The Battle of Epping Forest
Appearance
The Battle of Epping Forest is a song by English rock band Genesis, appearing on their 1973 album Selling England by the Pound .
Inspired by a news story about two rival gangs' territorial battles (according to the liner notes), the lyrics play out as such, featuring characters such as "Mick the Prick" and "Bob the Knob" as they battle for turf. The song is particualrly characteristic for singer Peter Gabriel's changing of voices for different characters as well as the frequent changes in tempo.
The song was performed live during the tour to support Selling England, featuring Gabriel moving around the stage telling the story, and even "flying" (he was attached to a harness) early on before being dropped for safety reasons. [1]