Tubeway Army

The band Tubeway Army emerged from the London punk scene and recorded their self-titled debut album in 1976 after signing to the Beggars Banquet label. The band were a platform for the enigmatic singer-songwriter Gary Webb (who changed his name to Numan). The album 'Tubeway Army' was a bridge between the more guitar oriented early songs written by Numan and what was to become his trademark electronic style.

By the time the second album 'Replicas' was released Numan had become proficient on the new generation of analogue synthesisers which had come on the market. It was a sound which was used to great effect on the iconic hit single 'Are Friends Electric?', one of the most distinctive chart singles of the 1970s which spent four weeks at number one in the UK charts in 1979.

'Replicas' launched Numan into the spotlight following memorable appearances on the influential UK rock show 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' and the chart show 'Top of the Pops'. Audiences were mesmerised by Numan's other worldly stage image and it paved the way for his solo career which he launched shortly after disbanding Tubeway Army later that year.