Editing Peter Gabriel (section)

== Career ==
=== 1965–1975: Early career and Genesis ===
In 1965, while still at Charterhouse, Gabriel formed the band [[Garden Wall (band)|Garden Wall]] with his schoolmates [[Tony Banks (musician)|Tony Banks]] on piano, Johnny Trapman on trumpet, and [[Chris Stewart (author)|Chris Stewart]] on drums.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=16}} Banks had started at Charterhouse at the same time as Gabriel, and the two were uninterested in school activities but bonded over music and started to write songs. At their final concert before they broke up, Gabriel wore a [[kaftan]] and beads and showered the audience with petals he had picked from neighbouring gardens.{{sfn|Frame|1983|p=23}} Garden Wall disbanded in 1967; Gabriel and Banks were invited by their Charterhouse schoolmates [[Anthony Phillips]] and [[Mike Rutherford]], who were in their own band at the school called [[Anon (band)|Anon]] until it split up the previous year, to work on a [[Demo (music)|demo]] tape of songs together.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=17}} Gabriel and Banks contributed "She Is Beautiful", the first song they wrote together. The tape was sent to Charterhouse alumnus, musician [[Jonathan King]], who was immediately enthusiastic largely due to Gabriel's vocals. He signed the group and suggested that their name be Gabriel's Angels, but this was unpopular with the other members, and they soon settled on his other suggestion of [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]].

After King suggested they stick to more straightforward pop, Gabriel and Banks wrote "[[The Silent Sun]]" as a pastiche of the [[Bee Gees]], one of King's favourite bands. It became Genesis' first single, released in 1968,{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=17}} and was included on their debut studio album ''[[From Genesis to Revelation]]'' (1968). Following the commercial failure of ''From Genesis to Revelation'', the band went their separate ways, and Gabriel continued his studies at Charterhouse.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=22}} In September 1969, Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, and Phillips decided to drop their plans and make Genesis a full-time band. In early 1970, Gabriel played the flute on ''[[Mona Bone Jakon]]'' by [[Cat Stevens]]. The second studio album by Genesis, ''[[Trespass (album)|Trespass]]'' (1970), marked Gabriel expanding his musical output with the flute, accordion, tambourine, and bass drum, and incorporating his [[soul music]] influences. Gabriel explained that he was driven to play these instruments because he was uncomfortable with doing nothing during instrumental sections.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=84}} He would have preferred to play keyboard instruments, but said, "[Banks] was extraordinarily possessive about the keyboards. I'd done a bit of flute at school, I always liked the sound, and a little bit of oboe (I was an even worse oboe player, but it made a couple of good noises now and again). Then the bass drum was something physical, visual, that I could kick hard and occasionally it was in time!"{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=54}} The album sold few copies, with Gabriel at one point securing a place to study at the [[London Film School|London School of Film Technique]] because the band "seemed to be dying".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Blake |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Blake (writer) |date=December 2011 |title=Cash for questions: Peter Gabriel |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |page=46}}</ref>

Genesis soon recruited guitarist [[Steve Hackett]] and drummer [[Phil Collins]].{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=43}} Gabriel began growing in confidence as a frontman; during an encore performance of "[[The Knife (song)|The Knife]]" on 19 June 1971, he took a running jump into the audience and expected them to catch him, only for them to instead move out of the way and leave him to land on the floor and break his ankle. He consequently had to perform Genesis' next several shows with a wheelchair and crutches.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=83}} Also during the ''Trespass'' tour, he started to recite stories to introduce songs as a way to cover the silence while the band tuned their instruments or technical faults were being fixed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/features/peter-gabriel-you-could-feel-the-horror-29379|title=Peter Gabriel: "You could feel the horror ..." – Uncut|date=19 October 2012|website=Uncut.co.uk|access-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023120219/http://www.uncut.co.uk/features/peter-gabriel-you-could-feel-the-horror-29379|archive-date=23 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> These stories were all improvised on the spot, and evolved as the tour went along.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=84}} The opener of their next studio album, ''[[Nursery Cryme]]'' (1971), "[[The Musical Box (Genesis song)|The Musical Box]]", was their first song in which Gabriel incorporated a story and characters into the lyrics, as the lyrics to previous story-based Genesis songs such as "White Mountain" and "One-Eyed Hound" were all written by other members of the group.{{cn|date=October 2024}} Gabriel was the primary writer of "Harold the Barrel", another story song on ''Nursery Cryme'', with Collins helping him on the lyrics.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=104}}

[[File:Peter Gabriel The Moonlight Knight (cropped).png|thumb|upright|right|Gabriel as "Britannia" or "[[Dancing with the Moonlit Knight|The Moonlit Knight]]" in 1974]]

The shows featuring ''[[Foxtrot (album)|Foxtrot]]'' (1972) marked a key development in Gabriel's stage performance. During a gig in [[Dublin]] in September 1972, he disappeared from the set during the instrumental section of "[[The Musical Box (Genesis song)|The Musical Box]]" and reappeared in his wife's red dress and a fox's head, mimicking the album's cover. The idea of the fox costume had been suggested to him by [[Paul Conroy (music executive)|Paul Conroy]] and Glen Colson, employees of Genesis's record label, [[Charisma Records]].{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=155-157}} Gabriel said he consulted the rest of Genesis about the fox costume but grew tired of arguing about it, but the other members all maintained that nothing was said about it beforehand and that when Gabriel came out in costume they initially mistook him for a fan invading the stage.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=157, 162}} The incident received front-page coverage in ''Melody Maker'', giving them national exposure which allowed the group to double their performance fee.{{cn|date=October 2024}} One of Gabriel's stories was printed on the liner notes of their live album, ''[[Genesis Live]]'' (1973). By late 1973, following the success of ''[[Selling England by the Pound]]'' (1973), which centred on English themes and literary and materialistic references, a typical Genesis show had Gabriel wear fluorescent make-up, a cape, and bat wings for "[[Watcher of the Skies]]", a helmet, chest plate, and a shield for "[[Dancing with the Moonlit Knight]]", a  [[crown of thorns]] and a flower mask for "[[Supper's Ready]]", and an old man mask for "The Musical Box".{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=162, 203}}

Gabriel continued to fight for involvement with Genesis's keyboards throughout his time with the group, and following a lengthy argument with Banks, he was allowed to play a minor keyboard part on "[[I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)]]", only for this part to be left out of the mix.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=197}} "I Know What I Like" became Genesis's first hit single, reaching number 21 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref>[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/genesis/ Genesis UK chart history], The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2024.</ref>

