Drummer reacts to "Solsbury Hill" / "Steam" / "Games Without Frontiers"/ "Red Rain" by Peter Gabriel

[@donrumgay5200]

Games Without Frontiers is where i fell in love with solo Gabriel…

[@mikek5958]

Saw Peter at The Spectrum in Philly in 1986 my god what a show just such incredible memories from that night. During "No Self Control" he rolled around dodging track lights that were bobbing up and down and at the end of the show during "Biko" 20,000 of us were raising our fists and yelling "ha, ha, hoh!" along with Peter and then he just stood on stage and watched us yell it for the last three minutes or so, still gives me chills.

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

I believe I saw that tour in NYC. My favorite stage format for Peter. The lighting was a character in itself.

[@IvarMeijer]

This sounds like modern music, but WAY BETTER... Love that Lee!😂

[@L33Reacts]

😂😂😂👌 it’s true

[@matthewstroud4294]

I'm surprised no-one has got you to do Intruder. The invention of the gated reverb drum sound.

[@mattleppard1964]

I want! Whole album ❤

[@MattLathrum]

Yeah, he would like that one.

[@billbitterman9487]

Unusual time signature on Solsbury Hill. I believe it is 7/8 time with each verse starting on the 7 count. Great song. As a drummer, you'd probably appreciate that info. There is another version of this song in another concert where he rides a bike while performing this song. Gabriel is an awesome performer

[@julianbarber4708]

Games Without Frontiers was such a fantastic record. Solsbury Hill sounds like Peter talking to God, but apparently he's talking to the rest of Genesis, telling them why he's leaving the band. Loving Red Rain....seem to have missed it, somewhere along the way!

[@denniszimmerman1279]

Solsbury Hill, Games Without Frontiers chef's kiss Gabriel!

[@mattleppard1964]

Games Without Frontiers refers to a gameshow in the UK called It’s a Knockout (which is why he sings those words(. B-list celebs and ridiculous childish nonsense but very very popular - also long running in mainland Europe as “Jeux sans Frontiers”). Gabriel extrapolated the idea into political satire about war. Savage. Fripp and Collins are on that track, and on the whole album - his best IMHO ❤ Try Start/I Don’t Remember (gotta play both). 😊

[@sandraandmichaelfield1602]

Red Rain = Serious drums! Manu Katche, serious drummer! Saw that show live Dec 15 '86 at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, CA.. You can't believe the tremendous impact of this drummer on the sound in that arena. Very serious!

[@markgarrity]

Manu plays drums like the Brazilians play football.

[@deanroddey2881]

He is a monster. And he makes those African flavored accents work so well in rock. Sometimes it seems like he's playing everywhere but the beat, and it sounds great.

[@davexvs]

Manu was married to Paula for a short time

[@tommonk7651]

He's a bad man! If you haven't, you should check out his jazz albums. Very tasty....

[@tommonk7651]

@@davexvs I think she was married to another musician from that tour - Hassan Hakmoun.

[@mrbumble2986]

What a fantastic selection of tracks that was Lee, shows Peter's songwriting skills, his musicianship, inventiveness and everything else that makes his work so special. He has always used top musicians to accompany him on tour and in the studio and this showed how they all blend to make a perfect ensemble. Manu Cache's drums were just so impressive on Red Rain as they are on every track he features on.

[@corawheeler9355]

Wow ... Four great tracks. I think Red Rain is my favorite. Thank you .. will watch again

[@realbser1956]

Thanks for watching Cora. 😊

[@theeloquentbaby]

@@realbser1956 Barry, thank you for the journey into the incredible artistry of Elton, Stevie, and Peter!

