Gary Numan played Wembley Arena on 7 May 2022. The last time he played there was back in 1981. This gig review examines the set list and the show in general.
Hey VG That's awesome 👏 Whaoooow ‼️🙀🙆😎😃🥳 fantastic 🙏🏽🙏🏽 perfect perfectly 🙏🏽 CoooooooooooooooL 👌🏽👍💪 Very good and nice 💯🔥💥🎊🎉😻🌟🌟🌟 I am going to see him in Paris soon with VIP full 🙏🏽🙏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🥳♥️❤️
I was there too. Probably about three rows behind you. It was absolutely magic. Best I've ever been to very emotional. I loved the fact that he talked so much (well for Gary Numan anyway). I also loved the way the Guitarist and the Bass player sold their performances too, that was like the icing on the cake. All the band were in the moment, but those too really gave a performance. Hopefully if he sells a video of this tour, it will be of this Gig. I definitely want a copy of that.
I adore your passion for Gary's music and always watching your videos on his stuff makes me want to play it, and reminds me why I'm a fan. I saw the Intruder tour in Sheffield last week - I treasure every opportunity to see him live. I cannot wait to learn more about the legacy re-recordings.
I met Gary in the latter half of the 70's, before he hit it big. He came to a party we had in a shared flat in Hayes Middx where a few of my friends were musicians. We recorded him singing a few Bowie tracks, wonder where those tapes are now. I was friends with and played drums in a band with Paul Gardiner, his bass player when he hit it big. He left our fledgling band to join Tubeway Army and a year later saw him on TV with Gary many times, we lost touch and was sad to hear he Overdosed and died after Gary broke up the band. Paul was always obsessed with making it big. Well he did for a few years but could not handle the comedown when it was over.
Hiya! Thankyou for a great Wembley review, and analysis. Chris Payne plays the viola ; the A Prayer For The Unborn mix you spoke of is called the Andy Gray mix ; and the new drummer is called Hudson Deans. We went to Wembley and Glasgow ; I’m going solo to Amsterdam ; then we’re both going to Madrid. We loved Wembley so much, and it was such a lifetime Numan concert. Stay safe. Malc.
One thing that always brings home to me how amazingly prolific Gary has been is this: Every time he performs live you hear and read people's comments to the effect of "I was hoping he would play [name of one of a dozen or so different songs]." For me, it would be: "I wish he had played Replicas... or Please Push No More.... or Complex.... or the piano version of Down in the Park.... or....." Thanks so much for this excellent review of the Wembley show. Your enthusiasm (and even some emotion) is wonderfully evident and greatly appreciated.
Hey Vaughn, fantastic review mate . I was at Wembley in 1981 on my own and this time I took my wife and she’s a converted Numanoid now . Loved the gig , the atmosphere, lighting and of course Gary and the band were incredible . Although you can never match the 1981 gig when he was in his prime, and on a stratosphere level. I was so emotional at the end , it brought back happy memories.
Great review mate. It felt like a real privilege to be there. I'd already done the Liverpool show earlier in the week, and I've got Manchester tomorrow. Wembley just blew me away. I missed the 1981 shows so for me last Saturday was the pinnacle. I feel he'll probably play there again, but maybe not as part of a tour but as a stand alone gig
Was at Wembley 1981 as a teenager. Best Gig I've ever been too. Sadly I had a bad bout of Covid this time round so I couldn't attend. Looked Epic. He puts everything into his shows. So thank you for the input. My hopes are to see him perform in Berlin or another German city. I've converted many over the years, taken along many friends and no one has ever said they didn't enjoy it. Most are immensely impressed and astonished with Gary's indefatigable energy.
Great presentation Vaughn thanks for describing it so well. After seeing 4 gigs in the Northeast US recently was blown away as have been on each tour but right now they are absolutely on fire! The Band is so tight and the chemistry and energy is so in sync between all of them. Thank you for this review excellent really enjoyed that
Yea was there too. Damn what a show he absolutely nailed it. What I loved was the two young lads in front of us who were about 14 and 15. Who went absolutely mad when Are Friends Electric started. Just to show his music really does span the decades.
Wow wow wow. What a night. Started off with a 2 hour set by the mighty Pat Martin and The Liquid Engineers at Boxpark. Made our way to Wembley arena. I was at the first tours and last 2 nights at Wembley in 1981. I did want or expect a re-enactment of 1981, that was then and better off left there in my faded old memory. But, fucko me, what we did get was the occasional nod to 81. Fantastic stage and lights, absolutely massive and I've work it the music arena industry and I've never seen such a huge lightbank. The set list was perfect, lots of the old stuff, a few belters from 2000 onwards and then the savage and intruder stuff. The band was tight only balls up was GN missing his cue on m.e. Lovely and warm fuzzy feeling when Chris and Rrussell came on for m.e. Stand out songs for me. Intruder Ruin The gift Everyday I glass IDYD Disconnect and Glass. Did GN knock out the park ??? Fucking right he did, he knocked it into 2031 for the 50th Anniversary.... And I'll still be there.. despite being 68
I also was in crowd at this Wembley gig, it was massive. I also was in Wembley in 1981 (April 27th I think). Richie stayed with the band until last Saturday in Oberhausen. Sure going to miss him loads since he is such a nice guy. I did 11 Intruder gigs of which 4 in the US, Wembley and 6 in Europe. Best one was (apart of Wembley which was in a league of its own) Par is & Brussels for me, and I also liked Washington a lot. My final one was last Saturday, so up to 2023... Also, loads of respect for Numan as he puts the same effort in if there are 1,000 or 12,000 people there!
