Editing Peter Gabriel

{{Short description|English musician (born 1950)}}
{{About|the musician|other uses|Peter Gabriel (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image             = Peter Gabriel, Denver 2023.jpg
| caption           = Gabriel performing in October 2023
| alt               = Peter Gabriel in performance
| background        = solo_singer
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1950|2|13|df=yes}}
| birth_place       = [[Chobham]], England
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Progressive rock]]|[[art rock]]|[[art pop]]|[[worldbeat]]|[[progressive soul]]}}<!-- All genres verified in #Artistry. Per Template:Infobox musical artist, aim for generality and broad genres -->
| occupation        = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|musician|activist}}
| instrument        = {{hlist|Vocals|keyboards|flute}}<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
| years_active      = 1965–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[Atco Records|Atco]]|[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]|[[Geffen Records|Geffen]]|[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]|[[Real World Records|Real World]]|[[Republic Records|Republic]]|[[Charisma Records|Charisma]]|[[Virgin Records|Virgin]]|[[Virgin EMI Records|Virgin EMI]]|[[Virgin Music]]|[[EMI Records|EMI]]|[[Universal Music Group|Universal]]}}
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]|[[Garden Wall (band)|Garden Wall]]}}
| website           = {{Official URL}}
| spouse            = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Jill Moore|1971|1987|end=div}}
* {{marriage|Meabh Flynn|2002}}
}}
| module            = {{Infobox person|child=yes
| signature         = Peter Gabriel Signature.svg
}}
}}
'''Peter Brian Gabriel''' (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and human rights activist. He came to prominence as the original frontman of the rock band [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]].<ref name="hudak" /> He left the band in 1975 and launched a solo career with "[[Solsbury Hill (song)|Solsbury Hill]]" as his first single. After releasing four successful studio albums, all titled ''Peter Gabriel'', his fifth studio album, ''[[So (album)|So]]'' (1986), became his best-selling release and is certified triple platinum in the UK and five times platinum in the US. The album's most successful single, "[[Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel song)|Sledgehammer]]", won a record nine [[MTV Video Music Awards|MTV Awards]] at the [[1987 MTV Video Music Awards]]. A 2011 ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' report said "Sledgehammer" was the most played music video of all time on [[MTV]].<ref name="Time">{{cite magazine |last=Levy |first=Glen |date=26 July 2011 |title=The 30 All-TIME Best Music Videos - Peter Gabriel, 'Sledgehammer' (1986) |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2011/07/28/the-30-all-time-best-music-videos/slide/peter-gabriel-sledgehammer-1986/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202203318/http://entertainment.time.com/2011/07/28/the-30-all-time-best-music-videos/slide/peter-gabriel-sledgehammer-1986/ |archive-date=2 December 2014 |access-date=19 October 2024 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref>

A supporter of [[world music]] for much of his career, Gabriel co-founded the [[World of Music, Arts and Dance]] (WOMAD) festival in 1982, and has continued to produce and promote world music through his [[Real World Records]] label. He has pioneered [[digital distribution]] methods for music by co-founding [[OD2]], one of the first online music download services.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/07/20/peter.gabriel/|title=Peter Gabriel on the digital revolution|publisher=CNN|date=22 July 2004|access-date=25 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303234735/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/07/20/peter.gabriel/|archive-date=3 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He has also been involved in numerous humanitarian efforts. In 1980, he released the [[Anti-Apartheid Movement|anti-apartheid]] single "[[Biko (song)|Biko]]". He has participated in several human rights benefit concerts, including [[Amnesty International]]'s [[Human Rights Now!]] tour in 1988, and co-founded the human rights organisation [[Witness (organization)|Witness]] in 1992.<ref name="Lynskey 2007" /> He developed the idea for [[The Elders (organization)|The Elders]], an organisation of public figures noted as peace activists, alongside [[Nelson Mandela]] and [[Richard Branson]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1557921/Nelson-Mandela-launches-Elders-to-save-world.html |title=Nelson Mandela launches Elders to save world |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=19 July 2007 |access-date=19 March 2014 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109115547/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1557921/Nelson-Mandela-launches-Elders-to-save-world.html |archive-date=9 January 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Gabriel has won three [[Brit Awards]],<ref name="BritAwards" /> six [[Grammy Awards]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=peter+gabriel|title=Past Winners: Peter Gabriel|publisher=The Grammys s|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720205428/https://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=peter+gabriel|archive-date=20 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> 13 [[MTV Video Music Awards]], the first Pioneer Award at the [[BT Digital Music Awards]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5405450.stm |title=Lily Allen wins web music award |publisher=BBC News |date=4 October 2006 |access-date=23 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102090511/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5405450.stm |archive-date=2 November 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> the ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' Lifetime Achievement,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/oct/31/pressandpublishing.musicnews |title=Oldies are golden at the Q awards |newspaper=The Guardian |date=31 October 2006 |access-date=29 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926013251/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/oct/31/pressandpublishing.musicnews |archive-date=26 September 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Ivor Novello Awards|Ivor Novello Award]] for Lifetime Achievement,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6686819.stm |title=Winehouse triumphs at Ivor awards |publisher=BBC News |date=24 May 2007 |access-date=6 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005081021/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6686819.stm |archive-date=5 October 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Polar Music Prize]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8045524.stm|title=Gabriel shares Polar Music Prize|publisher=BBC News|date=12 May 2009|access-date=25 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517073850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8045524.stm|archive-date=17 May 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> He was named a [[Broadcast Music, Inc.|BMI Icon]] at the 57th annual BMI London Awards for his "influence on generations of music makers".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/535578|title=Peter Gabriel Receives Top Honor at BMI London Awards|publisher=BMI |access-date=13 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306033424/http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/535578|archive-date=6 March 2010|url-status=live|date=17 October 2007}}</ref> In recognition of his human rights activism, he received the [[Man of Peace]] award from the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] laureates in 2006,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/24944/peter-gabriel-receives-man-of-peace-award|title=Peter Gabriel Receives 'Man Of Peace' Award|website=Gigwise.com|date=18 November 2006|access-date=6 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095136/http://www.gigwise.com/news/24944/peter-gabriel-receives-man-of-peace-award|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=12 May 2008 |title=The 2008 TIME 100: Peter Gabriel |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1733748_1733756_1735249,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822203829/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1733748_1733756_1735249,00.html |archive-date=22 August 2013 |access-date=27 September 2014 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> [[AllMusic]] described him as "one of rock's most ambitious, innovative musicians, as well as one of its most political".<ref name="Peter Gabriel AllMusic">{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=Peter Gabriel Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/peter-gabriel-mn0000842802/biography |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806102840/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/peter-gabriel-mn0000842802/biography |archive-date=6 August 2015 |access-date=27 March 2014 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a member of Genesis in 2010,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8569584.stm |title=Abba receive Hall of Fame honour |publisher=BBC News |date=16 March 2010 |access-date=25 February 2014 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120004523/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8569584.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> and as a solo artist in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26985223 |title=Nirvana inducted to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |publisher=BBC News |date=11 April 2014 |access-date=11 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411083652/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26985223 |archive-date=11 April 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> In recognition of his musical achievements, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the [[University of South Australia]] in 2015.

