Peter Gabriel was & is a soldier genius in music.

Peter Gabriel is my favorite solo artist. This is a fantastic song. Then again he doesn’t have any bad songs.

Bono gets a lot of stick for his politics. I respect his efforts. So many famous people sit on the fence.

The older I get, the more I crave a knowledge of history. Thank you, and Frank, for this.

Peter Gabriel was and is an active member of Amenity International. He also is active in human rights groups. He wrote this song to spread the word and support the fight to end the fight in SA.

I remember in my freshman year of high school we learned about Steven Biko in my history class and we listened to the song. It was pretty haunting and we kept asking the teacher to play it more. I still remember the song and learning about it

Peter Gabriel was a pioneering artist who originally fronted the group Genesis from 1969 until 1974. He embarked upon a solo career and was one of the most influential artists of the 80s. He was actually one of the first performers to directly address human rights abuses and it was he who raised awareness and gathered the musicians and artists Together to fund the anti-apartied Movement in the West. Bob Geldoff and Bono were among those who took part.

This song was re-released with the marketing of this movie and was included in the soundtrack. The song was originally released in 1980 on Peter Gabriel's 3rd album.

Peter Gabriel closed with this song in his performances at the Conspiracy of Hope concerts in 1986. After those six concerts, Amnesty International in the US gained 45,000 new members including me. It pleases me to think that in a very small way, I contributed to the success South Africa enjoys today. Peace.

Peter Gabriel was part of Genesis, one of the founding members. After he left Genesis to pursue a solo career, Phil Collins took over as lead singer. Great reaction.

When Peter left Genesis he started his solo career and also started broaching his political concerns. He saw the news of the imprisonment of Steven Biko and he thought to himself that they wouldn’t dare hurt him, as the news had broken worldwide, so he was “protected”. He woke up a few days later to the news that he was dead and anger started boiling inside him. He started writing his song Biko right away, but it took him about two years (I think) to get it exactly as he wanted (he’s a perfectionist). The song was banned in South Africa for many, many years, but he always played it in all his concerts ever since. From that moment on, he became very politically involved, collaborating in countless humanitarian campaigns, fighting for many human rights’ causes everywhere. He toured with Sting, Bono, Springsteen and others in the Amnesty International tour, and is himself an AI ambassador. He came up with the idea to create the organization “The Elders”, an independent group of global leaders working together for peace, justice and human rights, and led by Nelson Mandela. He’s also helped countless unknown musicians from around the world to make their music known through his Real World recording studios, because he is very into world music, and whenever these musicians write to him or he gets to meet them in one of his travels, he takes them to his studio to allow them to record their albums for free. Peter is a musical legend and a human rights legend. He is just an amazing human being. I think you would like listening to his song “In Your Eyes”, particularly the Secret World Live version, as it has a strong African flavour that you will enjoy. And also his song “The Rhythm of the Heat”. I assure you he is well worth checking out.

Surprisingly, this tune was played a lot in the 80s on US MTV...it was shocking how this made it as big as it did, given its dark subject matter, and minor key arrangements. It's still a powerful bit of songcraft.

I love the way you speak so passionately about how the situation has changed and how the likes of Stephen Biko contributed to that. Awesome reaction and great to actually learn something from it too.

Peter Gabriel was a very popular musical artist, in the 1980's, in the U.S. This person, Biko, is a part of history I was not aware of, although I'm familiar with apartheid and Nelson Mandela. Thanks for paying attention in school and sharing your knowledge with us. I think I enjoyed learning from you, about this moment in history, even more than the song itself, in this instance.

Thanks for the history lesson! I love Peter Gabriel! I've been listening to him since he was playing with Genesis back in the '70's. Great song.

I love your historical context. I saw Gabriel in Toronto, early 90s, which started my activist push to Amnesty. Sadly South Africa, has now taken Russia's side, against Democracy in Ukraine. And now we must concentrate our efforts on Netayahu's further apartheid of Palestine. We must donate to UN, while holding them to account. Thank you for your intellectual, historical breakdown of this iconic song. New subscriber as a result.

So glad this time is over in South Africa. Too bad the rest of the world has not caught up. Where are we in the USA? It is so good to hear from a white South African. (corruption comes in many colors)

Peter Gabriel is the legendary former frontman for the progressive rock giants GENESIS. He left at the peak (at the time) of their fame and pursued a brilliant solo career. He was a ground breaker in so many ways and he's well-worth checking out. Biko is one of his most famous political songs... and brought Biko's name out front to many in the world that were unaware of him. He was speaking out at the time and has partnered with Amnesty International to speak out for prisoners of conscience. Great reaction. I'm from America and we have our own shameful past (and present)... but it's great to see progress in South Africa. Best to you and your country.

This is one of my favorite Peter Gabriel songs, so I read up on Steve Biko years ago. It always brings tears to my eyes when I hear it. It's one of the songs that inspired the collaborative album Sun City, United Artists Against Apartheid. It features musicians from a wide variety of genres, including some old school rappers as it came out in 1985. As others have said he was a pop, world, and rock musician, inducted into the rock and roll Hall of Fame twice, for his solo work and the band Genesis, which also had Phil Collins. He's very involved in humanitarian efforts around the world.

I spent a year in South Africa in 1986-87, as an exchange student (I am Canadian). This was during Apartheid A friend of mine was a reporter and took me to see Soweto. I was 18 at the time. It was all so very life changing. I have been working as a career diplomat since. I love your channel and I love Peter Gabriel. Can't believe your were just getting around to him in 2020 ;) !

