Peter Gabriel's First Show (Part 1)

05-Mar-1977
Capitol Theatre
Passaic NJ
USA

[@MrDanielphenix]

I was there in Quebec...Montreal's forum...with Fripp near the curtains....Probably the best show in solo from Gabriel. Very powerfull, every song

[@ladyblackstardust390]

I love this arrangement of Here Comes the Flood. There were two legs of the first solo tour. "After Peter Gabriel's release, Gabriel assembled a touring band, consisting of Robert Fripp (occasionally under the pseudonym "Dusty Rhodes", and sometimes performing from offstage) and Steve Hunter on guitar, Tony Levin on bass, Larry Fast on synthesisers, Allan Schwartzberg on drums, Phil Aaberg on keyboards and Jimmy Maelen on percussion and embarked on his first solo tour. The first leg, entitled "Expect the Unexpected", started on 5 March 1977 in the United States and continued until April. The UK portion of the tour concluded on 30 April. A second leg assembled a different tour band, which included Sid McGinnis on guitar, Tony Levin on bass, Jerry Marotta on drums and Bayette on keyboards. The "Sightings in the Test Area During Autumn" leg began on 30 August and saw the band play throughout England and Europe before concluding on 1 November 1977." Wikipedia. I saw the first leg with Fripp, he's distinctive during the show, on 4/9/77 at the Roxy in LA. Incredibly exciting.

[@davidgarione2206]

Happy birthday Peter, and as we say in my country: GRANDE, CAPO!!!

[@ladyblackstardust390]

I was at the April 9, 1977 show at the Roxy in LA. One of the most exciting events I've ever participated in. And look how far our little Peter has come!

[@brentlevonian3211]

I was there as well. One of the 4 shows, 2 per night, 2 nights. One of the most memorable concerts ever. PG is the real deal. What a line up as well. Fripp, Levin etc..

[@josezuniga3634]

Lady BlackstarDust i was there as well & met peter in the back for autograph even bought a bootleg vinyl record of the show at the Roxy i am jose a. ZUNIGA

[@earlvanfleet3501]

I went to that show, when Peter was singing Salsbury Hill he was walking on the tables with a wireless mic, when he stepped on our table it started to go over, I reached up grabbed his hand to balance him and like a true professional shook my hand and just kept singing :-)

[@henripernod9713]

Moments of pure love & art! Thank's God!

[@ericmendlow9396]

Fripp was introduced as "Dusty Roads" and played on the side in shadow.. Reminder of how amaizng Peter was in that era..

[@circe801]

+Eric Mendlow yea, bob sat behind a curtain. i hadn't recalled that until i heard his first note on this recording.

[@amadhaun22]

+circe801 "I'd like to introduce the visible band" as P G referenced R F

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

@Eric Mendlow That's right! He did the same thing when I saw him at Winterland on that tour. I'd completely forgotten. I saw a seated guitarist and I said to myself, "Is that Fripp?" Once he started playing, there was no question...

[@jebuck51]

I was at this show! Capital Theater in Passaic NJ. Ended with a blistering version of Back in NYC. Smashed a tambourine to bits.

[@edselsosa2090]

I was there that night. Television opened the show. It was fantastic. Robert wasn't really visible to the audience though. Only had the 1st album for material. Did Back in NYC, some motown, too.

[@bigjake2295]

+Edsel Sosa IIRC, Television did not receive a great reception from the crowd, and John Scher castigated the audience.

[@harryberry474]

On The Air is from 2nd PG album unless I'm mistaken...I'm not.

[@jimink8815]

People kept on yelling "Show your face Bob!" I was there too...

[@edkolb9218]

@@jimink8815 Yup. I was there too - back in my college days.....fantastic concert but never got to see Fripp. Hard to believe it was 45 years ago already.

[@ericdaum9909]

@@bigjake2295 Sad to say I was there and not too kind to Television, boorish behaviosr I deeply regret. I suspect after all that I have listed to Marquee Moon far more than Gabriel's first album.

[@Novalarke]

I was at this show. Fucking Amazing. Opening act was Television. Just... wow.

[@floepiejane]

What a bill!!!