Wife and I caught three shows in Texas back in March before coming to the Wembley show which was awesome and definitely worth the ~5,000 mile trip! Thank you, Vaughn, for doing this show :)
Great review Vaughn and clearly you can play a bit as well.. so I will check out your album. I did Bristol and Wembley and it was great to see Gary again in full flow. Wembley was just iconic and blew me away !!!
Great review! I saw him about 7 weeks ago in a tiny club in Detroit. I guess we Americans are lucky he’s not as popular over here and he plays smaller venues. I was literally standing 10 feet from Gary. However that show was a 3.5 hr drive away…but totally worth it. So jealous he played Pure! That was the one track I really wanted to hear but he didn’t play. Awesome he did Everyday I Die. Love that one too.
I did wonder on the size of the venues in the US. How many people would you say were there? I have been on the barrier at the front before but that’s been from queuing for hours (too old now) or meet n greets (too expensive now lol). X.
I’m in Spain at the moment and I went to the Barcelona gig at Razzamatazz. It’s a very small intimate venue upstairs. Only a couple of hundred people but it was a fantastic gig. What a performance. Gary is a really good performer and the songs choices were fantastic. I was almost in tears when ‘a prayer for the unborn’ was played. I have very fond memories of listening to ‘are friends electric’ when I was doing my o levels back in 1979. I instantly become a huge fan.
Hi Vaughn, Great review. we went to the Leeds O2 gig that's where we tend to see Numan nowadays when he tours .as usual it was brilliant. the first Numan gig I saw in Leeds was the Warriors gig in 83 I believe seems a lifetime ago now. anyway, I managed to speak to Richard outside the venue in the afternoon one to one he has his reasons for moving on which I totally respect. I did manage to speak to the rest of the Band in Bradford at the Little Finger gig earlier this year, awesome guys and a cracking gig .
I was at the gig. Best he's ever been. Was also at the Bristol gig the week before which I took my 1w gr old daughter to. First time for her and she loved jt, she's a big fan.
I wish I were there.. Your review sends me straight back to listening to Gary.. Always love watching you play bits of the song. I’m an older fan and have to say I never tire of Cars. I was so excited when I was able to own it on my small budget back in the day. Different subject but I wish Peter Murphy would resurface, lots of memories there.
Great review of the gig Vaughan, my brother and his mate was there too, said it was difficult to determine if Skaparis at RAH was better or not.They, like you just loved the gig, and were blown away by the light show too. I am just jealous that you guys are where you are as I'm pretty sure he won't come down under again which is sad as it means alot of expat Brits in the Antipodes and Aussie miss out yet again. Might have to get a plane ticket for one of the US gigs when our restrictions for travel change come July... Thanks again for all your great reviews, they are brilliant at letting us in on all the " trade secrets" behind the scenes for the artists we love and grew up with and created the soundtracks to our lives....
I was at Leeds on the 12th. First time for 16 years. His sound had got quieter, but I was pleased to leave the Leeds gig with ringing ears, Also broke all of my covid rules. Hadn't been to a pug, social event or even out with a mate since Christmas 2019, my non Numan fan bought the tickets and forced me to go. What a night. Devine Shade were pretty good too
I don’t have any further info but I’m assuming mid to late next year . Gary is of course also working on Intruder 2 which will take priority so I’m sure he has his hands full, VG👍🎹😎
@@VaughnGeorge thanks Vaughn! Last I heard, intruder 2 will commence late this year, and heard sacrifice re-recorded was already completed so odd why it’s taken it’s time. Woulda been convenient for him to sell these re-releases on the road at his merch tents!
His silly dancing does my head in a bit to be honest. But he his a legend. I love his material. And his character. And his voice. He's brilliant. But that friggin dancing. Aaarrrggghhh!
I was at Wembley 2022...fabulous gig, definitely unforgettable...I also attended the Manchester acoustic gig 2023...Gary's vocals...off the chartly amazing and the band...fantastic, venue unfortunately not so.
I think possibly the hardest thing for the keyboard player live , is getting all the sound changes right for different songs etc .Not so much the playing of notes ,because the songs aren't that hard to play , quite straight forward for a decent player .I can imagine lots of things going wrong when selecting sounds though, the pressure must be on. I'm guessing he has a computer program that stores sound set ups .
You are correct Steve. In the case of David Brooks, every song is setup in Mainstage via banks. It's as simple as pressing a button between each song and all the sounds are mapped out for each track so there is no need for him to be flicking through sound menus during a song. VG :-)
Prayer for the unborn mix is Andy gray mix. Sadly not been able to go the gig in Liverpool health issues neverless for what I have seen on you tube from various gigs I've missed a great show.
I thought the first time Persia's debut on stage with her dad was the pre Savage gig at The Liverpool Exhibition Centre, I remember, because the venue was set up arse roads about (seating front, standing rear) and Gary didn't like it remarking 'this is shit'.
23:27 I’ve seen a few live videos of “Ruin” on YT, and I’m pretty sure that even when Persia is there, her bit is on the backing track. There’s on where she starts lip-syncing a bit late, and another where she doesn’t at all, but we still hear her singing. Perhaps a bit of caution on Numan’s part - a “backup” if you will. Not that I mind; she’s quite the trooper for getting up there at all. Do you think she’s actually live these days?
I was there with my brother. Great gig but the venue sound was not the best. Sounded echoing. We we halfway down on the right of stage in the upper seating. Looking forward to seeing the live video when it comes out. Cheers for the review.
