Gary Numan says meeting his future wife through fan circles 'might be illegal now'

Synth-pop pioneer Gary Numan has reflected on the unconventional beginnings of his relationship with wife Gemma O’Neill, joking that some aspects of how they first connected “might be illegal now”.

Speaking to The Times, the Cars singer revealed that O’Neill was a devoted fan long before the pair became romantically involved. Numan first met her at a fan event in 1980 when he was 22 and she was 12, though he said he has no memory of that initial encounter. The two crossed paths again years later, and O’Neill became a familiar face at his concerts and appearances.

Numan recalled that after learning O’Neill’s mother had died, he used contacts within a fan club to obtain her phone number so he could offer his condolences. Looking back, he joked that the move “may be illegal” today. According to the singer, O’Neill initially thought the call was a prank and hung up before he convinced her it was really him by answering questions about his own career.

Their first date was a modest trip to a radio interview in northern England followed by a meal at the roadside restaurant chain Little Chef. Numan said he preferred a simple outing rather than anything flashy, while O’Neill later described the date as “really cute”. Although they did not begin seriously dating immediately, their relationship developed over time.

The couple married in 1997 and have remained together for nearly three decades. They share three daughters: Raven, Persia and Echo. Numan revealed that O’Neill had once told a careers adviser she planned to marry him, a childhood dream that ultimately came true.

Now 68, Numan continues to record and perform, with the musician recently revealing he is working on a new album exploring themes surrounding artificial intelligence and humanity’s future.