Fans Are Celebrating Peter Gabriel's 72nd Birthday With His Best Live Songs!
By Kristin Myers on February 13, 2022 at 12:00 PM EST
Singer Peter Gabriel is turning 72 today!
The musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and activist was born on February 13, 1950, in Chobham, England. He is most famous as the original lead singer of the rock band “Genesis.” After he left the band in 1975, he started a successful solo career with the song “Solsbury Hill.”
His 1986 album “So” is his best-selling album and was certified triple platinum in the U.K. and five-times platinum in the U.S. One of the album’s singles, “Sledgehammer,” won a record-breaking nine MTV Awards. Not bad for the song that has been called one of MTV’s most-played music videos of all time!
Peter Gabriel: A Musician & A Humanitarian
Peter Brian Gabriel has also won three BRIT Awards, including Best British Male in 1987. He’s won thirteen MTV Video Music Awards, the first Pioneer Award at the BT Digital Music Awards, the Q magazine Lifetime Achievement Award, the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement, and the Polar Music Prize.
At the 57th annual BMI London Awards, he won the BMI Icon Award for “his influence on generations of music makers.”
In 2006, he also received the Man of Peace award from the Nobel Peace Prize laureates. In 2008, TIME magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the work. After being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010, he was inducted as a solo artist in 2014. A year later, in 2015, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia for his achievements in music.
Gabriel has been a champion for world music throughout his career and co-founded the WOMAD Festival in 1982. He promoted world music through his Real World Records label and co-founded OD2, which was one of the first online music download services. He has also participated in several human rights benefits concerts including Amnesty International's Human Rights Now! tour in 1988. He also co-founded the Witness human rights organization in 1992 and developed The Elders with Richard Branson, which was launched by Nelson Mandela in 2007.
Fans are celebrating his 72nd birthday with some of their favorite songs! Have a listen!
‘Solsbury Hill’
Plenty of fans have heard the song “Solsbury Hill,” but have fans ever heard the live version of the song? What about a montage of his best live performances? This montage of live performances of Solsbury Hill includes footage from Rockpalast (1978), Live in Athens (1987), Secret World Live (1993), Growing Up Live (2003), New Blood Live (2011), and Back To Front (2013)!
“One of those songs I NEVER, EVER get tired of hearing!” one fan commented.
“I love this! I'm saddened that I've never seen Peter perform live,” another shared. “His concerts certainly resemble full-blown, joyous parties. Best to you, sir.”
“Different ages of Peter, but the same positive energy and joy in every note!” another wrote. “One of the absolute greatest voices and personalities in music for me.”
‘In Your Eyes’
This live performance of “In Your Eyes” is a snippet from Peter Gabriel’s “Secret World Live” concert film. The late Papa Wemba also makes a special appearance!
“This isn’t a song, it’s a celebration of life,” one fan wrote.
“This performance is magical,” another fan commented. “You can feel the love and joy all over that arena. I wish I was there.”
“This is simply an astonishing performance,” another shared. “Talent overflowing on stage, sound, and lighting, delivering one of the most emotionally involving and iconic songs, ever.”
“I've lost track of how many times I've watched this and it still makes me cry EVERY TIME,” another commented.
‘Sledgehammer’
One of his most popular songs, here is a live version of “Sledgehammer.”
“This is the best version of this song by miles,” one fan commented. “Adjusted to give respect to Peter being older and his voice being what it is now. If this was recorded like this now, it might top the charts again!”
“One of the best sounding songs ever created,” another shared.
“So much to love about this video!” another wrote. “The song, the performances, the video making, etc. But I particularly love the joy exuding from Tony Levin (bass) and David Rhodes (guitar), two long-time collaborators who must have played this song live over 1000 times yet they still bop around like we did as teenagers listening to it the first time around!”
Still Not Enough For You?
Have a listen to Peter Gabriel's full “Secret World Live” concert, recorded in 1994!
