Peter Gabriel Biography

Peter Gabriel is an influential singer, songwriter, and musician, best known for his work both as the lead vocalist of the progressive rock band Genesis and as a solo artist. His 1986 hit "Sledgehammer," from the acclaimed album So, remains one of his most recognized songs and is distinguished by its groundbreaking music video. The track won numerous awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards and is notable for being the most played video in the history of MTV.

Before achieving widespread acclaim with So, Gabriel released a series of four self-titled solo albums that included significant singles such as "Solsbury Hill," "Games Without Frontiers," "Biko," and "Shock the Monkey." While his fourth album was officially released without a title, it was marketed as Security in the United States. "Shock the Monkey" marked Gabriel's first entry into the Top 40 and highlighted his theatrical approach to music videos. Additionally, he contributed to the soundtrack of the 1984 film Birdy.

The album So solidified Gabriel's status in the music industry, producing successful tracks like "Big Time," "Don’t Give Up," and "In Your Eyes." So achieved five-times platinum certification in the U.S. and earned Gabriel three Grammy nominations. His first Grammy award came for the soundtrack Passion, composed for Martin Scorsese’s film The Last Temptation of Christ, which also garnered a Golden Globe nomination.

In 1992, Gabriel released Us, which featured guest vocals from Sinead O’Connor on several tracks. The album included singles such as "Digging in the Dirt" and "Steam," and saw the release of promotional materials incorporating innovative artistic techniques. The subsequent world tour led to the release of Secret World Live, a double CD/DVD, in 1994, which further showcased his pioneering work in music videos.

Gabriel's career continued with various projects, including the film-related works OVO and Long Walk Home, the 2002 album Up, and concert DVDs featuring his daughter, Melanie Gabriel. His song "Down to Earth," co-written with Thomas Newman for the WALL-E soundtrack, won a Grammy Award in 2008, and his album Scratch My Back followed in 2010. His latest release, New Blood, arrived in 2011.

In addition to his musical contributions, Gabriel is recognized for his humanitarian efforts with organizations such as Amnesty International and WOMAD. He received the Man of Peace award from Nobel Peace Prize laureates in 2006, and in 2008, Time magazine recognized him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Gabriel has won multiple awards throughout his career, including six Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, and 13 MTV Video Music Awards. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010 and as a solo artist in 2014, underlining his enduring impact on the music landscape.