"Peter Gabriel's 1982 WOMAD concert, which saw artistic triumph but did not achieve financial success, is set to be released this upcoming Friday"
Peter Gabriel's Iconic 1982 WOMAD Performance to be Re-released
Forty-five years ago, the World of Music, Art, and Dance (WOMAD) festival made its debut at the Royal Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet, England. The inaugural event, held from June 16-18, 1982, was a groundbreaking celebration of global music and art, featuring an impressive lineup of 60 acts from more than 20 countries.
One of the standout performances was Peter Gabriel's Friday night set in the Showering Pavilion. Recalling the gig as a landmark and edgy one, Gabriel highlighted the unique focus on music and art from around the world, as well as the potential financial disaster that the festival was heading towards.
Gabriel's set included seven new tracks from his then-upcoming album Peter Gabriel 4 (later known as Security), such as "Shock the Monkey," "San Jacinto," "I Have the Touch," and "The Rhythm of the Heat." The performance also featured classics like "Biko" and the non-album track "I Go Swimming."
Accompanied by a band featuring guitarists David Rhodes and Peter Hamill, bassist John Giblin, synth player Larry Fast, drummer Jerry Marotta, and the Bristol-based drum-and-dance group Ekomé, Gabriel's set was a musical and personal milestone, embodying the pioneering spirit of the festival.
The audio of this iconic performance will be released digitally this Friday, offering historical insight into the genesis of this unique global music event and Peter Gabriel's evolving artistry during a pivotal period in his career. The album, titled Live At WOMAD 1982, contains Gabriel's set from the first World Music And Dance Festival.
The WOMAD festival, despite its artistic success, faced significant financial struggles. Organizers had seriously overestimated its audience appeal, and Peter Gabriel, one of the co-founders, was focused not only on his performance but on managing the festival's looming financial risks. The event did not meet expected attendance or financial success, although it was met by a curious, bold audience open to the adventurous lineup.
As the WOMAD festival celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2027, fans can relive the magic of that groundbreaking event through the release of Live At WOMAD 1982. The tracklisting and artwork for the album are available for viewing.
- Peter Gabriel's band, consisting of guitarists David Rhodes and Peter Hamill, bassist John Giblin, synth player Larry Fast, drummer Jerry Marotta, and the Bristol-based drum-and-dance group Ekomé, provided a musical backdrop for his set during the WOMAD festival in 1982.
- The iconic 1982 WOMAD Performance by Peter Gabriel included new tracks from his album Peter Gabriel 4, such as "Shock the Monkey," "San Jacinto," "I Have the Touch," and "The Rhythm of the Heat."
- The WOMAD festival, founded in 1982, was a groundbreaking celebration of global music and art, featuring an impressive lineup of 60 acts from more than 20 countries.
- Accompanying classic tracks like "Biko" and "I Go Swimming," Peter Gabriel and his band performed seven new tracks during the WOMAD festival, highlighting the unique focus on music from around the world.
- The audio of Peter Gabriel's landmark WOMAD performance, which embodied the pioneering spirit of the festival, will be released digitally this Friday as Live At WOMAD 1982.
- The WOMAD festival faced significant financial struggles, despite its artistic success, as organizers had seriously overestimated its audience appeal.
- The 40th anniversary of the WOMAD festival in 2027 will allow fans to relive the magic of the groundbreaking event through the release of Live At WOMAD 1982.
- The tracklisting and artwork for the album Live At WOMAD 1982 are now available for viewing.
- The entire album, Live At WOMAD 1982, contains Gabriel's set from the first World Music And Dance Festival, offering historical insight into the genesis of this unique global music event and Peter Gabriel's evolving artistry during a pivotal period in his career.