[@sean317]

Yes but television got booed people were yelling change the channel

[@Novalarke]

@@sean317 - yeah, at first. But I remember they ended with the song Marquee Moon, and the crowd was somewhat more receptive to that as it has a number of quasi-prog aspects to it. I remember Gabriel came out and said "Be nice to these people I really like their music" before they went on. When they first arrived on stage, Television DID look like they were going to shit their pants. I really liked them, and enjoyed their set. The guy next to me was such a Genesis fan, he had a triangle cut out of his forelocks. So, yes, it was a hostile crowd, but Television played really well after the first few tracks (they were so nervous they couldn't get in the pocket for the first few songs) and there was applause, if muted. I certainly cheered. I bought Marquee Moon at the first opportunity. Gabriel's set was ferocious. Amazing.

[@Skelter40]

My buddy Stutzer and I were at the Passaic Show. Not only was Gabriel great but excitement was in the air. We seemed to be the only ones screaming for Television to continue playing as they were unfortunately booed off the stage.

[@marymarino3986]

I was there one of the few times I took my camera to a concert!I have a roll of negatives developedcapturing the show!! I

[@SocialSpit]

Would love to see those!

[@danielcatino4841]

Peter & band fantastic show!!!!

[@gr.vo.3058]

So cool to hear this legend, in his solo infancy.

[@philipose66]

my lucky buddy saw the whole LAMB album live at this Capitol Theater

[@BunnymanVids]

Cool to hear an early version of "On The Air"

[@maurizioguerrieri3108]

Sublime....essenza della vita.

[@1furndog]

Brilliant!! thanks for posting!

[@philippequessada7654]

formidable

[@MrYeVeR]

He left Genesis in 1975, Just after The lamb lies down show, and realised his first solo album in 1976.

[@strat62555]

I was at this show. Sublime.

[@paulrahme]

Thanks so much for uploading, amazing to hear this show!

[@javiercolomer1998]

this young, pure, authentic voice!!

[@roccodifranco7866]

The capital Theater was a few towns over from my town of saddle brook nj and I saw Peter with Genesis the lamb lies down on Broadway tour and this concert I just loved him very talented

[@kennyl2112]

The Capitol in Passaic was the best small theatre on the right coast USA. I saw U2 thereAmong many other s

[@steve3439]

Awesome. They quoted “My Secret Love” at the end there. You can tell by the harmonic sophistication of Gabriel’s writing that he must have studied the Standards.

[@joseluisalvesdelima8578]

Um genio!!!!!

[@vinstrumentals]

Thank you! Priceless stuff

[@Dethancooper]

Thanks for posting this!!! As it turns out, I have this...but not on KZbin!!! Nice to have to listen to... I wish someone had his show at Winterland, SF 1977 (my first show seeing Peter Gabriel, Fripp, and Steve Hunter). He never had a band of heavyweights like this again....

[@rbelcu]

Excelente! Gracias, puros MAESTROS!!

[@Skelter40]

I remember when Television got booed as the opening act for the show. I think my buddy and I were the only ones cheering because we thought Television was great. I remember seeing the Eagles open up for Yes. The good old days.

[@mariojorgecaeiro]

And Donovan, for YES! In 78 I guess.

[@davidsigalow7349]

I saw that tour at The Uptown in Chicago. I recall that the audience did not know what to make of Television. Scattered applause, but mostly a lot of puzzled looks.

[@carlosalomar7877]

The good old bands!....

[@jimink8815]

Yes. They were great. They were booed. What a night!!

[@cunoLein]

danke fuer den upload

[@ksjoyjespeace]

WITH ROBERT FRIPP!!!! UNBELIEVABLE QUALITY!!! THANK YOU!!

[@makissoflife]

Wow! Fantastic! Thanks so much! : )

[@vigovinie1]

This is awesome. Period.

[@genesis0932]

Agree with Slipperman6770 100%. We need one more round with Peter and The Lamb before we're all dying of old age ! Seeing Peter, Tony, Mike and Phil playing The Lamb would be the most incredible thing in the history of music!

[@Magdalenha]

I'll be there if that happens, it would be a dream come true as I wasn't even a thought when that show was original performing.

[@jasonjasonjasonjasonjason]

As great as it would be (I'm 22 and wasn't able to see it but my dad has) Phil Collins can't physically play the drums like that anymore. It really is sad that he is unable to do it but that music is also very demanding and he has had quite a few surgeries trying to get better. Phil retired from drums a while ago and its real sad. He retired from drums publicly right when they were doing that reunion that was going to be a Lamb tour, right when I was at my peak of consuming all the old Genesis albums. It's okay though that just means we all gotta move on and make the next best thing, too bad everyone I know quit on me! To be as good as Gabriel era Genesis is the hardest thing ever. I just hope KZbin's compression doesn't ruin the archiving of this. It's great these are up here but I want the original versions because I know the audio will be better, and it's all we got left. Like all the Zappa archives (which thankfully there's an almost infinite amount of!)

[@briansandison3103]

... without Steve Hackett? No thanks, no offence to Daryll but... No.

[@ladyblackstardust390]

+genesis0932 Absolutely need Steve Hackett. He's the one who continues to record and play prog rock. He made Genesis what it was. With the other guys of course!

[@ladyblackstardust390]

+MyGameplaying Good news! Just last month Phil has come out of retirement, after surgery and recuperation and rest, and is working on an album and a tour. Great news! Mar 2016

[@hcast2005]

Gold time.

[@anastasiapasquini226]

fantastiko Peter......

[@treborolyat]

He did not do On the Air. The version of "Here Comes the Flood" is a latter one where he slowed it down on piano without the band. Live that night he did it with the full band. Robert Fripp at that time was rumored to be playing off stage but no one really saw him nor was he introduced. The encore was a great rendition of "Back in NY City" where he ran down the isles of the audience with lights up. He ran all over the stage quite a bit that night. Incredible concert worth the 4 hour drive.

[@WoodRatGirl]

Ah such beautiful music! xx

[@janisfloyd]

ma quanto ti amo Peter..eh?

[@marileneboschofsky1418]

janisfloyd anche io

[@marileneboschofsky1418]

Anche io

[@XanAxDdu]

io molto di più hahaha

[@antoniofrustaci7619]

Grandissimo Pietro

[@hospedajelahermandad]

Demien Bartok , thanks for sharing

[@michaelmarino3013]

One of the few shows I brought my camera a roll of 24 shots I got .magical...

[@ElfAsura]

Whoa, this is brilliant!

[@samholden9660]

Love Gabriel in late 70s early 80s

[@AldofromBordeaux]

On the air is maybe on his second album but was already on the tracks list during his 1st tour

[@threeleggedman]

I remember hearing ads on the radio saying "Peter Gabriel is here". I thought - who the hell is Peter Gabriel, I never heard of him. I was 13 and into Elton at the time.

[@andrescalleroruiz1555]

Incredible souund !!!

[@veronicavasquezbascunan1083]

❤️👍🏻...forever!!!!!

[@joaquimscbr]

On the air first version, too much different. Thanks a lot.

[@Demetrio1967]

Maravilhoso!

[@Lyktwz]

Simply: WOW...

[@circe801]

we saw him also not long after at the bottom line. he walked up and down our tables. it was a much different venue. fripp sat behind a curtain at those shows--it was kind of cool but kind of bizarre at the sane time. i actually saw him stand once back then.,.

[@kikucchii]

Peter was young, and very cool.

[@carterelliottmusic]

0:49 Here Comes the Flood 3:00 On the Air

[@Skelter40]

Didn't someone in the audience scream Fripp? Then Peter responded "shhh! nobody's supposed to know that.

[@strat62555]

Actually. That was me. Fripp's unmistakable guitar tones.

[@Skelter40]

@@strat62555 that’s awesome. .

[@DarkeningSkies1]

To anyone doubting this is from the first solo tour in 1977, Fripp is audibly here, and he was not on the second tour in 1978, so that settles that one. Also, this is Cleveland without question.

[@journeythruthepast]

Rough early version of "On the Air" but I like that reggae rhythm before the chorus in this version. I almost wish they used that on the studio version.

[@mtc3000]

I was at this show (if indeed it's the Capital Theater show) and the ones at The Academy in NYC, and Fripp was playing off stage.

[@majsiewiczm57]

Pierwsza płyta Petera jest bardzo niedoceniana.Uwazam ja za jedną z najlepszych

[@loekie64]

Robert Fripp was present in this gig but was placed behind the curtain and introduced as "Dusty Rhodes"... Clearly present on "Here comes the flood"

[@MartenHemstrom]

How do you know?

[@mynamesfriday]

I saw this tour at the Roxy in L.A. Every show, every night.

[@garysevern]

Yes, exactly, I saw the first tour too at the New Victoria , London and agree with this completely except I remember it as being a good show.

