I am indeed the guy who came up to you in NYC and my name is Jerome. Though I couldn't make the union before the concert, I thought
afterwards, I just have to see if Mac and the Solsburians are still at Tir Na
Nog. I got lost in the rain on the way, walking in the wrong direction, yet
feeling so connected, and finally found it. Thanks to discovering it only
through your web site (even though I have lived here for 14 years and love
Irish Pubs) I will be going back there!

It's funny you mentioned 'My Head Sounds Like That'. I had posted on the
Peter Gabriel Message Board under the name "Signal2Noise" that I was
concerned that he was no longer doing 'MHSLT' on the tour. I love that song,
and think that is the quintessential cut which separates true Gabe fans from
the Sledge-meisters who felt lost until that Hammer familiarity returned
later in the set. That song is so naked, fresh, and clean, like a breath of
fresh air. I posted under the name S2N there, because 'Signal' is actually
my favorite cut on the 'UP' album; can't stop crying by the time the string
climax comes, never forgetting that the lyrics, so simple and beautiful, have
a very powerful message on top of the arrangement which I love so much.
Possibly my new all-time PG favorite after 'San Jacinto' and 'Humdrum'. After
lurking in many PG forums I was surprised not to see other people with my
same obsession. I am a longtime PG fan. To me, the whole of 'UP' is greater
than the sum of it's parts-and I do love it's parts! I now feel that 'UP' is
his best.

I am not worthy of all of you wonderful people- by definition you all must
be worthy! :-) but I'd like to add my small PG story.

I've seen him 3 times. The first was during the SO Tour in New Haven, CT, or
what I like to call, the "Help! I'm being attacked by the lighting rig and
crying on the floor during 'Mercy Street'!" Tour. Tony was sporting a huge
LouisXIIII wig in the beginning and for a brief moment I thought he grew
hair! Found a bootleg on an NYC Street corner years later, as a souvenir of
that night.

Seven long years later I was at one of Peter's SWT warm-up concerts at the
Academy in Manhattan in April of 1993; found a really bad video bootleg of
that a few years later as a memento. I had actually taken off part of the
morning to wait in line for the tickets, which had just been announced on the
radio, RIGHT before I was to leave for work......
I had to go for it.

So, after taking the chance of losing my job, on the same subway line which
took me to work, I got off early, in Times Square. Tickets were first come,
first serve. I approached the long line, got in, then waited. It was a
beautiful spring morning, filled with potential. I waited, waited and waited,
excitement building!

I missed the last ticket by 5 people.
Well, time to go on to work, I guess, and explain why I was so late.
I decided to wait a little longer. Just wait for something. Something might
happen. Just DON'T GIVE UP.

Someone sees me lingering, I mention that I had just missed the last ticket.
He tells me that he has 1 extra, sells it to me, and tells me to meet him and
his friends before the doors open. I was in the front row with those guys
just because I didn't give up!

It was great to see him there early on, because, hard to believe, I
actually missed the full SW tour! From 1993 with his youngish-man 'I'm not
too old yet!' haircut, forward now to 2002, sporting the wizened/enlightened
look complete w/flavor-saver, you get the refreshing feeling of being able to
see far beyond age, an artist who transcends age.

If you get a chance to see the POV video again, during 'Mercy Street' , check
out the pictures of Peter as a baby in his grandfather's arms with his father
looking down on him. His father is the spitting image of Peter during the SW
tour! To think that that man is still doing yoga today, and the cornerstone
of 'Father, Son' , simply blows me away.

After that show I knew I needed to take in the moment, and waited around
hoping to see them; eventually Tony Levin came out, with family members I
think, then Peter's daughters-who would think to see Melanie now (!), and
then, the man himself.

I froze, but with only 2.7 seconds to make a move (holding my breath, release
the catch) :-), I said to Peter as he passed me, "Great job, Peter!"
Wow, I'm thinking now, I finally had the guts to make contact with my mentor,
after all those years, hope it doesn't freak him out. Now what do I do? You
see, I am also a composer/songwriter, so his music goes beyond hitting close
to home for me. Pete was walking very quickly, but somehow found a way to
turn and say "thank you" to me before heading into the black van.

Now, nearly 10 years later at MSG, not long after returning to boyhood
again and bouncing around in that AWESOME BUBBLE from down under, (I want one
of those too!) toward the end of the Show, he stops and gazes in our
direction, for a moment.

Hold on, he's looking right at me! Older now, I look right back at him and
mouth the words-well, OK I shout them,"Thank YOU, Peter!!!!..., thank you."
He sees me, in that all-knowing aging garden nome look, and I realize all has
come full circle.

Mac Cat, keep on writing those wonderful updates! Your website is awesome!
Someday I hope to visit, as did you, the Real World Studios and Solsbury
Hill. Oh, if I could someday record at Real World, then I could die :-)

yours truly, Jerome ... another devoted PG fan!