Peter Gabriel - Lay Your Hands On Me - (First Listen)

[@jalphonso2]

I was at the show at the Spectrum in Philly!!!

[@johnmavroudis2054]

Perfect reaction, Ryan. I watched him do this live at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles in the early 80s... They passed him to the very back of the theater and all the way back to the front. It was simply one of the two greatest moments I've ever experienced at rock show (and I've seen hundreds)... TRUE STORY: Gabriel, while he was playing with Genesis, was getting hyped up during their encore, THE KNIFE, and ran from the back of the stage to the front of the stage and jumped into the audience. He broke his leg... but got back on stage and finished the song. The guy is legendary.

[@OronOfMontreal]

That day in 1972 was the day that Peter Gabriel invented the crowd dive and, by extension, the mosh pit.

[@Kimobubby]

Incredible

[@rpraelsporcupine3112]

Oh, God! I’ve read about that anecdote! Were you in that concert? How cool!

[@johnmavroudis2054]

@@rpraelsporcupine3112 I wasn't at the '72 show (being only a kid at that time)... but you're probably talking to @OronOfMontreal ... I read about it, too... Gabriel, during The Knife, ran from the back of the stage and jumped into the crowd, breaking his leg in the process... hobbled back on stage and finished the song. Wish they had that on film!

[@rpraelsporcupine3112]

@@johnmavroudis2054 No, I was talking to you, I misunderstood your message, sorry! Thought that you had witnessed that incident. Indeed it would have been so great to have that moment recorded! Or the first time that Peter appeared with his wife’s red dress! Would have been so memorable! “All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain...” 😭

[@leeford9307]

I saw Peter do this live at a football ground in London in July 1983 and Phil guested om the song. Take a listen to it, unfortunately there is no video of it but here is the KZbin location for the audio. He didn't lay into the crowd this time as the ground was packed and he would have been out there for hours. I did get to hold him up a few months later when I saw him again in London and I was lucky to be near the front.

[@sebbelp]

i thank you a 1000 times for doing this reaction

[@daphnethornton4829]

Was very blessed to see this tour not once but twice in one week. I went to every tour he did when he left Genesis.I just love this man, such a genious, so amazing. It's just great to see someone enjoy even watching clips from these concerts.it brings it all back like it was yesterday.

[@robertwands9185]

I saw this in concert in D,C the last part of the song is where he jumps into the audience on his back and people in the audience pass him around

[@ontherun9510]

I just like to mention he was doing the dive not only for this video but in every cities. I was at the front supporting him at the Montreal Forum for this tour. In 1980, the first song was ''Intruder'' and the whole band were everywhere in the audience with flashlights (obviously like Intruders) to get to the stage. In 1982, the first song was ''Rythm of the Heat'' and the band was entering on the floor at the back of the arena to get to the stage, drumming. He was also going into the audience during ''I Go Swimming''.

[@swirll360]

Yep he did it every show I can vouch for that. I saw this tour @ the Garden State Art Center and he did it then. What a mind blowing show.

[@MattLathrum]

You got the right one! The trust fall is integral to the meaning of the song. He gives himself up completely to the audience with a profound show of affection and respect. And then he comes back on stage with a huge grin and completely energized. This song must absolutely be seen live, doesn't it? When you hear it again in the future, you will be thinking of this video. Peter himself says the song is part hymn and part faith healing (similar to 'Kiss of Life'). There is a sense of cleansing through the laying-on of hands, and he says he's convinced that we have abilities within ourselves that are not really acknowledged yet. Ryan, you didn't miss him, you found him exactly when you needed to!

[@Kimobubby]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ruipina5636]

I do prefer the studio version by far, but what surprises me the most is the level of empathy and confidence PG establishes with his audiences. Something that was notorious from the early Genesis concerts.

[@DavidTimberDKT]

I saw this performance done in NY. Peter Gabriel kept me inspired creatively. I live in anticipation for his next offering.

[@carlogns932]

I love to watch this video. When you realize what is happening your eyes are a mirror of our souls: he really does?! The first time Peter launch himself into the audience in 1971 nobody took him and he broke his ankle!

