Back in 2022, Gary Numan stated that he really didn’t expect his comeback to take 41 years. Maybe four, he suggested with a laugh. Of course, Numan never quite left the spotlight – the ‘comeback’ in question only refers to his return to big stadiums. And in particular a return to Wembley – something of a symbolic and anxiety-ridden journey for Numan; coming full circle after previously announcing his farewell from live shows at the capital’s stadium in 1981.

Numan at the Agra Hall in Liepzig, June 2022. Photo by Stefan Bollmann, Wikimedia Commons.

Glastonbury at last

Fast-forward again to 2025, and Numan needn’t look back now. Fresh off the back of a stellar Glastonbury debut aged 67, he’ll be embarking on both a US and UK tour starting in the autumn.

But this – amazingly first ever – Glasto appearance wasn’t just a novelty because of how late in his life it happened. In fact, the turnout at the Park Stage to see the new-wave singer points towards a prevalence and relevance that can never fade.

Gothic icon?

At any of his new shows, you’ll find a crowd plenty full of silver hair, but balanced equally with plenty of young heads. Who, in fitting fashion, might also still have a deliberate silverish look in their hair.

Numan’s place as a goth artist has always been a touchy subject in the goth community. He came from humble, working-class roots, and his handling of fame was almost punk-like.

But his popularity amongst the masses and the unapologetic pop-appeal of tracks like Cars left him on the gothic side-lines for many years, in spite of his undeniable role in pioneering dark, electronic sounds. Even in a forum from 1999, Google users still bickered over the subject.

As a pretty avid Numan fan, I could dispute this by simply referencing the fact that he tried to sign gothic icons Depeche Mode after seeing them in 1979, as told to Amoeba in 2013. But now, to the kids of today, his status is totally undisputed anyway.

One TikTok video by silver dance creator Lunie Moon depicts her dancing expressively and enigmatically to Numan’s M.E. One young user in the comments stated: ‘I see my future and it’s bright.’

@luniemoon Post punk dystopia Sunday vibes. #garynuman #danceimprovisation #kitchendance #80smusic #dancelife #fitcheck ♬ M.E. – Gary Numan

Numanoids: the Numanites and Numanarti

The fairly recent introduction of TikTok and Instagram reels has been pivotal in younger people discovering his music. During the pandemic, the shared boredom of lockdown saw younger users form communities and shared meaning after becoming inspired by the lives, oral histories, or even just the vibe of certain older users, such as Lunie (above).

The masses of this content resulted in certain elements of goth and other subcultures becoming absorbed into an all-encompassing subculture, umbrella term, and stylised hegemony of ‘alternative’, or simply known as ‘alt’ – where it is often used as a self-describing label.

The fact that Numan has prevailed as a key alternative idol probably says enough about his relevance in goth and popular culture. Cars has been used in over 50,000 videos on TikTok, and features on 15,000 Instagram reels along with plenty more of his tracks hitting the thousands on both platforms.

Furthermore, there’s also the hugely popular samples of Numan out there, such as the use of not one – but two – samples in Basement Jaxx’ Where’s Your Head At. Such uses (honourable shoutout to the Suga Babes’ Freak Like Me) demonstrate how beloved and important his music is to all generations.

M.E’ is used in Where’s Your Head At‘s bassline and ‘This Wreckage’ for the bridge, for those interested.

On a fan level, one user calls Are Friends Electric a ‘retro banger’, whilst comments under videos of Numan posted by his daughters Raven and Persia state how much of a ‘flex’ it is to have him as a father, or call Numan an icon.

@ravennuman uh what the hellyberry #garynuman #fyp ♬ original sound – FreshOutTheCrate

@debussywoman Since dads song is trending rn @Gary Numan #garynuman #fypviralシ #fypシ ♬ original sound – FreshOutTheCrate

It’s clear that Numanoids are no longer just the hardcore fans that stuck with Numan throughout his live hiatus the (the -oids). They are now those who continued to be inspired by Numan, either abstractly as fans, or by creating work derivative of his gritty synth sounds (the –arti). The amount of eighties-reminiscent tracks and an ‘edgy’ wave is monumental, and truly dominates pop music at the moment.

But of course this in itself is still nothing new. Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor claimed to have listened to the track every day in the making of his band’s album Pretty Hate Machine. All roads lead back to Gary.

Even his daughters clearly find their father cool, both during and after growing up. All three have featured on stage multiple times in the past few years. Raven and Persia – his eldest and middle children – even had their own spotlight as artists during his Glastonbury show. Raven performed one of her own songs, which she co-wrote with her father, entitled Nothing’s What It Seems, while Persia contributed backing vocals to the song My Name Is Ruin.

I can tell you now, there’s not a whole host of dads out there who can wear that badge.

The new sound: he’s gone electric again

Numan’s new work brilliantly reflects both his own evolution and his absorption (or at the least recognition) of the changing world around him. His 2021 album, Intruder (which hit No.2 in the UK charts) features heavy use of guitars combined with industrial soundscapes. Whilst these sonics are distinctively him, and certainly resemble his 1980 album Telekon, it meets the ears as cinematic, eerie, and brooding. A fresh and fitting feel for the 2020s.

The future of Numan’s music will likely continue to reflect this mutual influence, where the new world and younger generations around him affect him as much as he might affect them. Speaking to BBC 6 Music, out of all his back catalogue he was most excited to play the new, unreleased song titled Nothing’s What it Seems, which he wrote with Raven.

