Gary Numan - M.E.

In 1979 British electronic music pioneer Gary Numan released his debut solo album The Pleasure Principle. The purely electronic album completely abandons guitars, and relies heavily on flanging, phasing and other electronic production tricks. The album explores machines, and man's relationship with technology. The ground-breaking album, which included the songs Cars, Complex and Metal, has had an important influence on electronic music. The album has also influenced the development of hip-hop music - a point acknowledged by Afrika Bambaataa. The Pleasure Principle also features the song M.E., which was famously sampled by UK house duo Basement Jaxx for their 2002 international hit Where's Your Head At. Numan toured the world with an elaborate stage show to promote the album. In his concerts he would perform inside twin pyramids of neon lights that moved around the stage by remote control. On the UK leg of Numan's tour the opening act was newly-formed band OMD - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark. Thirteen years later, OMD featured Numan as their opening act when they embarked on their big arena tour as pop stars.