Peter Gabriel: Artists Who Changed Music - Unveiling the Musical Legacy Of A Living Legend 

What are some of your favourite works by Peter Gabriel? Share below!

“Melt” and Security for me are the quintessential Peter Gabriel albums in terms of the music itself. “San Jacinto” is the most haunting song I have personally ever heard, especially the ending section. It still makes my hair stand up. I remember being afraid to listen to it as a kid. But now I love it and appreciate it. Nothing I’ve ever heard sounds like that. Nothing.

I was lucky enough to see Peter on the final night of his European tour in Dublin to say it was the greatest concert I have ever seen is an understatement everything was mind-blowing the concept of the gig was amazing the Band was in top form, the split screens, the featured artists, the sound, the visuals I could go on and on he played for nearly 3 hours this is a man of 73 he would put to shame most bands out there this gig was an experience and his voice can't believe he still has it after all these years and singing most of those songs in the original keys he sang them when he was a much younger man. Amazing

There are *very* few channels from whom I will happily (and probably repeatedly) watch an 84 minute video in one sitting. These documentary style videos are just a pure joy to consume, and your talent for education, entertainment, and storytelling are truly unmatched. Thank you for sharing your considerable gifts with the music world, Warren - you're a treasure.

I am a recent Gabriel convert, and I am so surprised I haven't become obsessed with his music earlier. Everything he does is so creative and thought provoking, just enough weird to keep me guessing, which I love. There is nothing that he has done that I haven't loved.

A true musical genius

"Rhythm of the heat" was the first thing I heard of Peter Gabriel and my musical world never was the same again.

Peter Gabriel is beyond legendary

Genesis and PG have been part of my musical life since 1978/80. And massively so from 82 to 84.

First Rick's 3-hour interview and now PLAP's hour-and-a-half deep dive. Daniel Lanois and Peter Gabriel fans are eating well today!

For those who can't watch the entire video, please skip ahead and listen to the last five minutes. You'll get to hear Warren talking about what makes music great. "Great art has to be great art on all levels... Great songs, great performances, the right production ... but I also want lyrics that mean something, and that kick down doors and break down barriers." It's that emotional impact that moves a piece of music from good to great.

PG is my all-time fave musician/artist. Since Genesis days. PG can't be equalled.

I can remember going into town with my dad in winter of 1980 and he gave me some extra cash to buy Gabriel 3 and Remain in Light. My 12 year old mind was blown. I don't think I ever recovered. lol

No Self Control. Genius

This is by far the greatest Peter Gabriel history video ever produced. So over the top production and sound quality!! Thank you.

PG was and is still an unbelievable creative artist. I grew up in the seventies, followed his music and saw alot of concerts in the past. And of course the i/o-Tour in Verona (where i met Manu Katche)and Hamburg. We can be lucky, that there are so many Genesis-coverbands, which plays our old music live. Stay health!

Currently I can look up at Solsbury Hill from my kitchen window. It's weird how things go... Been a massive Gabriel fan since my teens. I was born and still live in Bath in the UK. I've been lucky enough to be able to see Peter's Real World Studios being built in that time, and also used to live just around the corner from Peter Hammill's old studio (another favourite artist of mine).

I’m so grateful watching this before seeing Peter Gabriel live in Stockholm with my father that introduced me to Peter Gabriel and his contribution to Genesis which I was into!

Peter Gabriel is just one of the absolute best, living legend. Flying across the Atlantic to see him at O2 Arena soon. See you there! 😄

excellent video, thanks Warren! As a South African I can vouch that Biko was a huge thing for us, it galvanised a large audience worldwide into awareness of what was going on here. Later I went to the SA Womad festival every year and saw a range of wonderful artists from all over the world. Last year I got to play at one! What a legacy this man has left . . .

Can't wait for 19th June. I want to see Tony, John and Peter prance around the stage to Solsbury Hill and my heart go Boom Boom, Boom.

Didn't discover Gabriel till Melt. Reckon III, IV and So his creative peak. A trilogy as good as any artist. Love the variety.