[[File:Peter Gabriel, April 1975.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Gabriel performing during [[The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Tour]], 1975]]

''[[The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway]]'' (1974) was Gabriel's final studio album with Genesis. He devised its story of the spiritual journey of Rael, a Puerto Rican youth living in New York City, and insisted upon writing all the lyrics himself, whereas on previous albums the lyrics had been divided among all the members of Genesis.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=211-213}} Tensions increased during this period, and Gabriel split with the band to pursue a film project with [[William Friedkin]], only to rejoin a week later.<ref name="Mike on Mike" /> Matters were complicated further with the difficult birth of Gabriel's first daughter, resulting in periods of time away from the band. The other members complained that Gabriel was showing a lack of commitment to the band. Gabriel saw this as a "really unsympathetic handling of my dealing with a family crisis" and said it caused a breakdown in his relationships with the rest of Genesis; Rutherford later admitted that they had been overly fixated on their music and were very unhelpful in what must have been a difficult time for Gabriel.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=217-218}} Gabriel was late to deliver the lyrics, but has denied that he was too busy to write much music for the album and relied on contributions from Banks and Rutherford.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=236}} Banks corroborated that Gabriel was the primary composer of the ''Lamb'' songs "[[The Carpet Crawlers]]" and "The Chamber of 32 Doors" and the sole composer of "Counting Out Time".{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=225-228}}

During a stop in Cleveland, Ohio, early into the album's tour, Gabriel informed the band of his intention to leave at its conclusion.{{sfn|Genesis|2007|p=158}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Saavedra |first=David |date=24 September 2024 |title=Greek mythology and oversized egos: The Genesis album that ended progressive rock |work=El Pais |url=https://english.elpais.com/culture/2024-09-24/greek-mythology-and-oversized-egos-the-genesis-album-that-ended-progressive-rock.html |access-date=8 October 2024 }}</ref> Rutherford recalled that they all "could see it coming".<ref name="Mike on Mike" /> Music critics often focused their reviews on Gabriel's theatrics and took the band's musical performance as secondary, which irritated the rest of the band.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=93}} The tour ended in May 1975, after which Gabriel wrote a piece for the press on 15 August, entitled "Out, Angels Out", about his departure, his disillusion with the business, and his desire to spend time with his family.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=107}} The news stunned fans of the group and left commentators wondering if the band could survive without him.<ref name="Leaves Genesis">{{cite news|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/peter-gabriel-leaves-genesis/|first=Dave|last=Swanson|title=38 Years Ago: Peter Gabriel Leaves Genesis|website=Ultimateclassicrock.com|date=15 August 2013|access-date=13 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821051141/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/peter-gabriel-leaves-genesis/|archive-date=21 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Reunion">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10903747/Genesis-back-together-after-nearly-40-years.html|first=Anita|last=Singh|title=Genesis back together after nearly 40 years|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=16 June 2014|access-date=13 August 2015|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924202057/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10903747/Genesis-back-together-after-nearly-40-years.html|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> His exit resulted in drummer [[Phil Collins]] reluctantly taking over on lead vocals after 400 singers were fruitlessly auditioned.

=== 1975–1985: Solo debut with four self-titled albums ===
Gabriel described his break from the music business as his "learning period", during which he took piano and music lessons. He had recorded demos by the end of 1975, the fruits of a period of writing around 20 songs with his friend Martin Hall.<ref name=MM751206>{{cite web|url=https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/interview-pg-gabriel-tells-all-melody-maker-6th-december/|title=Behind Peter Gabriel's mask|first=Chris|last=Welch|date=6 December 1975|work=Melody Maker|pages=8–9|access-date=20 June 2019|archive-date=20 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620170128/https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/interview-pg-gabriel-tells-all-melody-maker-6th-december/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1977, Gabriel released his solo debut, ''[[Peter Gabriel (1977 album)|Peter Gabriel]]'', which was recorded in Toronto with [[Bob Ezrin]] serving as the album's producer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Chris |date=8 January 2021 |title=How Peter Gabriel ditched the masks and made the album that changed his life |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/how-peter-gabriel-ditched-the-masks-and-made-the-album-that-changed-his-life |access-date=27 February 2025|website=Louder}}</ref> Gabriel did not title his first four studio albums. All were labelled ''Peter Gabriel'', using the same typeface, with designs by [[Hipgnosis]]. "The idea is to do it like a magazine, which will only come out once a year," he remarked in 1978. "So it's the same title, the same lettering in the same place; only the photo is different."<ref>''Best'' magazine, May 1978; translated in Gabriel fanzine ''White Shadow'' (#1, p. 13) by editor Fred Tomsett</ref>

''Peter Gabriel'' (a.k.a. ''Peter Gabriel 1: Car'') was released in February 1977 and reached No. 7 in the UK and No. 38 in the US. Its [[lead single]], "[[Solsbury Hill (song)|Solsbury Hill]]", is an autobiographical song about a spiritual experience on top of [[Solsbury Hill]] in Somerset. "It's about being prepared to lose what you have for what you might get&nbsp;..." said Gabriel. "It's about letting go."{{sfn|Easlea|2018|p=203}} Gabriel toured the album with an 80-date tour from March to November 1977 with a band that included guitarist [[Robert Fripp]] of [[King Crimson]] often playing off stage and introduced as "Dusty Rhodes".<ref name="Lamb">{{Cite news |last=Charone |first=Barbara |date=16 April 1977 |title=The Lamb Stands Up |url=https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/sounds-barbara-charone-interviews-peter-gabriel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018210112/https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/sounds-barbara-charone-interviews-peter-gabriel/ |archive-date=18 October 2021 |access-date=14 April 2024 |work=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]}}</ref>

[[File:Peter gabriel 31081978 02 400.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Gabriel onstage in 1978]]
In late 1977, Gabriel started recording the [[Peter Gabriel (1978 album)|second ''Peter Gabriel'' studio album]] (a.k.a. ''Peter Gabriel 2: Scratch'') in the Netherlands, with Fripp as producer. Its "Mother of Violence" was written by Gabriel and his first wife Jill. Released in June 1978, the album went to No. 10 in the UK and No. 45 in the US. Gabriel's tour for the album lasted from August to December 1978. On this tour, Gabriel and his band shaved their heads.

