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Page 10


Saturday, July 30, 1983

Thne micnigan Dary


Gabriel shocks the Knob crowd

4

By Larry Dean
MAGINE THIS, if you will; a scant
few hours from a sensible deadline,
this writer-in-question, he who begged
the editors-in-question for some space
to hype Peter Gabriel's appearance at
Pine Knob Music Theater in beautiful
Peter Gabriel
Pine Knob Music Theater
7:30 p.m. with the Call
outdoor Clarkston Sunday night, is
seated at his typewriter with more
sheets crumpled and strewn at his feet
than those that are written on. You see,
it is more difficult than expected to
comment on Gabriel, 'specially in light
of his recent appearance in town. So I
will note those things of importance in a
primer on Peter Gabriel.
" HE HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR.
Who else would basea two-record set on
a single pun? And a pun based on a
Rolling Stones' song, no less (The Lamb
Lies Down On Broadway, with
Genesis)? Who else would pose for a
photographer wearing a fencing mask,
a fur coat, and standing in a trash can?
An era o
acting di~e
with Nive

Who else would pen a song like "Home
Sweet Home," from PG II? Who else
would offer up alteregos on stage under
names like Harrold the Barrell, and
Mozo? Peter Gabriel!
HE IS POLITICAL. "Wallflower,"
from his last studio release, Security,
was written as a benefit tune for Am-
nesty International; "Biko" is an ode to
Stephen Biko, a political dynamo whose
life was ended before he could claim
any real success in freeing South Africa
from an oppressive regime-. his recen-
tly-organized WOMAD (world of Music,
Arts and Dance) Festival in England
sought to bring together diverse
musicians from both Western and non-
Western cultures, and to help blur the
defining line between secular music.
Who funded such a project with a bun-
dle of his own cash? Peter Gabriel!
HE IS EXPERIMENTAL. On his
four studio albums, Peter the Great has
used four distinctly different
producers: Bob Ezrin, best-known for
his dial-twisting for Alice Cooper (!!);
Bob Fripp, all-around talented son-of-a-
gun from King Crimson and the League
of Gentlemen; Steve Lillywhite, who
has practically shaped the sound of
some of the hotter "new wave" bands
like U2, the Psychedelic Furs, and the
Members; and himself, along with
David Lord. Amongst the instrumen-
tation one can pick out from the grooves
on a Gabriel disc: a banjo; slide guitar;

a - Fairlight digital synthesizer;
bagpipes; Ethiopian pipes; a cheap
Radio Shack amplifier. And who else
would compose beginning with the
drum tracks first? Or not use any cym-
bals on an entire LP?? PG!!
HE IS ENTERTAINING. Not like
Wayne Newton or Wayland Flowers
and Madame are entertaining' - in
concert, Peter Gabriel is riveting. With
each new tour, he conjures up a fresh
approach for bringing the music to life
on stage. When PG and crew made
their way through Ann Arbor last win-
ter, Peter put on make-up and wore a
neat unisexual outfit. When he began
traipsing the stage, a wireless mic in
tow, and making his way out into the
arms of the crowd during "I Have the
Touch," the audience held him up high
over their heads, moved him all over
Hill Auditorium, and, at last, returned
him safe 'n' sound to the stage. He has
said that instead of Security he wished
he had named his last studio LP Con-
tact - you can see why. When he was
with Genesis, he practically
legitimized the use of mime in rock
performance, and his characters are
always a joy to behold. Lastly, who else
would use slow motion stage
movement instead of manic speed to
captivate their audience? P----
G- !!
HE HAS GREAT VISUALS. Think