[@berniemojzes2989]

First time I saw him was '82, and when he did this song he was passed all the way to the back of the stadium and back, singing for most of it. He had a wireless headset that fell off at some point, at which point security pulled him back to the stage. Nobody tore at his clothes, it was utterly respectful and glorious. After the song was done, he mentioned the headset mic, if anyone found it, please bring it up to the stage. About one song later, he had it back. The energy of the climax of this song changed after the So album brought in a new crop of fans to what you saw here. Still amazing, but not quite the religious experience of earlier shows.

[@bergviken]

Love your reaction when Peter falls into the sea of hands. And that Peter in his euforia after returning to stage is mirroring the iconic Rocky scene, from the poster behind you. Eagerly awaiting your return to PG and taking on So.

[@Kimobubby]

❤️🤟🙏🤟🤟❤️

[@Sir_Blobfish]

Ryan... you are lucky enough to get to watch a ton more live Peter. The Secret World tour and Growing Up tour shows are unlike anything else ever done. Especially Growing Up. He sings an entire song upside down on a track above the stage for crying out loud! 😂😂

[@Kimobubby]

Amazing

[@uncletom618]

Saw that performed live in ‘84,when Pete did the backwards dive i to the crowd and surfedas the the crowd laid their hands on him. One of the best concerts i ever saw!

[@janstan8407]

I was just about to watch the live version, thanks! I LOVE the fact he was brave and cool enough to crowd surf.

[@therealtwiggyleaf]

Great live version of my favourite song on one of my favourite albums of all time. The courage of PG to allow himself to be carried by the crowd, literally, is just mindblowing. Glad you enjoyed it Ryan. I've been wanting to share this one for a while. 😎

[@Kimobubby]

Loved it

[@danielmcbriel1192]

🤩 When I graduated from high school, I hadn't gotten to Peter. Everyone in the class had to give a presentation about the band of their choice in music class. I chose Kraftwerk. Three other students had Genesis as a community project. They had dismissed the Gabriel time with: "After their formation they would have a different singer than Phil, but they weren't particularly popular, so he left the band. Phil took over the vocals." At the time I didn't know Peter by name, only from a few pieces on the radio. When I became a Gabriel fan a year later and finally also took precedence in his Genesis time, I first understood that my classmates simply had no idea.

[@richardmoffett7738]

Ryan, I recently started watching these reaction videos and have found yours to be the most enjoyable and real using the studio and live versions back to back. Congrats to you for thinking of this format. As for being practically speechless after watching Peter Gabriel, from the early Genesis days to the present-you're in good company. Truly unique and inspiring....Thanks for opening the door for others to see......

[@Kimobubby]

Ty ❤️🤟🙏🤟❤️

[@philmccammon]

I saw that tour - he landed about 1.5m away from me.. i was 16 or 17 - that song was nuts.. the entire concert was insane

[@markjohnson4217]

What a powerful moment in rock history, Peter discovered that by keeping the body rigid, the sheer density of people and hands would keep him from slipping down and getting trampled. Moshing did not start yet as a thing, not for another 10 years. This was an incredibly brave performance experiment, very dangerous indeed, but the song really demanded that he take it to another level.

[@OronOfMontreal]

There are three Peter Gabriel concerts currently on KZbin that you can watch in their entirety: "Rockpalast", from German television in around 1978. It's only an hour long but any more would induce heart attacks in viewers. You see, this was his Punk period. His band even covers the title track of "The Lamb..." with a raw, vicious, killer energy; This "Athens 1987" concert, in which he promotes the "So" album and, as you have seen, so much more; "Secret World Live", from 1993, staged by Robert Lepage, Canada's great Avant-Garde Theatre director. This last show, you must watch with your wife. Gabriel had a lot to say about male-female relationships in the "Us" album of '92, and he almost reaches Leonard Cohen levels of romantic artistry, with the theatrical set-pieces and the stage design, etc.

[@mariamotionwork]

He’s a true artist. So rare. Makes me laugh thinking about the band mates on genesis resentful of his showmanship, taking for granted the magic he provided with his understanding of connecting with the audience beyond the music.

[@rk41gator]

In person he must be amazing, overwhelming charisma. He grabs ahold and doesn't let go.

[@axolotl8694]

I know pg4 well, one of my atfs, but I hadn’t seen that live performance. thanks for featuring it! that was exhilarating. I still get the feeling that most people don’t know pg before sledgehammer. that’s a pity… he really has had a music career and life unlike any other. good for many deep dives.

