The teenage memory Peter Gabriel built into “Sledgehammer”

By 1986, Peter Gabriel had already built a reputation as one of music’s great innovators — first as the theatrical frontman of Genesis and later as a solo artist willing to push creative boundaries.

But behind one of his biggest and boldest hits was actually a teenage memory dating back almost 20 years.

When Gabriel released Sledgehammer, fans heard a fresh, funky sound that stood out from much of the music of the mid-80s. But for Gabriel, it was a return to the soul music that first made him fall in love with performing.

Listen to the Backstory from HOT 1027’s Classic Countdown below:

Photos: facebook.com/PeterGabriel

Source: uDiscover Music 

At just 17 years old, Gabriel watched Otis Redding perform at the Ram Jam Club in Brixton — a show he would later describe as the greatest musical experience of his life.

The power of Redding’s performance and the energy of 1960s soul stayed with him, and when Gabriel recorded Sledgehammer for his landmark album So, he deliberately tapped back into that influence.

But the real “full-circle” moment came when Gabriel added the song’s unmistakable horn section.

The trumpet player was Wayne Jackson of The Memphis Horns — the very same musician who had been on stage with Otis Redding during that unforgettable concert Gabriel attended as a teenager.

Jackson and The Memphis Horns had helped define the sound of Stax Records, working with legendary artists including Otis Redding and Sam & Dave. Years later, they brought that same authentic soul sound to Gabriel’s biggest commercial success.

Of course, Sledgehammer would also become famous for its groundbreaking stop-motion music video, which pushed creative limits and became one of the most celebrated videos of the MTV era.

But behind all the technology, animation and 1980s innovation was something far simpler — a young music fan who never forgot the night that inspired him.

Check out the “Sledgehammer” music video below: