The Pleasure Principle, Replicated 2024

45th Anniversary UK Tour to celebrate the 45th anniversary of both the ‘Replicas’ (1979 as Tubeway Army) and ‘The Pleasure Principle’ (1979). Its going old school!

I drove down the coast to Boscombe to the O2 Academy as I’ve done more times than I can remember, starting back in 1991 when it was just the Academy in its pre-Opera House days. Same car park, same alley way to cut through.

I gave myself the usual head start to get a decent queue position, parked, walked into the high street and was greeted by the biggest line of people I’ve ever seen at that venue. Clearly the Gary Numan following was excited and arriving early to get the night started! Doors at 7pm and he was on at 8.30pm, no support act. Thanks to O2 Priority i was in with a drink and only a single row between me and the front barrier. Chants of ‘Numan’ ‘Numan’ sporadically came from pockets of the crowd and looking around all the place was rammed, the two balconies that curve around most of the interior were four to five deep, I was feeling pretty good on my position in the crowd.

Right on 8.30pm they took to the stage, from my position the dummer on the right riser was out of view due to the impressive lighting rigs either side of the front of stage, another member took to the stage on the back left riser, keyboard and laptop, the engine of the music I take it. Gary Numan himself walked out, wasteland dressed with the usual Fremen style trousers, wrapped arms and black eye makeup. Either side of him were his guitarists, what could only be described as his gothic clergy.

When he wasn’t front of stage with his guitar he was stood at his keyboard, back of the stage, sandwiched between the two risers with the gothic clergy playing to the crowd, at time resembling Death from Bill and Teds Bogus Journey with the gesturing which fitted perfectly.

Gary Numan himself was on top form, his stage presence never wanes, his sound so distinctive and filled the operatic space and then some. The stage design and lighting adding another level to the performance. Theres no banter, no, ‘hello Bournemouth’ just relentless music. At times he’s on guitar adding another level, at times he backs off and plays synth at the back. The lead guitarist swapping to a keyboard at time, then swapping to play bass, the bass player then moving to keyboards. They are clearly a tight knit well rehearsed group of talented musicians surrounding and supporting him, would you expect anything else. Clearly die-hard fans will know them and i’m not going to pretend to. I’m a fan of his music, always have been and the chance to see the old works given an outing was a chance not to miss.

Live clips on the We Will Trampoline Instagram and our Tik Tok