In 2010 Prog tracked down a few of Peter Gabriel’s collaborators on his solo and soundtrack albums, with the intention of providing an inside view of working with the Progfather – as we’d dubbed him, a lot to his amusement. Whereas we have been at it, we additionally requested a few of prog’s greatest names if they’d any opinions on the previous Genesis frontman’s profession. They didn’t disappoint.
Bob Ezrin – Producer, Peter Gabriel 1 (Automobile)
If there’s something that made me work with Peter Gabriel within the first place it was his pure sense of humility. Humility within the Christian sense of the phrase, in that he’s a humble man. I used to be impressed that an individual that sensible may also maintain himself on such a practical degree of esteem.
All I do know is that Peter performed me Right here Comes The Flood in my front room on our first assembly. I used to be in the course of producing albums for each Kiss and Alice Cooper, engaged on tight deadlines. Within the midst of all that I went to mattress singing Right here Comes The Flood as a substitute of my very own data! There’s not many songs I’ve heard contemporary from the author’s mouth which can be that nice.
Robert Fripp – Guitarist / producer, Peter Gabriel 2 (Scratch)
Peter’s second album is a a lot subtler proposition that tells lots on the manufacturing facet. I believe it’s unimaginable to guage until one has listened to it at the least a dozen instances. Peter was afraid of utilizing me as a producer. He knew that my manufacturing wouldn’t be “industrial” and he was proper. I used to be not guaranteeing any hit.
What I needed was to document him faithfully. I may have produced two or three cuts solely and let Bob Ezrin do the others. So it was with some reserves on Peter’s industrial pursuits that I used to be chosen to provide the album.
Steve Lillywhite – Producer, Peter Gabriel 3 (Soften)
I believe lots of people have quoted Peter’s third album as being a brand new departure in sound. I see Peter as a extremely necessary artist. He’s extraordinarily proficient, however he has to push himself. It doesn’t come straightforward, not like Phil Collins. Issues most likely come simpler to Phil than to anybody I’ve ever met. And issues come harder to Peter than to anybody I’ve ever met. He’ll delay making a choice till the final potential second, – however that’s solely as a result of he doesn’t con himself into considering he is aware of what he’s doing.
David Lord – co-producer, Peter Gabriel 4 (Safety)
I like the best way he actually perseveres and struggles by way of issues that you simply won’t suppose would work. I may ensure he wouldn’t get a tune out of an thought; positive that he was going spherical in circles and never getting wherever – however he at all times knew on the finish of it he would.
He doesn’t like being proved mistaken, although he’s not dogmatic. Most people I believe are fascinating musically would regard Peter as being influential, although I don’t know the way a lot impact he has had on the mainstream hit parade stuff.
Alan Parker – director, Birdy
We acquired on so effectively; he’s such a candy man. It was such a refreshing change from working with megalomaniacs like Roger Waters.
Peter’s document firm have been very tough to start with, and so I phoned them to ask in the event that they’d thoughts if Peter took a little bit time to do Birdy. They stated so long as it didn’t take greater than a few months, as a result of he was already a 12 months late or one thing.
He had robust views and I’d by no means be capable of persuade him to do one thing he didn’t really feel snug with – however we didn’t have any confrontation as such.
Tony Levin – bassist, So
On Massive Time I requested the drummer, Jerry Marotta, to play on the bass strings whereas I did the fingering – not a brand new thought, however what’s?! Then, dwell, I used to be making an attempt to play that half with a drumstick in my hand. At some point at soundcheck, Peter checked out me and stated: “why don’t you connect sticks to your fingers?”
What an amazing thought! I requested my tech, Andi Moore, to assist devise a technique to do it, and voila, Funk Fingers! In fact, the primary units broke the bass strings – some changes needed to be made!.
Martin Scorsese – director, The Final Temptation Of Christ
I started listening to Peter’s music again in 1982-83 and I particularly appreciated Rhythm Of The Warmth with its drums, after which I Go Swimming the place the lyrics begin fairly ordinarily earlier than taking off to achieve a religious degree – particularly within the dwell model.
I stated I’d be considering having him do the music for The Final Temptation Of Christ as a result of, for me, the rhythms he makes use of replicate the primitive and his vocals replicate the chic – it’s as if the spirit and the flesh are collectively proper there.
