Peter Gabriel

Introduction

If Genesis, according to British comedian and fan Al Murray would be the progressive rock band who progressed, then Peter Gabriel as a solo artist would be the member that progressed the most. Who would have thought that listening to early Genesis would eventually take the listener to Senegal, Armenia, South Africa and beyond, via the artistic endeavours of their former vocalist?

This is a journey through Peter Gabriel's solo albums, his live recordings and soundtrack compositions. During his forty-year plus solo career, Gabriel has become a worldwide pop star via his early, self-titled albums and his seminal 1986 record So. He has had hit singles throughout his career, including the bucolic Solsbury Hill in 1977 and the poignant Don't Give Up. He also helped pioneer video creativity with the song Sledgehammer. In doing so, he has reached beyond his progressive rock origins to achieve a level of popularity and respect that other musicians from that genre could only dream about. You may have heard many of these songs before, but there's always something new to be found by digging in the dirt. This is the perfect guide to his music for new listeners and long-term fans alike.

Conclusion

What on earth is going on? In the words of the Burgermiester: I...will...find...out.

About Graeme Scarfe

Graeme Scarfe was born in the 1960s, educated in the comprehensive system in the 1970s and 1980s and graduated from Bournemouth University in the 1990s. He has worked as a music journalist, sound recordist and stand-up comedian. He also regularly lectures on Film. He wrote the original screenplay for the British Horror film Lighthouse and the comedy novel Seagulls on Speed which is available from www.seagullsonspeed.co.uk. He listens to an awful lot of music and attempts to play the guitar. A member of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain, he is married with two children and lives in Sussex, UK.