Gary Numan

English singer, songwriter, and musician born in Hammersmith in 1958. One of the pioneers of electronic and synth-pop music — Are 'Friends' Electric? and Cars in 1979 established him as a major figure in the new wave era, built on Minimoog synthesizers and a robotic stage persona that predated the wider synthpop movement. His use of the Minimoog as a lead instrument rather than a background texture was genuinely innovative. Later work incorporated industrial and metal influences. He plays Roland and Moog synthesizers alongside guitar.