== Early life ==
Peter Brian Gabriel was born in [[Chobham]] on 13 February 1950, the son of Edith Irene (1921–2016) and Ralph Parton Gabriel (1912–2012). His paternal grandfather was Colonel Edward Allen, chairman of the [[Civil Service Supply Association|Civil Service Department Store]] on [[Strand, London|London's Strand]]. His mother came from a musical family, while his father was an electrical engineer and dairy farm owner from a long-established family of London timber importers and merchants. He was raised at Deep Pool Farm, a [[Country house|Victorian manor]] near Chobham.{{sfn|Easlea|2018|p=25}}<ref>{{Citation |title=Peter Gabriel - Full Moon Update October 2023 |date=28 October 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rrqRYF5lZI |access-date=2023-10-29 |language=en}}</ref> His great-great-great-uncle, [[Sir Thomas Gabriel, 1st Baronet]], was [[Lord Mayor of London]] from 1866 to 1877, who in turn was the grandson of Cornish Plane maker Christopher Gabriel.<ref name="Telegraph 2007-11-24">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/familyhistory/3355127/Family-detective-Peter-Gabriel.html|title=Family detective: Peter Gabriel|date=24 November 2007|first=Nick|last=Barratt|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2 July 2019|archive-date=2 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702160342/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/familyhistory/3355127/Family-detective-Peter-Gabriel.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Gabriel attended the private primary school Cable House in [[Woking]] and St Andrews Preparatory School for Boys in [[Horsell]].{{sfn|Easlea|2018|p=25}} During his time at the latter, his teachers noticed his singing talent, but he instead opted for piano lessons from his mother and developed an interest in drumming. At age 10, he purchased a floor tom-tom.{{sfn|Easlea|2018|p=26}}

Gabriel later remarked of his early influences, "[[Hymn]]s played quite a large part. They were the closest I came to [[soul music]] before I discovered soul music. There are certain hymns that you can scream your lungs out on, and I used to love that. It was great when you used to get the old shivers down the back."<ref name="White Shadow pp12">[[Capital London|Capital Radio]] interview with [[Alan Freeman]], broadcast October 1982; transcribed in Gabriel fanzine ''White Shadow'' (#3, pp12) by editor Fred Tomsett</ref> He wrote his first song, "Sammy the Slug", at age 12. An aunt gave him money for professional singing lessons around this time, but he used it to buy [[the Beatles]]' debut album ''[[Please Please Me]]'', which had just been released.{{sfn|Easlea|2018|p=26}} In September 1963, he started at the [[public school (United Kingdom)|public]] [[Charterhouse School]] in [[Godalming]].{{sfn|Frame|1983|p=23}} There, he was a drummer and vocalist for his first band, the [[trad jazz]] outfit the Milords (or M'Lords). This was followed by a holiday band called the Spoken Word,{{sfn|Easlea|2018|p=34}} which recorded an [[Acetate disc|acetate]] in 1966.{{sfn|Giammetti|2020|p=16}} Gabriel played drums in both these bands, with [[Mike Rutherford]] later commenting, "Pete was{{emdash}}and still is, I think{{emdash}}a frustrated drummer."<ref name="Mike on Mike">Neer, Dan (1985). ''Mike on Mike'' [interview LP], Atlantic Recording Corporation.</ref>

== 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>

== Artistry ==
Stylistically, Gabriel's music has been alternately described by music writers as [[progressive rock]],<ref name="hudak">{{cite magazine |last=Hudak |first=Joseph |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/peter-gabriel/biography |title=Peter Gabriel Biography |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905122254/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/peter-gabriel/biography |archive-date=5 September 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[art rock]],<ref name="So – Peter Gabriel (review)">{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=So – Peter Gabriel (review) |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/so-r1956656/review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118041430/http://www.allmusic.com/album/so-r1956656/review |archive-date=18 January 2012 |access-date=27 September 2014 |work=AllMusic}}</ref> [[art pop]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Holden|first=Stephen|author-link=Stephen Holden|date=28 February 1999|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/28/arts/music-they-re-recording-but-are-they-artists.html|title=MUSIC; They're Recording, but Are They Artists?|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=17 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130144527/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/28/arts/music-they-re-recording-but-are-they-artists.html|archive-date=30 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[worldbeat]],<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Ellen |editor-last=Koskoff |title=Music Cultures in the United States: An Introduction|url=https://archive.org/details/musicculturesuni00kosk |url-access=limited |year=2005|page=[https://archive.org/details/musicculturesuni00kosk/page/n385 371]|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-96589-7}}</ref> [[post-progressive]]<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://journals.openedition.org/transposition/7101 |title=A Mellotron-Shaped Grave: Deconstructing the Death of Progressive Rock |last=Merlini |first=Mattia |date=October 2022|journal=Transposition|issue=10 |doi=10.4000/transposition.7101 |s2cid=250229571 |access-date=2023-08-09|quote=Indeed, such an analysis can explain why new post-progressive artists (e.g. Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Robert Fripp) |doi-access=free |hdl=2434/948377 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> and [[progressive soul]].{{sfn|Easlea|2018|loc=18: The Tremble in the Hips: ''So''}} According to ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' journalist Ryan Reed, Gabriel has developed in all as an "art-rock innovator, soul-pop craftsman, [and] 'world music' ambassador" over the course of his career,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Reed|first=Ryan|date=5 July 2016|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/20-insanely-great-peter-gabriel-songs-only-hardcore-fans-know-152083/|title=20 Insanely Great Peter Gabriel Songs Only Hardcore Fans Know|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|accessdate=19 March 2022}}</ref> while music scholar Gregg Akkermann argues that, despite his progressive rock origins, he has "managed to attract fans from across the spectrum: prog rock, alternative rock, world beat, blue-eyed soul, dance music, the college crowd, the teens, Americans and Europeans".<ref>{{cite book|contribution=Series Editor's Foreword|contributor-last=Akkerman|contributor-first=Gregg|page=x|last=Bowman|first=Durrell|year=2016|title=Experiencing Peter Gabriel: A Listener's Companion|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield Publishers]]|isbn=9781442252004}}</ref> More broadly, [[AllMusic]]'s [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] says Gabriel emerged during the 1980s as "one of rock's most ambitious, innovative musicians", as well as "an international pop star".<ref>{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|date=n.d.|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/peter-gabriel-mn0000842802/biography|title=Peter Gabriel Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=19 March 2022}}</ref>

