I may only have two or three years left in music

As synthpop innovator Gary Numan releases a new album celebrating his triumphant Wembley return, he opens up about his hearing loss, his love for his gifted children and why becoming a 'retro act' is musical suicide

- By Fran Winston

A PERFECT circle isn't just the name of Gary Numan's new album, it's been the narrative for the electro pop pioneer's turbulent relationship with fame across 45 years.

Having walked away from superstardom at the height of his fame in April 1981 aged just 23 after performing three extravagant, no-expense-spared retirement shows at Wembley he returned to headline the venue in 2022, having rebuilt his career from scratch.

Now, he's released a new album capturing his celebrated return, which was recorded over two nights and he's visibly delighted as he speaks about it.

"From a career point of view and musical point of view, it's the most rewarding and satisfying night I've ever had," says Gary, now 67 but still as youthful-looking as ever.

"The long claw back from where the career went down to that sort of slow and troublesome torture to climb back up to somewhere that's a decent level, took well over 40 years.

"And so by the time the Wembley thing had come along, it had almost grown out of proportion in terms of the symbolism of it and what it meant to me. That's why on the night, I freaked out a little bit because of the worry about making a mess of it, having worked this long and this hard to get back to that point again."

Lifted and loved by the crowds, who packed out Wembley at each of his three triumphant gigs, Gary feels at peace, having literally come full circle with his music.

"It's such a lovely record to have of what for me is a very important story," he says. "Most of my adult life has been spent trying to get back to Wembley, having got there so easily, it seemed, at the beginning. In a way this album is sort of a testament to that determination and just graft, really.

"If it hadn't been filmed and recorded, I'd be devastated. It's such an important moment for me to be able to release it."