[@treborolyat]

Sorry folks, I was there as well - the most accurate statement I read here is about Television getting booed off the stage. They not only got booed but had fruit thrown at them and the lead singer/guitarist would sneer at everyone when that happened. This concert was not the first solo concert but the first North American solo concert - he did at least one show in London I believe.

[@filmneye]

@Slacktest I'll try to get it up soon. Thanks for the reminder.

[@furnituremusic1979]

Was at this show!!!!

[@bigjake2295]

+Albert Nigrin Me, too!

[@buckshotandthepepperbox3042]

+Albert Nigrin Lucky, it must have been something to be there.

[@beekay5914]

holy shit, that would be like seeing god being born.

[@furnituremusic1979]

Tony Levin had hair back then.

[@glebell]

not born infinite but did speak us all into existence

[@mrbulkyc1]

I was at his first show was at the Academy of Music, NYC he didnt perform any songs from second album.He was very short of material ( he covered Aint that peculiar)his encore was Back in NYC.It was not a great show.He was very nervous.He wore a grey hoodie.The band from the second album (Bottom Line show)were the dudes from the Rockaplast video.I was standing at the bar,a short man on my right side,says excuse me steps in front of me,walks onstage, plays Here Comes the Flood...Robert Fripp

[@leirbagpeter]

Agreed.

[@TheRealTomWendel]

Great song- here with Frippertronics.

[@robo8016]

wow

[@TomMcBaum]

00:05:58 "I want everybody to know the CB King is here." Interesting to hear the pre-Mozo lyric here.

[@Captain_MonsterFart]

He was watchin' Dukes of Hazzard and falling into the CB craze like everybody.

[@derneueuntergang]

@maradei Some songs from the 2nd album were written 1976/77.

[@camarillobrillo68]

greaaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!! :-)))))))

[@vuotopiuscuro]

definitely good 2 know

[@cc9391]

Great to hear HCt Flood live with Fripp on guitar - that version from his album Exposure was always my favorite of one of Gabriel's best songs - funny how pretty much all of his best guitar work are on great songs written by others and not Crimson for me (Eno and Bowie albums most obviously)

[@MrDanielphenix]

His best work with Bowie and Fripp? i doubt it...he synthetised his power maybe...but a solo like Sailor,s tale , 21st century or Starless are a lot more significant...(to name only those 3) the commercial stuff and easy listening was for Bowie and Fripp...the rest is less commercial (imo) but more haunting

[@billsoule5824]

This was indeed the 1st concert of the U.S. leg. Originally the tour was to open in Rochester, NY which is where I saw it the following night, 3/6/77. This footage was filmed and later synced up to an audio recording by Duane Sherwood. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKDIoIR5q8-kfrM

[@MrYeVeR]

I was at his first show in Paris on october,4th in 1977, and I remember that this lineup isn't what I saw.. I had whish to see Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner on guitar, as on the album, but they wasn't there. Robert Fripp too.. The R.F guitar song is maybe an overdub.

[@jeanmuller3932]

but there was Phil collins on percussion, I was there too

[@leirbagpeter]

That was Genesis, LindaLooooooooooo

[@Slacktest]

@filmneye Please let us know when you do. TY

[@Kezleu]

j ai vu ce spectacle a paris!! fete de l huma!! un pot pourri de son premier album solo!! plus un back sur the lamb!! 2 morceaux je crois!!

[@kennyl2112]

The show was definitely the first..I was there. The opening band was Tom Verlaines' band TELEVISION...They got booed off the stage

[@darley1958]

its 'here comes the flood' from the first album. Tut tut!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@harryberry474]

This recording is much better than the bootleg I have of his Roxy Show in L.A. is this recording available somewhere? What's it called?

[@kennyl2112]

Also at this time Tony Levin HAD hair he had yet to shave his head

[@robbieclark7828]

It’s hilarious how little of a question there is that Robert Fripp is playing guitar.

[@filmneye]

@cathoderoy I have a bootleg tape rcdg of the full concert PG performed @The Roxy in LA where Robert Fripp is introduced as "Dusty Rhodes." I've been meaning to get it digitized & uploaded onto KZbin. It's a fairly decent rcdg. & it has most, if not all, of PG's eccentric intros to his songs. I'll get it uploaded here fairly soon.

[@derneueuntergang]

@rocker70sman no no. but approx. from the same year.

