Genesis (the band) and Peter Gabriel
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 7:26 am
Back in my Senior year in college, 77-78, I had shared a dorm room briefly with a man who derived spiritual inspiration from the songs of the band Genesis, and also considered Peter Gabriel to be a "prophet of God". He was always playing cuts from "The Lamb Lays down on Broadway".
I remember hearing LLDOB in late 1974 when I was still an avid Jesus Person, and only remembered it because we called Jesus "the Lamb of God" and folks had speculated that the song was also referencing this idea in some way. Personally, I did not see it being a strong connection, and did not consider Genesis to be anything other than a "head" band, and my head wasn't into that then. I lost track of Gabriel after his departure from Genesis.
Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of respect for "head' music. After the departure of Gabriel, Genesis did pretty well as a "head" band, producing very interesting stuff under Phil Collins, especially the band's TV videos. After Gabriel left Genesis, my 'head" music interests turned towards Pink Floyd, although I think I only own one, maybe two, of their albums. I don't own any Genesis albums at all (I don't think).
Of the Vinyl records I have, most are Southern/Country Rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Outlaws, Pure Prairie League and Charlie Daniels. I wouldn't use the term "religious experience" to describe the effect those type bands have had on me.
There are also multiple copies of "hard' rock bands like Led Zepplin, Cream, Eric Clapton, geez, even Humble Pie.
If anything came even close to a religious experience, it was my response to the music of Jethro Tull, which I would call "hard Folk" music, especially songs like Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary and Locomotive Breath. It amazes me that some lovers of "hard" rock bristle at the idea that Jethro Tull should even be called a "hard" rock band. Idiots! This was 1969 for god's sake, even Cream was finding it's footing in the world of amplified guitar rock. Yeah, sure, a lot of their stuff are ballads and sound a bit like the music you might hear at a "Renaissance fair", but If "hard" is taken to refer to amplified guitar sound, distortion and all, Jetro Tull took this to the extreme in the Folk genre.
Same folks probably also think that the Outlaws were Lynyrd Skynyrd wannabes. Double Idiots!! Nobody could say that if they had ever listened all the way through one of the several 10-20 minute renditions of the Outlaws' "Green Grass and High Tides Forever".
Is there anyone other than my former roommate (he read Ram Dass' book "Be Here Now" like fundamentalists read the bible) who felt religious inspiration from the songs or stage presence of Genesis or Peter Gebriel?
Jess curios. DCH
I remember hearing LLDOB in late 1974 when I was still an avid Jesus Person, and only remembered it because we called Jesus "the Lamb of God" and folks had speculated that the song was also referencing this idea in some way. Personally, I did not see it being a strong connection, and did not consider Genesis to be anything other than a "head" band, and my head wasn't into that then. I lost track of Gabriel after his departure from Genesis.
Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of respect for "head' music. After the departure of Gabriel, Genesis did pretty well as a "head" band, producing very interesting stuff under Phil Collins, especially the band's TV videos. After Gabriel left Genesis, my 'head" music interests turned towards Pink Floyd, although I think I only own one, maybe two, of their albums. I don't own any Genesis albums at all (I don't think).
Of the Vinyl records I have, most are Southern/Country Rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Outlaws, Pure Prairie League and Charlie Daniels. I wouldn't use the term "religious experience" to describe the effect those type bands have had on me.
There are also multiple copies of "hard' rock bands like Led Zepplin, Cream, Eric Clapton, geez, even Humble Pie.
If anything came even close to a religious experience, it was my response to the music of Jethro Tull, which I would call "hard Folk" music, especially songs like Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary and Locomotive Breath. It amazes me that some lovers of "hard" rock bristle at the idea that Jethro Tull should even be called a "hard" rock band. Idiots! This was 1969 for god's sake, even Cream was finding it's footing in the world of amplified guitar rock. Yeah, sure, a lot of their stuff are ballads and sound a bit like the music you might hear at a "Renaissance fair", but If "hard" is taken to refer to amplified guitar sound, distortion and all, Jetro Tull took this to the extreme in the Folk genre.
Same folks probably also think that the Outlaws were Lynyrd Skynyrd wannabes. Double Idiots!! Nobody could say that if they had ever listened all the way through one of the several 10-20 minute renditions of the Outlaws' "Green Grass and High Tides Forever".
Is there anyone other than my former roommate (he read Ram Dass' book "Be Here Now" like fundamentalists read the bible) who felt religious inspiration from the songs or stage presence of Genesis or Peter Gebriel?
Jess curios. DCH