A day after his former Genesis bandmate Steve Hackett turned 70, Peter Gabriel celebrates his 70th birthday on February 13th, 2020. Some speculate the Peter Gabriel song “Solsbury Hill” is an allegory about Gabriel’s departure from Genesis. Peter Gabriel announced that he was leaving Genesis in August 1975 and began recording his solo debut in July 1976. Though “Solsbury Hill” has been said to have been inspired by a spiritual experience that occurred at a place by that name in Somerset, England, some also believe it’s about his departure from the band. Here’s Gabriel.
“I’m sure there was an influence there, but it wasn’t directly pointing at it. But you inevitably reflect what’s going on even if you’re not especially aware of it at the time. So, it was not a song about leaving Genesis, but there were echoes of that.”
