For a brief moment in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Gary Numan was a new wave sensation, topping the charts with his synthesizer-drenched single, “Cars.” Embracing the alien nature of electronic songcraft, the British musician coaxed eerie melodies from his instruments, strung along by his stark monotone vocals and lyrics about isolation and less-than-ideal futures.
In the decades since their release, Numan's first three records—Replicas, The Pleasure Principle and Telekon—have proved to be remarkably prescient, influencing everything from the glossy synth-pop of Chvrches to industrial electronics of Nine Inch Nails.
Numan has never shied away from revisiting his past and has instead embraced the impact of his early work. During this three-night stand at Metro, he'll play one of his first three albums each night, beginning with Replicas (on May 15) and ending with Telekon (on May 17).