Are Friends Eclectic?

As this conversation took place just a few days into January, I begin by asking one of the founding fathers of electronic pop how his Y2K went.

"It was a mixture of really, really excellent things as far as my career was concerned and really, really horrible things personally," answers Numan. "My Nan died, my best friend died and my wife and I were expecting a baby and our baby died. Quite an extreme year emotionally, I've got to say. Lots of up and downs. On the other hand I got fantastic reviews for the album (Pure) and played some really good shows. From a career point of view, it was probably the best year I've had since 1979/80. So a very strange year."

The aforementioned Pure, Gary's seventeenth studio album, has been heralded as a fine return to his dark and atmospheric electro-scapes.

"I think that the new album is for me arguably one of my better records, if not the best record I've ever made", states Numan. "So I can't argue with the contention that I'm back firing on all cylinders again! I don't think the difference with some of the other stuff I've done is a huge chasm of quality. I think some of the other records I've made in the interim are very, very good themselves, but probably in terms of direction not right at that time.

"I perhaps made some misguided records over the years. All in all, I think a lot of the stuff I've done has been dismissed slightly, but I can't grumble with the position I find myself in at the moment. To have some of the reviews now compared to some of the reviews I've received in the past… (cackles out loud)… is a fantastic thing for me! It is a lovely thing to read that people like and appreciate what you do as opposed to the opposite."

Having weathered several critical and commercial lowpoints along the rocky road, why does Gary feel compelled to continue risking ridicule from the more abusive quarters of the media?

"I've got to be honest," he replies. "I love doing it and the touring side of things in particular is one my favourite parts of the whole business. An album like Pure is quite clearly not radio friendly and is not a commercial record at all compared to some other people who are perhaps trading very heavily on their eighties heritage. I can understand why they are doing that, but, for me, it seems like a horrible thing to do.

"One of the things that has plagued me over the years is that the record company I've been with has constantly re-released 'Cars' every couple of years, had it remixed and churned it out again. When 'Cars' gets used in a beer commercial and the record company want to put it out again, you've got to be a harder man than I am to say 'nah'! Because the rest of my career could depend on that tiny revival that reminds people that you're still alive even. But I draw the line there."

Speaking of the 'Cars' albatross that regularly raises its seminal electronic head, what did Gary make of last year's smash 'Koochy' by Armand Van Helden that lifted the melody from Numan's hit?

"I liked it but didn't love it," says Gary. "It was a little too bleepy for me and lightweight and tinny. But I really liked that when he used that part of 'Cars' and when it finally kicked in, it sounded really heavy and thick-sounding. I was very happy and flattered that he did because he's a really cool man to have borrowing your stuff. But I have to say if I hadn't written 'Cars' I'm not sure if I would have gone out and bought it. Having said that, some of the versions and remixes of stuff I've done has been completely disgusting."

He has been remixed, repackaged, reheated and resealed, but Mr Numan has never played a live engagement in Ireland despite being a regular visitor.

"My wife's family are from Dublin and her maiden name is O'Neill, so when I go round to her Dad's house it's like a shrine to the island he wants to go back to," laughs Gary. "So there has been quite a lot of flying there but never a show. It's a little bizarre considering I've been going for twenty-two years! I do feel embarrassed about it. The thing that's forced my hand has been that there are a number of people who travel over every year to see the shows and they always ask 'when are you coming?' And I just get too embarrassed! Now is the right time to do it I think."

Gary Numan will perform his first ever live shows in Ireland on Saturday 17th February in Vicar St and Sunday 18th February in The Limelight, Belfast. www.numan.co.uk