THE NAGNFC
UK 2002 EXPOSURE TOUR
RIVETING CHAPTERS
One Numanoid's misadventures during Gary Numan's Exposure Tour
CHAPTER 2:
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
I awoke in a daze in a dark backseat. "We're here, Jim." I stepped out of the backseat into the dark chilly air of morning. I was impressed how easily I was able to sleep on the way from Glasgow in the car. Dave and I followed Steve in his place where we talked for awhile. I was offered the couch but I volunteered the floor, it wasn't too bad with all the cushy blankets to sleep on. After all the mountain camping in the Appalachian Mountains, this was a cakewalk.
We all got ample rest and woke up nice and late the next day. There was no rush. Liverpool from Manchester is no more than 90 minutes even on a bad day. We prepared for the Gary Numan show. I put on a black T-shirt I bought in Moosonee in Sub arctic Canada and followed Steve into Dave's car where we took to the motorway to Liverpool. We listened to Rammstein, one of Gary's favorite bands these days.
Once in Liverpool, their plan was to head to the site of a German U-boat which was just recently found offshore. My plan was to get a good place in line at the Liverpool Lomax. Once in the city traffic of Liverpool, Dave's car began to overheat. We parked to let it cool down in front of a flat whose tenant was kind enough to supply us with water for the radiator. That was just the cure.
After much roaming we found a parking spot. We needed to roam as several of the parking meters were out of service. The absurdity of the situation took hold and we started laughing hard as we used impromptu tools to yank our change back out of these non-working machines.
Once that was over, they decided to abandon their plan to see the U-boat. They followed me to the Lomax. It was 3 pm and there were already about 4 Numanoids in line. We heard part of the soundcheck filter out into the alley leading to this Lomax club. This was early even for me, so I decided to follow Steve and Dave to lunch.
Downtown Liverpool
It was a Sunday the last time I was here and the place seemed like a ghost town. This Friday, however, it was a very busy place. We meandered around, finally stopping at a downtown food court where they hit the McDonald's. I patronized the establishment 3 counters down called SpudWorld, I think. Upon paying for my order, two lovely looking ladies behind the counter asked what my name was. From what I understand, they thought I was someone else. I sat down at Steve and Dave's table with a delicious chili potato thingy and we talked about all manner of political topics.
I left them to their own adventures while I busted out into some of my own. I stopped at a chemist for the Liverpool Weekly and asked where Hanover Street was. From there I could find my way back to the Lomax. There was an electric violinist on the street playing some incredibly beautiful music. One piece was very impressive and drew a crowd to him. I found a spot under a tree and listened. After it was done, I and others approached him and the CDs he was selling. We all wanted the CD with that last song, but alas no CDs had it. After that, I'll bet he has a CD with that piece for sale by now. I passed by a hair stylist where I thought about a cool style for the concert, but it was a half hour wait. I thought it best to get in line instead.
One of the many hidden alleyways in Liverpool
It was now about 5:30 yet amazingly the line was considerably longer. I was about 35 people back from the door now. Luckily I had the Liverpool Daily to read. As I flipped the pages I found a huge spread in the middle with a great huge picture and article about Gary and Gemma Webb. This doesn't happen to me so much in America. I excitedly showed it to those standing next to me in the queue and read the great article.
I got a chance to say hello to bandmates Dave, Richard and Ade who passed by me in the queue.
Not long after, Chris and Tina from Birmingham came up to say hello. They knew me well enough to know that I would be in line. They cleared off for a few pints in a nearby pub and I watched two policemen stroll by on their horses. This wasn't a Slipknot crowd, and they were likely stunned at the orderliness of us Numanoids as we waited hours.
Apparently this was the gangland section of Liverpool but save for the graffiti and high fences everywhere I would never have suspected otherwise. Someone said Gary got a package deal on this Lomax Club and the Ocean Club in the seedier Hackney section of London.
As we waited, the line grew impressively long. I felt compelled to get a picture but for some reason I never did. A guy came outside and yelled that anyone who didn't have a ticket was wasting their time standing in line. I was told this show was sold out tonight, and had been for some time, but this confirmed it.
Finally, the doors swung open. Some girls in back pretended to know some people in the front and got in before the rest of us. I walked in and as usual folks just walked to the bar to get a drink. I ran further into the club and nabbed as great a spot as I had last time. Again I was just to Gary's left.
I turned around and watched my fellow Numanoids. The club wasn't big by anyone's standards. People were knocking around the 1,000 person figure which seemed about right. I met two great couples as we waited for the lights to go down. Neither had heard of the North American Gary Numan Fan Club. Would someone please remind me to keep bringing business cards with me?
The first couple were friendly and very interested in what I found were differences between the USA and the UK. I got talking to a second couple. These folks brought their 4 year old daughter with them. They claimed she was a huge Numan fan. I was convinced when they showed me a picture that she drew for Gary. It was a picture of him with the words "To Gary, Love Brittany".
