After Peter left the band Genesis in 1975, he joined the Peace Choir and performed in the single “Give Peace A Chance.” As a prominent figure in promoting peace. He has participated in many ‘human rights’ campaigns. Significantly, Amnestry International 1988 Human Rights Now.

Artist for Action to Prevent Gun Violence, is said not to be a political stand, but rather to encourage America’s to volunteer and vote to eradicate gun violence in the US. With over 470 mass shootings in 2023 already, their voices will be needed more than ever.

Peter Gabriel said in an interview “This needs to stop. So many needless deaths. So much needless suffering. It just needs a little common sense.”

Behind the voices of Artists for Action is the founder Mark Barden. Whose son was tragically and fatally wounded in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012. As a former professional guitarist himself, he put it all on hold, to dedicate his time to preventing gun violence in the US.

Mark launches the series of united and passionate artist, with it’s first event taking place in New York on September 22nd. Presented by AFA (Artists for Artists) who are known for their support and advocacy in social impact events.

This was their message, “Artist For Action: We are a coalition of artists, musicians and influencers who are taking action towards eliminating the epidemic of gun violence in America. Our platform makes it easy for artists to activate their fans in taking 3 simple steps to prevent gun violence – Volunteer, Donate, Vote. Artist For Action To Prevent Gun Violence is a non-political movement that has come together as one to help prevent future tragedies. We must act now!”

No further dates have been listed as of yet and currently Peter Gabriel is touring in Canada and the US promoting his latest album in 7 years called i/o, which began in May 2023. 

Peter Gabriel has a profound and unique empathy that he communicates through his music and lyrics. His voice will be a invaluable against the prevention of gun violence, due to his knowledge and understanding of the world around him. And that is clearly demonstrated when hearing Peter describe the meaning behind the songs on his new album and the deeper mindset that we must adapt and move forward.

This collaboration is to help build a platform were artists can inspire their fans to get active in the prevention of gun violence. A web page is set up for those who wish to volunteer, donate and vote in this prevention of gun violence and purchase tickets to each show of ‘Artists for Action.’

In it the DOE outline their vision for music education and how it can be achieved through partnerships with schools, music hubs, and the creative sector. It’s main goal as per the government website is “to enable all children and young people in England to learn to sing, play an instrument and create music together and also have the opportunity to progress their musical interests and talents professionally“. It also notably promises a new £25 million fund to help schools purchase new instruments in order to provide thousands of pupils around the country a gateway into music. This will include adapted instruments for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities in an effort to provide equal opportunity for all.

For some this may come too little too late, after all it’s only a year and a half since the government released a campaign of posters around London and the rest of the UK suggesting people in the arts should retrain due to the pandemic. Causing much outrage at the time and further distancing themselves from an artistic community that already largely loathed them, Rishi Sunak didn’t do the government any more favours when he continued to hammer home the message on ITV news. When asked whether arts workers should simply try and find another job in a different sector, Sunak said: “I can’t pretend that everyone can do exactly the same job that they were doing at the beginning of this crisis“, before going on to say that everyone will have to “find ways to adapt and adjust to the new reality“.

@BreesAnna @SueC00K a concert pianist friend had just shared this. An HM Government poster. The government’s blatant plan to destroy the Arts. Last week the Chancellor (I think) was saying that people in the Arts should retrain and get a proper job. How low can they stoop? pic.twitter.com/dqp52s6pyG

— Richard Winzar (@RichardWinzar) October 12, 2020

How widely and effectively this new pledge from the government will help the UK’s music scene is up in the air. It’s hard to ignore the sneaky suspicion that the money might be better spent reviving the hundreds of venues around the country that were forced to close during the pandemic, or rebalancing the wholly inadequate way streaming royalties are paid to artists. Only time will tell, at least there is someone somewhere that cared enough to type up all 83 pages. You can read the plan here.