Great Video V! I saw Numan last night at the Norwich UEA and it was a bit of a weird one, Numan didn’t seem like himself, there was no speaking whatsoever and he just seemed quite angry, Especially during Pure, he seemed quite enraged and frustrated at something? Great show none the less! Brought my partner along too, I’m not sure if she was converted but eh oh well haha. Funny thing was he actually screwed up the first spoken bit of AFE which was quite a moment, but Numan can do no wrong in my book, such a performer and a Massive influence on myself
Does anyone know his pet name for his friend .... someone told me it was Figgy? .... I don't understand why this seems so relevant ... can anyone explain?
Hiya Vaughn . . . I will share this bizarre tidbit of info ---so 'the' Mr. Numan played to some 12,000 peeps at Wembley.....and in *Sept. 2022 he will be in the likes of Vancouver, BC* playing at a very small venue where the stage is like right 'there'---barely TWO feet up and flat open floorplan. It is about *990* pple and basically standing {Commodore Ballroom}. It is insane to me that he will be in this old skool venue and not a stadium. The regig date is due to cancellation of the orig. Oct 2021 date due to the global pandemic. I just had to share that.
Interesting to hear you mention the fact (around 13:00) about Gary's music being very "single note" rather then "chord" oriented. I'd never really thought about it, but in some ways I guess it's fairly obvious if you remember that when he started most "synthesizers" were MONO-phonic so you could only play one note at a time, hence why would you write music that required chords ? You wouldn't because you couldn't play them (until the likes of the PolyMoog, Jupiter 8, Prophet 5 ( I think I've remembered those correctly - no doubt you know far more about them than I do) came out & became available, but by then i would guess that Gary'd got into the "habit" of writing in a particular way which suited the monophonic synths far more than the polyphonics. Not sure if you'd agree with this or not, but that's how it appears to me. PS : Yes I did get to see him in Birmingham at the O2 Institute on Monday 2nd May (and LOVED IT) would have liked to go to Wembley but couldn't make it. Can't wait for the videos you mention about Gary's writing style that you're going to do. Lovely to hear you make a special point of mentioning Richard, giving thanks to him for his "long service" (can't believe - not that I'm doubting you - that he's been with Gary for 29 years !! WOW, as you say, whoever is going to be replacing him is going to have some really big shoes to fill - & we wonder how long they will have to fill them for ??? There's been a lot of talk lately about Gary laying down the microphone within the next few years, possibly only doing one more album before he retires (again) but for the final time, so will he tour again before that time comes I wonder ??? Track list from Wembley sounds fantastic, many were (of course) played in Birmingham, but the one I REALLY LOVE & so missed was "Jo, The Waiter" (Not sure if, from what you said about it being a nod to the past, whether you're aware that Gary HAD to put "Jo, The Waiter" into the set list "by special request" (or was it that he was ORDERED to put it in ??) by & for Gemma, as it's one of her all time favourites. And yes, for M.E. he had Chris Payne playing his electric viola & RRussell Bell on guitar & the reason they had to stop & restart was because Gary completely missed his cue (there's actually a video on TH-cam - hope I'm not breaking any rules by putting this here : th-cam.com/video/vK4Da4Krb6Y/w-d-xo.html ) & you can hear the audience start singing AT THE CORRECT POINT which Gary COMPLETELY MISSED & because everything is time stamped (as you've mentioned in other videos) you can't just continue & jump in "next time round" type of thing, hence having to stop & begin it again, but yes it was great to see Gary so openly admit that he'd FU**ED it up having only been doing that song for 41 years (which is actually incorrect, as M.E. was (as you know) on The Pleasure Principle which came out on 7th Sept 1979 so he'd actually been doing it for more than 43 years (bearing in mind time spent writing & recording it before it was then "produced", then the records stamped & finally it being released in Sept '79). But as you have said before the humility, honesty & openness of "the man" is just so refreshing. I'm sure you were kicking yourself after you recorded the bit about Gary's monologue for Are "Friends" Electric & you said about the lyrics for the 2nd time round & you then said "So I had no reasons for the phone calls & smiles," ..... which of course should have been :- So I found out your reasons for the phone calls & smiles, And it hurts & I'm lonely, And I should never have tried, But I missed you tonight, So it's time to leave. You see this means everything to me. And I LOVE the way Gary so often makes a point of pointing down on that last line suggesting that being there at that concert & doing the concerts is what he's referring to with "this means everything to me". I know exactly what you mean about loving going to the gigs & taking others along. For Savage, Skaparis Orchestra & (R)Evolution my eldest daughter went along with me & she is now a convert to Gary as well but unfortunately she was unable to make the Intruder concert which was a shame, especially for me, not having her there with me to experience & enjoy the evening. Sorry I have gone on so much, but you gave me so much to think on & talk about during this video & I really hope I haven't caused any offence anywhere with any of my comments, I love these videos you do & really appreciate your thoughts & insights, again, I can't wait for the videos you've mentioned about doing of Gary's "writing procedure". Thank you again (and thank you for the replies to my previous comments too, can't believe you'd take the time top bother reading my drivel & then actually replying to it as well (MIND BLOWN). PPS : Oh yes & FINALLY, I can't wait for the DVDs of (R)Evolution & Intruder to become available. If you speak to Gary (or anyone else "in the know" can you try & find out when they will be coming out please ?
Good review but you make the classic mistake of assuming that the older people in the audience are there for the older tracks and the new music has to be woven in to please a broader mix of younger fans. I think you'll find it's the opposite for many. Yes, there are some nostalgia peddlers who feel lost in this current world and want Gary Numan to play all the old stuff so that they can feel 16 again, but that illusion is shattered when you look around and see a reflection of yourself in another old fan doing the same. I personally don't like to be reminded that I'm not 11 listening to Are Friends Electric for the first time, I'd much rather be in the moment as a 53 yr old listening to Intruder. I did all the Cars stuff back then, but he's moved on and so have we. It's very disorientating to have 40 years of music played in two hours because it triggers emotions from different eras. Opening with Intruder was amazing because both of my daughters love the album, so the three of us had a shared experience, but then going straight back to a classic track meant that I was suddenly 10 yrs old again and I disconnected from my girls who were stood next to me. It was weird. I hope that makes sense.....