Gabriel recorded the [[Peter Gabriel (1980 album)|third ''Peter Gabriel'' studio album]] (a.k.a. ''Peter Gabriel 3: Melt'') in England in 1979. He developed an interest in African music and [[drum machine]]s and later hailed the record as his artistic breakthrough. Gabriel banned the use of cymbals on the album in order to grant more sonic space for instruments like keyboards and synths. This resulted in the creation of the distinctive [[gated reverb]],<ref>{{cite journal |last=Flans |first=Robyn |date=1 May 2005 |title=Classic Tracks: Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" |url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_phil_collins_air/index.html |url-status=dead |journal=Mix Online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317065230/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_phil_collins_air/index.html |archive-date=17 March 2007 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> a noise processing technique which came about while recording drums on "[[Intruder (song)|Intruder]]", one of the tracks featuring [[Phil Collins]]. Collins implemented the reverb to great effect on his debut solo single "[[In the Air Tonight]]" and it has since became a signature sound of the 1980s and beyond.

Upon completion [[Atlantic Records]], Gabriel's US distributor who had released his first two albums, refused to put out ''Peter Gabriel 3: Melt'' as they thought it was not commercial enough. Gabriel signed a [[recording contract]] with [[Mercury Records]].<ref name="Rolling Stone 1987-10-29">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/peter-gabriel-hits-the-big-time-106473/|title=Peter Gabriel Hits the Big Time|first=Steve|last=Pond|date=29 January 1987|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622145805/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/peter-gabriel-hits-the-big-time-106473/|url-status=live}}</ref> Released in May 1980, the album went to No. 1 in the UK for three weeks. In the US, it peaked at No. 22. The single "[[Games Without Frontiers (song)|Games Without Frontiers]]" went to No. 4 and "[[Biko (song)|Biko]]" went to No. 36 in the UK. After a handful of shows in 1979, Gabriel toured the album from February to October 1980. The tour marked Gabriel's first successful instance of [[crowd surfing]] (following his failed June 1971 attempt when touring with Genesis) when he fell back into the audience in a crucifix position. The stunt became a staple of his live shows.<ref name="Rolling Stone 1987-10-29" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/thearchive/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Sounds-March-8th-1980-HF-reviews-pg-at-Edinburgh-1733x2500.jpg|title=On the road – The games people play|first=Hugh|last=Fielder|page=51|date=8 March 1980|work=Sounds|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613102425/http://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/thearchive/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Sounds-March-8th-1980-HF-reviews-pg-at-Edinburgh-1733x2500.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Peter Gabriel 19800906.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Gabriel performing in 1980]]
On [[Peter Gabriel (1982 album)|''Peter Gabriel'' four]] (a.k.a. ''Peter Gabriel 4: Security''), Gabriel took on greater responsibility over the production than before. He recorded it in 1981 and 1982, solely on digital tape, with a mobile studio parked at his home, [[Ashcombe House, Somerset|Ashcombe House]], in Somerset. Gabriel utilized a [[Fairlight CMI]] digital [[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampling]] synthesizer and incorporated electronic instrumentation with sampling world beat percussion. "Over the course of the last two albums," he observed, "I've got back into a rhythm consciousness. And the writing—particularly with the invention of these drum machines—is fantastic. You can store in their memories rhythms that interest you and excite you. And then the groove will carry on without you, and the groove will be exactly what you want it to be, rather than what a drummer thinks is appropriate for what you're doing."<ref name="White Shadow pp12" />

The fourth ''Peter Gabriel'', released in September 1982, hit No. 6 in the UK and No. 28 in the US. The second single, "[[Shock the Monkey]]", became Gabriel's first top 40 hit in the US, reaching No. 29. To handle American distribution, Gabriel signed with [[Geffen Records]], which—initially unbeknown to Gabriel—titled the album ''Security'' to differentiate it from the first three. Gabriel's 1982 tour lasted a year and became his first to make a profit.<ref name="Musician 1986-07" /> Recordings from the tour were released on Gabriel's debut live release, ''[[Plays Live]]'' (1983).

Gabriel produced versions of the third and fourth ''Peter Gabriel'' albums with German lyrics. The third consisted of the studio recordings, overdubbed with new vocals. The fourth was remixed, with several tracks extended or altered.

In 1983, Gabriel developed the soundtrack for [[Alan Parker]]'s drama film ''[[Birdy (film)|Birdy]]'' (1984), co-produced with [[Daniel Lanois]]. This consisted of new material, without lyrics, as well as remixed instrumentals from his previous studio album.

===1985–1997: ''So'' and ''Us''===
After finishing the soundtrack to ''Birdy'', Gabriel shifted his musical focus from rhythm and texture, as heard on ''Peter Gabriel'' four and ''Birdy'', towards more straightforward songs.<ref name="Musician 1986-07">{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/peter-gabriel-from-brideshead-to-sunken-heads|title=Peter Gabriel: From Brideshead to Sunken Heads|magazine=Musician|first=John|last=Hutchinson|date=July 1986|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=23 June 2019|archive-date=23 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623111358/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/peter-gabriel-from-brideshead-to-sunken-heads|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1985, he recorded his fifth studio album, ''[[So (album)|So]]'' (also co-produced with Lanois).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/so-r1956656/credits|title=So – Peter Gabriel (credits)|work=AllMusic|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525044337/http://allmusic.com/album/so-r1956656/credits|archive-date=25 May 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> ''So'' was released in May 1986 and reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the US. It remains Gabriel's best-selling album with over five million copies sold in the US alone.<ref name="BPI">[http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards/search.aspx "British album certifications – Peter Gabriel – So"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055216/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards/search.aspx |date=21 September 2013 }}. [[British Phonographic Industry]]. Retrieved 12 December 2014. ''Enter'' Peter Gabriel ''in the field'' Search. ''Select'' Artist ''in the field'' Search by. ''Select'' album ''in the field'' By Format. ''Click'' Go</ref><ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22So%22|title=American album certifications – Peter Gabriel – ''So''|publisher=RIAA |access-date=27 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016210253/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22So%22|archive-date=16 October 2015}}</ref> It produced one of Gabriel's signature songs, that has become a concert staple: "[[In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel song)|In Your Eyes]]", with a distinctive vocal appearance by [[Youssou N'Dour]], and three UK top 20 singles: "[[Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel song)|Sledgehammer]]", "[[Big Time (Peter Gabriel song)|Big Time]]", and "[[Don't Give Up (Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush song)|Don't Give Up]]", a duet with [[Kate Bush]].<ref name="UKCharts">Roberts, David (2006). [[British Hit Singles & Albums]]. London: Guinness World Records Limited</ref>

The first went to No. 1 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], Gabriel's only single of his career to do so. It knocked "[[Invisible Touch (song)|Invisible Touch]]" by Genesis, his former band, out of the top spot, which was also their only US number one hit. In the UK, the single went to No. 4.<ref name="Billboard">[[Joel Whitburn|Whitburn, Joel]] (2006). The ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' Book of Top 40 Hits. ''Billboard'' Books</ref> In 1990, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked ''So'' at No. 14 on its list of "Top 100 Albums of the Eighties".<ref>The 100 Greatest Albums of the 80s. ''Rolling Stone''. Special Issue 1990. Retrieved 21 November 2011</ref>

[[File:Peter Gabriel-Conspiracy of Hope-by Steven Toole.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Gabriel performing in 1986]]
"Sledgehammer" was particularly successful, dealing with sex and sexual relations through lyrical innuendos. Its famed music video was a collaboration between director [[Stephen R. Johnson]], [[Aardman Animations]],<ref name="Time" /> and the [[Brothers Quay]] and won a record nine [[MTV Video Music Awards]] in 1987.<ref name="Time" /> In 1998, it was named MTV's number one animated video of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outpost-daria.com/ts_top10.html|title=MTV. Top Ten Animated Videos Countdown. June 28, 1998|website=Outpost-daria.com|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710053630/http://www.outpost-daria.com/ts_top10.html|archive-date=10 July 2012}}</ref> ''So'' earned Gabriel two wins at the [[List of BRIT Awards ceremonies#1987|1987]] [[Brit Awards]] for Best British Male Solo Artist and Best British Video (for "Sledgehammer").<ref name="BritAwards">{{cite web|url=http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1987|title=The BRITs 1987|website=Brits.co.uk|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140317150236/http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1987|archive-date=17 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He was nominated for four [[Grammy Awards]]: [[Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance|Best Male Rock Vocal Performance]], [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]], and [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] for "Sledgehammer", and [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] for ''So''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1987/grammys.htm|title=29th Grammy Awards – 1987|website=Rockonthenet.com|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905045332/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1987/grammys.htm|archive-date=5 September 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Gabriel toured worldwide to support ''So'' with the This Way Up Tour, from November 1986 to October 1987.

In 1988, Gabriel became involved as composer for [[Martin Scorsese]]'s film ''[[The Last Temptation of Christ (film)|The Last Temptation of Christ]]'' (1988). Scorsese had contacted Gabriel about the project since 1983 and wished, according to Gabriel, to present "the struggle between the humanity and divinity of Christ in a powerful and original way".<ref name=UCR15>{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/peter-gabriel-passion/|title=Revisiting Peter Gabriel's 'Passion' soundtrack|first=Ted|last=Asregadoo|date=5 June 2015|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622184453/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/peter-gabriel-passion/|url-status=live}}</ref> Gabriel used musicians from [[World of Music, Arts and Dance|WOMAD]] to perform instrumental pieces with focus on rhythm and African, Middle Eastern and European textures, using the [[British Library Sound Archive|National Sound Archive]] in London for additional inspiration.<ref name=UCR15/> The initial plan had dedicated ten weeks for recording before it was cut to three, leaving Gabriel unable to finish all the pieces he originally wanted to record.<ref name=UCR15/> When the film was finished, Gabriel worked on the soundtrack for an additional four months to develop more of his unfinished ideas. Its soundtrack was released as ''[[Passion (Peter Gabriel album)|Passion]]'' in June 1989. It won Gabriel a [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best New Age Album|Best New Age Performance]] and a nomination for a [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]] for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score – Motion Picture]]. In 1990, Gabriel put out his first compilation album, ''[[Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats]]'', which sold 2 million copies in the US.

Up until 1989, Gabriel was managed by [[Gail Colson]].<ref name="Perrone">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/market-leaders-pick-their-market-leader-whos-the-manager-on-top-of-the-rock-1134011.html|title=Market Leaders Pick Their Market Leader: Who's the manager on top of the rock? – Business – News – The Independent|last=Perrone|first=Pierre|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=5 July 2015|location=London|date=22 December 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708093352/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/market-leaders-pick-their-market-leader-whos-the-manager-on-top-of-the-rock-1134011.html|archive-date=8 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1989 to 1992, Gabriel recorded his follow-up to ''So'', titled ''[[Us (Peter Gabriel album)|Us]]''. The album saw Gabriel address personal themes, including his failed first marriage, psychotherapy, and the growing distance between him and his eldest daughter at the time.

Gabriel's introspection within the context of the album ''Us'' can be seen in the first single release "[[Digging in the Dirt]]" directed by John Downer. Accompanied by a video featuring Gabriel covered in snails and various foliage, this song made reference to the psychotherapy which had taken up much of Gabriel's time since the previous studio album. Gabriel describes his struggle to get through to his daughter in "[[Come Talk to Me]]" directed by [[Matt Mahurin]], which featured backing vocals by [[Sinéad O'Connor]]. O'Connor also lent vocals to "[[Blood of Eden]]", directed by [[Nichola Bruce]] and Michael Coulson, the third single to be released from the album, and once again dealing with relationship struggles, this time going right back to [[Adam]]'s rib for inspiration.

The album is one of Gabriel's most personal. It met with less success than ''So'', reaching No. 2 in the album chart on both sides of the Atlantic, and making modest chart impact with the singles "Digging in the Dirt" and the funkier "[[Steam (Peter Gabriel song)|Steam]]", which evoked memories of "Sledgehammer". Gabriel followed the release of the album with the [[Secret World Tour]], first using touring keyboardist Joy Askew to sing O'Connor's part, then O'Connor herself for a few months.<ref name=Zindler1999>{{cite web |url=https://www.genesis-news.com/c-Peter-Gabriel-Secret-World-Tour-19931994-Tour-report-s233.html |title=Peter Gabriel Secret World Tour |first=Bernd |last=Zindler |website=Genesis News |date=Autumn 1999 |access-date=20 March 2022}}</ref> O'Connor quit the tour, and was replaced by [[Paula Cole]], the latter appearing on the tour recordings: a double album ''[[Secret World Live]]'', and a concert video also called ''[[Secret World Live (film)|Secret World Live]]'', both released in 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.popmatters.com/162756-peter-gabriel-secret-world-live-2495819594.html |title=Revisiting His Weird and Wonderful Performance: 'Peter Gabriel: Secret World Live' |date=11 September 2012 |magazine=[[PopMatters]] |access-date=22 March 2022}}</ref> The film received the 1996 [[Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video]], naming director Francois Girard and producer Robert Warr.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://grammy.com/awards/38th-annual-grammy-awards|title=38th Annual Grammy Awards|publisher=Grammy|access-date=30 July 2024}}</ref>

