Editing Gary Numan (section)

=== 1981–1983: New musical directions ===

Departing from the pure [[electropop]] that he had been associated with, Numan began experimenting with [[jazz]], [[funk]], and ethereal, rhythmic pop. His first studio album after his farewell concerts was ''[[Dance (Gary Numan album)|Dance]]'' (1981). The album charted at No.&nbsp;3 on the [[UK Albums Chart|UK charts]], with an eight-week chart run and produced one hit single ("[[She's Got Claws]]"), which reached No.&nbsp;6.<ref name="ClawsChart">{{cite web|title=she's got claws – full Official Chart History|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/she%27s-got-claws/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=27 January 2023|archive-date=27 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127025628/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/she%27s-got-claws/|url-status=live}}</ref> The album featured several distinguished guest players; [[Mick Karn]] (bass guitar; saxophone) and Rob Dean (guitar) of [[Japan (band)|Japan]], [[Roger Mason (musician)|Roger Mason]] (keyboards) of [[Models (band)|Models]], and [[Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)|Roger Taylor]] (drums) of [[Queen (band)|Queen]].<ref name="Discogs.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Gary-Numan-Dance/release/1212792|title=Gary Numan – Dance (Vinyl, LP, Album)|year=1981|publisher=Discogs|access-date=14 October 2015|archive-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016072757/http://www.discogs.com/Gary-Numan-Dance/release/1212792|url-status=live}}</ref>

With his former backing band, Chris Payne (keyboards; viola), Russell Bell (guitar), and Ced Sharpley (drums) now reformed as [[Dramatis]], Numan contributed lead vocals to the minor hit "[[Love Needs No Disguise]]" from the studio album ''[[For Future Reference]]'' (1981)<ref name="DiscogsLoveNeedsNoDisguise">{{cite web|title=Gary Numan and Dramatis – Love Needs No Disguise (1981, Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Gary-Numan-And-Dramatis-Love-Needs-No-Disguise/release/55494|publisher=Discogs|date=5 December 1981|access-date=15 December 2020|archive-date=20 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120033924/https://www.discogs.com/Gary-Numan-And-Dramatis-Love-Needs-No-Disguise/release/55494|url-status=live}}</ref> and lent lead vocals to the first single released by his long-term bassist [[Paul Gardiner]], "[[Stormtrooper in Drag]]", which also made the charts.<ref name="StormtrooperUKCharts">{{cite web|title=Stormtrooper in Drag|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/stormtrooper-in-drag/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=15 December 2020|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101010155/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/stormtrooper-in-drag/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Numan's success began to wane as he was outsold by [[the Human League]], [[Duran Duran]], [[Depeche Mode]], and his prior support act, [[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]] (OMD). With each new studio album, Numan would take on a particular persona, but none seemed to catch audiences' attention like he had been able to in 1979.<ref name=Lester />

Numan's fourth solo studio album ''[[I, Assassin]]'' (1982) produced the top 10 hit "[[We Take Mystery (To Bed)]]", as well as the top 20 singles "[[Music for Chameleons (song)|Music for Chameleons]]" and "White Boys and Heroes", the album peaking at No.&nbsp;8 with a six-week chart run.<ref name="IAssassinChart">{{cite web|title=I, Assassin – full Official Chart History|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/i,-assassin/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=27 January 2023|archive-date=27 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127025630/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/i,-assassin/|url-status=live}}</ref> The heavily percussive funk style made several tracks from the album, such as the 12" version of "[[Music for Chameleons (song)|Music for Chameleons]]" and a special remix of "White Boys and Heroes", unexpected successes in the American club scene<ref>[https://archive.beggars.com/numan-gary-i-assassin/ Gary Numan, I, Assassin | The Arkive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502010727/https://archive.beggars.com/numan-gary-i-assassin/ |date=2 May 2021 }} Beggars Banquet</ref> and in October 1982 he embarked on a US tour.<ref>[http://www.nureference.co.uk/Tour%201982%20I,%20Assassin%20Tour%20US.htm I, Assassin Tour US 1982] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501173312/http://www.nureference.co.uk/Tour%201982%20I,%20Assassin%20Tour%20US.htm |date=1 May 2021 }} nureference.co.uk</ref>

''[[Warriors (Gary Numan album)|Warriors]]'' (1983) further developed Numan's jazz-influenced style and featured contributions from [[avant-garde music|avant-garde]] musician [[Bill Nelson (musician)|Bill Nelson]] of [[Be-Bop Deluxe]] (who fell out with Numan during recording and chose to be uncredited as the album's co-producer),<ref name="PrayingtotheAliens">{{cite book|title=Praying to the Aliens|date=30 September 1998|publisher=Gardner's Books|location=Eastbourne, United Kingdom|isbn=0233993371|edition=2}}</ref> and saxophonist [[Dick Morrissey]] (who also performed on ''[[The Fury (album)|The Fury]]'', ''[[Strange Charm]]'' and ''[[Outland (Gary Numan album)|Outland]]'').<ref name="DMorrisseyAllMusic">{{cite web|last1=Ankey|first1=Jason|title=Dick Morrissey|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dick-morrissey-mn0000256519/credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=15 December 2020|archive-date=13 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413025631/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dick-morrissey-mn0000256519/credits|url-status=live}}</ref> The album peaked at No.&nbsp;12, produced two hit singles including the top 20 title-track and, like ''I, Assassin'', spent six weeks in the charts.<ref name="OutlandCharts">{{cite web|title=Outland – full Official Chart History|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/outland/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=27 January 2023|archive-date=27 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127025628/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/outland/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Warriors'' was the last album Numan recorded for Beggars Banquet Records, and was supported by a 40-date UK tour (again with support from robotic mime and music duo Tik and Tok).<ref name="WarriorsPoster">{{cite web|title=Poster Publicity & Display Ltd.|url=http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1169259/poster-publicity-display-ltd/|website=Search the Collections|year=1983|publisher=Victoria and Albert Museum|access-date=15 December 2020|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619011540/https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1169259/poster-publicity-display-ltd/|url-status=live}}</ref>