Gabriel has worked with a relatively stable crew of musicians and recording engineers throughout his solo career. Bass and [[Chapman Stick|Stick]] player [[Tony Levin]] has performed on every Gabriel studio album and every live tour except for ''Scratch My Back'' (2010), the soundtracks ''Passion'' (1989) and ''Long Walk Home'' (2002), and the New Blood Tour. Guitarist [[David Rhodes (guitarist)|David Rhodes]] has been Gabriel's guitarist of choice since 1979. Prior to ''So'' (1986), [[Jerry Marotta]] was Gabriel's preferred drummer, both in the studio and on the road. (For the ''So'' and ''Us'' albums and tours Marotta was replaced by [[Manu Katché]], who was then replaced by [[Ged Lynch]] on parts of the ''Up'' album and all of the subsequent tour). Gabriel is known for choosing top-flight collaborators, from co-producers such as Ezrin, Fripp, Lillywhite and Lanois to musicians such as [[Natalie Merchant]], [[Elizabeth Fraser]], [[L. Shankar]], [[Trent Reznor]], [[Youssou N'Dour]], [[Larry Fast]], [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], [[Sinéad O'Connor]], [[Kate Bush]], [[Ane Brun]], [[Paula Cole]], [[John Giblin]], [[Dave Gregory (musician)|Dave Gregory]], [[Peter Hammill]], [[Papa Wemba]], [[Manu Katché]], [[Jabu Khanyile|Bayete]], [[Milton Nascimento]], [[Phil Collins]], [[Stewart Copeland]] and [[OneRepublic]].

Over the years, Gabriel has collaborated with singer [[Kate Bush]] several times; Bush provided backing vocals for Gabriel's "Games Without Frontiers" and "No Self Control" in 1980, and female lead vocal for "Don't Give Up" (a top 10 hit in the UK) in 1986, and Gabriel appeared on her television special. Their duet of [[Roy Harper (singer)|Roy Harper]]'s "[[Another Day (Roy Harper song)|Another Day]]" was discussed for release as a single, but never appeared.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.katebushencyclopedia.com/another-day|title=Another Day|website=katebushencyclopedia|date=14 August 2017 |access-date=27 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128034923/https://www.katebushencyclopedia.com/another-day|archive-date=28 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

He also collaborated with [[avant-garde]] artist [[Laurie Anderson]] on two versions of her composition "[[Excellent Birds]]"—one for her second album ''[[Mister Heartbreak]]'' (1984),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mister-heartbreak-mw0000189067|title=Mister Heartbreak – Laurie Anderson {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=12 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312145114/https://www.allmusic.com/album/mister-heartbreak-mw0000189067|archive-date=12 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and another version called "[[Excellent Birds#Background|This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)]]", which appeared on original [[audio cassette|cassette]] and CD versions, and all versions past 2002, of ''So''.

Gabriel sang (along with [[Jim Kerr]] of [[Simple Minds]]) on "Everywhere I Go", from [[The Call (band)|the Call]]'s 1986 studio album, ''Reconciled''. On [[Toni Childs]]' 1994 studio album, ''[[The Woman's Boat]]'', Gabriel sang on the track, "I Met a Man".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-womans-boat-mw0000113374/credits|title=The Woman's Boat – Toni Childs {{!}} Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=12 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312144439/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-womans-boat-mw0000113374/credits|archive-date=12 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1998, Gabriel appeared on the soundtrack of ''[[Babe: Pig in the City]]'' as the lead vocalist of the song "That'll Do", written by [[Randy Newman]]. The song was nominated for an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]], and Gabriel and Newman performed it at the following year's Oscar telecast. He performed a similar soundtrack appearance for the 2004 film ''[[Shall We Dance? (2004 film)|Shall We Dance?]]'', singing a [[cover version]] of "[[The Book of Love (The Magnetic Fields song)|The Book of Love]]" by [[the Magnetic Fields]].

In 1987, Gabriel appeared on [[Robbie Robertson]]'s [[Robbie Robertson (album)|self-titled solo studio album]], singing on "Fallen Angel"; co-wrote two [[Tom Robinson]] singles; and appeared on [[Joni Mitchell]]'s 1988 studio album ''[[Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm]]'', on the opening track "My Secret Place".

In 2001, Gabriel contributed lead vocals to the song "When You're Falling" on [[Afro Celt Sound System]]'s ''[[Volume 3: Further in Time]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://realworldrecords.com/catalogue/volume-3-further-in-time/|title=''Volume 3: Further in Time''|website=Realworldrecords.com|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714084340/https://realworldrecords.com/catalogue/volume-3-further-in-time/|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the summer of 2003, Gabriel performed in Ohio with a guest performance by Uzbek singer [[Sevara Nazarkhan]].

Gabriel collaborated on tracks with electronic musician [[BT (musician)|BT]], who also worked on the ''OVO'' soundtrack with him. The tracks were never released, as the computers they were contained on were stolen from BT's home in California. He also sang the lyrics for [[Deep Forest]] on their theme song for the movie ''[[Strange Days (film)|Strange Days]]'' (1995). In addition, Gabriel has appeared on [[Angelique Kidjo]]'s 2007 studio album ''[[Djin Djin]]'', singing on the song "Salala".

Gabriel has recorded a cover of the [[Vampire Weekend]] single "[[Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa]]" with [[Hot Chip]], where his name is mentioned several times in the chorus. He substitutes the original line "But this feels so unnatural / Peter Gabriel too / This feels so unnatural/ Peter Gabriel too" with "It feels so unnatural / Peter Gabriel too / and it feels so unnatural / to sing your own name."<ref>{{Citation|title=Hot chip peter gabriel cape cod kwassa kwassa vampire weekend cover|url=https://soundcloud.com/revrev/hot-chip-peter-gabriel-cape-cod-kwassa-kwassa-vampire-weekend-cover|language=en|access-date=26 February 2021}}</ref>

Gabriel collaborated with [[Arcade Fire]] on their 2022 studio album, ''[[We (Arcade Fire album)|We]]''. He sang backing vocals on the track "Unconditional II (Race and Religion)".<ref>{{Citation |title=New collaboration with Arcade Fire |url=https://petergabriel.com/news/new-collaboration-with-arcade-fire/ |access-date=17 May 2022 |publisher=Peter Gabriel}}</ref>

