Taken from Western Daily Press (Sep 11, 2014)
Peter Gabriel is named 'Prog God' at awards
by Western Daily Press
Music veteran Peter Gabriel was tonight honoured for his pioneering contribution to the world of prog rock at an annual awards ceremony.
The former Genesis frontman, whose outlandish stage outfits included dressing as a flower and a fox during his days with the band, has been recognised for his contribution at the Progressive Music Awards.
Gabriel, who lives in Box, Wiltshire, was named Prog God at a ceremony just a few months after he was spoofed in a BBC4 mock-documentary The Life of Rock with Brian Pern, loosely based on his life.
Other winners at the event included Andy Latimer, one of the founders of the band Camel, who was given a lifetime achievement award and singer Sonja Kristina, the singer with Curved Air, who took the “guiding light” award for continuing to fly the flag for the genre.
Robert John Godfrey, who has performed with The Enid for four decades, was given the “visionary” award, while keyboard player Rick Wakeman’s 40th anniversary tour of Journey To The Centre Of The Earth was named best live event.
Gabriel follows figures such as Jethro Tull star Ian Anderson and Wakeman in taking the Prog God prize.
Jerry Ewing, the editor of Prog Magazine which stages the event, said: “From a groundbreaking eight years with Genesis to a solo career that has now stretched almost 40 years, few artists have striven to push back the creative boundaries, generating a body of work that in its very nature progresses ever onwards.
“From massive worldwide hits through startling experimentation and pioneering work with world music, as well as his fantastic work outside of music and an astute grasp of technology, it really is an honour to pay tribute to Peter in this way.”
The event, now in its third year, was hosted by BBC presenter Gavin Esler at the Underglobe venue beneath Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.
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