Then a friendly chap named Rik Barker approached me who thanked me for the NAGNFC website. He later wrote and sent his picture which was really helpful as I meet so many folks at these concerts!
Greetings all
the way from England! My name is Rik, I spoke to you briefly after the concert
in Liverpool (see attached photo). Just thought I'd E-mail you to say a quick
"Hello" and to congratulate you again on your website - there's an
awful lot of Numan sites on the net, but yours is definitely one of the
best and I visit it on a regular basis. I especially love the Audio Principle,
some of the stuff you've got on there is incredible. I've got a few things that
you could include if you'd like me to send them to you!
After the Liverpool concert, I tried telling you a story about how the NAGNFC
had touched a friend of mine, but I was buzzing so much from Gary's performance
that I probably didn't make any sense, so I'll try and explain a bit more
clearly now! I'm 22, so wasn't even alive when Gary had his two UK number 1s,
but my friend Derek is twenty-something years older than me and was a huge fan
when Gary was at the peak of his success. He still is a fan, but unfortunately
couldn't get to the concert this time round. Anyway, whenever we've watched all
the old videos of Numan that Derek's got, he's always gone about one afternoon
back in 1979 when he turned his television on and just as it came on, a video of
Metal was on with Gary stood below electricity pylons and there was lightning
all over the place! He just watched it in amazement, but because he didn't have
a VCR then he couldn't record it and he'd never seen it since. Then, the week
before the concert, he came round to see the flat that my girlfriend Lisa and I
had just moved into. I played him some of the mp3s I'd downloaded from the Audio
Principle and then an idea popped into my head. I'd not actually looked to see
what was in the Video Principle - could Metal possibly be in there? We checked,
and there it was - Metal 1979! We downloaded it, clicked play - and there it
was! You should have seen the look on his face, it was an absolute picture! He'd
waited 23 years to see it again, and thanks to you, he has done! He watched it
through four times, he was so excited to finally see it again, it really made
his day!
So, if you didn't realise the effect that your website could have on someone
you've never even heard of who lives on the opposite side of the world - you do
now! Incredible really isn't it?
Anyway, enough of me waffling on - I'm going to sign off and then check to see
whether you've added chapter 2 - the Liverpool leg - of your recent tour
of Britain.
Jim "The Machman" Napier and Rik Barker
The lights came down as we were treated to the sights and sounds of Rico for the last time on this tour. After their Reznor-like show, I turned around and talked some more with my new friends. The lights came back down again very shortly as the crowd made a lot of noise for 1,000 people. They were quite happy that Gary was back in Liverpool after being away for so long. Still not quite believing I was really here I joined in the deafening welcome as the band walked out onto the stage followed by Numan.
Pure mp3 (Liverpool Lomax September 20, 2002)
M.E. mp3 (Liverpool Lomax September 20, 2002) (Gary on the synths during the solo!)
It is safe to say the band and Gary were totally switched on and wired. You could hear it in the sweetly flawless rhythm. You could feel it in the rumbled swirling synthesizer sounds that shook the building. The crowd were going crazy and craved for more from Gary who was delivering the goods in top form. And again, Gary took to the synths himself a couple of times. I will surely never tire of watching him behind the keyboards.
Bleed mp3 (Liverpool Lomax September 20, 2002) (Gary on the synths in the middle!)
After the show I spoke with Rik a bit more then stole away to finally hit the T-shirt stand. There were hats and posters, but I settled for a shirt. Once outside, NAGNFC reader John Taylor came up to say hello. John said we'd definitely have to go for a pint the next time Gary is in town. I kept one eye out for my Los Angeles contact though. We were to get backstage and hang with Gary. I stepped back inside to scan the premises for her. I didn't see her but I did speak with Richard Beasley for awhile. I told him what a great job he did tonight!
If I had known my Los Angeles friend wasn't going to show, I would have requested some backstage passes from The Big G when we spoke in Glasgow for Liverpool and London. But as it was, I walked back outside where Steve and Dave were waiting for me. As we walked back to the car, it was really hard to be disappointed though. This was a special night and was just glad to be here.
We all walked back toward the parking spot. This was Friday night in Liverpool and sharp looking people were walking to their party places of choice. I was tempted at Dave's offer to stop at a fish & chips place we walked by, but resisted.
Upon reaching the parking spot, Steve shouted, "Our car's been nicked!". Dave looked pretty upset as we all looked at the empty parking spot. Steve pointed to some glass on the street. He suggested we call the police and report it stolen. I followed them on their search for a phone as they wondered how late the trains back to Manchester ran. But where I really followed them was back to the car. They were just having some fun with me. Dave said that I probably didn't buy into their charade. I told them that Steve didn't seem too sincere in his disappointment, but they did have me wondering at one point.
We listened to some
more Rammstein as we drove back to Manchester at 1 in the morning. This
time we really had to get a good night's sleep. The drive into London
would be at least 4 hours. Getting to sleep was no problem. And as I
drifted off, I had absolutely no idea the adventures that awaited me there in
the London Fog.