'Gary Numan had a big early impact on me. He appealed to the freaks in America, because apart from Cars he never really crossed over into the mainstream.'
Jonathan Davis, Korn
'Numan said since World War Two society's meant to be great, but, in fact, I'm scared of society, so scared that I just want to get in my car and shut my doors. And that was brilliant, it meant something and it made sense alongside what we were doing at the time.'
Phil Oakey, The Human League
It was after hearing 'Cars' that I knew I wanted to make music with synthesizers. I still listen to Telekon - I mean, it's fucking great because it's so cold sounding. And I remember discovering The Pleasure Principle. It painted an emotional place that wasn't pleasant. It seemed like creepy science fiction. It really scared me.'
Trent Reznor
'I was always into his apocalyptic fiction lyrics, but he also pioneered electronic dance music.'
Marilyn Manson
'Gary Numan. Man he was dope. When we heard Are Friends Electric? it was like the aliens had landed in the Bronx. More than Kraftwerk, Numan was the inspiration. He's a hero. Without him there'd be no electro.'
Afrika Bambaataa
'My perfect moment is to sit with my mates in New York, smoking and listening to Gary Numan records.'
Tricky
'Electro and hip hop wouldn't have existed if it hadn't been for Gary Numan.'
Trevor Jackson, Playgroup label
'Gary Numan had more influence on me than Kraftwerk ever did - he's the dark side of electronica.'
Dave Clarke, DJ
'Nothing will alter the fact that I think he has written a couple of the finest things in British pop music."
David Bowie
'Gary Numan can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. For the last 30 years most pop music has used The Beatles as a reference point and it's only recently that we're all stating to catch up with Gary.'
Boy George
We listened to Kraftwerk as a scholarly pursuit but Gary Numan is a much bigger influence.'
The Bravery
'Gary is the only electronic artist I thought was cool when I was a kid. He represents this whole weird, abstract element of music.''
Liam Howlett The Prodigy
'I don't care what anyone says, Gary Numan is cool.' Beck
The Magnetic Fields: 'His melodies are oddly beautiful and have a lot more emotional impact than his influences, David Bowie and
Kraftwerk.' Stephin Merritt, The Magnetic Fields
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