== WOMAD and other projects ==
Gabriel's interest in [[world music]] was first apparent on his third solo studio album. According to Spencer Kornhaber in ''[[The Atlantic]]'' in 2019: "When Peter Gabriel moved toward 'world music' four decades ago, he not only evangelized sounds that were novel to Western pop. He also set a radio template: majestic, with flourishes meant to read as 'exotic,' and lyrics meant to change lives."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/11/coldplay-everyday-life-album-review-vague-saviors/602605/|title=Coldplay Would Like to Save the World With Vagueness|website=[[The Atlantic]]|first=Spencer|last=Kornhaber|date=26 November 2019|access-date=29 November 2019|archive-date=28 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128181950/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/11/coldplay-everyday-life-album-review-vague-saviors/602605/|url-status=live}}</ref> This influence has increased over time, and he co-founded the [[World of Music, Arts and Dance]] (WOMAD) festival in 1982.<ref name="Lynskey 2007">{{cite news |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 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=26 July 2012 |access-date=25 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419075048/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/26/peter-gabriel-30-years-womad |archive-date=19 April 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Gabriel said:

{{blockquote|The first time I really got into music from another culture was as a result of the shifting of [[BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]], which I used to wake up to. I'd lost it on [[medium wave]] and was groping around in the morning on the dial, trying to find something that I could listen to, and came across a Dutch radio station who were playing the soundtrack from some obscure [[Stanley Baker]] movie called ''[[Dingaka]]''. That had quite a lot of stuff from—I think it was—Ghana. I can't remember now, but it really moved me. One of the songs I heard on that was a thing called '[[Shosholoza]]', which I recorded on the b-side of the '[[Biko (song)|Biko]]' single.<ref>[[Capital London|Capital Radio]] interview with [[Alan Freeman]], broadcast October 1982; transcribed in Gabriel fanzine ''White Shadow'' (#3, p. 13) by editor Fred Tomsett</ref>}}

Gabriel created the [[Real World Studios]] and record label to facilitate the creation and distribution of such music by various artists, and he has worked to educate Western culture about such musicians as [[Yungchen Lhamo]], [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]] and [[Youssou N'dour]].

In the 1990s, with Steve Nelson of Brilliant Media and director Michael Coulson, he developed advanced multimedia CD-ROM-based entertainment projects, creating ''Xplora'' (the world's largest-selling music CD-ROM), and subsequently the ''[[Peter Gabriel: Eve|EVE]]'' CD-ROM. ''EVE'' was a music and art adventure game directed by Michael Coulson and co-produced by the [[Starwave]] Corporation in Seattle; it won the Milia d'Or award Grand Prize at the Cannes in 1996.

In 1990, Gabriel lent his backing vocals to Ugandan political exile [[Geoffrey Oryema]]'s "Land of Anaka", appearing on Oryema's first studio album ''Exile'', released on Gabriel's Real World label.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://realworldrecords.com/artists/geoffrey-oryema/|title=Geoffrey Oryema – Real World Records|website=Realworldrecord.com|access-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731031501/https://realworldrecords.com/artists/geoffrey-oryema/|archive-date=31 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1994, Gabriel starred in [[Breck Eisner]]'s short film ''Recon'' as a detective who enters the minds of murder victims to find their killer's identity.

Gabriel helped pioneer a new realm of musical interaction in 2001, visiting [[Georgia State University]]'s Language Research Center to participate in keyboard jam sessions with [[bonobo]] apes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (This experience inspired the song "Animal Nation", which was performed on Gabriel's 2002 "Growing Up" tour and was featured on the ''[[Growing Up Live]]'' DVD and ''[[The Wild Thornberrys Movie]]'' soundtrack.) Gabriel's desire to bring attention to the intelligence of primates also took the form of ApeNet, a project that aimed to link great apes through the internet, enabling the first interspecies internet communication.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=172|title=Peter Gabriel goes ape for research project|work=Top40-Charts.com|access-date=27 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224115158/http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=172|archive-date=24 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Gabriel was one of the founders of on Demand Distribution ([[OD2]]), one of the first online music download services. Prior to its closure in 2009, its technology had been used by over 100 music download sites including MSN Music UK, MyCokeMusic, Planet Internet (KPN), Wanadoo and CD WOW!. OD2 was bought by US company Loudeye in June 2004 and subsequently by Finnish mobile giant [[Nokia]] in October 2006 for $60&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 {{!}} Nokia Museum |url=https://nokiamuseum.info/category/launching-year/2006/ |access-date=26 February 2021 |website=nokiamuseum.info |language=en-US}}</ref>

Gabriel is co-founder (with [[Brian Eno]]) of a musicians union called Mudda, short for "magnificent union of digitally downloading artists".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2004/02/04/mudda-eno-and-gabriel-behind-music-manifesto/|title=MUDDA – Eno and Gabriel Behind Music Manifesto|date=5 February 2004|website=Synthtopia.com|access-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828094453/http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2004/02/04/mudda-eno-and-gabriel-behind-music-manifesto/|archive-date=28 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Crabbyappleton |date=27 January 2004 |title=Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno unveil 'MUDDA' digital manifesto |url=http://www.myce.com/news/Peter-Gabriel-and-Brian-Eno-unveil-MUDDA-digital-manifesto-7607/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811213508/http://www.myce.com/news/Peter-Gabriel-and-Brian-Eno-unveil-MUDDA-digital-manifesto-7607/ |archive-date=11 August 2016 |access-date=29 September 2016 |website=Myce.com}}</ref>

In 2000, Gabriel collaborated with [[Zucchero]], [[Anggun]] and others in a charity for kids with [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]]. Erick Benzi wrote words and music and Patrick Bruel, Stephan Eicher, Faudel, Lokua Kanza, Laam, Nourith, Axelle Red have accepted to sing it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Axelle Red age, hometown, biography|url=https://www.last.fm/music/Axelle+Red/+wiki|access-date=26 February 2021|website=Last.fm|language=en}}</ref>

In 2003, Gabriel contributed a song for the video game ''Uru: Ages Beyond Myst''.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 September 2004 |title=Peter Gabriel Gets Myst-ified |url=https://ign.com/articles/2004/09/23/peter-gabriel-gets-myst-ified |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418152855/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/23/peter-gabriel-gets-myst-ified |archive-date=18 April 2016 |access-date=29 September 2016 |website=IGN.com}}</ref> In 2004, Gabriel contributed another song ("Curtains") and contributed voice work on another game in the [[Myst]] franchise, ''[[Myst IV: Revelation]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ign.com/articles/2004/09/23/peter-gabriel-gets-myst-ified|title=Peter Gabriel Gets Myst-ified|date=23 September 2004|website=IGN.com|language=en-US|access-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418152855/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/23/peter-gabriel-gets-myst-ified|archive-date=18 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2005, Gabriel and broadcast industry entrepreneur [[David Engelke]] purchased [[Solid State Logic]], a manufacturer of mixing consoles and digital audio workstations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Peter Gabriel and David Engelke purchase Solid State Logic |date=21 June 2005 |url=http://broadcastengineering.com/audio/Ssl-purchase-music-20050621/ |access-date=19 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404030937/http://broadcastengineering.com/audio/Ssl-purchase-music-20050621/ |archive-date=4 April 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, the company was sold to the [[Audiotonix]] Group.<ref>{{cite web |last=Weiss |first=David |date=5 March 2018 |title=Who Bought SSL? Inside the Acquisition That Surprised the Console World |url=https://sonicscoop.com/who-bought-ssl-inside-the-acquisition-that-surprised-the-console-world |access-date=22 March 2024 |publisher=SonicScoop}}</ref>

