Gary Numan & Tubeway Army & How He Accidentally Discovered The Synthesizer. The Full Story In Kenny Denton's Memoir "There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll"

Following the release of Tubeway Army’s initial single, the label was on the look out for someone to produce their second single.

My manager Stuart Taylor, with his keen eye for talent, suggested that we attend one of Tubeway Army’s performances to assess if I might be a suitable fit to work with the band. If that turned out to be the case, Stuart intended to propose to Andrew and Beggars Banquet that I take on the role of producer for their forthcoming recording. In March 1978, Stuart and I ventured out to Dingwalls in Camden Town to catch a live performance by Tubeway Army. On arrival, we found ourselves supplementing a sparse crowd of approximately eight people. The band was energetically playing through a set of somewhat forgettable songs. However, the thing that stood out was undoubtedly their frontman, Gary Numan.

Numan possessed an undeniable star quality. With his guitar worn low like a gun slinger, he exuded an air of toughness and confidence. His closely cropped blond hair bore him an uncanny resemblance to Heinz from The Tornados, a heartthrob of many teenage girls in the 60s. Undeniably Numan had that all-important star quality.

Despite this, it was the drummer who stood out as the star of the band in my estimation. This young musician played with a level of excitement behind the drum kit that harked back to the early days of Keith Moon, the legendary drummer of The Who. Stuart and I were in alignment regarding the band’s potential, even though we couldn’t quite put our finger on precisely what it was that set them apart. After the show, we patiently waited before making our way backstage to introduce ourselves. The band members, as it turned out, were quite amiable and easy-going. Although the frontman, Gary, appeared somewhat reserved, the overall atmosphere was friendly and approachable. The following day, Stuart had a conversation with Andrew about our impressions of the band. Andrew, in turn, relayed our feedback to the record company, leading to the finalisation of a deal. I was entrusted with the responsibility of producing the band’s upcoming recordings.