Peter Gabriel
A sonic explorer who left Genesis to forge a solo path defined by artistic innovation, global rhythms, and tireless human rights activism.
Born 1950 (age 76)·British musician·Birthday: February 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
Peter Gabriel began as a theatrical frontman, draping himself in costumes and fantastical stories as the original voice of Genesis. His 1975 departure was an act of creative self-preservation, a leap into the unknown that yielded the autobiographical anthem 'Solsbury Hill.' What followed was a decade of intense experimentation; his first four solo records, all titled 'Peter Gabriel,' deconstructed rock music into a dark, textured art form. Then came 'So,' a record that fused his avant-garde instincts with pop brilliance, producing era-defining hits like 'Sledgehammer' and 'In Your Eyes.' Beyond the music, Gabriel's curiosity was global. His Real World Studios and record label became a crucible for international artists, while his foundation of WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) festival brought world music to mainstream audiences. This outward gaze naturally extended to activism, with Gabriel co-founding Witness, an organization that equips human rights defenders with video technology, and tirelessly campaigning for groups like Amnesty International. His career is a rare fusion of monumental commercial success and profound ethical engagement.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Peter was born in 1950, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Peter Was Born
The biggest hits of 1950
#1 Movie
Cinderella
Best Picture
All About Eve
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
Peter's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1950Born
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1955Started school
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1963Became a teenager
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1966Could drive
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1968Could vote
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1971Turned 21
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1980Turned 30
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 40
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 50
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 60
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 70
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 76 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Founded the WOMAD festival in 1982, pioneering the global platform for world music artists.
- Co-founded the human rights organization Witness in 1992, which uses video to expose injustice.
- His 'So' album (1986) sold over five million copies in the US and featured the groundbreaking 'Sledgehammer' video.
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.
Did You Know?
He performed the song 'In Your Eyes' barefoot at every show on his 1986-87 tour, a practice he often maintained.
He turned down the chance to write music for the film 'The Last Temptation of Christ,' but later released the inspired album 'Passion.'
He provided the voice for the villainous Mayor in the animated film 'WALL-E.'
“I don't care what you think about me, I don't think about you at all.”