In May 2008, Gabriel's [[Real World Studios]], in partnership with [[Bowers & Wilkins]], started the Bowers & Wilkins Music Club—later known as Society of Sound—a subscription-based music retail site. Albums are currently available in either [[Apple Lossless]] or [[FLAC]] format.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Breen |first=Christopher |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/146352/bandw_and_real_world_launch_music_club.html |title=B&W and Real World Launch Music Club |magazine=PC World |date=27 May 2008 |access-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624035237/http://www.pcworld.com/article/146352/bandw_and_real_world_launch_music_club.html |archive-date=24 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Gabriel is one of the founding supporters of the annual global event [[Asteroid Day]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/asteroid-day-takes-aim-our-cosmic-blind-spot-threats-above-n383496 |title=Asteroid Day Takes Aim at Our Cosmic Blind Spot: Threats From Above |publisher=NBC News |date=29 June 2015 |access-date=29 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630073253/http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/asteroid-day-takes-aim-our-cosmic-blind-spot-threats-above-n383496 |archive-date=30 June 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Activist for humanitarian causes ==
In 1986, Gabriel started what has become a longstanding association with [[Amnesty International]], becoming a pioneering participant in all 28 of Amnesty's ''[[Human rights concerts]]''—a series of music events and tours staged by the US Section of Amnesty International between 1986 and 1998. He performed during the six-concert ''[[A Conspiracy of Hope]]'' US tour in June 1986; the twenty-concert ''[[Human Rights Now!]]'' world tour in 1988; the ''Chile: Embrace of Hope Concert'' in 1990 and at ''The Paris Concert for Amnesty International'' in 1998. He also performed in Amnesty's ''[[The Secret Policeman's Balls|Secret Policeman's Ball]]'' benefit shows in collaboration with other artists and friends such as Lou Reed, [[David Gilmour]] of [[Pink Floyd]] and Youssou N'Dour; Gabriel closed those concerts performing his anti-[[Apartheid in South Africa|apartheid]] anthem "Biko".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0UYgKOv9_g |title=Peter Gabriel talks about his work for Amnesty International |date=28 May 2009 |via=YouTube |access-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227004934/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0UYgKOv9_g |archive-date=27 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
He spoke of his support for Amnesty on [[NBC]]'s ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today Show]]'' in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcj9CRdSYEI |title=Peter Gabriel TV Interview on NBC Today Show about Amnesty concerts |date=22 April 2008 |via=YouTube |access-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226212249/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcj9CRdSYEI |archive-date=26 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Gabriel has a longstanding interest in human rights and launched [[Witness (human rights group)|Witness]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.witness.org |title=See it. Film it. Change it. Using video to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations |website=Witness.org |access-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715212320/http://www.witness.org/ |archive-date=15 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> a charity that trains human rights activists to use video and online technologies to expose human rights abuses. In 2006, his work with Witness and his long-standing support of peace and human rights causes was recognised by the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] Laureates with the [[Man of Peace]] award. In November 2007, Witness launched The Hub, a participatory media site for human rights.

In 1995, Gabriel and Cape Verdean human rights activist [[Vera Duarte]] were awarded the [[North–South Prize]] in its inaugural year.<ref>{{cite web |title=The North South Prize of Lisbon |work=North-South Centre |publisher=Council of Europe |url=http://www.coe.int/t/e/north%2Dsouth_centre/programmes/7_north%2Dsouth_prize/winners_PNS.asp |access-date =21 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215230739/http://www.coe.int/t/e/north-south_centre/programmes/7_north-south_prize/winners_PNS.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=15 February 2008}}</ref><ref name=coe>{{cite news |title=Ms. Vera Duarte, Minister of Education, Cape Verde |url=http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/nscentre/20th_anniversary/Testimonies/Interview_VeraDuarte.pdf |publisher=[[Council of Europe]] |access-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125142856/http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/nscentre/20th_anniversary/Testimonies/Interview_VeraDuarte.pdf |archive-date=25 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:PeterGabrielJI1.jpg|left|230px|thumb|Gabriel at WITNESS Gala 2007]]
In the late 1990s, Gabriel and entrepreneur [[Richard Branson]] discussed with [[Nelson Mandela]] their idea of a small, dedicated group of leaders, working objectively and without any vested personal interest to solve difficult global conflicts. On 18 July 2007, in [[Johannesburg]], South Africa, Nelson Mandela announced the formation of a new group, [[The Elders (organization)|The Elders]], in a speech he delivered on the occasion of his 89th birthday. [[Kofi Annan]] served as Chair of the Elders and [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]] as deputy chair. The other members of the group are [[Martti Ahtisaari]], [[Ela Bhatt]], [[Lakhdar Brahimi]], [[Fernando Henrique Cardoso]], [[Jimmy Carter]],<ref name="New Statesman">{{cite web |last=Mossman |first=Kate |date=3 October 2013 |title=Peter Gabriel: Pop stardom and reimagining politics |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/09/dream-factory |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418074444/http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/09/dream-factory |archive-date=18 April 2016 |access-date=29 September 2016 |website=Newstatesman.com}}</ref> [[Hina Jilani]], [[Graça Machel]], [[Mary Robinson]]<ref name="New Statesman" /> and [[Ernesto Zedillo]]. [[Desmond Tutu]] was an Honorary Elder, as was Nelson Mandela. The Elders is independently funded by a group of donors, including Branson and Gabriel, and use their collective skills to catalyse peaceful resolutions to long-standing conflicts, articulate new approaches to global issues that are causing or may later cause immense human suffering, and share wisdom by helping to connect voices all over the world. They work together to consider carefully which specific issues to approach.