of that first LP cover-! The rain-
bespeckled car, the eyes on the in-
side ... Wow! Or the second album,
with his hands ripping down the front.
Then PG III, and the melting face. With
Security, he dons a mask and goes
tribal, plus gives us one of the few truly
weird and well-done videos a-la "Shock
the Monkey." Only dud o' the bunch:
Peter Gabriel Plays Live, with a close-
up of Pete in the beforesaid make-up
job. Better pic on the back: him, held
aloft by a crowd, beseiged by trust.
" HE IS IMPORTANT. Personal
opinion here, but I feel that Peter
Gabriel has proven himself time and
time over to be a creative and vital for-
ce in contemporary music. Now that
he has shown an interest in non-
Western cultures, too, it seems that he
could help bring them to a wider
audience as well. He is unique, bizarre,
and, at over 30, every bit the infant as
he continues to explore and grow.
Enough is enough, right? The
preview is done; I might actually get a
few winks before work tomorrow mor-
ning; and Peter Gabriel has been
(somewhat) heralded for his Pine Knob
appearance Sunday night, with the Call
opening at 7:30 p.m. Expect himself,
David Rhodes, Larry Fast, Jerry
Marota, and the accident-prone Levin,
and an evening of musical awakening.
With that I bid good-night, and good
listening!

CHATEAU D'OEX, Switzerland (UPI) - Oscar-
winning actor David Niven, whose charm and wit
brought class to four decades of movies, died Friday
with a characteristic thumbs-up sign on his death
bed. He was 73.
Niven, who played heroes, lovers and scoundrels
with the same urbane aplomb in nearly 90 films,
"died peacefully and without pain shortly after 7
a.m." in his Swiss mountain chalet, said his Swedish
nephew, Michael Wrangdadh.
The British actor and author had suffered for years

(9hurct iVorobtp #trutri

from an unspecified motor neuron disease, a
degenerative ailment that progressively debilitates
the nerves and weakens the muscles of its victims.
"His last gesture a few minutes before he died had
been to give the thumbs up sign," Wrangdadh said.
Niven, who began his Hollywood career in 1935, last
starred in a French-made film entitled "Better Late
Than Never" with Art Carney in 1981. He made a
cameo appearance in "Trail of the Pink Panther,"
released in December, and will also appear in "Curse
of the Pink Panther" - to be released Aug. 12.
Let's dance
gg with Bowie
IT HARDLY needs saying, but today
and tomorrow mark the appearance
in Detroit of one of our era's major
musical talents, David Bowie. Tickets
CHURCH are still available to hear a musician
whose recording career includes 16
or albums.
The "Serious Moonlight Tour 1983"
coincides with the release of "Let's
Dance," Bowie's first all-new LP in
7over three years. So all you young
p.m. Americans, there's no need to panic in
Detroit just come to Joe Louis Arena
and hang out with all the other dudes.
.r __ __ __

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND
AMERICAN BAPTIST CAMPUS
FOUNDATION
502 East Huron, 663-9376
10:00 a.m. Sunday worship. Child
care is provided.
11:15 am Adult Class: PRAYER.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1432 Washtenaw Ave., 662-4466
(between S. University and Hill)
Campus/Career Fellowship Coor-
dinator: Steve Spina.
Sunday 9:30.
Wednesday p.m.
8:00 - French Room.
8:30-Study/Discussion Groups
9:30-Holy Communion, sanctuary.

FIRST UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
120 S. State St.
(Corner of State and Huron)
Worship Schedule: IS CONSCIENCE
THE BEST GUIDE? by Dr. Donald B..
Strobe.
Church School for all ages-9:30 a.m.
and 11:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal-Thursday at 7:15
p.m.
Ministers:
Dr. Donald B. Strobe
Rev. Fred B. Maitland %
Dr. Gerald R. Parker
Education Directors:
Rose McLean and Carol Bennington.
LORD OF LIGHT LUTHERAN
(The Campus Ministry d
of tbe LCA-ALC-AELC)
Galen Hora, Pastor
801 S. Forest at Hill St. 668-7622
Worship Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

NEW GRACE APOSTOLIC t
632 N. Fourth Ave.
Rev. Avery Dumas Jr., Past
9:45a.m. Sunday School.
11:45 Morning Worship.
7:00 p.m. Evening service
Bible Study-Wed. & Fri. 7
For rides call 761-1530.
UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN
1511 Washtenaw between Hi]
University
Sunday Service 9:30 a.m.
Sunday morning Bib
following service.
Wednesdays: Volleyballa
Bible Study at 9 p.m.

CHAPEL
11 and South
le Study
t7 p.m. and

BOB DASCOLA
and staff
South U & East U
are now at
DASCOLA STYLISTS
668-9329
opposite Jacobsons