Vulture buddy Nikki Finke reports that Peter Gabriel — whose "Down to Earth" is nominated for Best Original Song — has pulled out of this year's Oscar ceremony after he was asked to perform an abbreviated version of the track in a medley with the other nominees. As part of an apparent bid to keep the show at three hours, producers allegedly offered Gabriel only 65 seconds to play the track, which means he probably would've been sandwiched in between A.R. Rahman's "Jai Ho" and "O Saya" from Slumdog Millionaire. "I don't feel that is sufficient time to do the song justice, and I have decided to withdraw from performing," Gabriel told the Academy. There's currently no word on who producers will have do "Down to Earth" in his place, but please let it be Clint Eastwood!

Peter Gabriel Pissed At Oscar Producers And Won't Perform At Academy Awards [DHD]