[@realbser1956]

@@theeloquentbaby You are quite welcome Heidi. I think there will be more to come at some point in the future. 😄

[@leeannies-tears369]

❤Just try not to 'move' to Peter! "Steam" "Salisbury Hill"... I dare ya, sit still 😂 LOVE IT. LYRICS... SOME OF THE BEST!, IN "STEAM"!!! Thanks Lee ❤

[@lauraallen55]

Love Games without Frontiers, or the French name, sung by Kate Bush in the background that came from a tv show- Jeux sans frontières. always thought it was so different for what else was out around that time (at least that I knew of when I discovered it). Solsbury Hill about him going his own way from Genesis is so optimistic sounding, I love that. I know you saw Sledgehammer, and now Steam with the claymation, pixilation, etc. effect, but don't think you saw Big Time yet which came in between the two I think. I think I like Big Time best of the three, actually. He starts the video by saying 'Hi There' and it cracks me up every time for some reason lol!

[@Richard_Ashton]

That TV show was essential watching when there was no cable / satellite TV. It is barely funny, nowadays. Watch a clip and that's all you'll ever want to see.

[@lauraallen55]

@@Richard_Ashton No idea why I never thought of watching a clip of it before! Just did though. and I have to admit it was pretty funny :D Two people in cat suits being bounced on a giant net as they try to stay standing while also chasing some ginat plastic fish to place ina bowl at the goal line. Good stuff!

[@Richard_Ashton]

@@lauraallen55 Each to her own. I watched when it was the only thing on.

[@lauraallen55]

@@Richard_Ashton It's not something I'd spend any time watching. Just found it funny having never seen it before, you know?

[@rk41gator]

Yes, those drums on Red Rain were spectacular. It reminded me of Phil's drumming. Peter's voice is still just as good now. And this voice is GREAT.

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

Catching this after the fact, Jack. Four great tunes! "Red Rain" is my favorite but they all have their own charm. Peace & Love from down on the 'funny' farm.🤩

[@yelnikigwawa1845]

Thanks for reacting: PG is a fascinating artist; the voice of Genesis, before departing and Phil Collins taking over vocal duties. He’s been an outspoken advocate for political prisoners world-wide (on off-air time, listen to “Biko” a dirge for activist Stephen Biko, who was beaten to death while in South African police custody, and “Wallflower”.) And while not all of his work is ‘deep’, a fair bit of it is. And he has an amazing ability to write simple, extremely catchy hooks for his music. Finally, consider reacting to his live Secret World Tour version of “In Your Eyes”. Great crowd, (EXCELLENT show, caught it here) and very entertaining, with surprisingly simple things. Worth a watch.

[@calebclunie4001]

The computer screen, in the first video, is part of a setup, for a Fairlight CMI Synthesizer, which was invented in Australia, and actually Peter Gabriel was one of the first people in the UK, to have one, and he even distributed the synth, from his house, for a bit. It was so far ahead, it even had a rudimentary stylus touch screen. One would have heard it on tracks, from groups, like Nu Shooz, i.e. "I Can't Wait". kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJzMiqxmnp15qqMsi=VDy2LWZVgrjbeKEZ

[@calebclunie4001]

...also, Kate Bush, who did a duet with Peter Gabriel, "Don't Give Up", used it, on "Running Up That Hill", etc.

[@willfromyadkinville]

my heart!!! thank you brother! the world is a better place with you in it! Paula Cole! so yummy

[@richardcork6918]

That "old computer" was actually a Fairlight, in effect the first sound sampler linked to a keyboard and which Peter helped develop.

[@j.k.1963]

🎶....Jeus sans frontière....🎶, the female vocal is Kate Bush

[@Chase57Tx]

Red Rain wins this lineup for me.

[@johncollier9280]

This live version o' Red Rain was an amazin' combination o' all the participants givin' their best in a concert situation. But I highly recommend checkin' out the original video version. It is wild 'n wondrous. I played Red Rain on my radio show when So was first released 'n got a phone call from a listener who tole me this was the best thing she had ever heard 'n her life was changed forever. An important song indeed!