Hey VG That's awesome 👏 Whaoooow ‼️🙀🙆😎😃🥳 fantastic 🙏🏽🙏🏽 perfect perfectly 🙏🏽 CoooooooooooooooL 👌🏽👍💪 Very good and nice 💯🔥💥🎊🎉😻🌟🌟🌟 I am going to see him in Paris soon with VIP full 🙏🏽🙏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🥳♥️❤️
Raven uses her dad's real last name I see 'Webb" and welllll that was uhhhh a 'look'....broke dress code that's for sure. Her mom looks like she had a hand in that outfit May 7th at Wembley.
I really don't agree with you it was a greatest hits with the tracklist whatsoever lik many of his shows and specially Intruder he goes for songs that may be good on the album as an album to listen to but live they just don't work when you have so many put together the variety and style of his music isn't there so the songs just meld into each other and it leaves it completely flat and uninspiring a lot of people I have had coinversations with who went Non Numan fans and fans alike were bored midway through due to the song selection. Some poor choices and some tracks he just doesn't need to play live now because he does them to death. He certainly hasn't reached the height he was in 1981 the problem is in 1981 everyone knew who Gary Numan was in 2022 the majority of people have never even heard of him beyiond anyone over a certain age and his fanbase. The venue wasn't full but certainly the fans in the standing area made for a good atmosphere nonetheless. Also the backing tracks need to be all looked at, if you've been to a Gary Numan concert in the last 20 years you instantly know what song is coming because he hasn't altered any of them it was always something he used to do and sometimes his live versions of songs were better than the studio recordings he doesn't do that now an you cannot tell the difference between the studio or live versions on his recent songs and he uses the backing tracks from his Exile shows of 1997 and 1998 for the older stuff.
1981 Wembley was incredible it was a real spectacle. The recent Wembley show was IMHO p**s poor from the set list to Gary's prancing about and ropey vocals. Yet another missed opportunity. I think fans are living in the past and pretending Numan's as good as he was back then. Stop deluding yourselves Numan is not even 10% as good as he was in 1981.
You’re entitled to your opinion but, I think you’re projecting when you say we’re living in the past. Gary’s voice has improved so much, he croons like Morrissey now when he used to sound a lot more thin and nasal. His songwriting has tightened up and his songs are so much more direct, he’s not hiding behind the robot man persona anymore what we’re getting is so much closer to the real Numan. I adore his older work but thank goodness he’s not just a nostalgia act, rather he’s an artist bursting with creativity who won’t hear of resting on his laurels.
Gary Numan played Wembley Arena on 7 May 2022. The last time he played there was back in 1981. This gig review examines the set list and the show in general.
Hey VG That's awesome 👏 Whaoooow ‼️🙀🙆😎😃🥳 fantastic 🙏🏽🙏🏽 perfect perfectly 🙏🏽 CoooooooooooooooL 👌🏽👍💪 Very good and nice 💯🔥💥🎊🎉😻🌟🌟🌟 I am going to see him in Paris soon with VIP full 🙏🏽🙏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🥳♥️❤️
I thought you might be there too!
I was there too. Probably about three rows behind you. It was absolutely magic. Best I've ever been to very emotional. I loved the fact that he talked so much (well for Gary Numan anyway). I also loved the way the Guitarist and the Bass player sold their performances too, that was like the icing on the cake. All the band were in the moment, but those too really gave a performance. Hopefully if he sells a video of this tour, it will be of this Gig. I definitely want a copy of that.
Hey Vaughn, you should look up a band named - Crosses, lead by Chino Moreno of Deftones. It's right up your alley and fits with your channel theme.
I adore your passion for Gary's music and always watching your videos on his stuff makes me want to play it, and reminds me why I'm a fan. I saw the Intruder tour in Sheffield last week - I treasure every opportunity to see him live. I cannot wait to learn more about the legacy re-recordings.
I met Gary in the latter half of the 70's, before he hit it big. He came to a party we had in a shared flat in Hayes Middx where a few of my friends were musicians. We recorded him singing a few Bowie tracks, wonder where those tapes are now. I was friends with and played drums in a band with Paul Gardiner, his bass player when he hit it big. He left our fledgling band to join Tubeway Army and a year later saw him on TV with Gary many times, we lost touch and was sad to hear he Overdosed and died after Gary broke up the band. Paul was always obsessed with making it big. Well he did for a few years but could not handle the comedown when it was over.
saw him in September in Vancouver he rocked I prefer the older stuff but all in all a great rocking show!!!! Legend !!!
Great review. Thanks for that. It was a great gig and you brought back the excitement of the night. Brill
Brilliant review.🖤🖤
Thank you Tracy!! VG :-)
Hiya! Thankyou for a great Wembley review, and analysis. Chris Payne plays the viola ; the A Prayer For The Unborn mix you spoke of is called the Andy Gray mix ; and the new drummer is called Hudson Deans. We went to Wembley and Glasgow ; I’m going solo to Amsterdam ; then we’re both going to Madrid. We loved Wembley so much, and it was such a lifetime Numan concert. Stay safe. Malc.
Hey Malc!! Great having you here to set me straight on those facts !! Thank you Sir!! Glad you enjoyed the video !! VG 😎👍🎹
I thought it was called a viola.
@@sunuman4454 Yeah I think it is A Viola. The Viola goes lower than A Violin, but higher than a Cello I think
@@paulwhiting6979 For some reason violin players don't like violas but for me i prefer the viola .