Whoa... Where do I start.... I bought Solsbury Hill when it came out when I was still at school and saw Gabriel at the Reading Festival in 79 (with Phil Collins... even Steve Hackett was there performing, but sadly didn't join Gabriel on stage). Gabriel sang this odd song based around a drum beat that eventually became Biko (the audio is on RU-vid) Since then, I've bought all the albums, played them to death. Tracks like San Jacinto, Signal to Noise and so many others are part of my life, but Solsbury Hill still takes me back to being a schoolboy walking up One Tree Hill and playing the song on my portable cassette player, the sun was shining and the future looked great. Now, I am so so happy to have tickets and will go with my son to see the I/O tour... I never thought my son would get the opportunity to see him play live. Very happy. 😊

This one is quite an achievement Warren. I have always admired your thorough consideration of the artists and their process for this series, but it has really begun to converge into a real resource of not only tribute to these works of art and the artists who made them but as an insightful education on what it meant for these musicians to craft their work on the gear and instruments they used to tell their stories. Bravo, my man. Bravo

The absolute best of the best. The first song I remember hearing as a kid was - ironically - “I Don’t Remember”…. And ever since I’ve been a huge fan.

What an outstanding inside view of Peter's work !!! Quite something 4 all of us who have been listening not only to his innovative music but also to the depth of his being, throughout so many years . . 🙏 Thanks

I consider Peter to be one of the best lyricists in the world. Nothing short of insightful and emotional.

Gabriel has always been a restless soul. Creative yet working until he gets it "just right." It's always fun to see what Peter Gabriel has to say. A highlight for me is "Mirrorball" from "Scratch My Back." "Seldom Seen Kid" is one of my favorite albums and I adore Elbow. So to hear Peter Gabriel cover "Mirrorball" with care almost made me cry.

In the mid nineties I was in a long distance relationship, the Internet hadn't just started and the phone was the only option to maintain a relationship. That time I saw Come talk to me on MTV just hit me home. The song, the musicianship and Robert Lepage direction on the whole concert show is really special. I love a lot of Peter Gabriel song, but Come talk to me is really special to me.

Saw him live yesterday evening. What he has achieved, and still does, at 72 is simply too good to be true.

A masterpiece of an artist. His work with world music artists is truely inspirational. He has one hell of a back catalogue and a lover of humanity! Great human being!

This is going to be great

PG3 is an absolute masterpiece and Gabriel at his peak "dark and weird". As great as So is, this is the one I hold at the top of the mountain. Up is also a truly underrated gem and a return to "dark and weird". Some truly amazing songs and it never got the proper attention it was due.

@Produce Like A Pro. Brilliant work on this video Warren! For me - watching your work on this upload, the two words "Thank You" are just not enough sir. Peter Gabriel is such a unique man in all of the things he does. And you went to great lengths to show us all of the kit that was used to make the recordings. Perfect for a tech nerd like me. Hope I haven't missed this in your video but here goes. I bought Peter's album "So" on CD when it was first released in 1986 (?). I remember reading lots of reviews in the music press and one writer offered a "theory" as to why the album title. Peter's previous solo albums became widely known by the cover art. The reviewer wrote that maybe Peter had the idea of: Album 1 aka "Car" = Do Album 2 aka "Scratch" = Re Album 3 aka "Melt" = Mi Album 4 aka "Security" = Fah Album 5 = So. That was a good theory. But soon fell down when Peter's next album was titled "Up"! To me, Peter Gabriel is a sonic pioneer. He has no fear about going where other musicians would not venture. Once again, many thanks for this. Good work. I look forward to more in your "Artists Who Changed Music" series. You and yours stay safe and well.

Great presentation. loved it. When you mentioned Biko etc I couldn't help remember Johnny Clegg (RIP) who wrote Asimbonanga and sang and danced with Mandela, we played at his Presidential inauguration in 94... We shared a few stages with PG and Sting and Springsteen like Amnesty International in Abidjan, Cote d"Ivoire...hey it was some journey

I was 10 when I first heard Solsbury Hill and I remember being profoundly moved by it. Like Fernando by ABBA, this was one of the first songs with a narrative that transported me into an immersive story. After that I remember Games Without Frontiers, Shock The Monkey and many more after.

