TOTP: Can you remember your early days on the show, way back in 1978?
Gary: I've got loads of memories of TOTP but I haven't been on for a long time 'cos I haven't had any success for a long time. I never had a favourite performance that I did. I never could watch it. I'd always make my mates watch it first and tell me If I was OK. Then I'd watch it later on my own in a dark room. I'm still like that! 

TOTP: What's it like being back in the limelight again?
Gary: I was on Graham Norton the other night and I couldn't watch it. It went really well. I was a bit nervous when I sat down to do the chat 'cos there are so many things in my past that you could make fun of - dodgy images, dodgy haircuts and stuff. I'm very cool with it but he had some great pictures! I just didn't know what he was going to do so I was a little bit daunted. 

TOTP: How do you feel about all these people covering your tracks?
Gary: I like the Basement Jaxx track ['Rip' was sampled on 'Where's Your Head At?']. I was very pleased with that. 

TOTP: And what about the Sugababes?
Gary: The Sugababes didn't know who I was. 'Are Friends Electric?' was No.1 seven years before one of them was born. So why should they know? But being No.1 with them paled into insignificance when I became No.1 on the Kerrang! channel. I was in Mexico on holiday when it happened and I was well chuffed. 

TOTP: And would you return the favour by covering a Sugababes song?
Gary: Oh no, not that I've got anything against them - I just write my own stuff. I would never do anybody else's songs. If this is what you do then writing songs is how to do it, not copying other peoples! You don't get no money for that and I love writing songs. 

TOTP: So are you surprised that people still remember you?
Gary: I am surprised that I keep popping up in the charts - I don't understand it at all! You've got Basement Jaxx and Sugababes now and Armand Van Helden before that. Plus I've worked with Marilyn Manson. It seems as if I've had some kind of effect on all kinds of music - rock, pop, dance and heavy industrial which is my favourite. That's incredibly flattering and I'm really proud of it.

TOTP: Have you always been successful?
Gary: I've had my bad periods between '90 and '92 and I put out a really rubbish album so I wasn't happy. There was a whole lot of stuff going on - essentially I lost track of what I wanted to be and what I wanted to sing about. When I first started everything was from the heart - this was how I felt, this was what I wanted to sound like - and I knew what I was doing. Then I got famous and made some money and then it started to go a bit weird. Very quickly I started to add stuff to my records that weren't my own ideas. The record company said: "You should do something a bit calmer - a bit mellower! If you do what we say we'll put a big budget into the video." And then you sell yourself. 

TOTP: You've been in the business for nearly 25 years now. What do you not like about it?
Gary: I think the sad thing is there is no commitment to artists' long-term to develop. A number of people are using Radio 1 as an A&R department - they'll present them the record and if they don't like it they drop the band. It's terrible. I'm a great fan of small labels who champion unusual acts. 

TOTP: How come you didn't get involved in the whole '80s resurgence that's going on at the moment?
Gary: I'm paranoid of living in the past and it really bothers me. I've turned down a lot of stuff - '80s quizzes on telly or radio shows where they want me to talk about that decade. I've said no to everything even when I could have done with it. It's been really frustrating. These retro tours people are doing are horrible! An '80s tour is simply people admitting that they've got nothing new to offer. The very word retro makes me feel ill. 'Cars' is used for so many things and it's haunted me! Now I've got something new and I'm just beginning to relax. 

TOTP: So what are you working on at the moment? 
Gary: I've got a new album coming out in spring which will be heavier and darker than the last ones. I feel although I sold my soul in the '80s that I've got it back now! And I'm doing three shows in September, probably Glasgow, Liverpool and London. My agent hasn't managed to get me onto any festivals and I'm disappointed. I'm No.1 on Kerrang and I can't get Reading! 

TOTP: Do people still recognise you?
Gary: I was on a train today for the first time in 25 years and I didn't know what to do. My wife said you have to buy a one day travel card. So I'm at Baker Street and some bloke shook my hand. He said: "I don't know who you are but you're someone, ain't you?" and he walked off! So still got some work to do then. 

TOTP: What was Marilyn Manson like?
Gary: I've met Marilyn lots of times. He covered a track of mine years ago. He's a nice chap! The first time I met him he wanted to know what I thought of his cover and I loved it. The next day we hung out together. He's very smart - I love what he does. He's exactly the sort of personality I think the business needs - it's all got so bland and friendly. 

TOTP: Do you still like to go flying?
Gary: I've been an aerobatic display pilot since 1984. I've stopped doing airshows now because my team mate got killed in a crash. I was in another team and four of them are dead now too. My wife thinks it's too dangerous, but I do miss it. You're going so close to the ground and you're going so fast and the aeroplanes are so powerful that the tiniest mistake means you die. I've had areoplanes catch fire, bits break, bits fall off - but I'm still here!