One of the founding fathers of synth pop, Gary Numan's influence extends far beyond his lone American hit, Cars, which still stands as one of the defining new wave singles. 

That seminal track helped usher in the synth pop era on both sides of the Atlantic, especially his native UK, where he was a genuine pop star and consistent hitmaker during the early '80s. Even after new wave had petered out, Numan's impact continued to make itself felt; his dark, paranoid vision, theatrically icy alien persona, and clinical, robotic sound were echoed strongly in the work of many goth rock and (especially) industrial artists to come. 

For his part, Numan just kept on recording, and by the late '90s he'd become a hip name to drop; prominent alt-rock bands covered his hits in concert, and a goth-flavored brand of industrial dance christened darkwave looked to him as its mentor.

Over the years many high profile bands have covered his songs including Hole, Smashing Pumpkins and Foo Fighters, with Nine Inch Nails also citing him as a major influence for their work. 2017 saw the release of Numan's 21st album proving that this 80s legend is still relevant in the 21st century.