PETER GABRIEL & GENESIS: A PERIOD OF DISGUISES
The 3-CD Box bootleg containing old unreleased material
+ a full version of 'The Lamb' live.
PETER GABRIEL & GENESIS: A PERIOD OF DISGUISES
Few years have been sufficient to mark a period, to rise a myth still today undeclined.
The masks and the disguises of Peter Gabriel have been often a setting to the surreal and imaginary musical narrations of the group, between 1970 and 1975, that is during the apex of Genesis' career, at least from the artistic and creative point of view. At this point, it's necessary to run briefly over the history and discography of the group during the crucial years, seen through the disguises and the choreographies inspired by P.Gabriel.
1970-1972: ONLY MAKE-UP
Little or nothing, if not as much as has been left to music and imagination of a public, witness of the ascent of a historical group of the European rock. The stage of Genesis is still poor, the only visual concessions are represented by the lightly made-up eyes of Peter, framed by flowing hair on the shoulders and often intentionally with black and tight clothes. On May 1972, during the Lincoln Festival, the turning point: Peter appears for the first time in front of a great public with the front partially shaven, bistred eyes and jewels around the neck and wrists. Peter will say later: "The very first times I decided to use masks and disguises on the stage, I did it without the knowing of the others in the band. I knew they would have been contrary, so I appeared on the stage already made-up: the very first time it was a shock, but seen the positive reaction of the public in the hall, no one dared say me a word..."
1972-75 FROM FOX-HEAD TO SLIPPERMAN: AN INCREDIBLE SEQUENCE OF SURREAL DISGUISES
Which have been the masks and characters that made up the history of the first Genesis? Let's see them all, analysing all the albums. Nursery Crime: The musical box remains preeminently one of the Genesis tracks. The Fountain Of Salmacis: Peter dressed up and made-up conpletely in white. Foxtrot: one of the masterpiece albums of Genesis, inspiring source of foreground customs and choreographies. Watcher Of The Skies: has made famous Peter's shiny cloak, the made-up phosphorescent eyes and the bat's wings behind the nape of his neck. Supper's Ready: is a real and proper sequence of costumes and scenical shrewdnesses that follow the developments of the long piece: from the crown of thorns worn for The Eternal Sanctuary Man to the most renowned flower during Willow Farm, to the geometrical figure of Apocalypse In 9/8 which left the field, after a sudden explosion of magnesium; the white dress trimmed with sequins of "As Sure As Egg Is Egg". More choreographic curiosities about Supper's Ready: during some shows held in 1973, Peter Gabriel flew above the stage, sustained by strings, during the final part of a long suite; alternatively Peter exhibited from the floor a white neon like a sword.
Selling England By The Pound: another album literally sacked by Peter's scenic performances. Peter had already conceived the costume of Britain for the opener "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight", a warrior with shield, helmet and lance. Theatre remnants also for the following "I Know What I Like": Peter entered the stage dressed up completely in black, an ear of wheat in his mouth and a strange shabby hat tread on his head during the imitation of the mower-machine. The Battle Of Epping Forest: two characters alternatively describing the periods of the amusing fight among metropolitan gangs; the cunning priest (obviously with a sultane), and the hooligan with a masked face. The disguise of Santa Claus during the Selling England tour, used for the opening dates at the Roxy of Los Angeles, on December 1973 remains atypic. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway: we are at the apex of Gabriel's epopee at the insignia of the theatrical choreographies and the surreal disguises. The same stage is scenographically revolutioned in order to permit to follow the periods of Rael's long story. Rael is the first character personified by Gabriel: a Puertorican hooligan dressed up in jeans and a black leather jacket; then there are the spirals of The Lamia which wrap Gabriel in a shiny coloured cone; finally the Slipperman, a horrible yellowish creature who shuts properly the curtains peopled by incredible characters as incredible as have been Genesis in the magic period.
AFTER 1975: WHAT'S LEFT
After the leaving of Peter Gabriel, Genesis turned undoubtely page. They couldn't do differently. The masks and characters are put aside: they are able to survive, the Trick Of The Tail tour, some films used before during the performances of The Lamb, in the summarizing sequence ironically renamed "Lamb's Stew". Moreover, during "Willow Farm", two enourmous flowers are kept at the sides of the stage. Peter will drag on Rael's jacket for a short time in his solist tour. but unfortunately, also this will be put aside...obviously until the famous Milton Keynes in 1982.
