Pop Quiz: Gary Numan

Gary Numan, the man behind the defining new-wave era hit "Cars," is on the road celebrating the 30th anniversary of his first album, "The Pleasure Principle." His plans to play the States earlier this year were derailed when volcanic ash from Iceland prevented his arrival. This time, he had to cancel a show because of laryngitis. But Numan is pressing on with the tour, which arrives Tuesday at the Fillmore. He's also hard at work on two new albums, "Splinter" and "Dead Son Rising." We spoke to him shortly after the tour kicked off.

Q: Do you feel like this tour is a bit cursed?

A: It's beginning to feel that way, but these things happen from time to time. The Atlanta show that I had to cancel last Monday was the first show I've canceled due to health problems in the 31 years I've been doing this, so my overall record for getting through tours relatively unscathed is still pretty good.

Q: Just a few years ago, you said you didn't want to do a retro thing because you thought it meant you had run out of ideas. Did you change your mind or actually run out of ideas?

A: It's a partial change of mind, but only because it's the 30th anniversary of "The Pleasure Principle" being released and I had the choice of either ignoring that fact or celebrating it. I chose to celebrate it. The other thing that makes it slightly more acceptable than eating my own head is the second half is all about the newer stuff.

Q: When you first came out, most people didn't think you would last. Does it feel good to prove them wrong?

A: Well, they were dangerously close to being right, so I don't feel too cocky about it. In the late '80s and early '90s, I was virtually dead and buried. Luckily, I was able to drag myself back from the bottom a little, but I have always found it difficult to keep the career alive and well. I would love to be hugely successful, but I'm grateful to still be here at all, still doing something I love.

Q: Your songs have been done by everyone from Nine Inch Nails to Homer Simpson. Do you have a favorite cover version?

A: I'm told that William Shatner did a version of "Cars" and, if that's true, I can't tell you how cool it is for me to know that Captain Kirk has covered one of my songs. It doesn't get any better than that. If he hasn't, then I remain unfulfilled as a songwriter.

Q: What advice would you offer that serious man with the suit and eye shadow on the cover of "The Pleasure Principle"?

A: I would tell him to relax and enjoy the moment a little more. When I had my first flurry of success, I was so concerned about what to do next and so shocked by the way people reacted to me that I didn't really just enjoy the moment. Something amazing was happening, and I let all the petty bull get in the way. I think it took me a little too long to grow up. {sbox}

To hear Gary Numan's music, go to www.numan.co.uk.

Follow Aidin Vaziri at twitter.com/MusicSF. E-mail him at avaziri@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page Q - 38 of the San Francisco Chronicle