"Lee Cooper!"

For this episode of Electric Friends, I look back at one of Gary Numan's first ever projects - a TV advert jingle!

Gary recorded a short track called 'Don't Be a Dummy' for Lee Cooper jeans, which became very popular in 1979, just before he found fame with 'Are Friends Electric?'.

This episode delves into the making of the song, why Gary didn't record a full version, the cover single by John Du Cann, Gary's other advert attempts and more.

Clips used:

• Tubeway Army/Gary Numan - 'Don't be a Dummy'
• Tubeway Army - 'Something's in the House'
• John Du Cann - 'Don't be a Dummy'
• Gary Numan - '7 Up'
• Gary Numan - 'Cars (Premier Mix)'
• Lee Cooper advert (Dummies to the Left)

Please get in touch on YouTube, X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, or email at numanpodcast@gmail.com.

For this interview special, it’s with a bonafide music legend: Bill Sharpe.

Bill Sharpe is a classically trained pianist and jazz rock musician, who once worked alongside John Peel at the BBC and Trevor Horn in an early band. In 1980, he co-founded the band Shakatak, who scored many big hits around the world with their brand of post-disco jazz-funk.

In 1985, he teamed up with Gary Numan on what was meant to be a one-off single, but later turned into several songs, and a whole album - with 1989’s Automatic. He is a prolific songwriter and musician, who has collaborated with many other stars over the years, and is still performing with Shakatak today.

In the episode, Bill discusses:

• How he came to work with Gary Numan and their writing processes
• The unreleased demos he made with Gary after Automatic - could they ever be released?
• How Shakatak came about
• His friendship with John Peel

Clips used:

• Shakatak - Steppin'
• Shakatak - Easier Said than Done (TOTP)
• Sharpe & Numan - Change Your Mind
• Sharpe & Numan - New Thing from London Town
• Sharpe & Numan - No More Lies
• Shakatak - Nightbirds (TOTP)

Please get in touch on YouTube, X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, or email at numanpodcast@gmail.com.

"I don't suppose you ever laughed at me"

For this episode of Electric Friends, I look back at Gary Numan's 1985 album The Fury, and in particular its lead single 'Your Fascination'.

Including:

• How Gary continued his funk/industrial style from Berserker
• How radio continued to ignore him despite being a funky banger
• How he turned to co-producers and took on a new songwriting technique for the album
• Its music video co-starring his then-girlfriend
• Theories to what the song is about

Clips used:

• Gary Numan - Your Fascination
• Gary Numan - Miracles
• Gary Numan - Tricks
• Retrosound - PPG Wave Soundscapes II
• Gary Numan - Revolution (audiobook)

Please get in touch on YouTube, X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, or email at numanpodcast@gmail.com.