Peter Gabriel: Solsbury Hill Not Inspired By Springsteen

The former Genesis man has been speaking to Rolling Stone about his current projects and about his ubiquitous 1977 song, 'Solsbury Hill.'

In the interview Gabriel nixed the belief that some people have that 'Solsbury Hill' was written about Bruce Springsteen - specifically that it was written after Gabriel went to see Springsteen at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1975.

"I'm trying to think, because I think that was written prior . . . I don't know. I saw Bruce's first gig in London, I think at the Odeon house. That blew me away. Second only in my favorite gig list to Otis Redding in 1967. But I don't think it's connected to "Solsbury Hill.""

He also denies that Springsteen's performance in London also inspired him to leave Genesis soon after: "I think that is hogwash. Because when I left Genesis, I just wanted to be out of the music business. I felt like I was just in the machinery. We knew what we were going to be doing in 18 months or two years ahead. I just did not enjoy that."

And on the fact that 'Solsbury Hill' seems to soundtrack almost every romantic comedy trailer to have come out of Hollywood in the past five years, Gabriel says that perhaps he could have stopped it.

"Yeah, maybe I've let it go too much. But I've started to take the attitude that it was harder getting on the radio, and trailers and film music and synchs are a good alternative. But I know some people feel that song is overexposed and I let it be used too many times."

In the interview, which you can read HERE, Gabriel also talks about producing new material - his first in 10 years - at some point in the future ("...there are things I'm mucking around with on the piano that I'm enjoying quite a bit. Let's put it like that.") and he also talks about his latest project, New Blood - featuring orchestral versions of some of his greatest hits.

(Rolling Stone)