One thing that always brings home to me how amazingly prolific Gary has been is this: Every time he performs live you hear and read people's comments to the effect of "I was hoping he would play [name of one of a dozen or so different songs]." For me, it would be: "I wish he had played Replicas... or Please Push No More.... or Complex.... or the piano version of Down in the Park.... or....."
Thanks so much for this excellent review of the Wembley show. Your enthusiasm (and even some emotion) is wonderfully evident and greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your kind and sincere words!! VG 🎹😎👍
Hey Vaughn, fantastic review mate . I was at Wembley in 1981 on my own and this time I took my wife and she’s a converted Numanoid now . Loved the gig , the atmosphere, lighting and of course Gary and the band were incredible . Although you can never match the 1981 gig when he was in his prime, and on a stratosphere level. I was so emotional at the end , it brought back happy memories.
Thank you Ran!! VG :-)
Great review, I had a ticket for the gig but I couldn’t make it🥺 Thank you Vaughn 👍
You are welcome brother!! Thank you for watching !! VG :-)
Great review mate. It felt like a real privilege to be there. I'd already done the Liverpool show earlier in the week, and I've got Manchester tomorrow. Wembley just blew me away. I missed the 1981 shows so for me last Saturday was the pinnacle. I feel he'll probably play there again, but maybe not as part of a tour but as a stand alone gig
Thank you Jeffery !! VG :-)
Thanks so very much.
Wasn't able to be there so I really appreciate this review of this gig.
Glad you were able to go and share your experiences.
You’re very welcome Silveira!! VG 🎹👍😎
Great video and really excited about the re-recordings.
Was great to GN back in Wembley I was there in 81 and 22 he’s still as fresh today as he was in 77
Was at Wembley 1981 as a teenager. Best Gig I've ever been too. Sadly I had a bad bout of Covid this time round so I couldn't attend. Looked Epic. He puts everything into his shows. So thank you for the input. My hopes are to see him perform in Berlin or another German city. I've converted many over the years, taken along many friends and no one has ever said they didn't enjoy it. Most are immensely impressed and astonished with Gary's indefatigable energy.
Great presentation Vaughn thanks for describing it so well. After seeing 4 gigs in the Northeast US recently was blown away as have been on each tour but right now they are absolutely on fire! The Band is so tight and the chemistry and energy is so in sync between all of them. Thank you for this review excellent really enjoyed that
Great review, enjoyed the demonstrations! I'll be seeing him in Leicester this week :)
Great Review VG keep up the good work..........
Cheers Lee!! Thank you sir !! VG
Great review Vaughn. Top work. Saw Numan in Bournemouth. What a gig! He's on his 'A' game. Look forward to further Numan related content... Peace ✌️
Thank you Phil!! VG 🎹👍😎
Yea was there too. Damn what a show he absolutely nailed it. What I loved was the two young lads in front of us who were about 14 and 15. Who went absolutely mad when Are Friends Electric started. Just to show his music really does span the decades.
Wow wow wow. What a night. Started off with a 2 hour set by the mighty Pat Martin and The Liquid Engineers at Boxpark.
Made our way to Wembley arena.
I was at the first tours and last 2 nights at Wembley in 1981.
I did want or expect a re-enactment of 1981, that was then and better off left there in my faded old memory.
But, fucko me, what we did get was the occasional nod to 81.
Fantastic stage and lights, absolutely massive and I've work it the music arena industry and I've never seen such a huge lightbank.
The set list was perfect, lots of the old stuff, a few belters from 2000 onwards and then the savage and intruder stuff.
The band was tight only balls up was GN missing his cue on m.e.
Lovely and warm fuzzy feeling when Chris and Rrussell came on for m.e.
Stand out songs for me.
Intruder
Ruin
The gift
Everyday I glass
IDYD
Disconnect and
Glass.
Did GN knock out the park ???
Fucking right he did, he knocked it into 2031 for the 50th Anniversary.... And I'll still be there.. despite being 68
I was there 41 years waiting he was awesome epic
Even the liquid engineers in the fan park brilliant day
great review, i loved seeing numan back at wembley another top performance from numan and the band, gave me a buzz seeing so many people there
Cheers Chris !! Absolutely agree!! VG :-)
Thanks Vaughn for this great review! The gig must have been great fun! 🙂
The gig was amazing and I really enjoyed your review. ( Am jealous that you've heard the remix/rerecord of My Jesus) Thanks Vaughn
Great review mate.
You show love and respect for him, and his band....👍
I saw him perform on March 5th 2022 at Numbers in Houston. It was such a great show in a small venue! Look forward to seeing this.
Enjoyed your review and looking forward to your song writing vid..Going to Leicester gig on Friday.
Thank you my friend !! Enjoy the Leicestershire gig!! VG 🎹😎👍
I also was in crowd at this Wembley gig, it was massive. I also was in Wembley in 1981 (April 27th I think). Richie stayed with the band until last Saturday in Oberhausen. Sure going to miss him loads since he is such a nice guy.
I did 11 Intruder gigs of which 4 in the US, Wembley and 6 in Europe. Best one was (apart of Wembley which was in a league of its own) Par is & Brussels for me, and I also liked Washington a lot. My final one was last Saturday, so up to 2023...
Also, loads of respect for Numan as he puts the same effort in if there are 1,000 or 12,000 people there!
Wife and I caught three shows in Texas back in March before coming to the Wembley show which was awesome and definitely worth the ~5,000 mile trip!
Thank you, Vaughn, for doing this show :)
You are welcome Ed!! Thanks for watching and commenting !! VG :-)
Saw Gary at Leeds on May 12th. Awesome as always.
