Gary Numan (born Gary Anthony James Webb on March 8, 1958) is an English singer, composer, musician and electropop pioneer. He is widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". Numan's signature style combines gloomy themes of depersonalization and alienation accompanied by energetic synthesizer work. Biography Early life Born in Hammersmith, West London, Gary Webb's father was an airline driver based at Heathrow Airport. Webb was educated at Town Farm Junior School Stanwell, Ashford County Grammar School, Middlesex and Brooklands Technical College. He had an early ambition to be an airline pilot, but did not gain any academic qualifications. He then briefly did various jobs including fork lift truck driver, air conditioning ventilator fitter and clerk in an accounts department. A guitar was purchased for him at an early age and he began writing songs when he was ab