Gabriel employed an innovative approach in the marketing of the ''Us'' album. Not wishing to feature only images of himself, he asked artist filmmakers [[Nichola Bruce]] and Michael Coulson to co-ordinate a marketing campaign using contemporary artists. Artists such as [[Helen Chadwick]], [[Rebecca Horn]], [[Nils-Udo]], [[Andy Goldsworthy]], [[David Mach]] and [[Yayoi Kusama]] collaborated to create original artworks for each song on the multi-million-selling CD. Coulson and Bruce documented the process on Hi-8 video. Bruce left Real World and Coulson continued with the campaign, using the documentary background material as the basis for a promotional EPK, the long-form video ''All About Us'' and the interactive CD-ROM ''[[Xplora1: Peter Gabriel's Secret World]]''.

Gabriel won three more [[Grammy Awards]], all in the Music Video category. He won the [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video]] in 1993 and 1994 for the videos to "Digging in the Dirt" and "Steam", respectively. Gabriel also won the 1996 [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video]] for his ''[[Secret World Live (DVD)|Secret World Live]]'' video.

===1997–2009: ''OVO'' and ''Up'' ===
In 1997, Gabriel was invited to participate in the direction and soundtrack of the [[Millennium Dome Show]], a live multimedia performance staged in the [[Millennium Dome]] in London throughout 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ovo-mw0000461812|title=Peter Gabriel – OVO|website=AllMusic|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518165524/https://www.allmusic.com/album/ovo-mw0000461812|url-status=live}}</ref> Gabriel said the team were given free rein, which contributed to the various problems they encountered with it, such as a lack of proper budgeting. He also felt that management, while succeeding to get the building finished on time, failed to understand the artistic side of the show and its content.<ref name=TT00>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4720819/We-are-afraid-of-artists.html|title=We are afraid of artists|first=John|last=Coldstream|date=27 May 2000|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622201043/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4720819/We-are-afraid-of-artists.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gabriel's soundtrack was released as ''[[OVO (album)|OVO]]'' in June 2000. [[The Story of OVO]] was released in the CD-booklet-shaped [[comic book]] which was part of the CD edition with the title "OVO The Millennium Show".<ref name="TheStoryOfOVO">{{Cite book |last=Gabriel |first=Peter |title=The Story of OVO |publisher=Peter Gabriel Ltd. |language=en |year=2000 |isbn=0-9520864-3-3}}</ref> As part of Record Store Day 2025, OVO celebrated its 25th anniversary and was released on vinyl for the first time in limited quantity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://petergabriel.com/news/ovo-for-record-store-day-2025/|title=OVO for Record Store Day 2025|website=petergabriel.com|first=Peter|last=Gabriel|date=6 February 2025|access-date=6 February 2025}}</ref>

Around that same time, the Genesis greatest hits album, ''[[Turn It On Again: The Hits]]'' (1999), featured Gabriel sharing vocals with [[Phil Collins]] on a new version of "[[The Carpet Crawlers]]" entitled "The Carpet Crawlers 1999", produced by [[Trevor Horn]].

In 2002 he stuck with soundtrack work for his next project, scoring for the Australian film ''[[Rabbit-Proof Fence]]'' (2002) with [[worldbeat]] music. Released in June 2002, ''[[Long Walk Home: Music from the Rabbit-Proof Fence]]'' received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Original Score – Motion Picture.

Later in 2002, ''[[Up (Peter Gabriel album)|Up]]'', Gabriel's first full-length studio album in a decade, was released in September 2002. He started work on it in 1995 before production halted three years later to focus time on other projects and collaborations. Work resumed in 2000, by which time Gabriel had 130 potential songs for the album, and spent almost two years on it before management at [[Virgin Records]] pushed Gabriel to complete it.<ref name=TG02>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/sep/19/artsfeatures.popandrock1|title=Don't hurry, be happy|first=Nigel|last=Williamson|date=19 September 2002|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622224027/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/sep/19/artsfeatures.popandrock1|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Up'' reached No. 9 in the US and No. 11 in the UK, and supported with a world tour with a band that included Gabriel's daughter Melanie on backing vocals. The tour was documented with two live DVDs: ''[[Growing Up Live]]'' (2003) and ''[[Still Growing Up: Live & Unwrapped]]'' (2005).

In 2004, Gabriel met with his former Genesis bandmates to discuss the possibility of staging ''[[The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway]]'' (1974) as a reunion tour. He ultimately dismissed the idea, paving the way for Banks, Rutherford and Collins to organise the [[Turn It On Again: The Tour]]. Gabriel produced and performed at the [[Live 8 concert, Eden Project|Eden Project Live 8 concert]] in July 2005. He joined [[Cat Stevens]] on stage to perform "[[Wild World (song)|Wild World]]" during [[Nelson Mandela]]'s [[46664 (concerts)|46664]] concert. In 2005, [[FIFA]] asked Gabriel and Brian Eno to organise an opening ceremony for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] in Germany, but FIFA cancelled the idea in January 2006. At the opening ceremony of the [[2006 Winter Olympics]] in [[Turin]], Gabriel performed [[John Lennon]]'s "[[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]]".<ref>{{cite web |last=Poggioli |first=Sylvia |date=10 February 2006 |title=Olympic Games Kick Off with Art, Fashion, Dance |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5201016&t=1559291469474 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719041439/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5201016&t=1559291469474 |archive-date=19 July 2020 |access-date=31 May 2019 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref>

In November 2006, the Seventh World Summit of [[Nobel Peace Laureate]]s in Rome presented Gabriel with the [[Man of Peace]] award. The award, presented by former General Secretary of the USSR and Nobel Peace Prize winner [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] and [[Walter Veltroni]], Mayor of Rome, was an acknowledgement of Gabriel's extensive contribution and work on behalf of human rights and peace. The award was presented in the Giulio Cesare Hall of the Campidoglio in Rome. At the end of the year, he was awarded the ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to him by American musician [[Moby]]. In an interview published in the magazine to accompany the award, Gabriel's contribution to music was described as "vast and enduring".
[[File:Peter Gabriel BBC Radio 2 2007.jpg|thumb|Gabriel at the 2007 [[BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards]]]]
Gabriel took on a project with the [[BBC World Service]]'s competition "The Next Big Thing" to find the world's best young band. Gabriel judged the final six young artists with [[William Orbit]], [[Geoff Travis]] and [[Angélique Kidjo]].