The videos on this channel are second to none for music-oriented content creators. I look forward to every one of these documentary/biographical episodes. Tip top!

Peter's music made my life. As an amateur keyboard player I always played his songs dreaming of being with him while recording. This video is amazing (with pieces a fan never had a chance to see). Thanks Warren. Could you please plan a visit to Real World Studios?

As a 16 year old Here Comes the Flood really shook me. I've heard it criticised for being over the top. I didn't care. I loved it. CR78! That brings back memories. We used it on my first (ahem) "album". I also have a software version of the Fairlight and Synclavier and many other old school synths.

Oh my word am I ever happy you dropped this today. This is my evening planned out for me. This year is turning into the year of Peter Gabriel for me. I was gifted floor seats here in Ottawa for his Sept 9th show.

Thanks for this Warren. One thing you didn't overtly discuss is the contrast between what Gabriel has CREATED with the huge amount of money his records have made, compared to other similarly successful artists. The breadth and depth of these CREATIONS - from the Real World studios, to WOMAD, to multiple charities - any single one of which would be worthy of huge respect - is simply staggering. I understand why you wouldn't discuss this, it's really hard to do without being negative and drawing very unflattering comparisons, but it is why Gabriel has very few peers in the 'decent human being' stakes!

peter gabriel has lived in my head and my heart since I was 13 .. so much more than just a musician to me .. but also a voice that need do nothing more than be .. thank you Warren for this immersion into his impact

Thanks for bringing this out right now, a week before I am going to see Peter on Berlin’s best open-air stage. 😀

i feel a documentary on u2 coming up. can't wait! please include as many details about the guitar chain as possible, including the input on the amp - i hear it's the low sensitivity tb - the signal boost going in, so on, how to prevent the delay from muddying up the amp, so forth. i've enjoyed this one, too, especially the info about the process.

all my friends in High School where Genesis/solo fans; i really enjoyed "Plays Live" (closing that chapter in his career) & then So ... i had the privilege of assisting the recording of the last tour date in Montreal, 20 years ago (!) He is a true artist; no formula , no recipe , no convention ... grind out the possibilities til it works for you. (even if it drives all collaborators crazy , LOL)

I feel your Bromance for PG. One of my all time favorites.... I can listen to any of the early Genesis albums or PG solo efforts over and over and never get bored of the songs. Well done. Cheers for LA, Cali.

Thank you so much for this incredibly extensive documentary on one of my favourite musicians. As a 23-year old, I remember being obsessed with Peter’s videos on a VHS my parents had. Nowadays Peter is the sound of my infancy, and as years went by, I came to realise how much of an artist he is! This video on the other hand, really helps put in context how amazing Gabriel is, so thank you very much for doing it!

Thank you for this Warren, Peter is truly a genius, had a great opportunity to visit Real World in the 1990's, had a long chat with Dicky Chappell who told me Peter is such lovely guy who genuine cares about people and social justice, he loves to play drums he has a drum set in the shed, I got to sit at his desk in there where he had a his old getto blaster on a shelf in front of him, Dicky said that he used to record alot of sounds on a whole libaray of dat tapes and would call Dicky sometimes very late when he had an idea and ask him to fetch a certain Dat tape from the library, Real World itself is awesome Peter has a paino in one of the rooms and there is a stream of water running through the room. can't wait for his gig on June 17th in Birmingham UK, its going to be amazing.

You’re incredible Warren! This synopsis of Peter’s work is so thorough and information-rich, that I learned so much that I never knew before about an individual I equally regard as the Artist’s Artist: Peter Gabriel. Thank you for doing this and sharing it with all of us. You’re a treasure to the musical community. Thank you again!

Thank you for this. So much looking forward to it.

Great history and a hell of a career. Fantastic video. Thanks alot

@ Montréal 🇨🇦...SONiC memories ❤️

Excellent study on Gabriel. Remember seeing him and the original Genesis at the Apollo in Glasgow in the early 70's. Music, theatre and mellotrons all in one night......anyway thanks for video. Can i recommend someone to you and your audience. Have a look at REN, his track HI Ren is something to behold, he has a type of Gabriel uniqueness to him. Worth a look.

