The 67-year-old is reported to have started weeping while performing Please Push No More at the O2 Academy Birmingham on Saturday evening.
The singer’s wife Gemma is said to have rushed to be by his sideCredit: Getty
Music legend Gary Numan left fans deeply unsettled on Saturday night after abruptly stopping his Birmingham concert, breaking down on stage, and sparking an outpouring of concern across social media.
Gary is currently touring the countryCredit: Getty
The 67-year-old star was in the middle of performing Please Push No More at the O2 Academy Birmingham when emotions overtook him, prompting wife Gemma O’Neil to rush onto the stage in a moment that stunned the entire crowd. According to The Mirror, the emotional collapse followed Gary’s admission that he had received “the worst news” earlier in the day — a revelation that left the venue silent.
When contacted for comment, Gary’s representatives declined to elaborate. Despite the distressing scenes, the singer — who has Asperger’s syndrome — is still scheduled to perform at Bristol Beacon on Sunday evening.
The incident unfolded just days after Gary kicked off his nationwide tour marking the 45th anniversary of his iconic album Telekon. Fans have packed venues to hear classics such as We Are Glass, I Die: You Die, and This Wreckage, all performed in full to celebrate the milestone.
But Saturday’s show took a worrying turn. Shortly after Gary left the stage, social media lit up with messages of shock and sympathy. One fan wrote: “Gary Numan breaks down at O2 in Birmingham?? Hope he’s OK. He said the reason will come out in a few days.” Another added: “Hard to watch him so upset… absolute professional for carrying on as long as he did.”
Many expressed both admiration and fear: “Sending love — hearing he struggled tonight,” one user posted. Another wrote: “Beautiful show but emotional. Praying it’s not health-related or family-related.”
Gary and his wife share three children — Raven, Persia, and Echo. He has often spoken tenderly about their bond, telling the Daily Mail: “It sounds corny, but after 30 years together, I still miss her even when she’s in another part of the house. She’s everything I’m not.”
Born Gary Webb in Hammersmith in 1958 to a British Airways bus driver, he showed early intelligence but a rebellious streak. After securing a grammar school place, he became known for disruptive behaviour; his headteacher once called him the most difficult pupil he had ever dealt with.
At 14, Gary was referred to psychiatrist Eva Frommer, who prescribed Valium and Nardil — treatments he later said left him in a “zombified” state. It was during this period that Asperger’s was first mentioned, though he never received a formal diagnosis.
“I don’t know if I was ever officially diagnosed,” he said. “The criteria wasn’t properly defined until the ’80s. Honestly, I just saw it as a day out in London with my mum.”
As fans wait anxiously for updates, the mystery surrounding the “worst news” continues to dominate conversation — and supporters are hoping the coming days will bring clarity, reassurance, and better news for the beloved musician.
