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11th
May 2000.
Yes I stayed up AGAIN last
night to watch Jo Wiley as rumour had it that Gary was the "mystery"
third guest. I say mystery because the other two guests were announced
on the teletext and stuff and our Gaz wasn't mentioned. Apparently he
was mentioned on Radio One a couple of times, but I never listen to
it as it's pathetic.
Jo Wiley announced Gary as something like "electro-supremo" and Emma
Bunton and a bloke from a band called Gomez were also on. As usual,
the show started off by having the latest news from the world of the
music industry, which for some strange reason this week was 80 % full
of Spice Girl related stuff...
A couple of TV soap stars from Coronation Street and East Enders had
their video's for their songs on and the panel were asked to give their
opinions of them. Baby Spice was very nice about them, even though it
was quite apparent that she didn't really like them. This seemed to
wind up "Gomez" (at some point in the future I will watch the tape and
put his real name in here!). He started going on about how crap they
were and that they shouldn't be allowed to put music out. This was when
Gary chipped in and said that yes, they should be allowed to. He argued
that "if people will buy bollocks then people will make bollocks
and at the moment people are buying a load of bollocks."
This brings us nicely into Armand Van Driver's "Koochy"/"Cars" single.
Asked his opinion about that, Gary said he was flattered about it but
didn't really give an opinion of what he actually thought of the track
in itself. I know what I think.
There was a brief discussion about the fans/stalkers stuff surrounding
some of the celebrities at the moment when Gary (again) mentioned the
camping on his lawn affair. Jo asked about the "Numanoids", and Gary
said "I don't call them that".
I don't call myself that either. I always used to call myself a "Numan
Fan", and more recently, well for about 9 years, "Numanarchist". I wonder
what Gary does call us then? Probably "the wages"!
When asked about his status as an innovater etc., Gary was unfortunately
very self critical indeed. He went on about not being clever and bringing
a new kind of music to the world, not being able to sing, having a terrible
voice and not deserving any credit. He went on to say that almost everyone
who came after him was much better than he was. Shit! Maybe I should
offer him a job on this website! It would certainly save me from taking
the piss if he's going to do it for me. What the hell was he thinking?
All the publicity that could have done him so much good has now been
destroyed in the eyes of anyone getting interested in Numan for the
first time. A little humility is a nice thing for a pop/rock star to
have but why put yourself down so much? That's what I'm here for! Talk
about turning wine into water...
He got better later in the programme when he reviewed a song/video with
Skin from Skunk Anansie and, I think, a man from Prodigy(?). He said
he really liked it and "It's the best thing I've heard for years."
After this, there was a video rom a girl called Kaylis. (Thought that
was a klingon warrior myself) This was where Gary suddenly became really
excellent. He started to really rip into it and the whole "R+B" scene
which he said had been around for so long and had never done anything
different and was so boring, got played loads, etc.
I don't think I have EVER seen him get so wound up about something in
an interview. Also, as it echoes my own humble opinion about that sort
of music, I found myself for the first time in years with a feeling
of "that is exactly right Gary". I always used to get that for many
years whenever Gary was on telly/radio, but since about 1994, it has
not happened nearly so much. I was well impressed with him.
All in all, a good show. The other guests weren't as annoying as I had
expected, and I was treated to "that feeling" again. I just hope that
all his running himself down hasn't done him too much harm.
4th
May 2000.
It's the 21st Anniversary of
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" being released as a single in the UK. Last night,
I stayed up to watch the Jo Wiley show on Channel 4, as rumour had it
that Numan would be on...
I could not find any official info about it, but had a tape ready just
in case. Needless to say, he wasn't on except for a sample of "Cars" that
is used in the new single "Koochy" (not sure of spelling on that as I
have seen three different spellings already) by Armand Van Driver. After
all the publicity this track seems to be generating, I have to say that
I was extremely pissed off with what I heard. All it seems to be is the
first six notes after the drum intro, looped forever with some crap chucked
in every now and again just to take the piss even more. I didn't hear
the full version, but I would gamble that, being a dance track, it doesn't
vary much as it goes on. This is absolute rubbish. I didn't particularly
like the Fear Factory version, mainly because I didn't like their singer's
voice, but this is just a waste of time. I can't believe Gary said he
likes it!
26th April 2000.
Gary has appeared in two very
different magazines this week.
NME had a
short piece about him with something about... "Cars"! Yes, it's coming
out again, and again actually. There is the Armand Van Driver version
which Radio One have apparently been playing and also somebody else
is doing a version which will probably be quite different.
William Shatner (aka Captain Kirk) will be doing a recording which may
turn up on an album he is planning. Anyone who has heard any of his
previous stuff will not need advising of how poor it is likely to be.
"Here,,,,
in my car,
I feel,,,,
safest ofall,
I can,,,, lock,,,, allmydoors,
It's the only,,,, way to live,,,,
In Cars"
It's Cars
Jim, but not as we know it.
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