@bbc6music Synth-pop legend @garynuman makes his Glasto debut a family affair. Listen on @bbcsounds | Watch on #bbciplayer ♬ original sound – BBC Radio 6 Music

Catch him while you can

Off the back of the US tour, and starting off with a show at the 02 Academy in Glasgow and finishing at Liverpool’s 02 this November, there’s plenty of opportunities along the way to catch Numan performing the classics with an extra chance to catch his inevitable next sound.

Find Gary Numan tour dates

For those interested, the run up to Numan’s Wembley homecoming is documented in the documentary Gary Numan: Resurrection, and you can fill in the other gaps with his 2017 autobiography ‘(R)EVOLUTION’.

Numan’s new album A Perfect Circle: Live is out now.

Finn Norris

Finn is a writer and musician. He has written on internet culture, technology, and reviewed music, film, and television. When not frantically tapping away he can be found kicking back with the simpler things: coffee, cats, and football.

The post Gary Numan, Gen Z and beyond: why all ages are tuning in appeared first on Silver Magazine.

The wait is over – in case you hadn’t already sussed it, and plenty of people had! The 1975 take one of the coveted headline slots as the Glastonbury Festival lineup is officially announced. Set to play on Friday June 27th, the Manchester band will lead an eclectic mix of artists across the legendary Worthy Farm stages.

The announcement cements The 1975’s status as one of the UK’s biggest bands, known for their genre-blending sound and theatrical live shows. With frontman Matty Healy at the helm, fans can expect an electrifying set packed with hits like Somebody Else, The Sound, and Love It If We Made It.

Read more: You don’t have to be over 50 to make the best of festivals, but it helps…

A diverse and star-studded lineup

It’s a fairly wacky linup this year. There’s no doubt Glastonbury 2025 has delivered one of its most diverse lineups yet. Across the weekend, festivalgoers will be treated to a wide range of genres. With Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, Charli XCX, Rod Stewart, and The Prodigy all taking top billing.

Friday’s bill is stacked with talent, featuring Loyle Carner, Biffy Clyro, Alanis Morissette, and Busta Rhymes alongside rising stars like Wet Leg, PinkPantheress, and Gracie Abrams. Dance music lovers will also be pleased with performances from Four Tet, Floating Points, and Fatboy Slim.

On Saturday, Neil Young will bring his legendary folk-rock catalogue to the Pyramid Stage. Also appearances from Charli XCX, RAYE, Doechii, and Deftones. Rock fans can look forward to sets from John Fogerty, Kaiser Chiefs, and Weezer. While the electronic crowd will be drawn to Caribou and Leftfield.

The festival will close on Sunday with Olivia Rodrigo, Rod Stewart, and The Prodigy. The Libertines, Wolf Alice, Nile Rodgers & Chic, and Jorja Smith also feature, ensuring a mix of nostalgia and fresh talent.

Glastonbury 2025: a true musical spectacle

This year’s Glastonbury promises something for everyone, with a lineup spanning rock, indie, pop, hip-hop, and electronic music. The festival will also continue its commitment to activism, supporting Oxfam, WaterAid, and Greenpeace.

With more acts still to be announced across 100+ stages, Glastonbury 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting editions yet. Whether you’re heading to Worthy Farm or watching from home, it’s clear this year’s festival is one for the history books.

www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

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The post 1975 to headline – Glastonbury Festival lineup announced appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Set your alarms for next week. Glastonbury Festival has revealed the details of its 2025 Emerging Talent Competition, and entries are next week.

It’s an initiative aimed at giving promising new acts from the UK and Ireland a chance to perform on one of the festival’s main stages. The competition, which is free to enter, is supported by PRS for Music and PRS Foundation.

Open to artists from all musical genres, the competition will run for one week only, opening at 9am on Monday 27 January, and closing at 5pm on Monday 3 February 2025. To enter, acts are required to submit a YouTube link to one original song, along with a link to a video of themselves performing live.

What the winners get…

The winner of this prestigious competition will secure a performance slot at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival, one of the world’s most iconic music events. They’ll also receive a fat £5,000 Talent Development prize from PRS Foundation. This is to support the next steps in their songwriting and performing career.

Two runners-up will each receive a PRS Foundation £2,500 Talent Development prize.

A commitment to diversity and inclusivity is central to the competition. Glastonbury Festival has encouraged entries from disabled artists, with additional support available to ensure equal opportunities for all participants.

We’re assuming this commitment to diversity also includes mature entrants. Waiting to hear back from them on this but will update you!

Read more: Jed Novick on why festivals are perfect for the over-50s

The selection process begins with a panel of 30 leading UK music writers who will create a longlist of 90 acts from the entries. This longlist will then be reviewed by a judging panel, including Glastonbury organisers Michael and Emily Eavis, to identify eight finalists. These finalists will compete in live performances at the Pilton-based finals, where the ultimate winner will be decided.

Michael and Emily Eavis have expressed their excitement about the upcoming competition, which continues to serve as a vital platform for emerging artists. Previous winners of the Emerging Talent Competition have gone on to achieve significant success. Many have returned to perform on Glastonbury’s stages in subsequent years, such as Declan McKenna and Marie White.

For aspiring artists, this is a unique opportunity to showcase their talent on one of the biggest platforms in music. Entries open on 27th January 2025, and the Festival team is eager to discover the next wave of musical talent.

How to enter

For more details on the competition and how to enter, visit the official Glastonbury Festival website. The entry form will be available on the website when entries open at 9am on Monday 27th January 2025.

www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

silvermagazine

If you’d like to receive a regular mini-magazine direct to your inbox with a selection of editorial features to read at your leisure, please sign up for our newsletter. We also run the odd competition and offer and whatnot, and newsletter members get the heads-up first.

The post Glastonbury Festival 2025 Emerging Talent Competition appeared first on Silver Magazine.