The Barry Williams Show

Album: Up (2002)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Barry Williams is an actor who played Greg Brady on the popular '70s TV show The Brady Bunch. This song deals with "trash TV" - mostly talk shows such as Jerry Springer, Ricki Lake, etc.
  • This song was not originally meant to reference the Brady Bunch actor Barry Williams. Gabriel reportedly wanted a plain ordinary sounding name for the title. He stated in several interviews that he never watched The Brady Bunch or knew there was an American actor with that name. Yet, Barry Williams (the actor) does appear briefly in the song's video at the beginning as a member of the talk show audience. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Matt - Lebanon, PA
  • Sean Penn directed the music video for this song. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Justin - Felts Mills, NY
  • In 2021, Rolling Stone contributor Andy Greene wrote a negative piece on "The Barry Williams Show," declaring that it was "not only the worst song on the album [Up], it's quite possibly the worst song he's ever released going all the way back to the earliest days of Genesis in 1967." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Michael R. - Las Vegas, NV
  • "The Barry Williams Show" was released as the lead single from Up, an album that took nearly eight years to complete. Peter Gabriel never committed to a specific release date, often humorously answering "September" without specifying the year. This long gestation period was partly because Gabriel believed in letting creative ideas "ripen" fully before releasing them to the world, much like fruit growing heavy on a tree, ready to bear juice when it was finally ripe.

Comments: 2

  • Jim from Dayton, OhGabriel has said he gave the song a title with no knowledge of the actor Barry Williams from the Brady Bunch. Once it was brought to his attention that a famous Barry Williams did exist, Gabriel asked to include him in the video.
  • Ratboy from Ratville, NjYes, it seemed a bit late. And the name of the album, "Up"... he was at least the third artist/band to use that stupid title in a short span of time. Anyhow, I wonder if the part about the woman with no wrinkles is a referance to Oprah.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Tony Banks of Genesis

Tony Banks of GenesisSongwriter Interviews

Genesis' key-man re-examines his solo career and the early days of music video.

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.