Gary Numan’s Teletour began at Birmingham Odeon on 4 September 1980, one day before the release of his second solo album, Telekon, which reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. The tour continued through Britain during September, including four nights at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, before moving to North America in October and concluding at Edmonton’s Kinsmen Fieldhouse on 12 November. The performances marked the culmination of Numan’s early electronic period, following the success of Replicas and The Pleasure Principle.
The setlists combined material from Telekon, including “This Wreckage”, “I Dream of Wires”, “The Joy Circuit” and “Stories”, with established favourites such as “Cars”, “Are ’Friends’ Electric?”, “Down in the Park” and “M.E.”. The touring band featured Paul Gardiner, Cedric Sharpley, Chris Payne, Rrussell Bell and Denis Haines, with Nash the Slash providing support. The elaborate futuristic staging and distinctive electronic sound were captured in part on the live album Living Ornaments ’80.