[@slipperman6770]

love Gabriel at this time of solo career just down right rocknroll with powerful emotional off the air music..but im still stumped as why he doesn't do a reunion with genesis..on the genesis archive the lamb at the shrine he resang a lot of the lyrics in which they dubbed into the original recording...here I thought he couldn't sing the songs anymore but he proved wrong on that box set...cmon Gabriel let bygons be bygons and just do it..

[@covecrawlertd]

saw this show in Chicago and Fripp was seated behind the amps( I think for record label purposes ), and the band ran out of material to play so they played the first three songs again..funny, but great.

[@davidsigalow7349]

I was there too...after playing "Back in NYC" for the encore, the audience wouldn't leave, so they played "Modern Love" again...

[@timthomas9785]

it couldn't have been his first solo show, he performed after his first solo and this is after his 2nd album. This may have been from his first solo US tour

[@scottdettmar]

Tim Thomas ,this is his 1st show, although some songs that would end up on pgII were played.

[@cjMbuck]

The Roxy was a live national broadcast. I recorded it off the air. F.M. signal fair to good. The above is a much better recording technically, but the "liveness" of the Roxy is captured very well. It was a real "seat of the pants" broadcast.

[@Meldoon1]

I recorded that on 8 track....Ain’t That Peculiar?

[@GavinSteiner]

That's the way he'd always wanted the song to be recorded. Bob Ezrin talked him into doing it the way it ended up on the album - which Peter has always hated. I agree that the album version is awesome!

[@PORKTIMEOKAY]

HA HA. THAT'S MY DAD.

[@matriculademini]

It happened twice. In Barcelona. Have you been there?

[@thisislogout]

I don't know... The solo Peter just doesn't grab me. It's missing something... It's missing Tony Banks on keyboards/melotron, Mike Rutherford on bass/12 string/bass pedal, Steve Hackett on guitar, and Phil Collins on drums!

[@turnerthemanc]

I know what you mean. I saw him 79 and liked Flood and Salisbury Hill because I felt I had to I guess. Banks Curious feeling was crap. Hackett was the nearest with Acolyte, Please dont touch and Spectral, but I got bored after that and I saw him at the Bridgewater around 2017....but lets be clear, it was Genesis revisited. No other reason.

[@majsiewiczm57]

Jak słucham takich artystów nasuwa się pytanie jakie są granice możliwości ludzkiego mózgu.???

[@maradei]

How can this be the 1st show playing On The Air from the 2nd album if Im not mistaken?? I will say it does sound like Fripp though for sure...just part of the setlist??

[@henkehakansson2004]

He had numerous scrapped songs, for his first album that didn't fit accordng to Bob Ezrin. This one, On The Air, I've heard in a blues shuffle version too, played live, before he settled on the "punk treatment" or new wavey arrangement on the 2nd album. He had a lot of songs live, you can't play just the lot of the first album, and he couldn't resort to rehashing old Genesis material. I've even heard his "punk" cover of Procol Harums "Whiter Shade Of Pale". And he made a Kinks tune too. BUT! The best unreleased song, that never ever went onto any album at all, not even parts of it, was the epic "WHY DON'T WE" played towards the end of the first tour. It's even here in the setlist I think. There's no applause when On the Air kicks in, because they would've recongized the tune. "Why Don't We" was one of the more elaborate prog tunes PG made in his solo carrer. I remember Fripps doing fluid arpeggios in the background among the tricky arrangement. He later on used a lot of filler material on B-sides and 12 inch single durng his So period. Unfinished ... not even b-side material but c-side if there ever was such a thing...:-)

[@matsjakobsson1376]

Not first show. From second album.

[@XanAxDdu]

correct, also if on the air was a track he proposed on stage before the 2nd album sounding different from how we know it, as here it goes, it seems closer to 1st album rock n roll style

[@slw59]

'On the Air' was from his second album in 1978. How can this be from March 1977?

[@trumpgottagoitmfa9216]

slw59 so what whenever it was 'officially released'. Scratch was recorded late 1977. So, Why couldn't Peter have written On the Air in, say, January, 1977. Or maybe even September, 1976. I did a cursory web search, could not locate when that tune was written.

[@furnituremusic1979]

The Gabe always performed songs prior to being commercially released. i.e. I Don't Remember was performed during the 1978 tour prior to release. And it sounded quite different.

[@davidsigalow7349]

This was the second tour. There are other videos of it...same songs, same orser.

[@GavinSteiner]

he didn't leave Genesis until '74, and took two years off. How could his first show have been in '71? :-)