Last Temptation of Christ is an album that I come back to over and over again.

I saw Peter Gabriel play IV on the Rock Werchter Festival in 1983 and it was one of most impressing shows I have ever witnessed in my over 40 years of going to rock concerts. San Jacinto !!!

What can I say ,consistent soundtrack, reference ,inspiration throughout my life even bringer of hope in humanity, too many favs to have a favourite track, now that's something. The musical company he keeps just amazing , such nice people.

Thank you producelikeapro so much! I love peter gabriel and in some sense or circles is very underrated

What an absolutely fantastic 90 minutes. Yes Peter is the Artists Artist, he is all things in every way, a good human being, empathy and your comments about SKA...oh man that hit home!! SKA got us dancing but Gabriel kept us company when we needed to be alone. When you could let his words give your imagination flight, just like Birdy. 1983, 15 yr old kid I got plopped down general admission had never been to a concert did not know Gabriel at all. Show date had changed so my older brother gave me his ticket as he was flying back to the UK on a trip. I don't remember any of it. All I remember is an absolute sense of wonder as he was handed over my head during Lay Your Hands on Me. For lack of a better term I think I was imprinted on like a baby bird that day. He's not just been my music friend in the worst of times but in the best and he has always been a moral leader to follow. His compassion taught me compassion. As a musician, to hear his process and relate is really wonderful for me personally. Thankyou so much for putting all of this work into this great video. The gear lists, the archive video and your summary, I was cheering you on.

Shedlghammer is the greatest video EVER!!!

Excellent video, couldn't stop watching it till the end. Peter Gabriel, what a man!

Wonderful. Loved this video, thanks a lot! What I found most interesting: Your personal opinion about Peter and his work, and how you listen to "Melt" so often and even reference it (surprising choice!). I would have loved to hear more about his influence on your work...

Warren.. Mate, there is no doubt that when you drop a video that is almost 1.5 hrs in length one can only wonder how much was left on the cutting room floor. The amount of detail and subtext speaks to the effort extended to documenting this artist’s manifold contributions to music and social activism. Your reverence and passion for this art form are on full display here. Kudos on a job well done and I look forward to future tribute installments. ❤❤❤

I was eleven years old when Sledgehammer hit MTV and melted my mind. I loved the music, the video was amazing, I'd never seen anything like it before, and I was hooked from then on. PG is an artist that rewards life experience and maturity; now that I'm middle-aged I can appreciate the technical artistry and his poetry on a much deeper level. When he dies I'll be as heartbroken as I was when David Bowie left us but, like Bowie, we'll be blessed to have such a huge history of music to continue enjoy. What a legacy he has left.

In 1986, I picked up my first hifi separate, a Technics RS B11W double tape deck. I was 15, I saved up my paperboy money for 1 year to buy it 2nd hand from my local Panasonic dealer. That was all my money at the time (£90) and I had no idea of 2nd hand newspapers etc back then and obviously, no internet and my great weakness of the last 20 years, ebay. As such, I was skint and had no money for an amp and speakers, so I was using my Dads 1970s Sony headphones with volume controls built in and was begging and borrowing music. At the time of course, Peter Gabriel had Sledgehammer out and was in my local library looking for music of interest, and discovered 'So'. I took it home and listened and it blew me away, REALLY blew me away (again bearing in mind I was 15, and was just discovering a lot of music for the first time), having that level of sound quality to really hear the album changed everything. In the now nearly 40 years since, a lot of favourites have come and gone, but Peters' music has stayed absolute; that gravelly ear grabbing voice, the always unique, ever changing and innovative sounds that appear in the next songs produced, it never seems to end. I have been lazy in recent years, music is so easy to access now, so your video today was a Godsend, it literally just appeared on my youtube feed. I became a Dad in 2003, so since then I have just been working and not been paying much serious attention to music, so your video revealed a shocking back catalogue, the last album of Peters I bought was 'Us' (funnily enough Steam attracted me to that, not very individual but who cares, its brilliant), I had no idea I was so far behind on how much music he has produced since. And I agree RE Melt, although SO was a revelation for me, I did love Games Without Frontiers as a kid, although then it was a captivating song with an equally captivating video. Thank you for making this, I have a lot of listening to do. Cheers. Graham. :)

Thank you for this, what an amazing artist and legend. I liked Peter Gabriel since I first heard him as a child and followed his work ever since. Really is a top bloke.

