Gary Numan, born Gary Anthony James Webb on 8 March 1958 in London, England, formed the new wave band Tubeway Army in 1977. The band signed with Beggars Banquet Records and released their debut album in 1978, followed by Replicas in 1979, which topped the UK Albums Chart. The single 'Are 'Friends' Electric?' from Replicas reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, marking one of the first synthesizer-based hits in the post-punk era. Numan transitioned to a solo career with The Pleasure Principle in 1979, another UK No. 1 album featuring the international hit 'Cars,' which also topped the UK charts and reached the US Top 10. Subsequent albums like Telekon (1980), I, Assassin (1982), and Warriors (1983) explored synth-driven sounds with funk and rhythmic elements. After a career downturn, he founded Numa Records in 1984 and continued releasing music, including Sacrifice (1994) and Jagged (2006). Numan's live performances, resuming after a 1981 farewell tour, have included over 600 shows, often featuring heavy synthesizers and guitar effects.