GARY NUMAN
Live Dates: June 10 Bristol Academy (£17.50); June 11 Oxford Academy (£17.50); July 19 Lovebox Festival, Victoria Park, London; July 25 London Shepherds Bush (£25); July 26 Salisbury City Hall (£17.50); August 1 Hevy Music Festival, Folkestone, Kent
Jack White's new band The Dead Weather have just released a version of 'Are 'Friends' Electric?' on their new single, confirming that Gary Numan is the most covered and remixed artist of the last 30 years. A roll call of the musicians who have performed or sampled his songs is virtually a who's-who of the last two decades: alongside the new release by the White Stripes's singer, they include Damon Albarn (Blur), Afrika Bambaataa, Jarvis Cocker (Pulp), The Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Sugababes, Basement Jaxx, Smashing Pumpkins, St Etienne, GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan, Armand Van Helden and DJ Hell.
The likes of Kurt Cobain, Devo, The Killers and Tricky have also namechecked him as an influence in the past, a trend that is continuing with a new generation of artists such as Little Boots, La Roux, Late Of The Pier and Santagold. As Numan sets off an a handful of dates around the UK, the NME now argue, 'Numan's influence on electronic music is unparalleled.'