Trying to understand this song was the beginning of my learning more about South Africa - as a U.S. teen at the time, I knew nothing but the geographical location. A couple of years later I became aware of Johnny Clegg, one of my favorite artists now of all time - and the process of learning continued, just trying to understand the context of his songs. With Johnny's death, I'm still learning, going back and finding interviews. Thanks for keeping awareness of these things, working against the rest of the world forgetting the lessons we all need to still be learning from. Sawabona, Fil.

Thank you for your knowledge!

One of the first albums I bought when I was a little girl was Peter Gabriel's. This song always made me cry and I didn't even know what it was about till I got a bit older and looked it up...just made me cry even harder. Love this song, love this album.

Let’s be frank, this video was amazing! Thank you for sharing this song and thoughts/explanations of this time in history. This really touched me a lot. I always enjoy reading Franks poetic words with your reactions. Great series @ fable as always😁

First of all thank you for the history lesson. Is important to know and understand things like this. And always learn about people who changed the world. Thank you for that. This song made me cry. So emotional. Wow

Ty enjoyed your reaction to this powerful song, In case you didn't know check out "Playing for Change" "Song Around The World" who did this song featuring Peter Gabriel and a ton of artists from all over the world adding their beauty to it as well.

I will agree U2 and Bono came to the party in '83 but Gabriel was there 3 years before that. Bono was still working on Bloody Sunday at the time.

When a group of people puts down another group, in the long run they will only put down themselves.

Damn man, getting all misty eyed here missing home! There's a statue of Steve Biko outside city hall in my home town, and a bridge named after him. I hadn't heard this song before, but really enjoyed this, thanks man!

Keep this up. I was 11 in 1986 and listened to my Dad's cassette of this 1980 Gabriel album over and over and over... This song changed my brain. We all need more of this kind of art. Thanks to you and whoever the fuck Frank is😀👍

Damn, this is heavy. Peter Gabriel has long been an activist in his writing. Sadly, most artists now don’t want to approach such topics, they’d rather dazzle us with vocal runs.

Wow! What a tribute to a hero who put his fellow man before himself. A great example of how one person can literally change the world! Not a name I was familiar with but you can bet I will read up on him, such an inspiration. Why I love this channel, way more than just a reaction, you get to the heart of it...keep it coming!

Great choice, Frank Warner! Peter Gabriel has such a wonderful voice, moving lyrics, great music. I really prefer his work after he left Genesis. Thanks for requesting this Frank & thank you young man for doing this. Stay safe & stay strong💜💜

I've had the luck to visit SA a couple time, and from all the places I have visited, I loved SA by far the most. loved your reaction to one my favourite songs that brings water to my eyes every time i listen to it.

Talk about your country all you want, I for one will listen.

Actually loved your history lesson thanki for sharing ....thanku Frank love an .God bless x,

That version of the song doesn’t even do the live performances of that song justice. It usually was the closing song for concert, with the musicians, one by one stopping playing and chanting and leaving the stage until the drummer was left. All the while, the drummer was playing that repeating beat, in a spotlight, over and over, while the crowd was also chanting, until the drummer stopped, and the light cut out. Saw him live in 86-87 on the So tour. One of the best shows I’ve ever been to.

Hearing you talk about South Africa makes me want to find a cure for COVID so I can visit your fine nation.

Great reaction mate. SB's body was also covered in cigarette burns :-(

Thank you. Good informations.

if you ever want to watch a more satisfying version of this song - Theres a video on youtube of Peter performing live in South Africa for some Aids rallly headed by Nelson Mandella.

An awesome and powerful song (from my western perspective anyway). Interesting to hear a local's point of view.

This song makes me sad and angry at the same time.

Let me tell you a FABLE - Neuclear ReACTor one....;) I like Frank and Straight Forward Fil ^^ This Song got me hooked on Peter Gabriel, too young to understand the meaning of the words, but it stayed with me as I loved P. voice, the rythm and field of the song. After starting learning English at school at age 8, it got me interested in the history of Steve Biko and Apartheid. This was not common knowledge in Norwegian history books, so I had to do my own research. Connecting the dots in past present and what's ahead .... Life's truly what u make it...

We once had a South African white exchange student here. It was years after apartheid ended. When she heard that I liked the song "Biko" so much, she said: "I don't know why you think Steven Biko is so great. At school we were told he was just a communist terrorist." As I said. it was years after apartheid ended.

They may have been tyrants, but they kept the lights on and didn't steal.

if Frank is beeing Frank can i still be Tom ?

Peter Gabriel is not too far behind David Bowie in his wide range of musical styles, personal reinvention and inspiration of others in and out of music. Starting right out of school with Genesis which was a highly influential progressive rock band filled with incredible musicians and multiple songwriters, though Genesis didn't get hugely popular until after he left and their extraordinary drummer Phil Collins reluctantly took his place as lead vocalist. Peter added theatricality to the band via elaborate costumes, makeup and for a time, a reverse partial mohawk. He quickly moved away from prog rock with his first album being his last stabs at the genre. It does include two phenomenal tracks, Solsbury Hill and Here Comes the Flood. His second (of the consecutive self titled albums) was influenced by punk (see D.I.Y.) yet featured prog rock giants on various instruments. Biko's murder fired his humanitarian work and helped himbonbhisxdive into world music, which he has never stopped promoting. Though the song is very stripped down, it still involves two drummers including Phil Collins, right before he started his incredible pop solo career. Peter's still out there recording.

We can see a classic scene with this song, on the TV show "Miami Vice" in the 1980's, (episode: 'Evan'): kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p51dgZCFqNWaYIE.html

The bastard PIGS "Freddy Grayed" him. ✊❤✊❤✊✊✊✊

I had a difficult time following all that you said, maybe I am a bit thick. Your tone is cool though. Keep after it dude.

If you ever want a cheesy 80s protest "group artist" type song - react to "Sun City" ....

Play the song then talk about it after as your ruining the song