"Up" is the seventh studio album and thirteenth overall by English rock musician Peter Gabriel, released on September 23, 2002, through Geffen and Real World Records. The album achieved commercial success, reaching number 9 in the US, number 11 in the UK, and hitting number 1 in Italy. While most critics gave it positive reviews, Rolling Stone noted that Gabriel seemed "out of touch."
This album marked Gabriel's last release of new original material for 21 years, until I/O in 2023. In the meantime, he released several other projects, including the 2010 covers album Scratch My Back and the orchestral re-recordings album New Blood in 2011.
To support Up, Gabriel embarked on the Growing Up tour in 2003, his first tour in a decade since the Secret World Tour. The tour featured backing vocals by his daughter, Melanie, and select performances were filmed and later released as Growing Up Live. The tour showcased Gabriel's innovative stage presence and elaborate production, reaffirming his status as a dynamic live performer.
Peter Gabriel began work on Up in the spring of 1995, collaborating with engineer Richard Chappell and traveling to various locations during the writing stages. They spent the initial two months in a rented chalet in Méribel, followed by three months in Senegal starting in October 1995, and then returned to Méribel in spring 1996. In summer 1997, they even recorded on a friend's studio-equipped boat along the Amazon. After that, most of the work took place at Real World Studios over the next four to five years.
At one point, they were working on both Up and the OVO soundtrack simultaneously. However, in November 1998, the engineers shifted focus to complete the OVO project, temporarily pausing work on Up.
By late 2000, momentum had picked up again, with a string section recorded at AIR Lyndhurst Hall Studios in London. Renowned mixer Tchad Blake was brought in early 2001 to begin the final mixing stage at Real World Studios. He worked in tandem with Gabriel and Chappell to determine which newly recorded parts would be included in the final mix.
The title Up was chosen early in the process, though I/O was also considered, reflecting themes of birth, death, and cyclical movement present in the songs. Gabriel decided to keep the title Up even after learning that R.E.M. had plans for an album of the same name, stating, "I have been living in an 'Up' world for four years now and have no wish to come down."
In the months leading up to the album's release, Gabriel shared video clips discussing the songs and short demos on his official website, timed to coincide with each full moon. This innovative approach engaged fans and built anticipation for the album.
