Top 10 Misconceptions About Peter Gabriel

Let's get right on with it, shall we?

Ten: That He's Bipolar

I'm not sure how this rumor got started, but many websites devoted to bipolarity list Peter as suffering from bipolar disorder or manic depression. Although Peter has never been asked if he's bipolar in published interviews, he has suffered bouts of temporary depression, as he told his official biographer, Spencer Bright. So, unless Peter states publicly otherwise, ignore this misconception.

Nine: That He'd Never Do a Genesis Reunion

Peter left the prog-rock group he co-founded, Genesis, just before the group began to make real money. Genesis did have a one-off reunion concert in 1982 to cover the huge debts that the first WOMAD festival incurred. Hearing tapes of that performance reportedly made the band members cringe. In 2011, Peter himself stated in a radio interview with Jim Kerr that a Genesis reunion was "just a large brown envelope [full of cash]" away. Perfectionist Peter wants a reunion gig to be done "properly" - but Peter has an incredibly stringent definition of the word "properly."

Eight: That He's Not Doing Anything Now

Although Peter's solo career has released few albums and videos (in comparison to other artists), he's actually a very busy guy. He plays the stock market; he owns a hotel in Sardinia; researches new scientific and medical discoveries; helps run Real World Records, including finding new talent and has two human rights charities, Witness and The Elders.

Seven: That He Hates Phil Collins

Collins was best man at Gabriel's second wedding in 2002. Both Collins and Gabriel have teased each other in interviews - with Collins doing the lion's share of jibes - but both have a good friendship. Apparently, they still exchange Christmas presents, too.

Six: That He's American

This is erroneously believed by people who've only heard a few singles and not actually listened to an interview or even bothered to go on Google. Sometimes, people who post on Peter's Facebook page think he's American. Peter's accent has flattened over the years, so that his singing voice may have a bit of an American accent, but he's British, lives primarily in the UK and still has British citizenship.

Five: That "Shock the Monkey" is About Animal Experimentation

Not at all. The song is about jealousy ("You throw your pearls before the swine/ Make the monkey blind/ Darlin'/ Don't you monkey with the monkey")

Four: That There is a Film of "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" In Storage Somewhere

In 1974 and 1975, the Lamb tour was the final Genesis tour with Peter as lead singer. It was highly ambitious, full of props and usually bombed every night. The American part of the tour was scheduled before the album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was even released.

Three: The Eagle in "Solsbury Hill" is Bruce Springsteen

Back in the late 1970s, Peter did see a Springsteen concert in England. Rumor has it that Peter saw Bruce backstage, where Bruce advised Peter to leave Genesis and go solo. In a 2011 interview with Rolling Stone, Gabriel himself stated that it never happened. The decision to leave the band was entirely his own.

Two: That His Birthday is May 13

Sometime around 1986, a few sources erroneously reported that Peter's birthday is May 13 - when it's actually February 13. These sources included a popular comic strip at the time called Rock Star Bios and USA Today. This lead to Peter being listed as having two birthdays in at least one book about baby names and astrology. My theory is that Peter himself put out the rumor in order to get more birthday presents.

One: That His Next Album Will Be Out Soon

Peter puts out this one himself. Of course, he never defines what his definition of "soon" is, although during one 2008 interview he remarked "Fifteen years is just a flash of light in my world."

References

"Peter Gabriel: An Authorized Biography." Spencer Bright. Sidgwick & Jackson; 1989.

Peter Gabriel: POV. (1988)

Suite101.com. "Why Is Peter Gabriel So Slow?" Me. 2011. http://rena-jean-sherwood.suite101.com/why-is-peter-gabriel-so-slow-a363689

Rolling Stone.com "Peter Gabriel: The Story That Bruce Springsteen Was Inspiration For 'Solsbury Hill' is Hogwash." Andy Greene. October 10, 2011. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/peter-gabriel-story-that-bruce-springsteen-was-inspiration-for-solsbury-hill-is-hogwash-20111010