[@allengator1914]

"Solsbury Hill" was the first single released from his self-titled debut solo album in 1977. If you want to hear more of the Genesis sound Peter check out "Moribund the Burgermeister", also from his debut album. I think you'd enjoy the whole album. The title of the first Genesis album is easy to remember, even for an old fart like me. Just think the Bible and it's "From Genesis to Revelation"

[@jimralston7562]

So is in my top 5 CD/Albums of the 80s

[@tonys2899]

He WAS an innovator. He had albums released in multiple languages , he also released a video game called Eve where you could make art and remix your own versions of his songs on your PC in the game by choosing different options.

[@dundeerocks]

There's a great new interview with Steve Hackett just gone up on the Classic Album Review channel talking about Hackett's upcoming Lamb tour amongst other things and they speak quite a bit about the state of the band at the time of recording and Peter's leaving of the band. There's even a bit about Solsbury Hill and Gabriel leaving Genesis: "I was feeling part of the scenery, I walked right out of the machinery". Genesis of course carried on and thanks to Phil "Today I don't need a replacement"

[@SonomaBill1]

Here in the U.S., this was the alternative music of the day; I'd say almost counter-culture if you can imagine. No radio play to speak of. Then mtv and the video evolution exposed some new styles to the masses. This track from 1980. A year before that video channel started. . .

[@johnnyfrederick01]

One of the hightlights of my playing acoustic guitar was figuring out how to play Games Without Frontiers - acoustic version. It’s a lot of fun…. Now to have the nerve to play it live at a gig

[@theeloquentbaby]

It was an exciting set. I knew Solsbury Hill and Red Rain, but not the other two. I loved Steam, both the video and the song! What a beat! Games Without Frontiers was an interesting discovery. Such a creative mind! Thank you, Lee and Barry!

[@AirDOGGe]

Sorry I missed most of the chat today. I love the company. GAMES was one of the first Peter tracks I ever heard as far as I know, years before I know who he was. It was always a real one of a kind to me, so different from everything else. Solsbury is so epic. This version of RED RAIN shows how critical Tony's bass is to the Gabriel sound. So much style.

[@Boston685]

Oooh what a treat - I have had a such a thing for Peter Gabriel since the 80s. Red Rain wins for me but I adore just about everything he has done, he is amazing...and the studio versions are well worth a listen on good headphones - turned up loud. Thanks!

[@shemanic1]

"Games Without Frontiers" "Solsbury Hill" two top tier tracks from Peter Gabriel. Try "Shock The Monkey" or "Biko" next, if you haven't already done them.

[@realbser1956]

He has, you should check out his reactions.

[@richardgale1287]

If I could wish myself any singing voice from the past 50 years, it might choose ’80s Gabriel.

[@rk41gator]

I saw Peter Nov 2023 in Denver, near the end of his world tour. Great concert. Music from his new album and most of the hits. (with an encore)

[@MikeOstrowski-iq8wf]

Classic track ❤️ Peter Gabriel is a creative genius ❤️

[@PolferiferusII]

"Solsbury Hill" has been used in ads for Cingular Wireless, Toyota, and Nespresso accd to Wikipedia. Most likely accounts for it's familiarity. TV shows and movies, too.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

Chowing down on Salsbury Steak...

[@pmoran7971]

Classic track, deep and profound

[@ianlejeune6012]

Huh, funny, but Red Rain [album version] is the real stand out for me and I still regularly spin it - it's rEAL big and powerful; anthemic… Fripp and PG REALLY nail Here Comes the Flood too.

[@craigryan3069]

Best thing on GWF for me is Kate Bush.

[@ednicholson7839]

There was this period in the mid 80s where musicians jumped around on stage like they were in a workout video. Maybe the Talking Heads started the trend, not sure, but it looks like middle aged rockers doing step aerobics. Peter Gabriel's So album was hugely popular in the mid 80s. The studio version of "Solsbury Hill", like "Games without Frontiers", came out earlier and is better (though maybe some other live versions are good too).

[@davidmckenzie420]

Good selections! His concerts and videos were great.