In June 2008, Gabriel released ''[[Big Blue Ball]]'', an album of various artists collaborating with each other at his Real World Studios across three summers in the 1990s. He planned its release in the US without assistance from a label; he raised £2&nbsp;million towards the recording and distribution of the album with [[Ingenious Media]] with the worldwide release handled through [[Warner Bros. Records]].<ref>Durman, Paul. [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9071-2557733.html Gabriel deals a blow to the record business] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120004535/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ |date=20 November 2020 }}, ''[[The Times]]''. 21 January 2007.</ref> Gabriel appeared on a nationwide tour for the album in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/gabriel%20calls%20on%20venture%20capitalists%20to%20help%20album%20launch_1019918|title=Gabriel Calls on Venture Capitalists To Help Album Launch|website=Contactmusic.com|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112165912/http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/gabriel%20calls%20on%20venture%20capitalists%20to%20help%20album%20launch_1019918|archive-date=12 January 2009|url-status=live|date=24 January 2007}}</ref>

Gabriel was a judge for the 6th and 8th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://independentmusicawards.com/past-ima-judges/ |title=Past Judges |publisher=Independent Music Awards |access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905100736/http://independentmusicawards.com/past-ima-judges/ |archive-date=5 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Gabriel contributed to the [[Pixar]] film ''[[WALL-E]]'' soundtrack in 2008 with [[Thomas Newman]], including the film's closing song, "[[Down to Earth (Peter Gabriel song)|Down to Earth]]", for which they received the [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media|Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media]]. The song was also nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song]] and an [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]]. In February 2009, Gabriel announced that he would not be performing on the [[81st Academy Awards|2008 Academy Awards]] telecast because producers of the show were limiting his performance of "Down to Earth" from ''WALL-E'' to 90 seconds. According to Gabriel, his window was reduced to 65 seconds. [[John Legend]] and the [[Soweto Gospel Choir]] performed the song in his stead.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finke |first=Nikki |date=2009-02-12 |title=Peter Gabriel Pissed At Oscar Producers And Won't Perform At Academy Awards |url=https://deadline.com/2009/02/peter-gabriel-pissed-at-oscar-producers-and-pulls-out-of-performing-at-academy-awards-8434/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

Gabriel's 2009 tour appearances included Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Venezuela. His first ever performance in Peru was held in Lima on 20 March 2009, during his second visit to the country.

On 25 July 2009, he played at WOMAD Charlton Park, his only European performance of the year, to promote Witness. The show included two tracks from the then-forthcoming ''[[Scratch My Back]]'': [[Paul Simon]]'s "The Boy in the Bubble" and [[the Magnetic Fields]]' "The Book of Love".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/festivals/article6728136.ece |work=The Times |location=London |title=Womad 2009 at Charlton Park Wiltshire |first=Stephen |last=Dalton |date=27 July 2009 |access-date=22 May 2010 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120004524/https://www.the-tls.co.uk/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===2009–2019: ''Scratch My Back'', ''New Blood'' and further side projects===
[[File:Peter-Gabriel-2011I2.jpg|thumb|right|Gabriel performing at the 2011 Skoll Awards]]
In 2009, Gabriel recorded ''[[Scratch My Back]]'', an album of cover songs by various artists including [[David Bowie]], [[Lou Reed]], [[Arcade Fire]], [[Radiohead]], [[Regina Spektor]] and [[Neil Young]]. The original concept was for Gabriel to cover an artists' song if they, in turn, covered one of his for an album simultaneously released as ''I'll Scratch Yours'', but several participants later declined or were late to deliver and it was placed on hold.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/10301880/Peter-Gabriel-interview.html|title=Peter Gabriel, interview|website=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305142157/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/10301880/Peter-Gabriel-interview.html|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live|date=12 September 2013|last=McNulty|first=Bernadette}}</ref> Gabriel avoided using drums and guitar in favour of orchestral arrangements, and altered his usual songwriting method by finishing the vocals first and then the song, for which he collaborated with [[John Metcalfe (composer)|John Metcalfe]].<ref name="NYT10">{{cite web |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=1 March 2010 |title=Peter Gabriel Says, 'I'll Sing Yours, You Sing Mine' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/arts/music/02gabriel.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623145854/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/arts/music/02gabriel.html |archive-date=23 June 2019 |access-date=23 June 2019 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Released in February 2010, ''Scratch My Back'' reached No. 12 in the UK. Gabriel toured worldwide with the New Blood Tour from March 2010 to July 2012 with a 54-piece orchestra and his daughter [[Melanie Gabriel|Melanie]] and Norwegian singer-songwriter [[Ane Brun]] on backing vocals. The follow-up, ''[[And I'll Scratch Yours]]'', was released in September 2013.

During the New Blood Tour, Gabriel decided to expand on the ''Scratch My Back'' concept and, with Metcalfe's assistance, re-record a collection of his own songs with an orchestra. The result, ''[[New Blood (Peter Gabriel album)|New Blood]]'', was released in October 2011.<ref name=Q11>{{cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/07003-peter-gabriel-interview|title=An Invasion of Privacy: Peter Gabriel Interviewed|first=John|last=Doran|work=The Quietus|date=19 September 2011|access-date=23 June 2019|archive-date=9 July 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170709052222/http://thequietus.com/articles/07003-peter-gabriel-interview|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2012, Gabriel kicked off his [[Back to Front Tour]] which featured ''So'' (1986) performed in its entirety with the original musicians who played on the album, to mark its 25th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://petergabriel.com/media/article/2668/peter-announces-north-american-tour-back-to-front-to-celebrate-25th-anniversary-of-so/ |title=Peter Announces North American Tour 'Back To Front' To Celebrate 25th Anniversary of 'So' |publisher=Peter Gabriel |access-date=16 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923235607/http://petergabriel.com/media/article/2668/peter-announces-north-american-tour-back-to-front-to-celebrate-25th-anniversary-of-so/ |archive-date=23 September 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> When the opening leg finished a month later, Gabriel took one year off to travel the world with his children.<ref name=TG12>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/26/peter-gabriel-30-years-womad|title=Peter Gabriel on 30 years of Womad – and mixing music with politics|work=The Guardian|first=Dorian|last=Lynskey|date=26 July 2012|access-date=23 June 2019|archive-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419075048/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/26/peter-gabriel-30-years-womad|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.planetrock.com/news/rock-news/peter-gabriel-to-take-a-year-off/ |title=Peter Gabriel To Take A Year Off &#124; Rock News &#124; News |publisher=Planet Rock |date=5 September 2012 |access-date=16 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107115910/http://www.planetrock.com/news/rock-news/peter-gabriel-to-take-a-year-off/ |archive-date=7 November 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The tour resumed with a European leg from September 2013 to December 2014.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Andy |last=Greene |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-peter-gabriel-reflects-on-his-1986-landmark-album-so-20120904 |title=QA: Peter Gabriel Reflects on His 1986 Landmark Album 'So' &#124; Music News |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=4 September 2012 |access-date=16 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909224036/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-peter-gabriel-reflects-on-his-1986-landmark-album-so-20120904 |archive-date=9 September 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, Gabriel was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a solo artist by [[Coldplay]] frontman [[Chris Martin]]. They performed Gabriel's "Washing of the Water" together. Gabriel performed "[[Heroes (David Bowie song)|Heroes]]" by [[David Bowie]] with an orchestra at a concert in Berlin to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]] in November 2014.