In September 2008, Gabriel was named as the recipient of Amnesty International's 2008 ''Ambassador of Conscience Award''. In the same month, he received [[Quadriga (award)|Quadriga]] ''United We Care'' award of Werkstatt Deutschland along with [[Boris Tadić]], [[Eckart Höfling]] and Wikipedia. The award was presented to him by [[Queen Silvia of Sweden]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://loomarea.com/die_quadriga/e/index.php?title=Award_2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915140714/http://loomarea.com/die_quadriga/e/index.php?title=Award_2008 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 September 2008 |title=Die Quadriga – Award 2008 |language=de |website=Loomarea.com |access-date=16 July 2011 }}</ref>

In 2010, Gabriel lent his support to the campaign to release [[Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani]], an Iranian Azeri woman who was sentenced to death by stoning after being convicted of committing adultery.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/22/iran-stoning-woman-campaigners |title=Iran stoning case woman ordered to name campaigners |location=London |work=The Guardian |date=22 July 2010 |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131081758/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/22/iran-stoning-woman-campaigners |archive-date=31 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2013, Gabriel posted a video message in tribute to the deceased former South African president and anti-apartheid leader [[Nelson Mandela]]. Gabriel was quoted:

{{blockquote|To come out of 27 years in jail and to immediately set about building a Rainbow Nation with your sworn enemy is a unique and extraordinary example of courage and forgiveness. In this case, Mandela had seen many of his people beaten, imprisoned and murdered, yet he was still willing to trust the humanity and idealism of those who had been the oppressors, without whom he knew he could not achieve an almost [[peaceful transition of power]]. There is no other example of such inspirational leadership in my lifetime.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://petergabriel.com/videos/O5-kw5_Yzg0/peter-gabriel-speaks-of-the-loss-of-nelson-mandela/|title=Peter Gabriel speaks of the loss of Nelson Mandela|publisher=Peter Gabriel|date=6 December 2013|access-date=6 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210111825/https://petergabriel.com/videos/O5-kw5_Yzg0/peter-gabriel-speaks-of-the-loss-of-nelson-mandela/|archive-date=10 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-peter-gabriel-speaks-of-the-loss-of-nelson-mandela-29816461.html |title=Video: Peter Gabriel speaks of the loss of Nelson Mandela |work=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213010525/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-peter-gabriel-speaks-of-the-loss-of-nelson-mandela-29816461.html |archive-date=13 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

Gabriel has criticised [[Air France]] for their continued transport of monkeys to laboratories. In a letter to the airline, Gabriel wrote that in laboratories, "primates are violently force-fed chemicals, inflicted with brain damage, crippled, addicted to cocaine or alcohol, deprived of food and water, or psychologically tormented and ultimately killed."<ref>{{cite news|last=Meikle|first=James|title=Jane Goodall and Peter Gabriel urge Air France to stop ferrying lab monkeys|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/may/20/jane-goodall-peter-gabriel-air-france-stop-monkeys-transport|access-date=28 January 2015|work=The Guardian|date=20 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403210829/http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/may/20/jane-goodall-peter-gabriel-air-france-stop-monkeys-transport|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2014, Gabriel publicly supported #withsyria, a campaign to rally support for victims of the [[Syrian Civil War]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26543547 |title=Banksy marks third anniversary of Syria conflict |publisher=BBC News |date=13 March 2014 |access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505103206/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26543547 |archive-date=5 May 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2014, Gabriel, along with [[Pussy Riot]] and [[Iron & Wine]] supported Hong Kong protesters at [[Lennon Wall (Hong Kong)|Hong Kong's Lennon Wall]] in their efforts.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|title=Peter Gabriel, Pussy Riot Show Support for Hong Kong Protestors|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/peter-gabriel-pussy-riot-show-support-for-hong-kong-protestors-20141129|access-date=30 November 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141201160601/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/peter-gabriel-pussy-riot-show-support-for-hong-kong-protestors-20141129|archive-date=1 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2015, Gabriel was awarded an honorary doctorate by the [[University of South Australia]] in recognition of his commitment to creativity and its transformational power in building peace and understanding.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.unisa.edu.au/Media-Centre/Releases/University-of-South-Australia-honours-Peter-Gabriel/#.VPjvMXyUdBk |title=University of South Australia honours Peter Gabriel |access-date=4 March 2015 |date=4 March 2015 |website=Unisa.edu.au |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309001035/http://www.unisa.edu.au/Media-Centre/Releases/University-of-South-Australia-honours-Peter-Gabriel/#.VPjvMXyUdBk |archive-date=9 March 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

He composed the song "The Veil" for [[Oliver Stone]]'s film ''[[Snowden (film)|Snowden]]'' (2016).<ref>{{cite web |last=Gabriel |first=Peter |date=14 September 2016 |title=Peter Gabriel – The Veil (Official video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqFKjz4l9u0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201040309/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqFKjz4l9u0 |archive-date=1 December 2018 |access-date=9 August 2018 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

== Political views ==
Gabriel has been described as one of rock's most political musicians by [[AllMusic]].<ref name="Peter Gabriel AllMusic" /> In 1992, on the 20th anniversary of the [[Bloody Sunday (1972)|Bloody Sunday]] massacre, Gabriel joined [[Peter Hain]], [[Jeremy Corbyn]], [[Tony Benn]], [[Ken Loach]], [[John Pilger]] and [[Adrian Mitchell]] in voicing his support for a demonstration in London calling for British withdrawal from [[Northern Ireland]].<ref name="Julieann Campbell">{{cite book |last=Campbell |first=Julieann |title=Setting The Truth Free: The Inside Story of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign|url=https://archive.org/details/settingtruthfree0000camp |url-access=registration |year=2012|publisher=Liberties Press|isbn=978-1-907593-37-6}}</ref>

At the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], he declared his support for the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], which won that election by a landslide after 18 years out of power, led by [[Tony Blair]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4464557.stm|title=Who's backing whom at the election?|publisher=BBC News|date=21 April 2005|access-date=13 April 2011|first=Jenny|last=Matthews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211132339/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4464557.stm|archive-date=11 February 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1998, he was named in a list of the biggest private financial donors to Labour.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/161057.stm |title='Luvvies' for Labour |publisher=BBC News |date=30 August 1998 |access-date=22 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030918021349/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/161057.stm |archive-date=18 September 2003 |url-status=live }}</ref> He subsequently distanced himself from the Labour government following Blair's support for [[George W. Bush]] and Britain's involvement in the [[Iraq War]], which he strongly opposed.<ref name="New Statesman" /> Gabriel later explained his decision for funding Labour, saying, "after all those years of [[Margaret Thatcher|Thatcher]], that was the only time I've put money into a political party because I wanted to help get rid of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Tory]] government of that time."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thequietus.com/articles/07003-peter-gabriel-interview |title=An Invasion of Privacy: Peter Gabriel Interviewed |work=The Quietus |first=John |last=Doran |date=19 September 2011 |access-date=22 July 2015 |archive-date=9 July 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170709052222/http://thequietus.com/articles/07003-peter-gabriel-interview |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], Gabriel gave a [[Green Party of England and Wales]] candidate special permission to record a cover of his song "[[Don't Give Up (Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush song)|Don't Give Up]]" for his campaign.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/england/4497761.stm |title=Green candidate sings for votes |publisher=BBC News |date=29 April 2005 |access-date=22 May 2010 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120004631/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/vote_2005/england/4497761.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, ''[[The Guardian]]'' described Gabriel as "a staunch advocate of [[proportional representation]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jun/02/peter-gabriel-scratch-my-back |title=Peter Gabriel: 'It doesn't have anything to do with witchcraft!' |work=The Guardian |date=2 June 2010 |access-date=19 February 2011 |location=London |first=Jude |last=Rogers |author-link=Jude Rogers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221085747/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jun/02/peter-gabriel-scratch-my-back |archive-date=21 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2013, he stated that he had become more interested in online petitioning organisations to effect change than traditional party politics.<ref name="New Statesman" />