[@Linda-y9h]

Wow...that was a treat!! Thank you darlin Lee. ❤❤❤🤩

[@L33Reacts]

@@Linda-y9h I’m very glad you enjoyed my friend 😁

[@Linda-y9h]

@@L33Reacts I love Peter long time! 😄

[@tonys2899]

Red Rain is actually a favorite of mine, it grows on you (the studio version), and when he originally did it on the So tour, it had a good stage show of red lights that moved and came down on him while he sang it.

[@realbser1956]

Thanks Lee, glad you had a good time with PG. it was learning experience for me.😊

[@johntarnowski9086]

I saw Peter in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena. Great show.

[@EchoesDaBear]

Great reactions Lee!! What a wonderful collection of songs. All are favourites of mine! Peter always knew how to push boundaries...with his music, with his visuals - ever the 'artist' in every sense of the word! Sure the video for Steam looks 'dated' now, but it was using the latest in computer graphics tech at the time. Regardless, still a great and hilarious watch (and a greater song!) Games is also my top of those 4. Keep the Gabriel train a rolling...Cheers!

[@L33Reacts]

I’m glad you enjoyed, my friend.this has been my favorite spotlight artist to do so far. his songs have been stuck in my head and my heart for the past month… they are very moving. Especially after repeat listens

[@Jonni1027]

All my favorites!!!❤

[@joeboucher695]

I guess you never know what will trigger someone but the guitar without a headstock, the dusters, the Chapman stick, the over the ear microphones...all of a sudden I was back in 1987. Pretty sure I'll stick with the studio version. "Red Rain" will grow on you, everything on So is great.

[@genegarrett3372]

I remember the steam video (@1993))

[@andrewplumb6544]

For a drummers take on Steam have a look at YOYOKA aged 9 enhancing Steam. You will not be disappointed. She has her own self titled channel her on YT her progress is out of this world.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Amazing songs and videos

[@bigjapi1]

1983 "Gabriel Plays Live" double album is out of this world

[@louise_rose]

Oh yes, agree! 💗

[@DocRock71]

Red Rain is a great live one, as well as In Your Eyes, and Shaking the Tree, both from this same Secret World Live video. Manu Katche is so underrated it's a crime. His rhythms and style are just impeccable.

[@dennismoore3383]

On the album that contains "Games Without Frontiers" Phil Collins played drums without using the cymbals per Peter's direction and much of the famous "Phil Collins" gated drum sound was created and evolved from this point into the 80's.

[@sharondavid-melly1498]

Great workout music 🎶🎵

[@kirbywilliamson2942]

There is a comedian who has made a career out of miss-heard lyrics. The French passage in Games Without Frontiers has been misinterpreted by my friends for years ( intentionally) , to great amusement . My favorite is , she's so f***ed you know , phrasing is so important 🤣 ✌ .

[@kirbywilliamson2942]

P.S. Red Rain is one of my most favorite songs by PETER THE GREAT ❗

[@karlaklaus-hoobler5685]

Shock the Monkey and Digging in the Dirt are worth checking out.

[@RalphSpoiledsport]

He does a German version of "Games Without Frontiers"

[@Oron-n5l]

Peter Gabriel's concerts have always been mind-blowing yet emotional experiences. However, I have never heard him and his band play a satisfactory live version of "Solsbury Hill" This is one song that derives its special power from the production choices. Listen, for yourself if necessary, to the original studio version from 1977's "Blue Car" album, produced by my fellow-Canadian Bob Ezrin. "Solsbury Hill" and "Here Comes the Flood" are both way, WAY more powerful on the album than in any subsequent live recording. You do good work, L33. ---OronOfMontreal

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

Games Without Frontiers and Shock the Monkey are my two favorite PG videos. Most of the time, I think the graphics distract, but in these two, they add to the story.

