The 2001 US Pure Tour in 16 Riveting Chapters:
One man's mission to see every Pure Tour show on the North American continent
Chapter 1
WASHINGTON, D.C.
So it was February 2001 when I learned of the upcoming Pure Tour. I fondly remembered the great time I had on the US Exile Tour in 1998 when, like a machine, traveled to 10 dates in 2 weeks, and another soon after in Charlotte.
"I must have been nuts!", I chuckled to myself. But you know how it is. Anything for Numan! Besides, the Exile Tour was only his first time here in 16 years, and this would be only his 2nd time in 19 years.
"Hey!", I thought to myself, "What if I, like, drove to ALL the shows this time?" Chastising myself for that zany glimmer of hope that I would do such a thing, I soon began to snap up tickets from Ticketmaster.com from every North American concert when they became available.
It really was wacky. I hadn't even ever driven west of Chicago, and now I was talking about a massive circular loop around the continent. I reasoned the reasoning by saying "Hey, I'm not just a client, but also the president of the club", so in earnest I began intensive planning, getting the car in fighting shape and hounding AAA for their travel information sundries.
The day of the first show was fast approaching. I was fervently selling junk on eBay and updating the NAGNFC 2001 Pure Tour page in preparation when I received an e-mail from Mark Darmofal of Scranton. Mark accompanied me through the coalmines of the Appalachians for the Philly and Charlotte shows back in 1998. He asked to ride shotgun for the first 3 shows. Not long after, John Gullidge of Devon, England asked if I knew anyone who was attending several shows he could ride along with. He actually wanted to see the 5 final shows out west. We agreed to meet at the Boulder show and I helped him in every way I could with information and having all his tickets which he wired cash for.
Things were coming together. The NAGNFC Tour Page became the premiere source on the internet for info on the upcoming 16 date tour. But as April 17th approached, I learned my family reunion was in Buffalo on the 15th. I had to go! So I took even more time off from work.
The weather threatened rain the day I left my home. A home I would not see for over a month. The family gathering went well and I got a good night's slumber before waking up early to tear down to Scranton, PA to be at Mark's by my pre-designated arrival time of 7:00 pm.
I made good time, mailed my taxes and the last of the eBay junk people bid on, and arrived in Scranton just before 6:00 pm. Mark promised dinner out so I saved my appetite. He suggested a dining establishment which offered 15 cent wings. They weren't half-bad! We shopped for last minute fashion statements and went to a friend of his where she helped him arrange his look for the tour.
The idea was to get a good night's rest as we needed to blow town early the next morning to make the pre-show in Washington, DC. But we both ended up playing video games until after 1 in the morning. Mark is quite the collector of old video games and had thousands, but we ended up playing about 2 of them for several hours. Haha!
Early the next morning, with studded belts, hairspray and black apparel assembled, we packed up the car and jammed once again through the coalmines of the Appalachians. The pre-show party was held by Rick Stott and the NAGNFC at Hamburger Mary's. Upon entering the establishment we were both greeted by Rick whom I hadn't seen since the Exile Tour. I had the items I would give away, namely a live CD-R and a video from 1988. It was a new place and the food was good. Mark and I soon figured out this was a place by and for gay men. Now I've heard of eating Chinese, Italian or Korean, but this? But the atmosphere was friendly and fun and the service was excellent. Rick, Mark and I ate at a table in the back and kept an eye on the front door for more Numanoids than the 10 or so guys and gals that had already shown for the party. During this time, Rick gave me a letter from 16-year old John in San Francisco who asked him to give it to me. John worked out the final details of his pre-show party there in San Fran just after I left, so I couldn't update the website to tell folks. John knew I would be out there and offered to help with his party, so invited me to his pre-show gathering and gave me details and directions.
After we ate, we joined the Numanoid party upstairs which was already in progress. About a hundred photos were taken in all. Among the attendees were Donald "Machman of the South" Swanner Jr., Armand Lotman, and the Alexanders (Neil, Ernie and Jennie). About 25 folks in all turned out. Even Jim "Churchman" Collins was there. He brought his guitar and played "Name that Numan tune in 3 notes" with us as I videoed the event with his camera. He gave out 8 free 'Church Of Gary Numan' CDs to various winners that evening. I put everyone's name in a cup and pulled out the names of the lucky winners of the prizes I brought. But Gary would soon be taking the stage, so we got the manager of the restaurant to take a group photo and we caravanned to the show.
We saw a huge blue bus at the 9:30 Club which we brilliantly deduced was Numan's bus. This was the bus that would see nearly 10,000 miles in the next month to take Gary around to entertain the U.S. and Canada! There were already about 50 Numanoids in line, yet Stan "Prisonmoon" King and his mate, Gin-lee, who brought lawn chairs and were first in line, graciously offered fronts. I was eternally grateful! Stan and Gin-lee wanted to attend the pre-show, but wanted to get a good place in line, but he told me to go enjoy the pre-show and that he would hold a spot for me in front. What a guy! I also met some friends in line I hadn't seen since the Exile Tour. Among them, Scott from Harrisburg and Bob and Darlene Garr. Bob was upbeat and funny as always. I intended to hang with him after the show, but unfortunately didn't see him again the rest of the tour.
The doors finally opened and we rushed the stage for a good spot. I passed out NAGNFC business cards to old and new friends alike as we waited for the show to start. The main floor was full and the balcony began to fill in tandem. Gwenmars, the opening band, came out and began to play with the accompaniment of a huge video display behind them. It didn't take long to warm to their music. I quite liked their stage show and it was a good thing as I would be seeing them 15 more times.
The time drew near. It was Gary's first show on the continent in the 21st century! The lights came down, the orange lights intensified along with the smoke. Gary came out and took us through his present mindset and stage set. He treated us to songs like Pure, Films, AFE and RIP. The show lived up to all the raving comments I received from Numanoids all over Europe. Gary commanded the stage, the audience was enraptured.
After the show Mark and I waited for our turn to be good Numanoids and buy a tour shirt. We walked outside to wait with everyone by the bus for Gary to come out. I met new friends from Virginia to Kentucky then. But then the rain turned to freezing rain and then snow. Over 90 minutes had gone by outside, and Numanoids began to huddle together for warmth. Folks shared their umbrellas and as the temperature dropped in the snow-filled sky, many began to file away and home. One random person up ahead hilariously exclaimed, "It sucks to be a Numanoid!" and we all had a good laugh. I told Mark I would understand if he wanted to bail. After all, I had more opportunities. I and others were literally drenched. As soon as others escaped to warm cars in wet clothes, Gary came out to meet with each of us.
Gary sat inside the bus and talked with us as we took our turn to speak with him. I announced to him and The Big G my intention of following the whole tour which made Gary so happy as to laugh as I'd never seen him do so. I gave him a NAGNFC business card and after the quick hello, told him I would give others the chance and that I'd see him in New York City the following evening...