This Way Up Tour
| Tour by Peter Gabriel | |
 Poster for the North American leg | |
| Associated album | So |
|---|---|
| Start date | 7 November 1986 |
| End date | 9 October 1987 |
| Legs | 2 |
| No. of shows | 93 |
| Peter Gabriel concert chronology | |
The This Way Up Tour was a concert tour mounted by the English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel to promote his 1986 album So. The concert tour spanned 93 shows, starting on 7 November 1986 in Rochester, New York and concluding on 9 October 1987 in Athens, Greece. It was broken up into two legs, with the first lasting one month through the middle of December and the second commencing in June of 1987, which covered the continents of both North America and Europe.
Gabriel's touring band consisted of several musicians who had played on So, including Tony Levin, David Rhodes, and Manu Katché. The setlist comprised around half of So, with the remaining songs originating from earlier albums in Gabriel's discography. Youssou N'Dour served as the opening act throughout the duration of the tour.
Background
[edit]In June 1986, Gabriel performed at A Conspiracy of Hope, which was arranged to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Amnesty International.[1] Bono asked Gabriel to participate in the concerts and told him that his song "Biko" had "opened him up to Africa".[2] The Conspiracy of Hope concerts required Gabriel to reschedule his This Way Up Tour further back than he had originally planned.[3]
Gabriel embarked on the This Way Up Tour in November 1986 with a touring band consisting of Tony Levin, David Rhodes, Manu Katché, and David Sancious. The setlist consisted of songs from Gabriels So studio album along with several other songs from Gabriel's discography.[3] Whereas the audiences of several of his previous tours consisted of "denim guys and intellectuals." according to Rhodes, the This Way Up Tour marked a shift toward larger and younger crowds with a more even gender balance.[4]
"San Jacinto" served as first song of the setlist for both the 1986 and 1987 legs of the tour. Youssou N'Dour, who served as the tour's opening act with his band Super Étoile de Dakar, joined Gabriel onstage to sing "In Your Eyes".[1][5] Some members from N'Dour's band played horns on "Big Time".[6] During "Lay Your Hands on Me", Gabriel would routinely fall into the audience and crowd surf.[3][4] Whereas the studio recording of "Don't Give Up" was sung as a duet with Kate Bush, Gabriel covered all of the vocals on the song during this concert tour.[7] The exception to this was when Bush sang the song with Gabriel during his concert on 28 June 1987 in Earl's Court, which marked the only time Bush ever performed the song live with him.[3][8]
Staging
[edit]For the show's illumination, four banks of light were installed onto a set of crane arms that maneuvered throughout the stage via a railed track.[9][6] These cranes were used extensively on both "No Self Control" and "Mercy Street".[1] During portions of "Red Rain", the lights were calibrated to create the illusion of rain droplets falling.[9] On "Big Time", the light fixtures were programmed to create what the Toronto Star described as "a massive display of white light" that "exploded and swirled around the arena."[10] Music Week mentioned in the 4 July 1987 edition of the publication that Gabriel would be the using four Ibanez SDR1000+ effect units on the European leg of his tour.[11]
When determining the show's choreography, Gabriel took inspiration from some of the movements and gestures found in the 1975 book Bodily Communication, written by the UK social psychologist Michael Argyle. One such example was the outward palm gesture that he employed during "In Your Eyes".[1]
Recordings
[edit]A concert film for the tour, titled Live in Athens 1987, was released on DVD in 2013. Filmed at the Lycabettus Theatre on three of the five nights (October 5, 6, 9, 1987), the film was directed by Michael Chapman with Martin Scorsese serving as executive producer.[12] A live album of the film was released in 2020. Previously, audio of the recording was issued on a 25th anniversary edition of So, restored and mixed by Ben Findlay.[13][14] The film was sourced from over 150 reels of 35mm film and restored into high-definition.[14] Much of the film was included on Gabriel's POV (1990) concert film and restored for physical release.[13]
Set list
[edit]These setlists are not representative of every show during the first leg of the tour. During Gabriel's show in Rochester, New York, "Big Time" was positioned in the set after "Don't Give Up".[9] For other performances, including his tour stop in Buffalo, New York, "Big Time" instead preceded "Don't Give Up." For the same show, "I Don't Remember" was played after "Family Snapshot".[15] At certain shows, "Not One of Us", "Solsbury Hill" and Wallflower" were also played.[13] By 1987, "Solsbury Hill" and "Games Without Frontiers" were more consistently integrated into the setlist.[16][17]
Encore:
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Encore:
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Alterations
- For the first two shows in Athens, "This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)" was performed at the start of the concert.
- "Not One of Us" was occasionally performed at shows in the 1986 leg.
- "Intruder" was occasionally performed at shows in the 1987 leg.