In fact, he needed to do it as a labour of affection as a result of there was hardly any cash in it. Usually, he says, it takes two years to do 40 minutes of music, and this was two hours and 40 minutes, which he did in three months!
Daniel Lanois – producer, Us
It’s true that Peter likes element, however he additionally likes efficiency lots. Having watched him for a very long time now, I do know that is the side of recording that he enjoys essentially the most: giving it hell and jamming it out with the band. His consideration to element typically goes into the realm of sonic creativity. He likes to interrupt new floor sonically and I inspired him to spend time on that.
David Noyce – director, Lengthy Stroll House and Rabbit Proof Fence
I believe Peter’s main contribution to the movie Rabbit Proof Fence was not solely to underscore the drama that’s the conventional operate of a movie composer – however he additionally gave the movie a poetry. Peter was largely answerable for permitting the viewers to actually take part within the feelings that have been at play within the story.
What he stated to me at first was: “I wish to do a rating that comes out of the earth. I wish to do a rating that expresses the Aboriginal ’oneness’ with their land.” He stated he needed me to supply him with all the actual sounds that will be used within the results and environment monitor of the movie – birds, bugs, winds, rain, water, all types of animal sounds.
He then sampled, programmed and synthesised these sounds, and made them a part of his rating.
Richard Chappell – engineer, Up
I believe Peter invited Tchad Blake as a result of he was producing himself and needed to have a contemporary pair of ears in the direction of the top of the challenge to maintain issues underneath management. Tchad could be very strong-willed – having somebody like him round is an effective self-discipline. We tried out just a few songs with him, and Peter appreciated the outcomes, so we stored going.
Tchad is a genius with what he can do sonically. Peter could be in right here recording issues with me for a similar tune that Tchad was mixing, and we’d stroll in the direction of the primary constructing so as to add this stuff to the combination. Tchad would both agree or disagree, they usually’d have to determine between them what was going for use.
Not solely… but in addition:
Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull: “Peter Gabriel’s work has at all times been admirable and progressive, from the arty, theatrical beginnings of Genesis by way of to his newest, sans guitar and drums covers. He defies conference and searches out the deeper and extra satisfying reaches of rock music with out it ever shedding all widespread and industrial enchantment. Intelligent chap, that Gabriel!”
Doug Pinnick, King’s X: “I’ve been a fan since Genesis – Sledgehammer is likely one of the funkiest jams there’s. And the person has soul.”
Arthur Brown: “Peter’s modesty has not hidden the immensity of his achievements. His generosity and integrity matched his love for worldwide music. He carried out a imaginative and prescient. To try this you want energy and braveness.”
Sonja Kristina: “Curved Air and Genesis shared the identical invoice in 1970. Peter was very shy and silent offstage, but very extrovert and eccentric in his efficiency on stage. His first solo album was one of many few albums that actually engaged me.”
Tom Morello, Rage In opposition to The Machine: “He’s considered one of my all-time favorite artists. His tune Biko is as shifting and provoking as any tune I’ve ever heard. He’s a real artist who brings a strong poetic, musical and humanistic imaginative and prescient to life in his work.”
Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters: “He’s a singular character. He’s acquired the creative integrity of Neil Younger and the fixed restiveness to push the envelope of David Bowie. I’d nonetheless love him to do some reveals with the good Genesis line-up although!”
Carmine Appice: “I like Peter Gabriel’s genius – all his theatrical masks. His method and voice are distinctive. He’s an amazing, progressive expertise.”
Steven Wilson: “Peter is considered one of a small group of innovators that fully deconstructed the blueprint of widespread music and reinvented it as one thing contemporary. As a producer and a songwriter he’s been an inspiration to me.”
Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater: “I’ve a deep appreciation for his Genesis years, clearly. Foxtrot, Promoting England and The Lamb are landmark prog albums. However not like many prog icons who went solo, Peter Gabriel continued to push the envelope with every album. His solo albums are as near studio perfection as you may get.”
Roye Albrighton, Nektar: “The man is progressive. My all-time favorite tracks with him are Carpet Crawlers and Don’t Give Up – the latter is a very shifting piece.”
Trevor Rabin: “Peter Gabriel is a real artist. He by no means ’settles’ – he’s at all times pushing, from Foxtrot to Sledgehammer. I like him.”