In 2012, Gabriel condemned the use of his music by the American [[conservative talk radio]] personality [[Rush Limbaugh]] during [[Rush Limbaugh–Sandra Fluke controversy|a controversial segment in which Limbaugh vilified]] [[Georgetown University]] law student [[Sandra Fluke]]. A statement on behalf of Gabriel read: "Peter was appalled to learn that his music was linked to Rush Limbaugh's extraordinary attack on Sandra Fluke. It is obvious from anyone that knows Peter's work that he would never approve such a use. He has asked his representatives to make sure his music is withdrawn and especially from these unfair, aggressive and ignorant comments."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/peter-gabriel-pulls-music-from-rush-limbaugh-show-20120305#ixzz1pQftliJu |title=Peter Gabriel Pulls Music From 'Rush Limbaugh Show' |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=8 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514181641/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/peter-gabriel-pulls-music-from-rush-limbaugh-show-20120305#ixzz1pQftliJu |archive-date=14 May 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016, Gabriel supported the UK's continued membership of the [[European Union]] in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|referendum on the issue]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://petergabriel.com/news/so-in-or-out/ |title=So – In or Out? |publisher=Peter Gabriel |date=22 June 2016 |access-date=2 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202153847/https://petergabriel.com/news/so-in-or-out/ |archive-date=2 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Gabriel has declared his support for the [[two-state solution]] to the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]. In 2014, he contributed songs to a new compilation album to raise funds for humanitarian organisations aiding Palestinian Arabs in [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]]. Gabriel was quoted: "I am certain that Israelis and Palestinians will both benefit from a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. We have watched Palestinians suffer for too long, especially in Gaza. I am not, and never was, anti-Israeli or [[Antisemitism|anti-Semitic]], but I oppose the policy of the Israeli government, oppose injustice and oppose the occupation ... I am proud to be one of the voices asking the Israeli government: 'Where is the two-state solution that you wanted so much?' and clearly say that enough is enough."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187259#.Vc2YcflVhHw |title=Musician Peter Gabriel: I'm Not Anti-Israel, I'm Anti-Occupation |work=Israel National News |first=Ben |last=Ariel |date=10 November 2014 |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905174434/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187259#.Vc2YcflVhHw |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, Gabriel was among 50 artists who urged the [[BBC]] to ask for the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] to be moved out of Israel, citing human rights concerns.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47054756 |title=Stars urge BBC to ask for Eurovision to be moved out of Israel |publisher=BBC News |first=Mark |last=Savage |date=30 January 2019 |access-date=2 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507160856/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47054756 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, Gabriel signed the [[Artists4Ceasefire]] open letter to President [[Joe Biden]] calling for a ceasefire during the [[Gaza war|Israeli bombardment of Gaza]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Artists4Ceasefire |url=https://www.artists4ceasefire.org/ |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=Artists4Ceasefire |language=en-US}}</ref>

Gabriel has been in support of the [[Armenian genocide]] recognition.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mouradian |first=Khatchig |title=Peter Gabriel Stresses Importance of Armenian Genocide Recognition |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2009/03/06/peter-gabriel-stresses-importance-of-armenian-genocide-recognition/ |work=Armenian Weekly |access-date=16 October 2020 |date=6 March 2009 |archive-date=17 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017044832/https://armenianweekly.com/2009/03/06/peter-gabriel-stresses-importance-of-armenian-genocide-recognition/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2020, he posted a message on social media in support of [[Armenia]] and [[Republic of Artsakh|Artsakh]] in regards to the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict|Nagorno-Karabakh war]]. He said, "The fighting that has now broken out between Azerbaijan and Armenia is really horrific and we need to lobby whoever we can to encourage a ceasefire, but hearing reports that President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|Erdoğan]] has now lined up 80,000 Turkish troops on the Armenian border is a terrifying prospect, full of the dark echoes of history."<ref>{{cite web |date=7 October 2020 |title=Peter Gabriel on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict |url=https://en.168.am/2020/10/07/39778.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018174646/https://en.168.am/2020/10/07/39778.html |archive-date=18 October 2020 |access-date=16 October 2020 |website=en.168.am}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
Gabriel's music featured prominently on the popular 1980s television show ''[[Miami Vice]]''. The songs include "The Rhythm of the Heat" and "[[Biko (song)|Biko]]" (from "Evan"), "[[Red Rain (song)|Red Rain]]" (from "Stone's War"), "[[Mercy Street]]" (from "Killshot"), "[[Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel song)|Sledgehammer]]" (from "Better Living Through Chemistry"), "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" (from "Forgive Us Our Debts" and "Deliver Us from Evil") and "[[Don't Give Up (Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush song)|Don't Give Up]]" (from "Redemption in Blood"). With seven songs used total, Gabriel had the most music featured by a solo artist in the series, and he is the only artist to have had a song used in four of Vice's five seasons. Five of the nine tracks on his most popular album ''[[So (album)|So]]'' (1986) were used in the series.

Gabriel’s song "[[In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel song)|In Your Eyes]]" features twice in the teen romance drama [[Say Anything...|''Say Anything'']] (1989).  It is the song playing on Lloyd Dobler’s boombox as he serenades Diane, creating the film’s most iconic scene.

Gabriel's cover of [[David Bowie]]'s "[["Heroes" (David Bowie song)|Heroes]]" was featured in the fourth season finale of ''[[Big Love]]'', as well as the first season and the ending scene of ''[[Stranger Things]]'' season 3 and the ending credits of ''[[Lone Survivor]]''. The song also features in 'Children of Mars', a 2020 episode of the web series ''[[Star Trek: Short Treks]]''.

A series of spoof documentaries about the fictitious rock star [[Brian Pern]] were based loosely on Gabriel.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Nick |title=Brian Pern: A Tribute – a knowing parody of the rock eulogy |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/brian-pern-a-tribute-parody-rock-eulogy-55800 |access-date=26 October 2021 |work=inews.co.uk |date=29 March 2017}}</ref>

In 2021, Northern Irish post-punk band Invaderband released their second studio album entitled 'Peter Gabriel'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=David |date=24 September 2021 |title=Noise Annoys: New music from Invaderband, Mob Wife, Cherym and Gemma Bradley, plus Malojian gig news... |url=https://www.irishnews.com/arts/music/2021/09/24/news/noise-annoys-new-music-from-invaderband-mob-wife-cherym-and-gemma-bradley-plus-malojian-gig-news--2453871/ |access-date=21 March 2022 |website=The Irish News |language=en}}</ref> The sleeve was a painting of Gabriel by [[Luke Haines]].

