Real World Asks Peter Gabriel Fans for Their Best Memories of “So” Album

“Why did you name your album So?” ex-Genesis front man Peter Gabriel would be endlessly asked in 1986.

“Because it [so] has a nice shape and little meaning,” Peter would reply with a slight sly grin.

So would give Gabriel a huge new fan base and made him filthy rich. But instead of spending his new wealth on sports cars and chemicals, Gabriel bought an old mill in the quaint English village of Box, a few miles from Bath. That mill was transformed into Real World Studios, one of the world’s most innovative and celebrated recording studios. In order to celebrate So, Real World Studios is holding a special contest for fans.

About the Contest

The following is straight from Petergabriel.com, Gabriel’s official web page:

We are in the 25th anniversary year of So and in 2012 will be celebrating one of the most important albums of Peter’s career with a special edition release. We want you to help us build the story of So with your own memories. We would love to see your memorabilia from back in 1986. Do you have any original So merchandise, posters and tickets for the So tour? Your photos relating to the album release or the concerts? Even a diary entry from 25 years ago which tells a special story about the album release or So tour?

We may ask to include your images in the new re-issue or on Peter’s website, but to start with please send us your photos and scans in a small file size (maximum of 2mb) plus your contact details.

Please send us your memories and souvenirs by the next Full Moon on January 9 2012.”

About So

So is still Peter’s monster of an album. It contains his best-known songs, “In Your Eyes” and “Sledgehammer” as well as fan favorites like “Red Rain” and the endlessly-covered “Don’t Give Up.” In order to promote the album, Peter heavily invested in a relatively new art form – music videos. Even if you don’t know who Peter Gabriel is, you do know the video for “Sledgehammer.”

The now 61-year-old Gabriel has since stopped making music videos, partly because of the expense, but mostly because MTV no longer plays music videos. He does still release an occasional concert DVD, such as this year’s innovative and unusual Peter Gabriel: New Blood – Live in London 3D (Eagle Rock; 2011.)


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