The official FRIARS Aylesbury compendium
Maxwell Hall, Civic Centre, Market
Square, Aylesbury
Gary Numan
Saturday October 6th 1979
see also OMD Saturday November 1st 1980
Gary Numan Paul Gardiner Russell Bell
Billy Currie Chris Payne Ced Sharpley
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
See below
As below
The webmaster, north Bucks:
"I remember we were kept outside the Civic Centre longer than usual before being allowed in going on for 19.45. Turned out later that there were strong rumours that the gig was nearly pulled (hence the delay) after a king sized strop from the star turn. You wouldn’t have known there had been issues once the gig started. OMD, the support act, were simply amazing (I went on to possess all of their recordings). Two blokes and a tape recorder in front of a black curtain. As for Numan, well the stage show was immense and I remember people dropping like flies because of the heat generated by Numan’s rig and bouncers sailing past me at great speed taking another person out. An interesting show to say the least showcasing the Pleasure Principle album and the best of Replicas with a few odds and ends thrown in. He never played Aylesbury again"
None sourced yet
In 2008, Numan remains popular as a live draw. His career post 79 saw him take on the big venues and win. Although the chart positions may no longer be there, he regularly gigs.
OMD made it big and headlined (and sold out Friars) one year later.
The grapevine suggests this gig nearly got pulled after someone called Numan something very naughty in the Market Square. The people concerned were big hairy arsed bikers unlikely to be at his gig, but it allegedly took the persuasive skills of David Stopps and John Braley to get Numan to play to 1250 people who did want to see him play. Not surprisingly, this was Numan's first and last gig in Aylesbury.
Sights and sounds - Gary Numan - Down In The Park Live (1979) - This was the same stage set used at Friars except for the Pyramids which weren't used at this (Aylesbury) gig.
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