It was probably lyrics such as "I'll rip skin from God's face" that made me slightly apprehensive about meeting Gary Numan, writes Sky News Active Showbiz Reporter Hannah Stott. With no idea what to expect from the black-clad 80s goth, who's mates with the even scarier Marilyn Manson, I did my research thoroughly in an attempt to cover myself should the interview take a turn for the worse. To my relief there were no tales of his blood-sucking antics and his hobbies didn't appear to involve hanging like a bat. In fact, this monster I was about to meet was a display pilot at one time, who had once attempted to fly around the world. With that in mind, and the fact that he married his number one fan, it became clear there was more to him than meets the eye - and ear. Gothic mansion He arrived with his wife Gemma in tow - the perfect pair in a matching shade of black from top to tail, including the essential dyed hair and chipped black nail varnish. They met when she was following him around the country as an obsessive fan and she had dreamt of living with him in a gothic mansion full of candles. In reality they have decorated their home in magnolia like everyone else. After nearly three decades of writing, performing and touring the pair now take things a little more easily. Topping the charts is not Gary's premise any more, making the music he wants to make is all that appears to matter. "I still earn a living doing this. I'm not massively wealthy, I'm concerned about making money but the way you earn it is an important part of it," he said. "I'm confident I can make a reasonable living from the music I'm doing, I know I'm not going to be a big number one hit again. 'Lovely day' "It's arranging your life the way you want it to be. I get up in the morning and if it's a lovely day I don't really have to work, so I'm not that dependant on it." Despite covers of his music from the likes of the Sugababes and Basement Jaxx, the 44-year-old has never entertained the idea of sitting back and reaping the benefits of other people's work, and has consistently released new material. He spent much of the 80s and early 90s in the wilderness trying to regain his one-time success. When Cars was used in a TV ad in the mid 90s it was the start of an upturn for Numan and he started approaching his work with a new philsosophy. "In the late 80s when the career was going badly I did start to write things to get some success back. It's quite soul destroying really, that's where you sell out. That was a horrible period, but I don't do that now. In the early 90s I changed direction and now I just write the stuff I like to listen to." It seems Numan's turbulent career has been a grounding experience. Down-to-earth and self aware, he laughs as he proudly announces how many times record companies have pulled their contract. "I've been dropped more times than I've had hot dinners, losing a record deal isn't that big a deal. I've been with about seven or eight different labels, the worst one was my own, that was a complete disaster!" Numan is also not too proud to admit that in some ways influences have come full-circle in that his music now draws inspiration from those very performers who learnt a few things from his early work with synthesisers. 'Influences' "You can't help but get influenced by music around you. What you do is you add that to your own ideas and turn it into something new." But he goes on to say what the Basement Jaxx and the Sugababes do is very different to the way he works. "I don't borrow bits of music, I come up with my own ideas. I listen to stuff and think 'that's cool, I like that sound or vocal effect' and you remember." Rip is a product of his much darker, dirtier style of music. A deep layer of menacing screaming emanates from predominantly whispered vocals. He's right - it's not going to be number one. When we part company he looks like a vulnerable child as he tries to convince both of us once more that he doesn't care about chart success these days. Well, he might not do, but the man is so damn endearing after he's gone I don't just want him to be number one, I want him to be Prime Minister! It's amazing how someone so genuine can have such a strong persona. Bring on Marilyn Manson, I'm ready for him! Rip is in shops from Monday, July 1.