Tour dates
[edit]| Date[2] | City[2] | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 7, 1986 | Rochester | United States | Rochester Community War Memorial |
| November 8, 1986 | Pittsburgh | Civic Arena | |
| November 9, 1986 | Syracuse | Onondaga County War Memorial | |
| November 11, 1986 | Landover | Capital Centre | |
| November 12, 1986 | New Haven | New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum | |
| November 14, 1986 | Cincinnati | Cincinnati Gardens | |
| November 15, 1986 | Champaign | Assembly Hall | |
| November 17, 1986 | Detroit | Joe Louis Arena | |
| November 18, 1986 | Cleveland | Richfield Coliseum[18] | |
| November 19, 1986 | Buffalo | Alumni Arena | |
| November 21, 1986 | Worcester | Centrum in Worcester | |
| November 22, 1986 | |||
| November 24, 1986 | Ottawa | Canada | Ottawa Civic Centre |
| November 25, 1986 | Montreal | Montreal Forum | |
| November 26, 1986 | Toronto | Maple Leaf Gardens | |
| November 27, 1986 | |||
| November 29, 1986 | Philadelphia | United States | Spectrum |
| November 30, 1986 | |||
| December 1, 1986 | New York City | Madison Square Garden | |
| December 2, 1986 | |||
| December 4, 1986 | Rosemont | Rosemont Horizon | |
| December 5, 1986 | |||
| December 7, 1986 | Houston | The Summit | |
| December 8, 1986 | Dallas | Reunion Arena | |
| December 9, 1986 | Austin | Frank Erwin Center | |
| December 12, 1986 | Oakland | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | |
| December 13, 1986 | |||
| December 15, 1986 | Inglewood | The Forum | |
| December 16, 1986 | |||
| December 20, 1986[a] | Tokyo | Japan | Meiji Jingu Stadium |
| December 21, 1986[a] |
| Date[2] | City[2] | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1, 1987 | Clermont-Ferrand | France | Maison Des Sports |
| June 2, 1987 | Bordeaux | Patinoire de Mériadeck | |
| June 3, 1987 | Nantes | Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire | |
| June 5, 1987 | Paris | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy | |
| June 6, 1987 | |||
| June 7, 1987 | |||
| June 10, 1987 | Milan | Italy | PalaTrussardi |
| June 12, 1987 | Rome | Palazzo dello Sport | |
| June 13, 1987 | |||
| June 15, 1987 | Munich | Germany | Olympiahalle |
| June 16, 1987 | Stuttgart | Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle | |
| June 17, 1987 | Nuremberg | Frankenhalle | |
| June 19, 1987 | Cologne | Sporthalle | |
| June 20, 1987 | Hamburg | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle | |
| June 21, 1987 | Bremen | Stadthalle | |
| June 23, 1987 | Glasgow | Scotland | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre |
| June 25, 1987 | London | England | Earls Court Exhibition Centre |
| June 26, 1987 | |||
| June 27, 1987 | |||
| June 28, 1987 | |||
| June 30, 1987 | Birmingham | NEC Arena | |
| July 1, 1987 | |||
| July 2, 1987 | |||
| July 4, 1987[b] | Torhout | Belgium | Rockweide |
| July 5, 1987[b] | Werchter | Werchter Festivalpark | |
| July 10, 1987 | Ottawa | Canada | Lansdowne Park |
| July 11, 1987 | Toronto | CNE Grandstand | |
| July 12, 1987 | Montreal | Montreal Forum | |
| July 13, 1987 | |||
| July 15, 1987 | Mansfield | United States | Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts |
| July 16, 1987 | |||
| July 17, 1987 | East Rutherford | Brendan Byrne Arena | |
| July 18, 1987 | |||
| July 19, 1987 | |||
| July 20, 1987 | Philadelphia | Spectrum | |
| July 21, 1987 | |||
| July 23, 1987 | Clarkston | Pine Knob Music Theatre | |
| July 24, 1987 | Cleveland | Masonic Auditorium | |
| July 25, 1987 | Milwaukee | Marcus Amphitheater | |
| July 27, 1987 | Cuyahoga Falls | Blossom Music Center | |
| July 28, 1987 | Columbia | Merriweather Post Pavilion | |
| August 29, 1987 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Hvidovre Stadium |
| August 30, 1987[c] | Bærum | Norway | Kalvøya |
| September 1, 1987 | Helsinki | Finland | Helsinki Ice Hall |
| September 3, 1987 | Stockholm | Sweden | Johanneshovs Isstadion |
| September 6, 1987 | Gothenburg | Scandinavium | |
| September 8, 1987 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Ahoy |
| September 9, 1987 | |||
| September 11, 1987 | Berlin | Germany | Waldbuhne |
| September 12, 1987 | Bochum | Ruhrstadion | |
| September 13, 1987 | Offenbach am Main | Stadion am Bieberer Berg | |
