1/1 Cars
1/2 Airlane
2/1 Films
2/2 Conversation

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Available now is the Gary Numan live session, the third session from the BBC Radio Sessions Volume 2, available now from Beggars Arkive. Spanning decades from 1978 to 2000, each session has been remastered at Abbey Road and pressed to its own 12” clear vinyl record. These sessions capture the raw energy and unique spirit of BBC Radio's Peel Sessions, featuring exclusive recordings from bands on Beggars Banquet, Wiiija & Too Pure.

Numan’s enduring legacy is closely tied to the Beggars Banquet label, which played a crucial role in his rise to prominence. Initially signed with his band Tubeway Army, Numan released his early singles and debut albums through Beggars Banquet, including the breakthrough Replicas. The label’s openness to experimental sounds gave Numan the freedom to explore his distinctive blend of synthesiser-driven music, science fiction themes, and stark production. It was under Beggars Banquet that he released The Pleasure Principle, his first solo album, which featured the global hit “Cars” and firmly established him as a pioneer of electronic music.

On 29 May 1979, Gary Numan recorded a landmark session for John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 show, broadcast on 25 June. The recording features songs “Films”, "Airlane", "Conversation" and “Cars”. The session captured Numan at a pivotal moment as he transitioned from punk roots into pioneering electronic territory. Backed by members of Tubeway Army, the performance highlighted his distinctive use of synthesisers, minimal guitar, and detached vocals, offering a stark, futuristic sound that would soon dominate the charts. Beggars Banquet supported Numan during his most commercially successful period, defining the sound of the late 1970s and early 1980s UK new wave, as well as inspiring future generations of musicians from Nine Inch Nails through to Lady Gaga.