petergabriel.com

Hi all Wow , there are so many negative posts going on here these days . I totally get that we all want new stuff , me included but I think its all getting a bit harsh to be honest . Firstly , yeah it would be nice to have an album of unreleased stuff , but looking at the way PG works he can hold onto stuff for years , decades even till he is happy with it and then release it , things like make tomorrow and sky blue were in progress for sooooo long but well worth the wait . I think half the reason I like PG and his music is that it is stuff you listen to again and again , maybe if he released some of the stuff he personally liked less then we wouldn't keep listening . I think that sort of release all items is how most artists work and a lot of them fade pretty quickly . Sure the box set isnt perfect , I would have liked to have seen a blu ray in there rather than dvd but since they are now including the download version of all the tracks plus bonus tracks then I think it is fine as a box set , after all we dont have to buy it do we , and all the tracks such as curtains , dont break this rhythm and others , dont most of us have them already anyway ? And as for him taking his year out , yeah Im upset I wont get to see him tour Europe , REALLY upset but you know what its his life and he has 2 kids , as a father myself I know that you put them first , this does not mean you dont appreciate your fans , just your family comes first , to me it makes perfect sense . I think the whole fuck em comment was totally sarcastic and not meant with any malice , my interpretation of it would be , " hey those people who dont want me to have a life , well I do and my family comes first " condensed to " fuck em " . Anyway these are just my thoughts and we all have our own and have the right to express them . Anyways here is hoping to hearing new stuff soon ( and not just at the live shows which I wont get to see ) but seriously he has the right to live his life the way he wants to , we dont have to buy into it , Im sure I still will .

Thank you for this post, ovian, and putting it direct but nicely. I share your sentiments. It seems like it is the same people beating things to a bloody pulp over and over again. We get it, your not happy with certain things in regards to Peter these days. No need to continue the berating. When a point is first made, leave it at that. Continuing to make it every which way only lessens the validity of the first. Don't like something, don't but it then. Simple and effective. Now folks are complaining about and opening band or lack of one for the upcoming tour. Hate to say it, but it's appearing very much like ungrateful/spoiled kids. We are lucky we are even getting this tour with the old band. Why don't we enjoy this probably never again treat instead if complaining and wanting more? And if peeps now feel the need to lash out at me for stating my thoughts...remember others have the right to opinions just

As you do. And just like we respect your rights, please respect money before posting something ugly in response. Namaste, Darcy

Respect mine, not money. Lol.

Thanks Ovian Agree 100%

i contend that i am providing feedback (i.e., constructive criticism) rather than piling on with "negative comments." if any of these statements regarding "negative comments" are directed towards me, then i will reply in detail. however, i do regret one comment i made recently. in short, i dare anyone to find anything "negative" i have ever said about PG prior to the guardian article. i was a staunch supporter of mr. gabriel until recent events. quite frankly, i have reached my "tipping point." i am deeply concerned that this is now a majority opinion of fans that could essentially end his career even if he has no intention to retire.

Thanks-you Ovian! Your post was enough to drag me out of the garden and off the heart monitor to respond. I thought I had slipped into an alternative universe again or a U2 fan site! Thanks for not taking the brown acid! I'm not a collector. I just buy what I like, so I'm sure I just don't get it. I just love this man. I thank the heavens or whatever that I've had the privilage to experience the work of such a wonderful artist with such a beautiful, talented and passionate soul. Be it the first, second, third...ect. time around. As if this were the last box set...really people!!! And as Mozo said with such "constructive criticism" the next one is going to be amazing!!!! (also thanks Mozo for adding some spice- we're all crawling out of the woodwork now) peace all Anne

WB Anne!

Thanks TGEM I had to look up what WB meant! ah... these little grey cells are almost gone now!

Holy hell -- we're not talking about a kid with cancer here -- we're talking about one of the most priveleiged men in the world. He can wipe his tears off with his money.

I'm going deaf and rapidly aging. I'd like to hear new PG music before I go completely deaf and/or kick the bucket. I'm going through freakin' PG withdraw here and the dealer ain't dealing.

Ovian -- THANK YOU!!! For your honesty and directness and for putting it all in a nutshell without adding fuel to the fire -- I think what you've said is what many, many of us have been saying, but not quite so eloquently. Mozo -- Thank you also for becoming actively involved again -- I always enjoy your posts, you're a long time fan and very resourceful -- I know I'd miss you if you stopped being a fan, so please stay, even if just for a bunch of lunatics! As for all of us here -- I'm actually happy to see/read the threads because they have definitely come alive -- I do wish, though, that there was less negativity, but I've a feeling that PG will survive it all -- hhhmm, perhaps he'll write a little tune or two about it? I hope so! As for the upcoming tour -- well, I'm super psyched about it -- no other words for it and I don't expect to be disappointed in the leat bit. As for the "opening" act -- I don't care at all who it is -- perhaps no opening act (I know there is one) -- how about the "opening act" is a short set of all new PG songs Kind regards to all,

@pat parker: thank you. i take no pleasure at providing this feedback. i also eagerly look forward to "back to front." i only wish that all lunatics could join us. i'll appeal directly to a few right now: jen, dalihendrix, and connie, i think you should go.

