Report errors & omissions here

Peter Gabriel biography

GABRIEL started his solo career in 1977, and since then he has released 8 studio albums, 2 live albums, 3 original sound tracks and 3 compilations, always with the collaboration of a lot of different and great musicians and playing different musical styles. 1977 was the date of the release of Peter´s first album "Peter Gabriel 1", one year after "Peter Gabriel 2" was published, both albums have a similar sound (pop-prog-rock), and count with the production and guitars of KING CRIMSON's Robert Fripp and Tony Levin on bass, being Tony an active member of Peter's band since then. "Solsbury Hill" was the hit single of GABRIEL´s first work, both albums include classic songs that are still being played on his actual shows. In 1980 two things happened, one was the release of Peter's third album "Peter Gabriel 3", this one being the most complete work till date in the opinion of a lot of fans, and also was the foundation of WOMAD (World Of Music, Arts and Dance) where Peter and other members of WOMAD played a series of festivals around the world, where they mixed traditional and modern music. In 1982 Peter published "Security" album, with a different sound, more electronic and also it was the first time that Peter began to use African sounds in his albums. This was followed by the double live album "Peter Gabriel Plays Live". Two years after Peter released his first o.s.t. "Birdy" (Alan Parker film), which was a great mix of eerie sounds and relaxing music.

Just one year after, in 1986 "SO" was published, which was a well known and best selling album, with a clear pop sound and hit singles like "Sledgehammer" and "Don´t Give Up" (with the collaboration of Kate Bush on vocals) and the great "Red Rain". This album won several awards, especially for his video clips, very sophisticated for that year. Three years after, Peter published his second o.s.t., Martin Scorcese's "Last Temptation Of Christ", one of the most experimental and innovative albums, with a mix of different musical styles. After this album a compilation album "Shaking The Tree Sixteen Golden Greats" was published, and in 1988 Peter was involved in some benefit concerts, like "Human Rights Now" tour for Amnesty International, with artists like STING, Tracey CHAPMAN, Bruce SPRINGSTEEN and YOUSSOU N´DOUR. In 1992 a new album was published "US", a very eclectic and personal album, with a wide range of different sounds and also some hit singles. This album was followed with the "Secret World Live" album, after a exitous ???? tour.

In 2000, and after 8 years without publishing a studio album, "OVO" saw the light. This album was a concept album that was followed by an innovative tour that shows the story of three stages of our evolution, through the lives and experiences of three generations of a family, a father that loves the earth and everything that grows from it, a son that love machines, that starts a revolution to liberate the people, but at the end he enslaved them, and a mother who sees the future come and is unable to reconcile his father with his son. "OVO" is the baby who flies to the sky into an uncertain future. This album received very good reviews both studio album and "OVO" tour. Two years after his third o.s.t was published "Long Walk Home", an album inspired by Phillip Noyce's "Rabbit Proof Fence" movie. 2002 was the date of the next studio album "UP" an album more personal than "SO" with an eclectic sound and very rich in musical styles, a great come back of this genius! One year after in 2003, a new compilation has become available, "Peter Gabriel's Hits", including his best songs since the beginning of his career. In 2008 a new studio album was released “BIG BLUE BALL” and in 2010 “SCRATCH MY BACK”.

- Javier Ros Mellado, SPAIN javascript:showFullBio%28%29; -