[@johncampbell756]

The studio version of Solsbury Hill is far superior. Inspired by his decision to leave Genesis. In Games Withiut Frontiers, I always thought he sings "She's so popular," but it's actually just the title in French. 1980. I prefer the other video MTV used to play for this song. When Red Rain was released as a single off of so, as the song ends with just his voice singing Red Rain. A Philky radio station added that to EVERY song for an hour or so one day. Genesis doesn't really count their first album as their first as they were still in school and were mentally writing for other people. Trespass was the debut of them as a real band.

[@mattleppard1964]

The title refers directly to a gameshow. Jeux Sans Frontiers, which ran in Europe from 1966-1999. A British version called It’s a Knockout is what the title refers to (hence the lyric). Agree on Solsbury Hill. No live version ever cuts it the mustard ❤

[@johncampbell756]

@mattleppard1964 Thanks on the song info. The complete change in the drums bothers me, and completely throws off the bits where his heart goes boom boom boom.

[@mattleppard1964]

@@johncampbell756 For me, too. It’s a light acoustic song 👍

[@denniszimmerman1279]

Red Rain - I understood this to be an anti-Death Penalty anthem. Could be wrong...

[@michelfroggy56]

From the secret Worls DVD concert, you would enjoy Manu Katche's Drumming and the stage production set by Robert Lepage who directed many sets for Le Cirque du Soleil on the tune Come talk to me.

[@davidrauh8118]

Check out his music videos for Digging In The Dirt and Kiss That Frog.

[@darkpitcher5242]

I've been to gigs by many bands fr the 60s, 70s and 80s zeppelin, Floyd Stones etc PGs gigs were in a class of their own

[@axolotl8694]

I read a description of his voice once... "dark chocolate poured over hot gravel". gravel in full effect on Red Rain. it is kinda ridiculous how much stuff he did. along the way there he also founded WOMAD and introduced the west to the music and dance of much of the rest of the world. and he ain't done yet... his new album is good. relevant even. at 74. not fair. ;-) thanks for the ride... this was fun. btw, def check out all of pg 3 and 4. really innovative. I'm amazed by how well they hold up after all this time. btw, baller move to release your first four solo albums all untitled.

[@rodneygriffin7666]

Earth, Wind and Fire are.. 🔥🔥🔥

[@brianvernon249]

She’s so F’in hot 😂 Games w/o frontiers is a keystone to my musical foundation. Tony Levin and that odd, jarring, yet smooth guitar part, seems like the Howling by King Crimson.

[@L33Reacts]

I haven’t checked out that one yet by crimson. That was my favorite song i heard today. He predicted an entire genre of music with that one song. Amazing songwriter

[@Alix777.]

We need Family and the Fishing Net

[@L33Reacts]

So many good PG songs so little time lol

[@MattLathrum]

That's one of my favorites. So quirky in a PG way.

[@johnbruin5547]

At 9:58 that Asian lady could almost pass for a young Ann Curry.

[@RhettAnderson]

Remember there are three albums named "Peter Gabriel".

[@pflynn581]

Kate Bush on backing vocals for Games Without Frontiers.

[@louise_rose]

Yep, I agree nobody would make a video like "Steam" today, at least not for a major-label act. Both too expensive and too risky. MTV isn't even focused on promo videos anymore the way they were back then (this is from the early 1990s)... :) This one, from the "So" album, has an even more unstoppable groove than Steam. Brilliant bass riff, very propulsive. I had to check out who it is, seems it's a guy called Simon Clark (Tony Levin is on the track too but more in the background, I think he's played with Peter for much of his career. ) And...Stewart Copeland on drums. :) Peter Gabriel - Big Time (1986): kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnOknWyZmM2El8U

[@davemiller7972]

Peter has a couple of great songs he did for soundtracks - "Walk through the Fire" and "Down to Earth" that are great songs. Always loved Games Without Frontiers - but am tired of Solsbury Hill (kind of like his Invisible Touch imo)

[@IZZY_EDIBLE]

Dude! Have you done SHOCK THE MONKEY? Brilliant!

