Exclusive NAGNFC Interview with Jim Collins
The Machman: Hello Jim, thanks for sharing some time with us to tell us about this exciting project on the frontburners. How long have you been a Numanoid anyway?
Jim Collins: I have been a fan since 1979 when I was only 14 years of age. I'll never forget hearing Cars on the radio for the first time. That was my first real exposure to Gary Numan. It was on a popular radio station in town and I thought after hearing it... "What a great sound! It's poppy and catchy and has a great beat". Well, now that I look back on my first impression of Cars, I see that it was the electronic aspect of the song that hooked me. I couldn't believe that this electronic song was on popular radio or that anyone would make anything of it. After all, the only other electronic stuff that I was listening to was Kraftwork and Devo, and they hadn't truly made a dent in the music scene yet. And then I saw Gary Numan perform on Saturday Night Live. I was hooked forever. His appearance was stark and devoid of emotion. This was very different from anything I had seen or heard. Replicas has been my favorite album ever since. As a matter of fact, I begged my parents to take me to Woolworth's to find Numan's albums and I then purchased Replicas on vinyl and Pleasure Principle on vinyl and 8-track! I played them over and over and ran out and purchased a small Casio keyboard with the built-in drums. The rest is history! At the time I was listening to a lot of different music by David Bowie, Elton John, Devo, Sex Pistols, Ramones, Kiss, Psychedelic Furs, Dead Boys, etc. It was Gary's music that made the most significant impact on me as an artist, writer and musician. It is because of Gary Numan, I feel, that I am a musician today. He is responsible for changing a fragment of culture.
The Machman: And that impact of Gary really shows in the music you are working on! What is the biggest attraction of Gary's music for you?
Jim Collins: What attracted me the most to Gary's music was the electronic pop aspect while maintaining a very dark undertone. It is hard to describe, but his music moves me deeply. Every album he has recorded has created a new and fresh sound. I really like that aspect of his music, too. It is never really the same, but it sounds like Numan. I think that Cars is the ultimate pop song ever and albums like Replicas, Pleasure Principle and Telekon led the way for countless bands to express their music to a more accepting audience. Gary's "White Funk" era was also very significant to me. From Warriors to Berserker, The Fury to Strange Charm and beyond, I was enthralled in his sound and image.
The Machman: As we all are! To say Gary is in a class all his own would still be an understatement. Let's bring things up to date for the dear readers. What inspired you to create The Church Of Gary Numan CD?
Jim Collins: My inspiration for this project... probably first began to surface after I had seen him at Shepherd's Bush Empire (England) on November 9, 1997. According to my wife, Anabel, I was in a haze, a dream-like state, high as a kite, when I saw him for the first time. It was very unreal. So, the though came to me... I wish I could put together a recording that would pay tribute to this man. And then, he toured North America and that's when I met you, Jim. I though you were a great guy then, but now I'm totally convinced! Do you have any music I can pay a tribute to you with? Haha. My wife and I followed Numan for several nights and met him, Gemma and the band. I began to take this tribute thing a lot more seriously, but still nothing gelled. Finally for some reason or devine intervention, I simply began to work with Cars as a jazz guitar piece... and bang! Why not reinterpret Numan's music in my own way? The Church Of Gary Numan: A Dark Celebration was born.
The Machman: Aww, thanks for the props. You are a great guy as well! A tribute CD for me? I can see it now: Jim "The Machman" Napier": The Church Of Procrastination. Ha-ha! Anyway, how long have you devoted to this creative endeavor?
Jim Collins: The project really has not taken a great deal of time so far. But then again, I'm not finished with it yet! I began my work in August of 1999. First, I played around with Cars as a guitar-oriented rock song and then as a fusion jazz piece, complete with bass, piano and horns. The jazz piece took the longest for me to perfect. Next was Down in the Park which I have recorded as a very dark, androidish speaking number. There are loud and heavy guitars in it as well as synth. Jo The Waiter is one of my favorites because it really rocks. Acoustic and electric guitars in this one. No sythn. Sorry! My producer, Josh Roman (Mind Rocket Studio) said that my lead guitar was a direct Ace Frehley (Kiss) rip-off! Oh well, our influences have to come out somehow! You Are In My Vision was next and I wanted to do it a couple of different ways. Techno-Rave was one style I had chosen, but have not gotten around to do it that way. The other style was psychadelic-pop. It came out rather nicely. The other two songs I am in the middle of right now are A Question of Faith and Stories. The thing that takes so long is wirking out the style or the interpretation. We all perceive things differently, and sometimes when I listen to Gary's songs, I actually hear them a bit of another way. That is how I have expressed them... the way I hear them. So, some songs will be more funky, others will be darker and heavier than the original. Others may be more poppy.
The Machman: From what I've personally heard of your CD, it is very Numanish yet catchy in its own way. It will surely appeal to Numanoids of both the guitar and synth persuasion. I understand things are getting very 'big time' for you and the project these days. What's this I hear about a COGN rockumentary?
Jim Collins: The rockumentary is in the works now. I am actually working with a student of mine (I am a professor of Sociology, Gerontology and Psychology). His name is Jason Gearen and he is a very talented artist. He is very expressive and has, what appears to me to be a very dark side to his work. I picked up on this early on. I asked him to listen to a few demos and he liked what he heard. Jason is also a musician, so I respected his review. I asked him if he would be interested in making a rockumentary of The Church Of Gary Numan: A Dark Celebration. He agreed to do it. He's got a fresh, young mind and a dark sense of creativity. I look forward to working with him. The rockumentary will cover the making of the tribute, some studio footage, interviews, etc. It was more of a side though that evolved into a real project.
The Machman: Here's the big question on everyone's minds: When will the dark celebration be unleashed to Numanoids worldwide?
Jim Collins: The Church Of Gary Numan: A Dark Celebration should be released sometime in January. I will be working on it very steadily from here on out. Most of December will be spent in the studio.
The Machman: Well I can hardly wait! The demos have been in my CD player for awhile now. Any final thoughts before we sign off today?
Jim Collins: My final thoughts... This has been very exciting for me and I have received a great deal of E-mail from fans all over the world who would like a copy. They have been very supportive and I want to thank them all. This tribute CD is not only for the man himself, but is a piece of work that comes from a fan and is meant for other fans to enjoy. A lot has gone into this so far. I have a stretch still to go. My main concern is to create a tribute that is a representation of the best that I have to offer. It has been all work, energy, late nights, excitement, and sometimes a bit stressful. But, I started something that I cannot quit. I can't wait to release it to the Numan fans around the world. I would like to offer a special thanks to Jim Napier for his kindness and cooperation throughout this project.
The Machman: Thanks, Jim, for taking the time from your relentless pursuit of perfection to hang with us for awhile.