One of the most surprising stories in music here last week was the announcement that Kate Bush is to perform live for the first time in 35 years. If you belong to a younger generation, you might just ask who is Kate Bush? So...
In January 1978, Kate Bush was a 19 year old singer-songwriter. This decade was what later generations will acknowledge was the golden age of rock music, and her work, some of it, might just be classified as rock, be it melodic or soft. Like many singer-songwriters of the day on both sides of the Atlantic, she is primarily a keyboard player and her songs are piano-based, although on stage she left this to her band.
The song she released at this time became a massive hit. Wuthering Heights is believed to be the first self-penned song by a female artist to reach number one in the UK. If the title sounds more than vaguely familiar, yes, it is based on a certain historical novel.
Her first three albums were released in fairly quick succession: The Kick Inside, Lionheart and Never For Ever – all on beautiful vinyl. Miss Bush may have been stunningly attractive but she was no shrinking violet, and some of her work covered distinctly adult themes. You will find a fair selection of her songs with explanation in the Songfacts database.
After her 1993 album The Red Shoes, fans had to wait until 2005 for Aerial. This might have something to do with her personal life; Miss Bush is actually Mrs McIntosh, having married a fellow musician, Dan McIntosh. They have one son but due to what is said to be her obsessive privacy, little else is known about her later family life. That concern might well be justified if her experience with a lovesick American fan awhile back is anything to go by.
So what has tempted Miss Bush to come out of virtual hiding and put on her first tour for three and a half decades? The short answer is who cares? And as they are all at one venue, tour is kind of the wrong word; tickets for the London dates go on sale Friday. They are currently being advertised on her official website, and it is clear from the wording of the terms and conditions both that it is expected they will sell out in short order and that she is determined they will all go to bona fide fans and not fall into the hands of touts. Prices vary from £49 to £135.
What can the fans expect? The photograph above dates from 1979, but recent pictures show the years have been kind to her, so those attending her shows can expect a stunningly attractive English rose of 55+ performing old tracks and new, with quite likely a spectacular stage show. This may be a return of Kate Bush to the stage, but she has never really been away; her last album, 50 Words For Snow, was released in 2011. Her first release may have been her biggest hit, but it was far from her last. Don’t be surprised if the next decade turns out to be her golden years.
[The above article was originally published March 25, 2014.]
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