[@L33Reacts]

We did it last week! Or the week prior… but yes it was amazing

[@rickdavies_jcx]

Check out Across the River (PG with Shankar, David Rhodes and Stewart Copeland) from the WOMAD 1982 compilation (Music and Rhythm 1982), which feels like Red Rain rev 1. Of course, if you heard WOMAD first, RR feels like phase 2 of Across the River. You'll find traces of WOMAD album on YT.

[@astonsfan]

Rock on dude.

[@blitztim6416]

Cool. I would have liked ‘Big Time’, ‘San Jacinto’ and ‘Don’t Give Up’ also. The tempo was too fast on Solsbury Hill. Studio version is better. Plus no silly dancing. 😐

[@olias056]

and, he did, I think, at least 2 albums singing in German, if I'm not mistaken..

[@L33Reacts]

Seriously?? What. That’s crazy. Of course he did.

[@dynodon9182]

If you like Genesis Peter Gabriel, my favorite is Back in NYC.

[@yournamehere6002]

Back when we didn't have to feel guilty about liking sexy women

[@courtneywallace871]

Still so much great PG music you need to check out: (studio versions please) Growing Up, Secret World, No Self Control, Intruder, Down the Dolce Vita and many more. I wish you had done the album version of Steam. The video cuts out at least 30 seconds of the full song if not more. Hate it when they do that, even though it’s still a great video.

[@Oron-n5l]

I agree with you about "Red Rain". When I first got the album "So" home and onto my turntable, I recognized the opening track, in terms of mood and layering of sounds, as a continuation of 1982's amazing African album. But I was soon disappointed by "Red Rain" and its lack of anything new to say. The main theme was okay, but the song was lyrically too repetitive, too limited in its poetry and in Gabriel's seeming actual interest in this track's subject. And musically, it was just more of the same from four years before. ---OronOfMontreal

[@tommonk7651]

All great songs, but I still think "In Your Eyes" is his best....

[@L33Reacts]

We did it a long time ago. It’s in the Peter Gabriel playlist

[@tommonk7651]

@@L33Reacts I figured you probably did. Such a great song! I think I remember an article I read that had it in the top 5 or 10 songs certainly of the 80s.

[@danielmcbriel1192]

The music video for Steam was only shown heavily censored on MTV (although some rapper videos were semi-porn and not censored). Luckily, German music channels didn't care and showed it uncensored. I often hear criticism of the video: "Meh, how bad. Jurassic Park came out in cinemas a year later and it has much better CGI." Excuse me, what? Blockbuster vs. music video?

[@jamespuleo3269]

Regarding Red Rain ~~~ I feel like the studio version is superior, more emotionally concise and affecting ~~~ The Steam tune was all over the radio "back in the day." But in 2024 that VID was basically new to me. It's a real "blast from the past" video, (like for example the B-52's video for "Roam") Solsbury Hill. I also prefer the original to the live vid here, because all that stage-dancing-around pulls focus away from the lyric's ideas. (Which, of course, a live audience at that time had already memorized, and internalized.) If you dig that *early* solo Gabriel material, try the album "Exposure" by Robert Fripp. It came between the 75 KC album "Red" and the !980 reinvention of the band with Bruford, Belew and Levin.

[@mstewart109]

Phil Collins sang it after Peter Gabriel left the grp

[@nicksylvester426]

Is that David Sancious on keys?

[@thomasvieth578]

I like every Gabriel somg here but not all of your reaction, KZbin doesn't have a flat thumb

[@79BlackRose]

Yeah, never liked Red Rain. It was a strange album opener. Steam is from the early 90s, not late 90s/2000s.

[@yournamehere6002]

Steam is 1993

[@lisasmithline1386]

Sam Neill. You should be listening to these songs as they were recorded. This stuff is way too cheesy.

[@davelouis4004]

Red Rain /SO , great song , great album