English musician Gary Numan is considered one of the pioneers of electronic music. He broke through in the late 1970s as the frontman of Tubeway Army . Shortly afterward, Numan launched his solo career and released the album The Pleasure Principle , which included the international hit " Cars ." His music is characterized by prominent synthesizers, dark futuristic themes, and a cool, androgynous stage style. As a result, he had a significant influence on the development of synthpop and electronic music.

Although his greatest commercial success came in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Gary Numan 's influence remains audible today. His music lives on in countless samples: acts like Basement Jaxx (with "Where's Your Head At"), Armand van Helden (with "Koochy"), and Sugababes (with "Freak Like Me") scored major hits that incorporated elements of Numan's work. Many artists also cite him as a significant inspiration. Nine Inch Nails , Blur , and Foo Fighters, among others, cite Numan as an influence. Even Prince expressed his admiration, saying: "There are still people trying to work out what a genius Gary Numan is."

After Numan's last performance in Amsterdam at Dekmantel Festival in 2023, Gary Numan returns to the Netherlands for a concert in the Main Hall of Paradiso.