Peter Gabriel: The First Four

A true original finds his voice

Peter Gabriel was a bona fide rock star by the time he had turned 25. His band Genesis, had scored a top ten record in the UK with their sprawling prog epic, Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, and sold out shows around the world through1974/75. While at the top of the pops, Gabriel was packing it in to spend more time with his family.

It sounds trite now, but Gabriel’s wife had just had their first child during the Lamb Lies period and she suffered subsequent health problems. Gabriel was already drifting away from the band creatively, and his need to be with his family clashed with a lack of empathy from his unmarried bandmates in Genesis.

Gabriel had conceived of the story around which Lamb Lies Down On Broadway was based, and written the bulk of the lyrics. His persona and unique voice, had been a huge part of the success Genesis had enjoyed. Still, leaving a top ten level act to pursue an as yet unfulfilled solo vision was a daunting way to begin again. Nonetheless, Peter Gabriel set out t…