Music legend Gary Numan has made an emotional U-turn on his UK tour, deciding to continue with the remaining dates as a tribute to his beloved brother John, who died suddenly last weekend.
A Sudden and Tragic Loss
Gary Numan's younger brother, John, passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning, 15th November 2025, at just 60 years old. The tragic event unfolded in Leeds after the brothers had spent an evening together at Gary's Telekon show, catching up and sharing stories.
The musician, 67, had just said goodbye to his brother at the door of his tour bus around 12:20am, after which John began walking to his car. Tragically, he never made it. John collapsed in the street mere yards away, "betrayed by his own heart," as Gary later described it. A passerby called an ambulance, but it was too late to save him.
The Agonising Decision to Continue the Tour
In the wake of the devastating news, Gary Numan considered cancelling the rest of his tour. His grief was palpable during a performance in Birmingham, where he broke down on stage just hours after learning of his brother's passing.
However, in a heartfelt post on Instagram, the "Cars" singer explained his decision to continue. "We are continuing with the tour because my Dad thinks I should, because John’s lovely wife said John would want me to," he wrote.
Numan described the last two days as "the hardest of my life," admitting he is "drifting, broken, shell shocked." He confessed to having no capacity for decision-making, relying on the guidance of family to persevere.
A Brother's Legacy
The tour, which was initially a celebration of his 1980 album Telekon, has now been transformed into a moving tribute. "This tour is no longer a celebration of an album, it’s a tribute to John, my brother, the best brother a man could ever have," Numan stated.
He shared a poignant memory, noting that John was only 15 when Telekon was originally made and had always been immensely proud of his brother's work.
The musician is scheduled to play 12 more dates across the UK and Ireland before Christmas, promising to honour his brother's memory at every performance.
