The genius of Peter Gabriel.

Where do I begin? A career such as that which Peter Gabriel has had for the last fifty six or so years has encompassed a dazzling array of fields.

There are not many artists who have won awards for pop videos and awards for humanitarian efforts but Peter has bestrode both these worlds like a colossus. He began life as a frustrated drummer, he managed to bring together the disparate elements that together with himself, formed the fledgling Genesis. He steered that band through initially rocky beginnings and fought against the mainstream to eventually leave the band but by then although even they didn't realise it, they were firmly established as a major rock act.

Stepping out of the Genesis "machinery" must have been a daunting prospect for Peter but he quickly succeeded in re establishing himself as a musician in his own right and the years that have followed have seen an astonishing display of artistry from the man. Albums that encompass short, catchy (but undanceable) pop songs such as Solsbury Hill and pop classics such as Sledgehammer, have been liberally peppered with songs of a darker, more emotional kind. Peter has never shied away from the uncomfortable and also challenging our perceptions and behaviours with songs such as Family Snapshot, Wallflower and above all, Biko,the latter two sadly as relevant today as when they were written.

Peter expressed an interest at an early age in film and the cinema, auditioning unsuccessfully for a part in the cult film "If" as well as being briefly seduced away from Genesis by William Friedkin. Subsequently his involvement with film has been in the realm of producing music for film soundtracks and he has done this in abundance and to varying levels of success as discussed in the feature on his film work elsewhere in this edition. Without a doubt, his finest effort thus far in this realm is his soundtrack to The Last Temptation Of Christ which cemented his position as a film composer of note.

Outside of music itself, Peter has been involved in an equally dazzling variety of projects from putative theme parks, technical developments, he was the backer of the Fairlight sampler/synthesiser for example. Above all though he will be remembered for the creation (from very shaky beginnings) of the World Of Music Arts And Dance (WOMAD) festival and his continuing efforts in humanitarian affairs. If this sheer variety of projects doesn't make Peter Gabriel a genius, what does?