I was 12 in 1986 and So changed my life. It awakened a love of layered, textural, thoughtful music that has stayed in my heart ever since.

What an absolute legend! This is going to be intense

I can absult agree with your last sentences about Peter. He is one of the famous musicians/ artists in Pop culture. Yes, there are plenty unique or good or exceptional ones, but he is a combined character to many arts and a real explorer and always a way of a head thinker. His music, accompanied me since I was 13 yrs. old , 1977 his album Car and Solsbruy hill take into music. I was never a Genesis fan, so i can only think of him as a solo artist. In 1980, I was lucky and 16 yrs. old, I have the pleasure to visit one of his live shows with the Melt album, and this blow me away. So unuseral music and sound. It is one of my beloves albums ever. And it still is. 3 years ago, I was able to own this on a CD, it was not possible to get before here in Germany. Than the So Album came out in 1986, which catapult him into the Pop heaven or Olmyp. I have seen many live shows of him in the 80ties and 90ties and these were always a benchmerk for all other live shows that I have seen. I am sorry to say: There is and was no other competion in his class. Today i am afraid to go the shows, to aviod to be frustrated, so many good memories and impressiv moment that they can´t be brought back. And the high pricing of tickets and too big halls, which makes me feel that i am happy to have seen hi in in his best phases and i do not believe that the can be brought back.

Rhythm of the Heat is an absolute masterpiece!!

I've always felt Gabriel has a little something special, he's like the james joyce of songwriting in my view, such an ability to paint scenes and situations and then cut right through all the defenses and strike you in the chest with some emotive line that speaks the truth of the human experience. And I swear the more I learn about Gabriel and his forensic perfectionism and 'slow' work speed, stuff like that allows me to relax and breathe a little bit easier about my own nature when it comes to getting things 'how I want them." Thanks so much for this Warren.

Love Peter. He's a huge influence in my musical career!

Peter Gabriel... Simply one of the best artists EVER. As simple as that. Great video Warren! Thanks for sharing.

Who has records as a solo artist like this guy. They are astounding works of art. Security jc.

I grew up adoring The Beatles, but as a solo artist, Peter blew my mind way before David Bowie did. It was around 1981-82 when I was barely 8 years old. A friend of my brother lend us Scratch and that album opened a new world for me. I knew instantly that it was a patchy recording, but just the artistry and the songwriting was enough to make an indelible mark and turn me into a fan of Peter, my real first hero outside The Bealtes Paul and John. Then again, when a radio station broadcasted So several days before its release I knew I was in presence of something thats never been done before, and I was right. Its true, his procrastination has been a problem, and that has made me to look after Steve Hackett's astonishing solo career that continues to this day too delivering good work after another. With every new Peter album after So, he tried to recapture the pop success with songsvlike Steam and Barry Williams Show which I found unnecessary, but each new album always brought something to be amazed of, although with diminishing returns,and i/o seem to be a proof of that. I will enjoy the album despite not quite feeling the recently released songs. Its better to have a new Gabriel album than none, right?

2,5 weeks ....Gabriel plays Amsterdam :) Tickets are very expensive but hey I just have to go. Saw him in 87 when So came out too. Thx for this wonderful docu!!! I m gonna watch again :)

i LOVE that you spoke about Peters humanity i 1st heard the 2nd and 3rd albums in the mid 80s and was hooked the more i learned the moore there was to learn and that is still true he is one of those guys that makes me happy that im alive at the same time he is active and alive personally i really like the song "Intruder" but that whole albums feel is amazing

Peter Gabriel is a decent human being. SO MUCH THIS!

Ever since the day I heard "In Your Eyes", the day "So" was released, I have always held it as a benchmark. If I ever can even approach that level of songwriting and performance, I'll consider myself an artist. Still working on it, decades later.

Passion was absolutely bombastic! One of my favorite albums.

Been a Gabriel fan since Genesis early days (didn’t like Genesis after he left) found out loads of stuff I didn’t know here, thanks for that!

