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12. Gary Numan
Best-known to mainstream audiences for his 1979 synth-pop hit “Cars,” Numan has continued to release albums in a variety of styles over the past 30 years, dabbling in everything from jazz to dance-pop to industrial and finally circling back to his classic synth-driven sound on recent efforts like “Pure” and “Jagged.” Artists from Dave Grohl to Beck to Trent Reznor (who brought Numan onstage with him during several stops of Nine Inch Nails’ “Wave Goodbye” tour in 2009) have cited the mercurial British artist as a major influence. Last year, Numan did a 30th anniversary tour celebrating the release of his groundbreaking album, “The Pleasure Principle,” leading British music mag NME to rave, “Master android Gary Numan’s pioneering synth-pop sounds more relevant than ever in 2010.” His latest studio album, “Dead Son Rising,” comes out in the U.S. on Oct. 24.