| September 15, 1987 | Budapest | Hungary | Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion |
| September 16, 1987 | Vienna | Austria | Wiener Stadthalle |
| September 18, 1987 | Verona | Italy | Arena di Verona |
| September 19, 1987 | Locarno | Switzerland | Piazza Grande |
| September 21, 1987 | Basel | St. Jakobshalle | |
| September 22, 1987 | Lausanne | CIG de Malley | |
| September 23, 1987 | Strasbourg | France | Stade de la Meinau |
| September 24, 1987 | Lyon | Palais des Sports de Gerland | |
| September 26, 1987 | Toulouse | Palais des Sports | |
| September 27, 1987 | San Sebastián | Spain | Velódromo de Anoeta |
| September 28, 1987 | Madrid | Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid | |
| September 30, 1987 | Barcelona | Palau dels Esports de Barcelona | |
| October 5, 1987 | Athens | Greece | Lycabettus Theatre |
| October 6, 1987 | |||
| October 7, 1987 | |||
| October 8, 1987 | |||
| October 9, 1987 |
Personnel
[edit]Musicians
[edit]- Peter Gabriel – vocals, keyboards
- David Rhodes – guitar and backing vocals
- Tony Levin – bass guitar, Chapman stick, synthesizer, backing vocals
- David Sancious – keyboards
- Manu Katché – drums
Tour crew
[edit]- Gail Colson – manager
- Billy Francis – road manager
- Carol Graham – wardrobe
- David Parry – accountant
- Jonathan Smeeton – lightning designer
- Clive Franks – sound engineer[19]
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b Performed as part of Japan Aid
- ^ a b Part of Torhout-Werchter
- ^ Part of Kalvøyafestivalen
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Bowman, Durrell (2 September 2016). Experiencing Peter Gabriel: A Listener's Companion. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 138, 145–146. ISBN 9781442252004.
- ^ a b c d e Peter Gabriel (2012). So Box Set Limited Edition (CD liner notes). United Kingdom: Real World. PGCD 5.
- ^ a b c d Easlea, Daryl (2013). Without Frontiers: The Life & Music of Peter Gabriel. London: Omnibus Press. pp. 267–274. ISBN 978-1780383156.
- ^ a b Pond, Steve (29 January 1987). "Peter Gabriel Hits the Big Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- ^ Barr, Greg (11 July 1986). "Rock innovator Gabriel true to form". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- ^ a b Krewen, Nick (27 November 1986). "Another first for Gabriel: Moving lanterns featured at Maple Leaf Gardens present possible revolution for concert lighting". The Spectator. Retrieved 6 July 2025 – via The Genesis Archive.
- ^ Denselow, Robert (27 June 1987). "Triumph of a Fall Guy". The Guardian. p. 12. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- ^ Thomson, Graeme (2012). Under the Ivy: The Life and Music of Kate Bush (Revised ed.). London, UK: Omnibus Press. p. 232. ISBN 9781780381466.
- ^ a b c Smith, Andy (10 November 1986). "Peter Gabriel starts his U.S. tour in Rochester". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 5 July 2025 – via The Genesis Archive.
- ^ Quill, Greg (27 November 1986). "Gabriel fans in rock heaven". Toronto Star. Retrieved 6 July 2025 – via The Genesis Archive.
- ^ "Gabriel grabs Cougar" (PDF). Music Week. 4 July 1987. p. 14. Retrieved 13 October 2025 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Hegarty, Paul (2020). Peter Gabriel: Global Citizen. London, UK: Reaktion Books. ISBN 9781789140231.
- ^ a b c Marziano, Alfredo; Perasi, Luca (2024). Peter Gabriel: The Rhythm Has My Soul. Milan, Italy: L.I.L.Y Publishing. p. 143. ISBN 978-88-909122-5-2.
- ^ a b "Live In Athens 1987 (CD)". PeterGabriel.com. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ Johns, Jeff (21 November 1986). "Peter Gabriel: The Mindset of the mid-80s". The Buffalo News. p. 75. Retrieved 5 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Denselow, Robin (27 June 1987). "Triumph of a fall guy". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 July 2025 – via The Genesis Archive.
- ^ Thomas, Sharon (2 July 1987). "Light show Gabriel too heavy". Birmingham Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2025 – via The Genesis Archive.
- ^ Staff (18 November 2015). "29 Years Ago Today – Peter Gabriel At Richfield Coliseum". Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ This Way Up - Tour Itinerary. 1987. Retrieved 5 July 2025 – via The Genesis Archive.