Paul Gardiner was born in Hayes, Middlesex. In early 1976 he was playing in a band called The Lasers when Gary Numan auditioned as lead guitarist. The two became friends and when Numan left the band soon after, Gardiner followed. The pair formed Tubeway Army, initially with Numan's uncle Jess Lidyard on drums. In October 1977, the band was signed to the independent labelBeggars Banquet and released their first single, "That's Too Bad", in February 1978. The trio used assumed names, Gardiner's being 'Scarlett'. An ever-changing line-up played gigs over the next few months, Gardiner and Numan being the only constant members. Settling back to a three-piece outfit with Lidyard, the band released two albums as Tubeway Army, an eponymously titled debut in 1978 and the No. 1 hit Replicas in 1979. When Numan dropped the name Tubeway Army in mid-1979, Gardiner remained as bassist, playing on the No. 1 albums The Pleasure Principle and Telekon, and toured with Numan throughout the world in 1979–81. Following Numan's 'retirement' in April 1981, after final concerts at Wembley Arena, his backing band went its separate ways. Most of the members formed a new group called Dramatis, while Gardiner elected to concentrate on a solo career. Gardiner's debut solo release was a single co-written with Numan called "Stormtrooper in Drag" b/w "Night Talk" in 1981. It made No. 49 in the UK Singles Chart. On these tracks Gardiner and Numan were credited with guitar and bass, respectively; Gardiner also played synthesizer. Gardiner's recording of The Velvet Underground's "Venus in Furs" was the first release on Numan's own label, Numa, in 1984. The single's B-side, "No Sense", was written by Gardiner. Aside from work on solo projects, he played with Dramatis in 1982 and, shortly before his death, worked with Marc Anthony Thompson on the latter's debut album.
Gary Numan wrote the song "A Child with the Ghost" in memory of his friend and former bass-player. He also paid tribute to Gardiner on the 10th and 20th anniversaries of his death by playing, respectively, "Stormtrooper in Drag" on his 1994 tour and "Night Talk" at a 2004 charity gig. During the 2009 Pleasure Principle tour Numan paid tribute to Gardiner on his 25th anniversary of his death by playing "Complex" with a picture of Gardiner displayed on the large screen background.
Discography
Singles
Tubeway Army
"That's Too Bad"
"Bombers"
"Down in the Park"
"Are 'Friends' Electric?"
Gary Numan
"Cars"
"Complex"
"We Are Glass"
""
"This Wreckage"
Paul Gardiner
"Stormtrooper in Drag" - although released under Gardiner's name, the lead vocals were by Gary Numan. John Webb played drums.
