ‘Cars’
  17. ‘Me! I Disconnect From You’
  18. ‘Love Hurt Bleed’
  19. ‘The Chosen’
  20. ‘We Are Glass’
  21. ‘Jo The Waiter’
  22. ‘M.E.’
  23. ‘A Prayer For The Unborn’
  24. ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’