== Personal life ==
Gabriel has married twice and has four children. In 1971, at age 21, he married Jill Moore, daughter of Baron [[Philip Moore, Baron Moore of Wolvercote|Philip Moore]].<ref name=MOJO10/> They had two daughters,<ref name="New Statesman" /> one of whom, Anna-Marie, is a filmmaker who filmed and directed Gabriel's live DVDs ''Growing Up on Tour: A Family Portrait'' (2003), ''[[Still Growing Up: Live & Unwrapped]]'' (2005) and some of his music videos. Melanie is a musician who had been a backing vocalist in her father's band in 2002–2011. Both daughters appear in the final sequence of the video for their father's song "Sledgehammer".

Gabriel's marriage became increasingly strained, culminating in Moore's affair with [[David Lord (producer)|David Lord]], the co-producer of Gabriel's [[Peter Gabriel (1982 album)|fourth studio album]]. After the couple [[divorce]]d in 1987, Gabriel fell into a period of depression and attended therapy sessions for six years.

For a time after his divorce, Gabriel lived with American actress [[Rosanna Arquette]].<ref name=MOJO10>{{cite magazine|url=https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/mojo-april-2010-peter-gabriel-feature/|title=The man who fell to earth|first=Mat|last=Snow|pages=76–86|magazine=MOJO|date=April 2010|via=The Genesis Archive|access-date=1 November 2019|archive-date=1 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101150559/https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/mojo-april-2010-peter-gabriel-feature/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Irish singer [[Sinéad O'Connor]] said that she maintained an on-and-off relationship with Gabriel in the wake of his divorce. She ended the relationship because of her frustration with his lack of commitment, which inspired her single "[[Thank You for Hearing Me]]".<ref name="Chilton 2021">{{cite web |last=Chilton |first=Louis |title=Sinead O'Connor describes past romance with Peter Gabriel: 'I was basically weekend p***y' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/sinead-oconnor-peter-gabriel-affair-b1856288.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/sinead-oconnor-peter-gabriel-affair-b1856288.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Independent |access-date=2 June 2021 |ref=Chilton 2021 |date=29 May 2021}}</ref>

Gabriel married Meabh Flynn in 2002, with whom he has two sons.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk" /><ref name=MOJO10/>

Gabriel has resided in [[Wiltshire]] for many years and runs [[Real World Studios]] from [[Box, Wiltshire]]. He previously lived in the Woolley Valley near [[Bath, Somerset]]. In 2010, he joined a campaign to stop agricultural development in the valley, which had also inspired his first solo single, "[[Solsbury Hill (song)|Solsbury Hill]]", in 1977.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/8693430.stm |title=Peter Gabriel attacks Woolley Valley farm plans |publisher=BBC News |date=19 May 2010 |access-date=15 January 2011 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120004552/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/8693430.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Main|Peter Gabriel discography}}

'''Studio albums'''
*''[[Peter Gabriel (1977 album)|Peter Gabriel]]'' (1977; known as ''Peter Gabriel 1'' and ''Car'')
*''[[Peter Gabriel (1978 album)|Peter Gabriel]]'' (1978; known as ''Peter Gabriel 2'' and ''Scratch'')
*''[[Peter Gabriel (1980 album)|Peter Gabriel]]'' (1980; known as ''Peter Gabriel 3'' and ''Melt'')
*''[[Peter Gabriel (1982 album)|Peter Gabriel]]'' (1982; known as ''Peter Gabriel 4'' and ''Security'')
*''[[So (album)|So]]'' (1986)
*''[[Us (Peter Gabriel album)|Us]]'' (1992)
*''[[Up (Peter Gabriel album)|Up]]'' (2002)
*''[[Scratch My Back]]'' (2010)
*''[[New Blood (Peter Gabriel album)|New Blood]]'' (2011)
*''[[I/O (album)|I/O]]'' (2023)

'''Soundtracks'''
*''[[Birdy (Peter Gabriel album)|Birdy]]'' (1985) 
*''[[Passion (Peter Gabriel album)|Passion]]'' (1989) 
*''[[OVO (album)|OVO]]'' (2000)
*''[[Long Walk Home: Music from the Rabbit-Proof Fence|Long Walk Home]]'' (2002)

== Awards and nominations ==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Peter Gabriel}}

== See also ==
*[[List of ambient music artists]]
*[[List of artists who reached number one in the United States]]
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart]]
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart]]
*[[List of best-selling music artists]]
*[[24997 Petergabriel]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
* {{Cite book |title=Genesis. Chapter and Verse |first1=Tony |last1=Banks |first2=Phil |last2=Collins |first3=Peter |last3=Gabriel |first4=Steve |last4=Hackett |first5=Mike |last5=Rutherford |editor1-first=Philipp |editor1-last=Dodd |publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-297-84434-1 |ref={{harvid|Genesis|2007}}}}
* {{cite book |last1=Bowler |first1=Dave |last2=Dray |first2=Bryan |year=1992 |title=Genesis: A Biography |url=https://archive.org/details/genesisbiography0000bowl_h5d4 |url-access=registration |publisher=Sidgwick & Jackson |isbn=978-0-283-06132-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Easlea |first=Daryl |year=2018 |title=Without Frontiers: The Life & Music of Peter Gabriel |edition=Revised and Updated |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-1-787-59082-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Frame |first=Pete |year=1983 |title=The Complete Rock Family Trees |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-0-7119-0465-1}}
*{{cite book|first=Mario|last=Giammetti|year=2020|title=Genesis 1967 to 1975 - The Peter Gabriel Years|publisher=Kingmaker|location=London|isbn=978-1-913218-62-1}}

== External links ==
{{sister project links|d=Q175195|q=Peter Gabriel|c=Category:Peter Gabriel|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{allMusic|artist/peter-gabriel-mn0000842802}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* [https://www.music-map.com/peter+gabriel Peter Gabriel on the Music-Map]

{{Peter Gabriel|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Peter Gabriel|Awards for Peter Gabriel]]
|list =
{{AACTA Award Best Music Score}}
{{Brit British Male}}
{{Brit British Producer}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Music Film}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Music Video}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media}}
{{Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year}}
{{Polar Music Prize}}
{{2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{WSA for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film}}
}}
{{Genesis}}
{{The Elders}}

{{Authority control}}

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