
Peter Gabriel (b. 1950) is a British singer, songwriter, musician and producer. He first became famous as a member of Genesis before leaving the group in 1975 and embarking on a solo career, releasing his first eponymous album in 1976. He achieved mainstream success from 1980 onwards with chart hits such as 'Games Without Frontiers', 'Shock the Monkey' and most notably 'Sledgehammer', 'Don't Give Up' (with Kate Bush) and the album So in 1986. His interest in world music also began around 1980, founding the WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) project with the first festival in 1982. He also established the Real World studios and record label to promote world music artists. He has also been active in the Amnesty International movement and other humanitarian causes. In 2010, he joined a campaign to stop an agricultural development of the Wooley Valley, near Bath which had inspired his first solo single 'Solsbury Hill' in 1977. (Read more on Wikipedia).
Links to Peel[]
Aside from early sessions by Genesis, with Gabriel contributing vocals and flute, Peel showed little interest in Gabriel's work either with the group or as a solo artist. He did in fact only seem to promote Genesis records from A Trick of the Tail onwards, recorded when Gabriel had left. As a promoter of world music, however, Peel has featured various artists who have recorded for Real World (Ashkhabad, Tenores Di Bitti), or the WOMAD (Muzsikás, Amayenge, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) labels. During the 1987 Whistle Test special "87 Whistle Test 88" Peel interviewed Gabriel about world music, while featuring Zimbabwe's the Bhundu Boys who had previously recorded two sessions. Robert Wyatt recorded a cover version of Gabriel's song 'Biko', which recounts the assassination of South African anti-apartheid activist which made the 1984 Festive Fifty.
Like Peel, Gabriel also publicly declared his support for the Labour Party prior to the 1997 elections and was named as one of the biggest private financial donors to the party. Gabriel subsequently distanced himself from the Labour government following Tony Blair's support for George W. Bush and Britain's involvement in the Iraq War.
Despite his apparent lack of promotion of Gabriel's solo work, his first three albums (all entitled Peter Gabriel) as well as the German language Ein Deutsches Album are to be found in Peel's Record Collection.
Peel introduced Gabriel's Sledgehammer twice on Top of the Pops in 1986, including the TOTP debut of the iconic video for the song.
Shows played[]
Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer (Video, TOTP)
- None.
Top Of The Pops[]
- 08 May 1986 (TOTP): Sledgehammer (video)
- 29 May 1986 (TOTP): Sledgehammer (video)
Compilations[]
WOMAD[]
(Peel plays of various artist (v/a) releases on the WOMAD record label founded by Peter Gabriel.)
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
(LP- Raindrops Pattering On Banana Leaves And Other Tunes - A WOMAD Benefit LP))
- 22 August 1984: Robert Wyatt: Grass
- 10 April 1987 (BFBS): Drummers Of Burundi (with Echo & The Bunnymen): Zimbo (All My Colours)
(LP - Womad Talking Book Volume One: An Introduction)
- 29 May 1985: Willie Clancy: Rakish Paddy
- 15 July 1985: Orchestre Super Matimila: Nalilia Mwana
- 17 July 1985: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Judaian De Dukhre
(LP - Womad Talking Book: Volume Two - An Introduction To Africa)
- 30 December 1985: Two Young Girls From Burundi: Akazéhé
- 11 January 1986 (BFBS): Two Young Girls From Burundi: Akazéhé
(v/a LP - Womad Talking Book Volume Three: An Introduction To Europe)
- 08 October 1986: Pedro Caldeira Cabral: Entrada
- 13 October 1986: Muzsikás:: Elment A Madárka (To The Memory Of György Martin
- 13 October 1986: Mad Professor: Fast Forward Into Dub
- 20 October 1986: Dick Gaughan: Song Of Choice
- 29 October 1986: El Niño De Almaden: Farruca
- 01 November 1986 (BFBS): Muzsikás: Elment A Madárka (To The Memory Of György Martin)
- 19 November 1986: Pedro Caldeira Cabral: Entrada
- 03 December 1986: Selda: Türk Köylüsü
(LP - WOMAD Talking Book: Volume Four - An Introduction To Asia 1) WOMAD
- 21 July 1987: Daryoush Tala'i And Djamchid Chemirani: Táār And Zarb
- 08 September 1987: Şivan Perwer: Dayê Ez Xelim
- 14 September 1987: Temple Musicians Of Sri Lanka: Ritual Of Şiva-Linga
- 16 September 1987: Pakistani Women Singers: Mersiyét
- 16 November 1987: Ofra Haza: Im Nin'Alu
(LP - Shani! The Sounds Of Zambia) WOMAD
- 24 November 1987: Alfred Chisala Kalusha: Basambula
- 05 January 1988: Amayenge: Chibuyubuyu
- 11 January 1988: P.K. Chishala: Umuti Wa AIDS
- 06 February 1988 (Radio Bremen): Teddy Tandeo Chilambe: Amakwebo
- 28 March 1988: Amayenge: Chibuyubuyu
- 16 May 1988: Amayenge: Lelo Baleisa
- 18 May 1988: Amayenge: Mulumbwe
- 31 May 1988 (Radio Bremen): Amayenge: Lelo Balesia
- 21 June 1988: Amayenge: Chibuyubuyu
- 27 June 1988 (BBC World Service): Amayenge: Chibuyubuyu
- 28 June 1988: Amayenge: Lelo Baleisa
- 29 June 1988: Amayenge: Mulumbwe
- 05 July 1988: Akim Simoukonda: Umwana Wachipondo Chandi
- 06 July 1988: Alfred Chisala Kalusha: Basambula
- 11 July 1988: Amayenge: Mulumbwe
- 19 July 1988: Amayenge: Kanyama
- 01 August 1988: Amayenge: Kanyama
- 21 September 1988: Shalawambe: Kamusisi (Part 1)
(cassette - The Pocket Womad)
- 09 March 1988: Bhundu Boys: Vakaringa Dombo
(CD - Football Africa) WOMAD Select
- 07 July 1998: Amayenge: Lelo Balesia
- 08 July 1998: Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited: Soccer Lions
Real World[]
(Peel plays of various artist (v/a) releases on the Real World label founded by Peter Gabriel.)
![]() |
![]() |
(CD - Voices Of The Real World)
- 16 February 2000: Shu-De: Styles Of Throat Singing
(CD - Music At Matt Molloy's)
- 07 November 1992: Various Artists: Killmavee Jig / The Maid Of The Well / The Old Geese On The Bog
- 14 November 1992: Various Artists: Over The Moor To Maggie / Fred Finn's / The Hunter's House (Reels)
Covered[]
Listing taken only from the Cover Versions page of this site. Please add more information if known.
Performing Artist | Song | First Known Play
- Robert Wyatt: Biko 19 December 1984
See Also[]
- Genesis
- Record Collection: G
- Gigography 1987
- Soup Songs - The Robert Wyatt Story
- Arcade Fire
- Angélique Kidjo
- Sham 69
- Suns Of Arqa
- Youssou N'Dour