As one of the pioneers of synthpop Gary Numan has had a huge influence on electronica, industrial and dance music. His arrival was announced with the ‘79 No. 1 single “Are Friends Electric?”, and Numan hit the top again with the single “Cars” and the album The Pleasure Principle later that year. With fame now extended to the worldwide stage, his cold dystopian electronic sound saw further chart success. While never a favourite with critics, his recent reappraisal has seen him now rightly regarded as a true innovator and a clear influence on the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Ladytron, Interpol and beyond.