When I was in a Goth band in the UK the 'Last Temptation of Christ' soundtrack was required listening.

The origin of the gated drum sound-I feel like I’ve been waiting for half my life for this secret to be revealed! Excellent segment with Hugh Padgham! PG is amazing in so many ways that words fail me

He is a masterful songwriter and sound sculptor. My favourite album is SO, US is also astounding, and I love his use of the Yamanha CP80 all over the place.

In 2014 Peter was honoured at The Progressive Music Awards at The Shakespeare Globe in London winning The Prog God Award And Rightly So!!

I remember in early 1974, at a friend's house, when I heard Peter's voice in the intro of Selling England by the Pound. I felt shivers running down my spine . Before the rest of the band started playing their parts, I rushed out of my friend's house and went to buy the album. Since that day, I had become a Genesis addict. I have all of their albums ( and Gabriel's solo ones ). ♥♥♥

I met a couple in the island of Rhodes on one my holidays from Australia. At the time I was reading a book in this courtyard in a small hotel, and this voice came ftom the balcony and he asked me what I was reading . I told him its a book on Peter Gabriel. Well the conversation went on for an hour, he was as enthusiastic as I was about PG's music. But one thing he told me he listerned to the album Passion ,and it help him to finish his PHD in engineering. And I get it. Great video thanks

One of, if not the best ever in this series Warren. The almost 90 minutes tells its own tale. The reason I joined PLAP was because of these amazing episodes in a great series. In terms of this vlog, I found myself delving back into my flac versions of a lot of the material you make reference to, pausing your vid to dive in (I have the benefit of a home studio with Adam Audio AH8 monitors and rear FRFR speakers to provide an immersive experience) and found myself in a state of joy and tears as I relived the music I grew up with. I guess we are cut from the same cloth - ex-pats (you in US and me in AUS) born in the same era and both groomed to have this medium of music as the helix that intertwines our existence. Long may you continue to provide great content. A special shout out to your assistants that made this one happen

Gabriel is certainly one of the great artists of our age. Probably my favorite recorded artist period. Thanks for that overview.

Excellent episode, thank you. Your passion for the man's work comes through.

This is the best documentary on Peter Gabriel that i have seen. I have been following Peter since the release of Foxtrot. I will be attending my second concert in October. Peter has aged like a fine wine for sure!

I never realized how nerdy Peter Gabriel was in his early years. It compliments his brand of artistry. The calculator watch accentuated this observation.

thank you for the immersive comprehension of this amazing man.

One of favorite songwriters.

mr. gabriel is an enigmatic gentleman, with the patience of a turtle and the drive of a porsche. i hope i get to see him once again, hopefully not for the last time, in canada soon. thanks for the awesome tribute to one of the greats !!

Thank you so much for making what is a sort of recap of Peter Gabriel's entire career to date. I first became aware of Gabriel in 1973 as a fan of Genesis, and continued to follow him when he went solo. I thought I had a pretty good picture of his middle and later career, but you have filled in a LOT of holes in my awareness that I didn't know about - thanks again!

Top, Top, Top, Fantastic, Awesome.

I've loved him since 1986, I was 15 at the time. It was when I bought 'Melt', a few years later that I began to admire him and bought all of his back-catalog. Melt is still my favourite PG album but all of his career's been amazing. Thanks for the video btw, it was incredibly entertaining.

Warren… thank you so much for doing these videos! With so many schools getting rid of so-called “right brain” education, your work will help so many who are looking to fill the gap. Yes I know that the actual playing of music solidifies so much into the musician, but first there has to be the appreciation of what they’re trying to achieve. I look forward to every episode!

Such a beatiful rendition to the master. I have enjoyed every second of it ❤

When I served in the german military, there was a special day when we took our oath and our families were invited. For that occasion all the squads prepared something for the guests, my squad did a fashion show presenting every possible uniform and combination of uniform parts. Together with two other guys my job was to present the old style green uniforms. The two dudes didn't care about the music, so I picked Gabriel's "Kiss That Frog". When our Hauptmann came to see our show, he stood there and laughed about that choice. Nobody else got the joke.