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In Episode #246 of the XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar is joined by Gary Numan — one of electronic music’s true pioneers — for a powerful conversation marking the 45th anniversary of Telekon and his remarkable return to Wembley Arena.
This autumn, Gary Numan hits the road with a major UK tour celebrating Telekon, the 1980 chart-topping album that cemented his status as a groundbreaking innovator. Alongside the anniversary shows, he has released A Perfect Circle: Live — recorded at Wembley in 2022 — and, nearly five decades into his career, he finally made his long-awaited Glastonbury debut.
Telekon & Nostalgia
“Telekon remains my favourite of those early albums — it captured everything I was going through, good and bad.” – Gary Numan
Numan recalls the creative forces that shaped Telekon, how its themes of technology, alienation, and dystopia feel sharper than ever today, and why performing the album in full connects him to a younger generation inspired by its sound. He also reflects on Trent Reznor’s devotion to the record and how Telekon became a touchstone for Nine Inch Nails.
Wembley & Glastonbury
“Walking out at Wembley again… I just burst into tears before going on. It felt like redemption.” – Gary Numan
Four decades after his so-called “retirement” shows at Wembley, Numan describes the emotion of returning to the stage for A Perfect Circle: Live — a night of triumph, healing, and fear conquered. He also shares why 2024 finally became the right time for his first-ever Glastonbury performance, and what it meant to stand before that iconic festival crowd.
AI & The Future of Music
“AI will wipe us out. It will look amazing, feel real — and people won’t care that it isn’t.” – Gary Numan
Numan discusses preparing for the demands of a new world tour, the intensity of his live shows, and why technology — from AI to studio experimentation — remains a double-edged tool in his creative world. He also shares hints about what might come next in the studio, alongside reflections on mental health, family life, and the enduring joy that keeps him making music.
Whether you discovered him through Cars, Are ‘Friends’ Electric?, or his modern reinventions like Intruder, this is Gary Numan at his most open — revisiting the past, confronting ghosts, and looking ahead with relentless curiosity.
A deeply human, career-spanning conversation not to be missed.
Gary Numan
Previous XS Noize Podcast Guests
Over 240 episodes in, XS Noize has welcomed legends and trailblazers, including:
Matt Beringer, Saint Etienne, D:Ream, Gavin Rossdale, The Farm, Snow Patrol, John Lydon, Will Sergeant, Ocean Colour Scene, Gary Kemp, Doves, Gavin Friday, David Gray, Anton Newcombe, Peter Hook, Razorlight, Sananda Maitreya, James, Crowded House, Elbow, Cast, Kula Shaker, Shed Seven, Future Islands, Peter Frampton, Bernard Butler, Steven Wilson, Travis, New Order, The Killers, Tito Jackson, Simple Minds, The Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder, Gary Numan, Sleaford Mods, Michael Head — and many more.
Find The XS Noize Podcast’s complete archive of episodes here.
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