[@stephanevilleneuve9450]

The kind of reaction you’re doing (studio & live version) in your channel increase the experience of each song you reacting to. Good job Ryan.

[@Kimobubby]

Ty brother

[@MiguelLopez-is9te]

🧡 There's never one direction for Peter. You never know where he's gonna take you. So cool. A really good song.

[@douggrant]

Loved that first-listen video, Ryan. My favourite so far. You definitely chose the right live video. I saw him in Glasgow during that tour and was down at the front when he did his crowd dive. It felt like he was out in the audience with us for about 10 minutes! :-) The man is a genius.

[@Kimobubby]

❤️❤️❤️🙏🤟🤟🙏🙏🙏

[@davelneiter]

I watched this unfold at the LA Greek theater in the 80s. The most moving thing I've ever seen.

[@traypaquette7887]

You're actually AWESOME, Ryan!

[@Kimobubby]

Lol. Ty. Very kind

[@ruipina5636]

Jerry Marotta did the studio version, Manu Katche the live one. Both very respected names as drummers ...

[@MattLathrum]

And very different in their play style!

[@delllittle5692]

It's the right video as long as he's falling back into the audience and crowd surfing across the floor.......Yep!

[@OronOfMontreal]

Did you notice that Peter being moved about by all those audience members looked like a microscope view of a live amoeba? Like we were watching the ultimate communal life form -- one out of many. Gabriel's levels of symbolism just do - not - stop.

[@johnnosiennek7066]

He instigated tne body surfing at concerts that's how connected he was with the audience

[@a_bullet_0]

If you watched that david Copperfield special back in the 90's then you've heard part of this song

[@rk41gator]

Gabriel sure took that gated sound and ran with it. Sparse. Atmospheric. Genesis on Peter, esoteric steroids. TRIBAL DRUMS, tribal bass. He connects directly to our 'lizard' brains!

[@natewilliams1062]

Thanks dude.

[@merlinscat]

I saw him play live in the 1980s and Jerry Marrotta was ill, the substitute drummer was none another than Phil Collins, and he of course was brilliant.

[@manco828]

1983

[@paweniedbaa2306]

Great time where Peter was obssesed by African rythms and that's why no cymbals you can hear on this album in the percussion section

[@stevenm.6886]

He was the first I saw do this falling into the crowd. Then it seemed like a lot of people did it. Great shows, bass and drums just pounding your chest 😂

[@janstan8407]

"I just want to do Peter Gabriel stuff from now on". FUNNY!! When I was a kid, I started listening to him with Genesis's "Trespass" album. Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England by the Pound and Lamb Lies Down on Broadway all all worth checking out. Start off with "The Lamia" "Carpet Crawlers" and "Firth of Fifth" if you haven't heard Peter Gabriel Genesis

[@Kimobubby]

I’ve done many PG genesis songs. Check them out :)

[@janstan8407]

@@Kimobubby Thanks for replying! I will. I check out A LOT of reaction channels, so I look out for the odd ones. You're the ONLY one who has reacted to the studio and live version of this. I have the DVD and it's a TOTALLY amazing concert. He was in his prime.

[@markjohnson4217]

I was in the audience in Toronto for this concert and I was inches away from touching him when he did this ' bed of hands' thing. Really astounding in this Athens footage that he didn't get carried right out into the middle of the crowd. They must have had security planted everywhere for this to work safely. VERY dangerous stunt indeed. If he slipped and fell, he would have gotten trampled.

[@swirll360]

And there you have it... Your reaction speaks volumes. You should have seen the look on your face when he crowd surfed, it was priceless, just priceless. Watch Secret World my friend, just sit down and watch it. It's right up there with U2 concerts (which are phenomenal btw) but more intimate.

[@Kimobubby]

I’m a huge U2 fan. Seen them live 3 times

[@swirll360]

@@Kimobubby Same for me 3 times and always left those shows completely wowed and often emotionally drained. Some people/bands just have that ability. U2 is another one of those bands that with the first note you know who it is, their sound is so distinguishable you know? This goes back to Dream Theater in a way because U2 doesn't sound like any other band in their genre, they found their own sound in an era of punk, alt-rock, and hair bands. Bands like U2 who have their own sound/identity are the ones that stand the test of time my friend. I think that's why '70s prog is so appreciated. Bands like Rush, Yes, Genesis, ELP etc. all had their own sound yet it is all '70's prog, you can't say that too much today, things have become homogenized now with little musical risk taking I'm sad to say. There are people who do take musical risks but they are few and far between now in my view. Keep up the great work my friend and I have my Nov. Patreon album for you all lined up and I guarantee you'll enjoy it.