Great review Vaughn and clearly you can play a bit as well.. so I will check out your album. I did Bristol and Wembley and it was great to see Gary again in full flow. Wembley was just iconic and blew me away !!!
Thanks Graham !! VG 🎹👍😎
Great review! I saw him about 7 weeks ago in a tiny club in Detroit. I guess we Americans are lucky he’s not as popular over here and he plays smaller venues. I was literally standing 10 feet from Gary. However that show was a 3.5 hr drive away…but totally worth it. So jealous he played Pure! That was the one track I really wanted to hear but he didn’t play. Awesome he did Everyday I Die. Love that one too.
I did wonder on the size of the venues in the US. How many people would you say were there? I have been on the barrier at the front before but that’s been from queuing for hours (too old now) or meet n greets (too expensive now lol). X.
@@sunuman4454 probably no more than 300 people in the room
I was also at Wembley. It was absolutely fantastic.
I’m in Spain at the moment and I went to the Barcelona gig at Razzamatazz. It’s a very small intimate venue upstairs. Only a couple of hundred people but it was a fantastic gig. What a performance. Gary is a really good performer and the songs choices were fantastic. I was almost in tears when ‘a prayer for the unborn’ was played. I have very fond memories of listening to ‘are friends electric’ when I was doing my o levels back in 1979. I instantly become a huge fan.
Hi Vaughn, Great review. we went to the Leeds O2 gig that's where we tend to see Numan nowadays when he tours .as usual it was brilliant. the first Numan gig I saw in Leeds was the Warriors gig in 83 I believe seems a lifetime ago now. anyway, I managed to speak to Richard outside the venue in the afternoon one to one he has his reasons for moving on which I totally respect. I did manage to speak to the rest of the Band in Bradford at the Little Finger gig earlier this year, awesome guys and a cracking gig .
Cheers Tony!! VG 🎹👍😎
Really enjoyed this video many thanks🙂
You are very welcome Sarah!! VG :-)
I wasn't at the '81 gig but wow! Fantastic to see Mr N is still on top of his game and looking forward to the music to come. Great review as always VG
I was at the gig. Best he's ever been. Was also at the Bristol gig the week before which I took my 1w gr old daughter to. First time for her and she loved jt, she's a big fan.
Hi. We went to Brighton and Wembley. Wembley was absolutely fantastic. X.
I wish I were there.. Your review sends me straight back to listening to Gary.. Always love watching you play bits of the song. I’m an older fan and have to say I never tire of Cars. I was so excited when I was able to own it on my small budget back in the day. Different subject but I wish Peter Murphy would resurface, lots of memories there.
Cheers Rob !! VG 🎹👍😎
Great review of the gig Vaughan, my brother and his mate was there too, said it was difficult to determine if Skaparis at RAH was better or not.They, like you just loved the gig, and were blown away by the light show too.
I am just jealous that you guys are where you are as I'm pretty sure he won't come down under again which is sad as it means alot of expat Brits in the Antipodes and Aussie miss out yet again. Might have to get a plane ticket for one of the US gigs when our restrictions for travel change come July...
Thanks again for all your great reviews, they are brilliant at letting us in on all the " trade secrets" behind the scenes for the artists we love and grew up with and created the soundtracks to our lives....
I was there dude, phenomenal show, look forward to seeing your review buddy!! 🤘 Ally
Cheers Ally!! VG 🎹👍😎
I was at Leeds on the 12th. First time for 16 years. His sound had got quieter, but I was pleased to leave the Leeds gig with ringing ears, Also broke all of my covid rules. Hadn't been to a pug, social event or even out with a mate since Christmas 2019, my non Numan fan bought the tickets and forced me to go. What a night. Devine Shade were pretty good too
Great review, great show. Emotional for Numan and the fans. Sounds like I was about 5 rows behind you.
Cheers Ian !! Glad you enjoyed the show too !! VG 🎹👍😎
It wasn't the first time he'd played there since 1981.
It was the first time he'd played there since 1993, as special guest on the OMD tour
Thanks for correcting me there Jeff!! Kind regards !! VG 😎👍🎹
@@VaughnGeorge no problem 👍 I think he's forgotten himself 😂
Don't know why, he was brilliant that night :)
Looking forward to your review.
Brilliant take of the night
Thank you Tony!! VG 🎹👍😎
any news on when his re-recorded albums are coming out? thought they would be released last year.
I don’t have any further info but I’m assuming mid to late next year . Gary is of course also working on Intruder 2 which will take priority so I’m sure he has his hands full, VG👍🎹😎
@@VaughnGeorge thanks Vaughn! Last I heard, intruder 2 will commence late this year, and heard sacrifice re-recorded was already completed so odd why it’s taken it’s time. Woulda been convenient for him to sell these re-releases on the road at his merch tents!
Numan was omd.s support band that did Wembley arena in 1993 .....vg
Chris Payne played a viola. I saw Numan play everyday I die at Hammersmith September 79. Get to hear Pure live.
That was funny when we were all singing ME I thought it was really odd he hadn’t started singing lol. X.
His silly dancing does my head in a bit to be honest. But he his a legend. I love his material. And his character. And his voice. He's brilliant. But that friggin dancing. Aaarrrggghhh!
Saw him in Brighton awesome show
I was at Wembley 2022...fabulous gig, definitely unforgettable...I also attended the Manchester acoustic gig 2023...Gary's
vocals...off the chartly amazing and the band...fantastic, venue unfortunately not so.
Looking forward to your thoughts on this performace. Congratulations on your own record release!
