WHY NUMAN STILL HAS EYES FIXED ON THE FUTURE

AS PUNK morphed into New Wave in the late 70s there was so much originality and talent that it was hard to stand out.

- BY MARC BAKER

In 1979, The Clash released London's Calling, The Police their second album and The Jam Eton Rifles. But maybe the most original sound came from a pale-faced, androgynous, unsmiling figure.

Gary Numan's robotic tones as the singer of electro pop band Tubeway Army were mesmerising. Their hit Are 'Friends' Electric? spent four weeks at number one.

Numan's heavily kohl-lined stare and stage outfits were otherwordly and from the world of sci-fi. He became a phenomenon, selling more than 10 million records with hit singles, such as Cars.

He was looking to the future then and he still is now, despite being about to start a 45th anniversary tour of his third number one album, Telekon.

Enigmatic Numan's concerns now stretch beyond music to the world around us. He is particularly worried about climate change and the future of the planet.

The 67-year-old says: “It bothers me that we have got Trump and how the warnings about it [the planet] are getting more dire.

“The tipping point is coming ever closer and things are moving faster than they thought they were going to with the sea rising.

“We all know that and we have got Trump, who is systematically undoing all the things that have been put in place to try to help. None of it was enough but instead of building on it he is getting rid of it. It is properly frightening and nerve-racking.

“I have got three little ones. As a dad it definitely bothers me.”

DESIRE

One of his little ones, 22-year-old daughter Raven, will be performing alongside him on the forthcoming 15-date tour.