[@jcswim1954]

There is no performer quite like Peter Gabriel… No one!

[@willoke8]

Awesome stuff. Got this album on vinyl. That's Jerry Marotta going around the Toms. That Marimba sound is actually a shoe polish tin bouncing on a table which Gabriel sampled.

[@matsjakobsson1376]

This song live in Athens contains THE best stage dive ever! Same concert: Here comes THE flood. Intruder. Family snapshot!

[@alecchambers3614]

Spoiler alert.

[@OronOfMontreal]

We are in October of 2020. It has now been 18 (eighteen!) years since Peter Gabriel released his last real studio album, "Up". 28 years since his last great album "Us". Stanley Kubrick was almost as slow releasing new movies and the poor sod died before completing "Ai - Artificial Intelligence". Heck, he died before even starting on it. I hope Peter Gabriel lives forever, but he releases new albums as though he actually might!

[@jordanghetler8011]

GO HABS GO!

[@bandfromtheband9445]

It's not Phil. It's Jerry Marotta.

[@BJDuke]

music does not get any heavier than this

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

"Watched on by the silent hidden spies," has an echo of "Watched by empty silhouettes /Who close their eyes but still can see."

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

First time I saw Gabriel solo was at the Ritz for the Shock the Monkey tour. Also the first time I'd seen mics and instruments hooked up remotely. The band walked out through the crowd playing their instruments from every corner of the nightclub, and gathered on stage. In my memory, he continued singing when he was crowd surfing, but I couldn't vouch for it.

[@CKT1138]

Phil Collins occasionally played drums on this song live as well

[@manco828]

Just once.

[@j.k.1963]

You can't go wrong with PG Go for the Secret World Live tour. It is just amazing!

[@64sirnose]

Yaaa! check out growning up incredible and down side up

[@AlexRafficreativecourage]

You had to be born in the late 60s. Shock the Monkey blew up on MV3 and MTV and hea spread like wild fire in the 80s. His departure from Genesis had to happen. They held him back from exploring his sound.

[@delmar418]

Moratta drums

[@OronOfMontreal]

I first saw Peter perform "Lay Your Hands on Me" in 1982. The song, at least on one level, is about the Christ's second coming and He's depressed because He can barely feed Himself in the modern world, let alone fix the world's problems. So Gabriel's crucifixion concert scene makes sense. It has context. But after he did it all sorts of less creative musicians started falling back onto their audiences, without reason, sense or context. Grrrr. A lot of other musicians also subsequently wrote songs about the laying on of hands, some even copying his title. Others heard his African polyrhythms and the African players recording with him and then started singing about Africa, as though the mere word were enough to invoke the power and passion of Peter's work. (Shame on Toto.)

[@okeania]

How somebody never listened Gabriel - Lay Your Hands On Me before.

[@Kimobubby]

There you have it

[@williamwells7916]

Are there no cymbals on the drum kit on any songs on the album

[@rfec26]

Have you been through the "So" album yet? Can't seem to find it. :-)

[@Kimobubby]

It’s coming. I’m going on chronological order of genesis, Phil and Peter

[@rfec26]

@@Kimobubby Great news, waiting for it. Seen Peter live two times 2007 and 2014 the latter was based on the So album (Back to Front tour).

[@bandfromtheband9445]

You missed it, because you were born at slightly the wrong time. You were just a few years too short when Peter was in his prime. No worries. Now you know who he is and now you know how classic he is.

[@Kimobubby]

❤️❤️🙏🙏🤟🤟

[@NABIL7]

Please, react to Genesis - It's gonna get better.

[@RubesGoodBrainCoffee]

If he does that song, he has to do the longer version. The verses make more sense in that one. There's a new video someone did of it which is directly from the vinyl that's really good in quality.

[@janstan8407]

Phil Collins? I don't think they were talking at the time.

[@oronmendel2451]

A religious experience.

[@Ifyoudonttakeitucantfakeit]

He reminds me of Stan Laurel around this time. Fab music as ever though.

[@blakeps192]

If you want drums. Listen to anything from RUSH and Neil Peart