Thank you Joanna !! VG
I think possibly the hardest thing for the keyboard player live , is getting all the sound changes right for different songs etc .Not so much the playing of notes ,because the songs aren't that hard to play , quite straight forward for a decent player .I can imagine lots of things going wrong when selecting sounds though, the pressure must be on. I'm guessing he has a computer program that stores sound set ups .
You are correct Steve. In the case of David Brooks, every song is setup in Mainstage via banks. It's as simple as pressing a button between each song and all the sounds are mapped out for each track so there is no need for him to be flicking through sound menus during a song. VG :-)
Prayer for the unborn mix is Andy gray mix. Sadly not been able to go the gig in Liverpool health issues neverless for what I have seen on you tube from various gigs I've missed a great show.
Sorry to hear about your health Les, I wish you strength and a full recovery back to full heath. VG :-)
Thanks vaughn me to it's the arthritis in my back and hips can't stand for to long. Thanks for the like you take it easy good luck with the album 👍
I thought the first time Persia's debut on stage with her dad was the pre Savage gig at The Liverpool Exhibition Centre, I remember, because the venue was set up arse roads about (seating front, standing rear) and Gary didn't like it remarking 'this is shit'.
23:27 I’ve seen a few live videos of “Ruin” on YT, and I’m pretty sure that even when Persia is there, her bit is on the backing track. There’s on where she starts lip-syncing a bit late, and another where she doesn’t at all, but we still hear her singing. Perhaps a bit of caution on Numan’s part - a “backup” if you will. Not that I mind; she’s quite the trooper for getting up there at all. Do you think she’s actually live these days?
I was there with my brother. Great gig but the venue sound was not the best. Sounded echoing. We we halfway down on the right of stage in the upper seating. Looking forward to seeing the live video when it comes out. Cheers for the review.
Great Video V! I saw Numan last night at the Norwich UEA and it was a bit of a weird one, Numan didn’t seem like himself, there was no speaking whatsoever and he just seemed quite angry, Especially during Pure, he seemed quite enraged and frustrated at something? Great show none the less! Brought my partner along too, I’m not sure if she was converted but eh oh well haha. Funny thing was he actually screwed up the first spoken bit of AFE which was quite a moment, but Numan can do no wrong in my book, such a performer and a Massive influence on myself
Richard will be with the tour for the rest of the UK AND the European tour (Thats from Richard himself)
HI Will !! Thank you for clarifying !! VG :-)
Does anyone know his pet name for his friend .... someone told me it was Figgy? .... I don't understand why this seems so relevant ... can anyone explain?
Hiya Vaughn . . . I will share this bizarre tidbit of info ---so 'the' Mr. Numan played to some 12,000 peeps at Wembley.....and in *Sept. 2022 he will be in the likes of Vancouver, BC* playing at a very small venue where the stage is like right 'there'---barely TWO feet up and flat open floorplan. It is about *990* pple and basically standing {Commodore Ballroom}. It is insane to me that he will be in this old skool venue and not a stadium. The regig date is due to cancellation of the orig. Oct 2021 date due to the global pandemic. I just had to share that.
Saw him in Detroit in March; no more than 300 people in the room. I was standing 10 feet away from Gary. Crazy.
Interesting to hear you mention the fact (around 13:00) about Gary's music being very "single note" rather then "chord" oriented. I'd never really thought about it, but in some ways I guess it's fairly obvious if you remember that when he started most "synthesizers" were MONO-phonic so you could only play one note at a time, hence why would you write music that required chords ? You wouldn't because you couldn't play them (until the likes of the PolyMoog, Jupiter 8, Prophet 5 ( I think I've remembered those correctly - no doubt you know far more about them than I do) came out & became available, but by then i would guess that Gary'd got into the "habit" of writing in a particular way which suited the monophonic synths far more than the polyphonics. Not sure if you'd agree with this or not, but that's how it appears to me.
PS : Yes I did get to see him in Birmingham at the O2 Institute on Monday 2nd May (and LOVED IT) would have liked to go to Wembley but couldn't make it.
Can't wait for the videos you mention about Gary's writing style that you're going to do.
Lovely to hear you make a special point of mentioning Richard, giving thanks to him for his "long service" (can't believe - not that I'm doubting you - that he's been with Gary for 29 years !! WOW, as you say, whoever is going to be replacing him is going to have some really big shoes to fill - & we wonder how long they will have to fill them for ??? There's been a lot of talk lately about Gary laying down the microphone within the next few years, possibly only doing one more album before he retires (again) but for the final time, so will he tour again before that time comes I wonder ???
Track list from Wembley sounds fantastic, many were (of course) played in Birmingham, but the one I REALLY LOVE & so missed was "Jo, The Waiter" (Not sure if, from what you said about it being a nod to the past, whether you're aware that Gary HAD to put "Jo, The Waiter" into the set list "by special request" (or was it that he was ORDERED to put it in ??) by & for Gemma, as it's one of her all time favourites.
And yes, for M.E. he had Chris Payne playing his electric viola & RRussell Bell on guitar & the reason they had to stop & restart was because Gary completely missed his cue (there's actually a video on TH-cam - hope I'm not breaking any rules by putting this here : th-cam.com/video/vK4Da4Krb6Y/w-d-xo.html ) & you can hear the audience start singing AT THE CORRECT POINT which Gary COMPLETELY MISSED & because everything is time stamped (as you've mentioned in other videos) you can't just continue & jump in "next time round" type of thing, hence having to stop & begin it again, but yes it was great to see Gary so openly admit that he'd FU**ED it up having only been doing that song for 41 years (which is actually incorrect, as M.E. was (as you know) on The Pleasure Principle which came out on 7th Sept 1979 so he'd actually been doing it for more than 43 years (bearing in mind time spent writing & recording it before it was then "produced", then the records stamped & finally it being released in Sept '79). But as you have said before the humility, honesty & openness of "the man" is just so refreshing.