In 2016, he was featured on the song "[[A.I. (song)|A.I.]]" by American pop rock band [[OneRepublic]] from their fourth studio album ''[[Oh My My (album)|Oh My My]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25413509|title=Nirvana to be elevated to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame|publisher=BBC News|access-date=27 September 2014|date=17 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412221716/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25413509|archive-date=12 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/76664 |title=Coldplay's Chris Martin performs with Peter Gabriel at Rock And Roll Hall of Fame ceremony |magazine=[[NME]] |date=11 April 2014 |access-date=11 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414053323/http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/76664 |archive-date=14 April 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Oh My My by OneRepublic|date=7 October 2016|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/oh-my-my/1440866909|language=en-us|access-date=8 August 2019|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808011217/https://music.apple.com/us/album/oh-my-my/1440866909|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2016, Gabriel released the single "I'm Amazing". The song was written several years prior, in part as a tribute to boxer [[Muhammad Ali]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://petergabriel.com/news/new-track-im-amazing/|title=New Track – I'm Amazing|publisher=Peter Gabriel|access-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008185350/http://petergabriel.com/news/new-track-im-amazing|archive-date=8 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> That month, he embarked on a joint tour with [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] titled The Rock Paper Scissors North American Tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://petergabriel.com/news/peter-and-sting-tour-2016/|title=Peter and Sting Tour 2016|publisher=Peter Gabriel|access-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925140114/http://petergabriel.com/news/peter-and-sting-tour-2016/|archive-date=25 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Gabriel re-emerged in 2019 with the release of ''[[Rated PG (Peter Gabriel album)|Rated PG]]'', a compilation of songs that were created for film soundtracks throughout his career. The song selection spans over 30 years and includes tracks that had never been released on an official Gabriel album previously, including "[[Down to Earth (Peter Gabriel song)|Down to Earth]]" (from ''[[WALL-E (soundtrack)|WALL-E]]'') and "That'll Do" (from ''[[Babe: Pig in the City#Soundtrack|Babe: Pig in the City]]''), an Oscar-nominated collaboration with [[Randy Newman]]. Initially only released on vinyl for [[Record Store Day]] on 13 April, the album was eventually released on digital streaming services later that month.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://petergabriel.com/news/rated-pg-digital-release/ |title=Rated PG getting digital release |publisher=Peter Gabriel |access-date=14 September 2019 |archive-date=17 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717042417/https://petergabriel.com/news/rated-pg-digital-release/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Later that same year, Gabriel issued another digital release on 13 September titled ''[[Flotsam and Jetsam (Peter Gabriel album)|Flotsam and Jetsam]]'', a collection of [[B-side]]s, remixes and rarities that span Gabriel's entire solo career from 1976 to 2016, including his first solo recording, a cover of [[the Beatles]]' song "[[Strawberry Fields Forever]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://petergabriel.com/news/digital-release-for-b-sides-remixes-and-rarities/|title=Digital Release for Flotsam and Jetsam|publisher=Peter Gabriel|access-date=14 September 2019|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015162054/https://petergabriel.com/news/digital-release-for-b-sides-remixes-and-rarities/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2022–present: ''I/O'' and ''O/I'' ===
By 2002, Gabriel had been continually working on what he had given the tentative title of ''[[I/O (album)|I/O]]'', his tenth studio album, which he had begun work on as early as 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Genesis News Com [it]: Peter Gabriel - The Making Of I/O |url=https://www.genesis-news.com/c-Peter-Gabriel-The-Making-Of-IO-s161.html |access-date=30 November 2023 |website=genesis-news.com|date=8 December 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Beaumont |first=Mark |date=28 November 2023 |title=Peter Gabriel, 'I/O' review: A return well worth waiting for |url=https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/album-reviews/peter-gabriel-i-o-review-a-return-well-worth-waiting-for-35083/ |access-date=30 November 2023 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en}}</ref> It was originally set to be released 18 months after ''Up'', but touring pushed the release far away.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Richard Chappell: Recording Peter Gabriel's Up|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/richard-chappell-recording-peter-gabriel|access-date=3 November 2021|website=soundonsound.com}}</ref> He did an interview with ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' in 2005 stating that he had 150 songs in various stages.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2 October 2007 |title=Peter Gabriel Plugs In: Peter Gabriel : Rolling Stone |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/petergabriel/articles/story/8750346/peter_gabriel_plugs_in |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002021944/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/petergabriel/articles/story/8750346/peter_gabriel_plugs_in |archive-date=2 October 2007 |access-date=3 November 2021 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> From 2013 to 2016, he posted regularly on social media about recording the new album.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lifton|first=Dave|title=Peter Gabriel Working on New Album|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/peter-gabriel-new-album-2015/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=9 July 2015 |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, he spoke on [[BBC Radio 6 Music|BBC Radio 6]] about how he had taken a hiatus from making music due to his wife being sick, but he had begun to return to it now that she had recovered.<ref>{{Cite web|title=/ Peter Gabriel: Work on new songs continues ...|url=https://www.genesis-news.com/news-Peter-Gabriel-Work-on-new-songs-continues--n584.html|access-date=3 November 2021|website=genesis-news.com}}</ref> In 2021, he was interviewed multiple times about his new album, and revealed that he had been recording with [[Manu Katché]], [[Tony Levin]] and [[David Rhodes (guitarist)|David Rhodes]] on 17 new songs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=/ Peter Gabriel: New album "closer than you think"|url=https://www.genesis-news.com/news-Peter-Gabriel-New-album-closer-than-you-think-n751.html|access-date=3 November 2021|website=genesis-news.com|date=10 October 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Peter Gabriel talks about the new album @ Santeria Toscana 31 Milan Italy |date=22 October 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWtgWDd1HD4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/kWtgWDd1HD4 |archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=3 November 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He posted multiple photos to his Facebook and Instagram of these sessions.<ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=itspetergabriel |postid=CVgQRbCoSRp |date=October 26, 2021 |title=Peter Gabriel's Instagram photo: "Recording in the Big Room at @realworldstudios, late Sept/early Oct 2021. 📸 @yorktillyer" |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CVgQRbCoSRp |archive-date=23 December 2021 |access-date=3 November 2021 |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=itspetergabriel |postid=CVgQRbCoSRp |date=October 30, 2021 |title=A few familiar faces at the recent recording session @realworldstudios. @davidrhodesofficial @tonylevin @manukatche 📸 @yorktillyer |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CVp45l3Ich- |archive-date=23 December 2021 |access-date=3 November 2021 |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In June 2022, Katché told the French magazine ''[[L'Illustré]]'' that the album was nearly complete and would be released later that year, pending an official announcement.<ref>{{cite web |last=Benitez-Eves |first=Tina |date=6 June 2022 |title=Peter Gabriel Set to Release New Album, His First in 20 Years, Tour in 2023 |url=https://americansongwriter.com/peter-gabriel-set-to-release-new-album-his-first-in-20-years-tour-in-2023 |access-date=22 March 2024 |website=americansongwriter.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=4 June 2022 |title=Is Peter Gabriel's new album finally going to be released? |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/is-peter-gabriel-albums-new-album-finally-going-to-be-released |access-date=22 March 2024 |website=loudersound.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=5 June 2022 |title=Peter Gabriel to release first new album in 20 years this year, according to drummer |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/peter-gabriel-to-release-first-new-album-in-20-years-this-year-according-to-drummer-3239984 |access-date=22 March 2024 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref>