@mozo , good morning to you of course no one is calling YOU negative , just the general vibe towards pg , I know you have been a fan for years and have your opinions and have every right to express them , I was and am just expressing my opinion towards the general vibe towards pg at the moment . I do feel that since we have this forum isnt it better to direct in a more positive direction . One thing I feel is no matter how long we have to wait for pg products , I generally feel when they finally do arrive they are well worth the wait . And back to the " fuck em " article , the way I see it , if you had a holiday with your wife and kids booked and it was something you had wanted and planned to do for 10 or so years and your employer said we dont want you to go , Im sure we would all say fuck em , I know I would ! Maybe doing this year out thing will give him inspiration , make him hungry for it all again , I think that is more likely to be the thing that gets us future music more than reading a bunch of posts that are to be honest probably pretty hurtful to him directly . I imagine there must be albums worth of material sitting on a hard drive somewhere but remember this IS a business for him and others around him also , and no doubt he has deals he has to stick with regarding record companies and the like . I guess as with all things in life its the anticipation , waiting and wanting that adds to the final pleasure of something and makes it all worth the while , much better than quick gratification .

I think a lot of the frustration regarding the So reissue and album is borne out of high expectations (and probably some initially unrealistic ones), and the fact that any new release from PG is not unlike gold dust these days. So there was a tremendous buzz about what could be on the reissue(s) and the long (delayed) build-up, so when the final package was announced and didn't meet the majority of expectations, the reaction (and in some cases overreaction), was a direct result of the disappointment and frustration after having waited so long. And it's the same with the tour. It's fair to say that Peter has upset his main fanbase in Europe, by not touring his pivotal album here. The American tour is obviously where the money is, and further dates don't fit in with his personal plans. I have no problem with that - the man deserves a good, healthy and happy personal life, especially after the years of emotional turmoil he faced in the 80s. Travel is inspiring. it's obvious that the ideas don't flow as easily for him these days and he's also very busy and easily distracted! I hope that PG's year out will give him inspiration for new music, which he'll be making when he returns. His own music is his career, and it is a business after all, so surely he can only go so long without releasing new material.

@ Alex -- Thank you for your comments also and I agree with what you mentioned about the frustration/disappointment factor -- it's exactly right -- for those of us who had expected certain things to be included in the SO package, it would be frustrating (and subsequently, disappointing) to not have it. I don't suppose that I had any expectations (although I certainly would have enjoyed more new material and a few of those b-sides), so I think that's why I'm no nearly as disappointed as some others are. Also, with the tour -- I know I'd be disappointed in not having it come here, but with that request (for a European tour), I do still hold out some hope, and really hope that at least a few shows are thrown in there when he begins planning the South American leg of the tour. Fingers crossed on that one still. I've never been opposed to his plans to do a year of interesting things with his family and truly can't relate to anyone at all being opposed to it -- again, we all have our opinions, but in this case, I'm not at all upset by his year off with his family and don't understand why some others are. I actually sent him a private message when he first announced it and congratulated him on doing that -- adding that I'd like him to add my town as part of his "year of interesting things" @ Mozo -- Perhaps we can gather a few lunies together (such as those you mentioned above) and get them to a show. I'm with you on the fact that I wish a lot more lunies were able to make this tour.

Unfortunately, it doesn't change the fact that a lot of fans (helluva lot it seems) are angry about the So reissue. Sadly it's obviously too late for the content to change, so I guess some fans will boycott it completely, others (myself included) will take time to consider the options and what's worth, and more importantly what's affordable) before buying. Either way I can't see it selling like hot cakes, and as an anniversary edition of such an album - it should be. PG fans are normally passionate, positive and enthusiastic - so it's more than obvious it's not just a minority being grumpy with regard to this. Therefore I simply hope that PG addresses this in the next update, and at least calm or satisfy the fanbase with an explanation as to why, for example, the b-sides were left off, etc. It's probably not the online reaction (not just here) that he was expecting, and I think it does say something.

"PG fans are normally passionate, positive and enthusiastic" Dear Sir, as a (former?) PG fan, I have to ask you to refrain from hurling random insults such as these.

Caste, I still am "passionate, positive and enthusiastic" Ovian, thank you for this thread, I full heartedly support your intentions! Having been a PG for a long time I am convinced he has an inner censor which is very strict - and all the "material" waiting for release seems not worth enough or complete for him. So he is taking a save way to earn money: doing a tour with appreciated, old songs ...I can't blame him for it! And I would love to have the tour here in Germany. I am very keen on new songs and I sometimes wish I could shake PG (just a little and say: you won't disappoint your fans with new material, just DO it, and release it. Maybe he wants the year off to ease his troubles - I'd wish it could do so, but I think it might deliver new problems (if he is/were a quite normal guy ...) He isn't a "normal" guy- someone you could know from your neighbourhood. Though, and that's what makes it complicated, he often seems to be like someone "normal" AND he wants us to think, he is. But: he is a musical genius and wealthy, and in his social class there are some possibilities which don't exist in middle class. He dreamt to go on a sabbatical year for ten years, and does take the chance to do so now ... okay ... But: these extremes... Working hard for years, not being a proper private man, dad and husband, and then getting the whole family out of normality into an adventure year away from home? Doesn't seem to be a suitable work-life-balance for me! That makes me feel worried and sorry. Though I think a sabbatical (being out of reach for all things which are not private) could be a cure for him.