Does everything stop when the old tape fails?

Today is the 55th birthday of my icon Gary Numan, a man who obsessed me during my formative years. I have him to thank for many things - not least for his influence on my subsequent exploration and appreciation of the back-catalogue of Mr Bowie, Mr Ferry and the rest, and my eternal fascination with dressing-up.

This song was never off my turntable in 1980. I played it so much, I think I wore the vinyl out! - it's I Die, You Die:

Gary Numan - I Die You Die

This is not love
This is not even worth a point of view
In Echo Park
I pause for effect and whisper 'who are you?'

They crawl out of their holes for me
And I die: You die
Hear them laugh, watch them turn on me
And I die: You die
See my scars, they call me such things
Tear me, tear me, tear me

Now I have your names
Screaming 'you will suffer' and 'you're all too late'
Now I feel young
Does everything stop when the old tape fails?

They crawl out of their holes for me
And I die: You die
Hear them laugh, watch them turn on me
And I die: You die
See my scars, they call me such things
Tear me, tear me, tear me

But I'm still frightened by the telephone.

Gary Numan (Gary Anthony James Webb)

Read my previous blogs about Mr Numan