I'm sure you were kicking yourself after you recorded the bit about Gary's monologue for Are "Friends" Electric & you said about the lyrics for the 2nd time round & you then said "So I had no reasons for the phone calls & smiles," ..... which of course should have been :-
So I found out your reasons for the phone calls & smiles,
And it hurts & I'm lonely,
And I should never have tried,
But I missed you tonight,
So it's time to leave.
You see this means everything to me.
And I LOVE the way Gary so often makes a point of pointing down on that last line suggesting that being there at that concert & doing the concerts is what he's referring to with "this means everything to me".
I know exactly what you mean about loving going to the gigs & taking others along.
For Savage, Skaparis Orchestra & (R)Evolution my eldest daughter went along with me & she is now a convert to Gary as well but unfortunately she was unable to make the Intruder concert which was a shame, especially for me, not having her there with me to experience & enjoy the evening.
Sorry I have gone on so much, but you gave me so much to think on & talk about during this video & I really hope I haven't caused any offence anywhere with any of my comments, I love these videos you do & really appreciate your thoughts & insights, again, I can't wait for the videos you've mentioned about doing of Gary's "writing procedure". Thank you again (and thank you for the replies to my previous comments too, can't believe you'd take the time top bother reading my drivel & then actually replying to it as well (MIND BLOWN).
PPS : Oh yes & FINALLY, I can't wait for the DVDs of (R)Evolution & Intruder to become available. If you speak to Gary (or anyone else "in the know" can you try & find out when they will be coming out please ?
No there were not any extra guests at Brighton. The girls didn’t come on either. Xxx.
I figured that , thanks for confirming Su!! VG 🎹👍😎
Good review but you make the classic mistake of assuming that the older people in the audience are there for the older tracks and the new music has to be woven in to please a broader mix of younger fans. I think you'll find it's the opposite for many. Yes, there are some nostalgia peddlers who feel lost in this current world and want Gary Numan to play all the old stuff so that they can feel 16 again, but that illusion is shattered when you look around and see a reflection of yourself in another old fan doing the same. I personally don't like to be reminded that I'm not 11 listening to Are Friends Electric for the first time, I'd much rather be in the moment as a 53 yr old listening to Intruder. I did all the Cars stuff back then, but he's moved on and so have we. It's very disorientating to have 40 years of music played in two hours because it triggers emotions from different eras. Opening with Intruder was amazing because both of my daughters love the album, so the three of us had a shared experience, but then going straight back to a classic track meant that I was suddenly 10 yrs old again and I disconnected from my girls who were stood next to me. It was weird. I hope that makes sense.....
Hey VG That's awesome 👏 Whaoooow ‼️🙀🙆😎😃🥳 fantastic 🙏🏽🙏🏽 perfect perfectly 🙏🏽 CoooooooooooooooL 👌🏽👍💪 Very good and nice 💯🔥💥🎊🎉😻🌟🌟🌟 I am going to see him in Paris soon with VIP full 🙏🏽🙏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🥳♥️❤️
A bit after he anounaced his retirement. He wished he never did that. Just so you know.
Raven uses her dad's real last name I see 'Webb"
and welllll that was uhhhh a 'look'....broke dress code
that's for sure. Her mom looks like she had a hand in
that outfit May 7th at Wembley.
Did you see Andy fletcher there with his family
NO!! Was he there for real ? :-)
@@VaughnGeorge yes mate sat along the side
Gray numan depeche mode ok but look at euro music like IAMX, project pitchfork, covenant, and one ,Eisfabrik, deine Lakaien?
I really don't agree with you it was a greatest hits with the tracklist whatsoever lik many of his shows and specially Intruder he goes for songs that may be good on the album as an album to listen to but live they just don't work when you have so many put together the variety and style of his music isn't there so the songs just meld into each other and it leaves it completely flat and uninspiring a lot of people I have had coinversations with who went Non Numan fans and fans alike were bored midway through due to the song selection. Some poor choices and some tracks he just doesn't need to play live now because he does them to death. He certainly hasn't reached the height he was in 1981 the problem is in 1981 everyone knew who Gary Numan was in 2022 the majority of people have never even heard of him beyiond anyone over a certain age and his fanbase. The venue wasn't full but certainly the fans in the standing area made for a good atmosphere nonetheless. Also the backing tracks need to be all looked at, if you've been to a Gary Numan concert in the last 20 years you instantly know what song is coming because he hasn't altered any of them it was always something he used to do and sometimes his live versions of songs were better than the studio recordings he doesn't do that now an you cannot tell the difference between the studio or live versions on his recent songs and he uses the backing tracks from his Exile shows of 1997 and 1998 for the older stuff.
1981 Wembley was incredible it was a real spectacle. The recent Wembley show was IMHO p**s poor from the set list to Gary's prancing about and ropey vocals. Yet another missed opportunity. I think fans are living in the past and pretending Numan's as good as he was back then. Stop deluding yourselves Numan is not even 10% as good as he was in 1981.
Harsh - but I’ve watched the 81 concerts and he really was huge then .
You’re entitled to your opinion but, I think you’re projecting when you say we’re living in the past. Gary’s voice has improved so much, he croons like Morrissey now when he used to sound a lot more thin and nasal. His songwriting has tightened up and his songs are so much more direct, he’s not hiding behind the robot man persona anymore what we’re getting is so much closer to the real Numan. I adore his older work but thank goodness he’s not just a nostalgia act, rather he’s an artist bursting with creativity who won’t hear of resting on his laurels.
@John R Fenton doesn’t do anything Gary doesn’t let him do…
You guys really take the cake. With “fans” like you, who needs haters?