In November 2022, Gabriel announced his upcoming "[[I/O The Tour]]" for the spring of 2023 across several European cities, with later dates to be confirmed for the North America leg of the tour for the late summer/fall of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I/O The Tour announced |url=https://petergabriel.com/news/i-o-the-tour-announced/ |access-date=8 November 2022 |publisher=Peter Gabriel |language=en-GB}}</ref> This announcement also confirmed the name of the upcoming album to be stylised as ''I/O''. The first single from the album, "[[Panopticom]]", was released digitally on 6 January 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hussey |first=Allison |date=6 January 2023 |title=Peter Gabriel Shares New Song "Panopticom" |work=Pitchfork |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/peter-gabriel-shares-new-song-panopticom-listen/ |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> A new piece from the album will be released on the date of each full moon in 2023,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rapp |first=Allison |date=6 January 2023 |title=Peter Gabriel Will Release a New Song Each Full Moon |work=Ultimate Classic Rock |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/peter-gabriel-full-moon-songs/ |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> as well as a different mix of the song on each new moon in 2023, starting with the Dark Side Mix of "Panopticom".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mailchi.mp/petergabriel/full-moon-update-january-2023-part-one-392640?e=90b3547d39 |title=The Dark-Side of Panopticom }}</ref> On 5 February, Gabriel released "[[The Court (song)|The Court]]", the second single from the album. On 7 March, Gabriel released the third single, "[[Playing for Time (song)|Playing for Time]]". A basic arrangement of the song featuring only Gabriel on piano and Levin on bass had already opened the shows on the [[Back to Front Tour]], by the name of "Daddy Long Legs".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AvyjlYPaLg |title=Peter Gabriel - Daddy Long Legs (Back To Front– Live in London) |via=[[YouTube]] |date=9 October 2021 |access-date=1 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.genesis-fanclub.de/news-Peter-Gabriel-Playing-For-Time-ab-Mitternacht-n1361.html |title=Deutscher Genesis Fanclub it / Peter Gabriel / Peter Gabriel: "Playing for Time" ab Mitternacht |date=6 March 2023 }}</ref> The title track "[[I/O (song)|I/O]]" was the fourth single released on 6 April. On 5 May, Peter Gabriel released the fifth single from the album, "[[Four Kinds of Horses]]", a track which is a collaboration with [[Brian Eno]] and [[Richard Russell (record producer)|Richard Russell]]. The sixth single, "[[Road to Joy (Peter Gabriel song)|Road to Joy]]", was released on 4 June. Six more singles were released, separately, within the next six months—"[[So Much (Peter Gabriel song)|So Much]]", "[[Olive Tree (song)|Olive Tree]]", "[[Love Can Heal]]", "[[This Is Home (Peter Gabriel song)|This Is Home]]", "[[And Still (Peter Gabriel song)|And Still]]" and "[[Live and Let Live (Peter Gabriel song)|Live and Let Live]]"—before ''I/O'' was finally released on 1 December 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last=Harrison |first=Scoop |date=18 October 2023 |title=Peter Gabriel Details I/O, His First New Album in 21 Years |url=https://consequence.net/2023/10/peter-gabriel-new-album-io-december/ |access-date=30 November 2023 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|consequence.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

One day prior to ''I/O''{{'}}s release, Gabriel told ''[[The New York Times]]'' that he does not expect a follow-up album (which he described as his "brain project") to take another 21 years, saying that "there's a lot of stuff in the can" but added that the material is not yet finished.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=30 November 2023 |title=Older and Wiser, Peter Gabriel Is Still Looking Ahead |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/30/arts/music/peter-gabriel-i-o.html |access-date=30 November 2023 |website=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref>

Additionally, Gabriel stated in his November 2023 Full Moon update video that the track "What Lies Ahead" will be on "the next record".<ref>{{Citation |title=Peter Gabriel - Full Moon Update November 2023 |date=27 November 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F_MYIBbEfU |access-date=2023-12-01 |language=en}}</ref> He performed "What Lies Ahead" several times in 2023 and it was a contender for ''I/O''. In February 2025, Gabriel revealed to ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' that he was working on the follow-up to ''I/O'': "It will be called ''O/I'' [...] that's ''I/O'' backwards."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/stories/peter-gabriel-new-album-exclusive/|title=Peter Gabriel New Album Exclusive: 'It will be called O/I' |work=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |date=17 February 2025 |access-date=19 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref>