HomeGround - The Kate Bush Magazine - Issue 80

HomeGround Number 80 The Kate Bush Magazine Summer 2022 40th Anniversary Special Issue

In this download Down in the Cellar HomeGrounder, our mad version, hyperlinks friend and partner in crime. are coloured dark One of my favourite quotes Krystyna FitzGerald had blue from the late, Sir Terry become a close friend and by I’m unbelievably proud of Pratchett is… the time she and Peter became everything we’ve done… OK HomeGround is on Mr. and Mrs. FitzGerald- maybe not ‘Cosmic Kate’, but the internet as part “It is said that your life flashes Morris she was the third editor most of it. Throughout the 40 of KateBush News before your eyes just before you die. and we were ‘those bloody years we have stuck to our That is true, it’s called Life.” HomeGround people’ aka The principles of not reporting The HomeGround Bastards and we were personal gossip about Kate or Page: Sitting here in 2022, embarking on amazing her loved ones, it’s the music contemplating that it’s 40 years adventures. that counts and it always will For details of since we started HomeGround be. And now, thanks to the HomeGround back it certainly feels like it has The decade of 1984 to creative use of Running Up That issues. flashed past. We have 1994 was an amazing time to Hill in Stranger Things, we seem recounted the story of how we be a Kate Bush fan and the to have slipped into an The HomeGround started the magazine many three of us were lucky enough alternative universe where Kate Audio Archive: times, including most recently to be in the thick of it. The is topping the charts all over the in last year’s excellent Kate music Kate released in that world and a whole new The HomeGround edition of Record Collector, so period was hugely successful all generation of young music fans Editors have been here I will just say that it over the world. Those brilliant are finding out what we’ve collecting Kate happened because of songs created a swirl of known all along. We welcome related audio friendship, because of a love of madness around them, them to the many worlds of material since Kate’s music and of the joy of including fan club conventions, Kate’s incredible music and we before the founding sharing that love with other parties, video shoots, and we know there are many who will of the magazine in fans. Myself, Mandy Knott and met so many lovely people. love it as much as we do. 1982. Collecting Peter Morris started the began in 1979, the magazine because we wanted to Over the 40 years it really is Hopefully there will be new year after Kate’s share our enthusiasm and to the people we’ve met and music from Kate, when she’s debut with create somewhere for fans to become friends with that mean good and ready, and we will, via Wuthering Heights. have a voice. the most; Kate and her family, KateBushNews.com continue The material, dating her Ma and Pa, (always our to report it as best we can. from 1978 to date, In this age of instant biggest supporters), Paddy and interviews, radio information, it’s difficult to John and their families, who Thank you to everyone who shows and clips, remember that 40 years ago it have continued to welcome and has ever contributed, or bought and other material, wasn’t at all easy to get news on support us, the lovely Lisa a copy or sent a letter or come was originally Kate, even for three such Bradley, who we had many to an event, but most of all stored on over a resourceful fans, not only did brilliant moments with and Del thank you Kate for all the trust hundred audio we constantly phone the EMI Palmer, so supportive and such and laughs, and thank you cassettes, which press office, but we could a great friend to the three of us. Peter and Krys… my bastards. have now been sometimes be found bothering Peter’s Mum Olive and Sharon Fried egg optional. digitised into MP3s. the lovely folk who manned the who gave us so much help over reception desk at EMI’s famous the years. People from EMI Dave The years 1978- Manchester Square HQ. Once who gave us support, especially 1983 are currently we started the magazine, we Steve Davis, Paul Baines, Ian Well, who’d a thought it? A new available and developed the fine art of Ramage, David Munns, issue of HomeGround. Back in others will be added information gathering to the Murray Chalmers and many January, Peter had the idea of in due course. point of where Kate and others including all the people doing a special issue to mark especially her family would who helped us with the the 40th Anniversary of Contact us: often comment that we always conventions such as Elaine HomeGround. And who would seemed to know things before Davies and Chris Stone. All the have thought that in that time Email they did. Obviously, we didn’t, fans who have become friends, since we published HG 79, the but we took it as a massive Paul Thomas, Sky, Lionel final printed magazine back in Facebook compliment. Sharon, Sue and Ian, Lise 2011, that Kate would have Gerrard, Lisa Oliver, Monty, returned to the stage with her Instagram In 1983 Mandy decided she Mandy, Michael and the rest of astounding Before the Dawn wanted to follow her own path Cloudbusting and many many shows. What an experience it Twitter and we wished her well, more including of course our was! Peter, Dave and I were thankfully we are still friends, very own Seány, Seán Twomey, lucky enough to be invited to The Kate Bush and her contribution to who is the fourth the friends and family show on Fan podcast: HomeGround can never be Sunday, 24th August ahead of overestimated. the opening night on 26th. In Launched by Seán effect a dress rehearsal and a since the last issue different experience than being of HomeGround, at the other shows. We could sit and now with over wherever we wished. At the 50 episodes beginning as Kate walked available, featuring reviews, interviews and all manner of chat about all things Kate. As well as hosting the popular \"Bush Telegraph\" episodes with Darrell and Paul, Seán has produced several absorbing mini audio documentaries on everything from the Trio Bulgarka, Fruitopia and Kate in Japan. Seán is especially proud of his comprehensive three-part episode >>> 2 HomeGround Summer 2022

across the stage, she stopped the teens and twenties. There was Recipes music: “Sorry, I’ve got to nothing like it; it was fresh and twiddle with my knobs”, she full of driving, invoking energy. Editorials …..................................................... 2 apologised with a cheeky smile, Now it’s happening to a new News ............................................................... 4 retraced her steps, had a tweak audience, and most had never Poems Hats and a Beard John Carder Bush ….. 6 of said knobs, and began again. heard of Kate Bush until now: Our Journeys Through Time Paddy Bush …... 8 And off we were taken into the a thought-provoking, protective Through Leaves Krys ….....…........................ 10 most astonishing of creations. I and positive song for them to My Jumbled Memories of Kate Sharon …..... 18 recall that when she was carried feel just like we did then and Retracing the Scenes 50 Last Words …........... 20 from the stage by the Fish have carried with us ever since. My Kate-Inspired Memories Steven Jones ….. 24 People, for the first time ever to A Little Night Music Collin Kelley ….............. 25 me it seemed as though our So I wonder what will Retracing the Scenes Olympics and Gongs ...… 27 heroine hadn’t made it through happen next? It’s not impossible Meeting Kate Sky Boswell …......................... 34 the storm. I remember Kate for another Number One. It Kate and the Podcast Cecilee Landefeld …....... 36 being solemnly carried as crossed my mind that this new A Note Ger Traets ........................................... 37 though by subterranean pall- generation could get swept Retracing the Scenes Before the Dawn …......... 38 bearers. She was carried quite away by Wuthering Heights. We Were There At The Eventim Apollo …........ 52 close to us. Her eyes were Imagine! Oh to be falling in Curious Things Happened Dawn Stories ….... 60 closed; I don’t remember her love with Kate’s music from Keeping the Music Live Ian & Sue Crowther ...70 reaching her hand up as she did scratch, exploring each album A Gaffa of Tribute Bands Michael Mayell ….. 72 in the subsequent shows. It hit and every song for the first A Cajun Eating the Music Amphabian …....... 74 me like a punch in the stomach time. I remember how Kate’s Poem Fading Pop Star Clint Wastling ….......... 77 that she hadn’t been rescued music made me feel when I was A Cover Story Joe Forken …........................... 78 after all. And I cried. Then 13, 14, 15. These formative Retracing the Scenes Remasters & Reissues …. 80 came The Morning Fog, and she years where we start to discover How to be Invisible Media Reaction …............ 88 was home and dry. Or could who we are. Kate’s music will Inside the Rainbow Media Reaction …............ 89 this have been Heaven? That change lives, as we all know it 40 Years of The Dreaming Seán …................91 night I really didn’t know. does. Here’s to Kate, and to all 40 Years of Dreamtime Paul Burston …......... 94 the new explorers. With love, Poem The Bronres Clint Wastling ….............. 95 Over the years we’d Finding Kate Michael Byrne …....................... 96 discussed Kate doing another Krys x Aerie Antonello Saeli ….................................... 98 show. I didn’t think it would I Still Wanna Be Kate Thomas Dunning …... 100 happen but Peter always said This is what I drafted weeks Watching Her Without Kate Dave ….......... 102 that she would. When Before the before it all went bonkers: “40 Before the (Golden) Dawn Geoff Boswell …. 104 Dawn was announced Peter was years on from starting Our Kate Experiences Janine King & others 108 wearing his finest Mrs. Doyle HomeGround, what is Paper Dolls Lisa Cartmell …......................... 110 smug-face around the house for astonishing is that Kate is not My Kate Story Tracy Hodson …................... 112 weeks! Those shows were - and simply now a creator of Kate Mastermind Quiz Simon O’Donovan … 113 still are - like a dream. Sitting beautiful songs and music, she BushBibliography Peter and Seán ….............. 114 there watching Kate on stage I is – simply put - a global Me and Pigeon Dusan Misic ….................... 124 had to keep checking in with cultural phenomenon. How else Among Angels Those we have lost …...............130 reality. Eight years later it still do you explain all the internet Letters …......................................................131 feels like a dream. I think it memes and material choking Quiz Answers & Personal Messages …....... 133 always will. TikTok and Instagram, the first time reactors on YouTube, the was never our problem. It was <<< And as I write, Kate is No.1 ‘Most Wuthering Heights Day’, always what to leave out, and so on Before the for the third week! It is the Song the learned books and articles it was this time, even though in Dawn (a total of 4 of Summer. We had aimed to which seek to dissect and this download format we are hours!) which were publish HG 80 on 18th May, our explain her work, the artists, not so restricted for size. very popular. The anniversary, but it was taking photographers and fashion trilogy documents longer than anticipated. It had designers who parade her It may be that what we how the shows grown like an enormous turnip influence? Along with that the haven’t used this time may find came about, the from 32 pages to 134! And as almost impossibility of covering another home. When we ceased rehearsals, a full we were working on the mag, the global cultural imperative printed production of blow-by-blow Stranger Things happened - and that Kate has created. Under HomeGround ten years ago, we description of the Peter had to re-do The News! that weight it is not surprising indicated that we might come opening night of the What an exciting time we find Kate herself remains back with download versions. show itself and all ourselves in in this crazy, determined to live a life This is the first time we’ve the action, media uncertain world. Over the last untouched by the madness, to actually done it. If you like the buzz and acclaim few weeks we have watched as maintain a space in which she idea, please let us know. from the RUTH has exploded around the can live a family life and yet performances, the planet. It shows the power and continue to create beautiful Peter live album and the longevity of this remarkable music.” And then Stranger lasting legacy of the song. It was powerful in 1985, Things set this potential afire. shows. when most of us were in our Not having enough material All podcasts at KateBushNews HomeGround Summer 2022 3

For the full news The News UK & Éire with sound and ...have the walls got ears here? video please go to Kate achieved her second No.1 our sister entity on Kate’s Music Embraces On Top of that Hill (for at least three weeks as we the internet at the World - write) in both the UK and The Duffer Brothers have Ireland, some 44 years after KateBushNews - The World Embraces created four extraordinary Wuthering Heights. Kate was a Kate’s Music series of Stranger Things in clear iTunes and Spotify No.1 Running Up That which the child actors have in both territories. Kate now Hill: 3rd week at UK At a time when the globe is grown into young adults. In has a record run of Top 20 hit No.1! Kate: “I just recovering from Covid, a singles for a female artist across can’t believe it!” murderous tyrant is running this latest series the six consecutive decades. amok in Europe, many are characters are facing many of Running Up That worried by the soaring cost of the same challenges that exist There was a certain Hill charts / news basic food and necessities, and in reality right now. I believe controversy surrounding the updates! we have clowns in charge, UK chart the week Kate rose to “Something Good” has actually the Duffer Brothers have No.2 despite on any real Kate UK No.1 For “happened”. Beginning with touched people’s hearts in a measurement having greater Second Week!! Stranger Things, a TV series special way, at a time that’s popularity than the track which Kate: “It’s so which itself has tried to assist was actually listed as No.1. This exciting!” young people in dealing with incredibly difficult for was due to a UK chart rule, fears, worries and depression, everyone, especially younger (accelerated chart ratio “ACR”) Running Up That those “monsters of the psyche”, people. By featuring Running In an article HERE the BBC Hill updates: Kate Kate’s music has emerged explains what happened. “overwhelmed” and globally as a comfort and joy. Up That Hill in such a “really moved” We can do no better than look positive light - as a talisman Kate added a short one- to Kate’s own response after for Max (one of the main minute video, Running Up That KATE IS No.1 IN Running Up That Hill went to Hill 2022 Edit, to her social THE UK CHARTS! no.1 on both the UK and Irish female characters) - the media channels and also to the charts. song has been brought into front page of her official site. It Kate is No.1 in the emotional arena of her has the tag-line “Created in Ireland! And so the woman herself, story. Fear, conflict and the honour of Stranger Things who but for a record company power of love are all around Season 4”. Kate: “It’s all so signing her in her teens, might her and her friends. I salute exciting!” have become a psychiatrist, has the Duffer Brothers for their By landing at No.1 on the done the world more good from courage - taking this new UK Official Singles Chart, After chart rule a recording studio than she series into a much more adult Kate achieved three all-time reset, Kate is might ever have done from a and darker place. I want to Chart records simultaneously; heading for her medical professional’s chair. the longest-ever gap between second UK #1! thank them so much for Number 1 singles (44 years The basic facts are that the bringing the song into so since Wuthering Heights), longest Chart Updates: young audience of Stranger many people’s lives. I’m time taken for a single to reach No.1 Global! Top 5 Things embraced Running Up overwhelmed by the scale of Number 1 (37 years), and Kate USA! UK No.1? That Hill as a protection and an affection and support the also becomes the oldest female escape from horrible things. It song is receiving and it’s all artist at the age of 63, ever to Kate posts (again!) was the song that had saved happening really fast, as if score a UK Number 1 single. about the global Max from Vecna. It emerged it’s being driven along by a This displaced Cher, who was chart success of on TikTok and Instagram as kind of elemental force. I 52 when Believe topped the her song! the background to numerous have to admit I feel really Official Singles Chart in 1998. activities, it was streamed, it moved by it all. Thank you so Cher took to Twitter to Kate climbs the was downloaded, it was viewed very much for making the congratulate Kate on beating charts worldwide! on YouTube and Amazon, and song a No 1 in such an her record. Friday update! and very soon it was noticed. It was a no.1 on Billboard’s unexpected way. The Whole Story, meanwhile, Running Up That Global 200 Chart, it was the has climbed to No.17 in the Hill updates: all the globally most streamed track on Kate UK albums chart. charts and more! Spotify and iTunes. And soon it was making chart impact Europe Kate issues new around the world despite the press release lack of any physical record or It would occupy less space praising Stranger CD to purchase. (none at all?) to set out where Things! RUTH did not chart. No.1 in France, Sweden, Switzerland, Kate enters Norway, Austria, Belgium, Billboard Hot 100 at Iceland, Lithuania, and 8, highest ever Luxemburg. No. 4 in Germany, placing! No.3 in Netherlands. Spotify Kate writes of her excitement on Stranger Things success! Kate Top 10 in official Irish, UK and Australian charts! Plus international charts round-up. Running Up That Hill now worldwide hit after Stranger Things! Kate’s Music in New Season of Netflix Hit Stranger Things! 4 HomeGround Summer 2022

No.1. In Belgium, Ireland, new. By reactivating Running Up In particular Brazil Top 10 Posts from Kate at That Hill, the record company Apple and iTunes. KateBush.com Switzerland, Slovakia, Estonia, is indicating its faith that the Latvia and Lithuania. iTunes song is going to outlast this first Australia & NZ Still Up on that Hill wave of attention … After No.1 in France, Sweden, decades as a beloved alternative RUTH got Kate her second It’s so exciting! Norway, Poland, and artist, she’s suddenly in the official chart No.1 in Oz (as we RUTH is at No. 1 in mainstream alongside Harry write three non-consecutive the UK for the Luxemburg. Everywhere else, Styles and Lizzo. It’s hard weeks) and NZ (two weeks), and second week Top 10 or 20. Even where there enough for an alt rock artist to she was also top of the iTunes crack the top of the Hot 100, and Spotify charts in both. On Top of that Hill is ugly warfare, in Ukraine Kate but it’s unprecedented for a was Top 30 on Spotify, and legacy alt rocker to make her Global Streaming Charts I just want to say a first top 10 appearance after so really big thank you Deezer, in Russia Top 30 many years.” From 7th June RUTH was No.1 to everyone in the Deezer, and Belarus Top 20 on the Global Daily Spotify US The immediate result was chart - the world’s biggest music Shazam and Top 30 Apple. Kate being added to the playlist streaming platform - for a week. How utterly brilliant! One can only hope the on US ‘Top 40’ radio stations It was No.1 on the daily Global for probably the first time ever. Spotify viral music chart, and Running Up That sentiments seep through. No.3 in the world on iTunes Hill is charting In an article in The Ringer: and No.1 on Shazam’s most around the world US & Canada Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill,” and the End of Music Charts searched for songs in the Can we echo Kate's In the US RUTH entered the world. It is difficult to warning about the Billboard Hot 100 at No.8, then As We Knew Them, Nate Rogers conceive the totally poor quality of went to No.4, giving Kate her says: “Even when considering global reach of Kate’s some unofficial first ever Top 5 single in the the way charts are changing to music in June 2022, but merchandise now USA. Meanwhile Hounds of include more older music, in order to try, have a appearing Love re-entered the though, the Kate Bush look at this archive page Billboard Top 200 album resurgence is still an aberration from 19th June. Top 10 in ---ooOoo--- chart and then rose to … the supernova pop-cultural Mongolia! Top 30 in No.12. Kate’s previous moment surrounding Running Kyrgyzstan! - and with As to the ACR chart highest listing was No.28 Up That Hill has been building Hounds of Love sneaking controversy, see for The Red Shoes in 1993. for decades.” back into a number of this Music Week The album actually Top 30s, and both article topped the Billboard In Canada Kate was No.2 Wuthering Heights and Alternative Album Chart for two weeks, and both iTunes Babooshka making chart Further discussion (technically being Kate’s and Spotify No.1. re-entries. Compare with of the US situation first Billboard No.1). No.1 this archived page from by Billboard staffers in the US on both the South & Central America 19th March. and on Radio Streaming Songs and Insight. Digital Song Sales sales Kate has long had a dedicated Radio & TV charts. following in Latin America, and Stranger Things’ this again is apparent from the BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour 22nd music supervisor In response, Mike Top 10, 20, and 30 chart and June Kate’s only recent Nora Felder Chester, Warner Records streaming numbers in Brazil, interview ... BBC Radio 6 Now interviewed by EVP of Radio and Argentina, and other territories. Playing 19th June two-hour show Billboard Commerce said: “Kate hosted by Tom Robinson ... Bush’s global resurgence by way BBC Radio 4 19th June Profile Salon writer Alison of her song’s integration into … BBC News Channel 18th Stine talks about Stranger Things has catapulted June Nick Launay talks about RUTH and Kate’s her back into the zeitgeist of RUTH … BBC Radio 2 17th enduring popular culture. This exciting June hour long Sounds of the 80s connection to lonely moment of discovery moved us Kate Bush Special hosted by kids to service the song to all Gary Davies … 17th June formats of radio, immediately. (RUTH at No.1) Sky News … Variety: How We’re thrilled that our partners BBC News at Six … ITV News ‘Stranger Things’ at the DSPs and radio are at 10 … 15th June ITV London Landed Kate reacting so favourably to this Local News … There are also Bush’s ‘Running Up watershed moment.” a number of good podcasts: see That Hill’ for example 29th April Rock in According to an article in Retrospect, 22nd June Songs That Elle: The Primetimer: “That means Bush’s Changed Music  Unexpected Hero of record company is pushing the Stranger Things 4? song like it’s a brand new hit, Kate Bush and it’s looking for airplay on stations that play current tunes If the BBC links instead of stations that only have expired, play classic rock. That’s YouTube is a fruitful incredibly rare, because labels place to search for want listeners to focus on what’s these shows Kate Bush Fan Podcast: Special Global Fan Celebration Graphic: Gürsel Ali IMPORTANT: If you’re liking what we do at KBNews, please consider throwing us a small donation to help us support website running costs HERE HomeGround Summer 2022 5

Poems, Hats and a Beard … To celebrate, John Carder Bush invites you to take a look and a listen Many, many years ago, I used to give live poetry readings with my two poet friends, Tony Buzan and Jeremy Cartland as the Salatticum Poets, and in more recent years, I used to entertain them both with recitations of my favourite poems when we met for dinner. Because both of them have now moved on to the Great Poetry Reading in the Sky, I decided I would carry on reciting, but to a wider audience. So I came up with Poems, Hats and a Beard, a collection of videoed recitations of my favourite poems, including one of my own. The reason that these are recitations and not readings, is that I find I have a much more intimate relationship with the poems when I learn them by heart, as well as becoming even more amazed at the genius behind each one – the selection comes mainly from an age when writing poetry was still a craft as well as an art. The Introduction video explains the collection. To celebrate HomeGround’s 40th, I am inviting you all to take a look and a listen by visiting the Poems Hats and a Beard website at www.johncarderbush.com/poetry and using the login HOMEGROUND and the password: FORTY  6 HomeGround Summer 2022

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Paddy Bush is Our Journeys Through Time Kate’s brother, and is a trained maker … Paddy Bush wishes HomeGround a Happy 40th of musical instruments, and a I can’t remember a time when I suspended in layers of time. South London. I divided the multi-talented wasn’t fascinated by unusual When I listen to a recording song into three sections. I made musician in his own musical instruments, even my through headphones, one that I the first part start halfway right. An original school exercise books were actually worked on many years through the opening bar; I was member of the KT covered in drawings of ago using headphones in Air or looking for something with a Bush Band he instruments I had copied from Abbey Road Studios, my sense sense of melancholy that gave played and did medieval paintings, pictured in of recall is so strong that it feels space for Kate’s vocal. I wrote backing vocals at books from our school library. like I am actually there again. I the section for the chorus like Kate’s original pub Angels playing beautiful and can smell the air-conditioning, an Irish jig moving at twice the stands in 1977 and strange Psaltries and Rebecs in sense the proximity of the speed and starting right on the made considerable the heavens, while on Earth studio window to the control first beat. I left the final section contributions to the there were Bagpipes and room, it’s the very feeling of the empty except for some single live tour in 1979 Hurdy-gurdies in the hands of day. It’s like we recorded the lonely harmonic ‘pings’ for the and all of her dizzy musicians playing for actual experience and not just line “What a waste of all those albums. His special country weddings. They looked the sound, perhaps you sense army dreamers”. interest has always out from their parchments and something similar, something been what is now canvases towards the future as I more than just the sound. Kate hadn’t heard my called World Music, gazed into their worlds from the Mandolin parts from that and has been painted past. I would spend Music’s moments through previous night so I quickly called folk music hours in museums trying to time feel both transparent and played my piece to her about and ethnic music. work out how these instruments solid, certain songs seem to thirty seconds before we started His contributions to were played and constructed. stretch to infinity like mirrors recording on the following Kate’s music has Each one was a box of reflecting mirrors. morning. Then Alan Murphy, always been those mysteries, an enigma machine Brian Bath and myself sat natural ethnic of coded possibilities. There is one song that together in the studio while sounds played on stands out for me, especially at Kate sang her vocal from inside original or recreated If you asked me how I see this point in time. I often think an overdub booth. We recorded instruments. His music itself, I would have to say of the night before the Army the song in one single take with own career has that it’s not something I see in Dreamers recording session when no rehearsal. included playing on the form of words and dots I wrote my mandolin piece to albums with written on manuscript paper. Kate’s beautiful and moving As the session started I Hughes de Each piece of music for me is track. I worked late into the could feel the hands of destiny Courson, Colin more like a real place early hours in our house in in those moments. Alan and Lloyd Tucker and Brian’s guitars were tuned so other artists using closely, they reflected each traditional and other so exactly that they were acoustic sounds. like different aspects of the same person, the sound of their “An Instrumental perfectly synchronised bass Sibling” on Music strings swung like a giant Musings & Such hypnotic pendulum. There was an intense atmosphere, Articles relating to everything was the way it Paddy on should be, the song was filling KateBushNews with sadness and power as we performed it for the very first Justin Vali and time. I could sense that Paddy at WOMAD something was happening, 2012 something that was not confined to those moments in the studio. The actual three minutes or so it took to record our performance melted into the days of building up our recorded track. There were those unplanned, almost accidental, moments that somehow made it into the final 8 HomeGround Summer 2022

mix too. Like when I hadn’t It’s good to know you are From prehistory’s earliest World Routes in realised that we were actually still there and that we are in a cave paintings showing a Madagascar recording as I sang the ends of time continuum with a life of shaman playing hunting bows BBC documentary the first two lines ‘BFPO’ and its own. Music has transformed arranged like a harp gathered about Madagascan ‘Mammy’s Hero’ during the us and carried us through time from a group of hunters, we music with Paddy, introduction, while waiting to together. My life still overflows travel through the millennia to Justin Vali and Lucy sing overdubs for the backing in musical instruments, they are the sounds of instruments that Duran vocals in the chorus section. the time machines that take me haven’t even been invented yet. Episode 1 Once all our recording was to places I wouldn’t get to any I look on at all the mysteries Episode 2 complete and Kate had mixed other way. and secrets that the instruments Episode 3 and delivered the song, the of music represent to me with Episode 4 inevitable time came to finally While Kate was developing the same passion and Episode 5 leave the studio having sent our her unique approach to music fascination that burned inside work invisibly out into the and dance in the 1970s I was that young boy with his Colin Lloyd-Tucker world. studying musical instrument schoolbooks covered in tells us that he and technology and construction. I drawings. Paddy did make a It’s always a surprise to hear had some excellent teachers start on new who showed me wonderful skills Happy Birthday HomeGround, BushTucker a song’s first broadcast on the that let me build instruments material in 2017 radio, followed by those that were impossible to obtain, With love from Paddy  although the Covid like those instruments in the weirdness put the moments it played almost by hands of angels. brakes on things. In the meantime Paddy has been building a new studio and he is hopeful they can get back to it. accident in a shop or a car or even saw young soldiers waiting in an airport lounge while the track played with an overwhelming sense of coincidence and relevance, like today. Back then maybe we shouldn’t have been surprised when the BBC decided to ban our recording, perhaps we should have been flattered. One day I heard it in Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo, on a car radio with my mandolin tune looped over and over being played as a local radio station’s ID. I couldn’t believe it, I found myself completely overwhelmed by a sense of synchronicity and anonymity hearing my playing so far away from familiar South London. All of these moments are like a mysterious matrix of time-layers cascading out in all directions from the original three minutes and some seconds from one day in 1980. When I hear our work in that song now I find it hard to hold back the tears for so many reasons. As we recorded those unique moments, amazingly you were waiting somewhere in the future, and as far as I’m concerned that makes you unique too and very much a part of it. And here we are now. HomeGround Summer 2022 9

Through Leaves … Krys reflects on the pleasure of walking through memories Saudade: the place We’ve been together now for 40 years later. And it’s still a great meetings and partings. you long for but can years. Twice as long as Cathy adventure, this particular life I Our Wedding Day. 30th never return to has been clawing at that Hiraezh: an intense window and searching the have been blessed to have been November 1984. Getting ready homesickness, a moors to reclaim what has been given, albeit with more in my parents’ bedroom, my deep longing for lost. Sitting here, looking back something, or over my shoulder, it feels experience; a little more sorrow Dad calls to me, “Krys, there’s someone departed, something akin to this. And and a few more laughter-lines. a woman on the phone for long gone, or lost with this feeling very much in my heart I open that old Like most of us. you!” It was Kate to wish us “What we have familiar door and step into this It’s more than just good old- luck. The first time we had once enjoyed place made of memories. deeply we can fashioned, sentimental nostalgia spoken. I floated down the aisle. never lose. Through these years I’ve that we all indulge in from time 23rd January 1985. Peter, All that we love written down some of my deeply becomes a recollections in the pages of to time. It’s coming from a Dave and I go to East Wickham part of us.” HomeGround and later in the place deeper than this. This Farm to discuss our idea for a Helen Keller Anthology. This time these thoughts and feelings are place has a name: I found the jointly organised fan The box set Kate coming from the place where I word “Saudade” some years Convention between us and the gave to us at the am in my life now. Growing 1990 Convention older as we do, if we’re lucky, ago and its definition struck a KBC. John Carder Bush was brings with it all kinds of chord in me, and deeply. This is there. Dr. and Hannah Bush emotions, and an increasing sense of loss as loved ones the place I’m feeling. too. And Kate walked into the depart, and that all too acute I’m thinking about some of room. And it was like one of awareness that time is running too fast. Is there a grief for lost my favourite memories those dreams. Lots of hugs, youth? There are more years associated with Kate. One of kisses and smiles. That smile behind me than ahead. And it shakes me up - as it should - my earliest is visiting Haworth and those eyes. Kate spent an this stark reminder not to waste for the first time in 1979 and hour with us as we proposed this precious time. A blink away I was 17 and the promise of life seeing a Kate poster displayed our ideas for a Convention. She was waiting. The great in a shop window in the High asked if she could borrow adventure. And now it’s forty Street. I can picture it now. The Peter’s video and radio archive shop is still there through its book, returning it a week later many incarnations. I remember along with a letter to say YES! seeing the Tour of Life posters 30th November 1985, our 1st in Liverpool. And skating to Wedding Anniversary and the Wow at Deeside ice rink when day of the first KBC/ my Dad took my sister and me HomeGround Convention. there every Sunday morning. Kate was wearing her Never For That was joyous. A sensation as Ever dress and moccasins. She’d close to flying as it could get. just returned from her Hounds I remember listening to The of Love promo trip to Canada Dreaming for the first and America. time through a 1986 was the year of the cracking headache, Kate videos: The Big Sky in with a thunderstorm March and Experiment IV in raging outside my November. On the evening of bedroom window. Sunday 2nd November John The Dreaming is Carder Bush phoned to say that probably my Kate would like us to be extras favourite of Kate’s in her video for Experiment IV. albums. It still sounds We make phone calls to bosses as fresh and startling to beg the next day off work. as the first time I Monday 3rd November: 8am at listened to it. How the disused military hospital at can this too be 40 Shooter’s Hill. Kate showed us years old? I associate the story-board that she had The Dreaming with the sketched for the video. I wonder time when my life whatever happened to it? John changed and opened very kindly gave the three of us out to become what each an inscribed copy of the it is now with its just published Cathy. We are adventures and donned in white coats and heartaches, its green death make-up. The 10 HomeGround Summer 2022

absolute pleasure of being in like Peter to keep it. younger Kate, and some of the Dave, Kate, Krys the company of Hugh Laurie And if I could re- grandchildren, were on a small and Peter at the and Dawn French. And a table next to Hannah’s chair. I 1990 Convention miserable Richard Vernon on live other days I would remember there were photos of the Saturday of the outside choose those spent the real Hounds of Love taken According to Peter location shoot, who wouldn’t let sitting in that room at by John in a folder lying on the J. Tester’s 1991 anyone use his caravan loo! I The Farm with Dr. piano seat. In the summer of booklet East still have two cans of Heineken Bush and Hannah. 1986 Hannah showed us the Wickham and from that day, from the catering Some of my fondest inscribed copy of Cathy that Welling: “The old bus - the ‘eaty bus’ as we called and most treasured John had given to her ahead of farmhouse, judged it. The next day was our KBC/ memories from these publication later that year. She to be an Eighteenth HomeGround Video Party 40 years will always be was so proud of her son and Century building on which served as a launch for those visits. these beautiful photographs. I its external The Whole Story. I think my remember her telling us that appearance, is still favourite memory of that event The Farm was the her favourite was the one of there, half hidden was of Dave and I waiting for hive where three little Kate dancing in the behind high Kate in the foyer of the Video unique, individually garden, completely lost in her bushes, and it Cafe in London’s Argyll Street. creative children grew own dreamy world. probably occupies She arrived and was having a up. Where music was the site of the quick cigarette before we took played and made, songs and I have many treasured timber court lodge her into the main area of the poems written, photographs memories of Hannah and with referred to by venue. Two young men came taken. I remember John telling each one I think of her hugs, Hasted [History of towards us, hesitated, looked at me that there was a ghost. This her smile and her warmth. And Kent, 1797]. Kate, looked at each other and was where Kate wrote her early I can still hear that beautiful, we heard one say, “Nah, can’t songs. This was where her soft voice and her Irish accent “It is the sole be,” and carried on walking. home studio was built and that was almost music in itself. surviving reminder We looked each other and where The Dreaming was created; Her love of Kate’s fans was of the vanished giggled. Kate was probably it is the “half-of-a-heaven”. genuine and from her heart, rural character of used to moments like this. That John’s books Cathy and Inside always concerned that everyone the locality, all the week was a few days of heaven The Rainbow perfectly capture was doing okay. She thought rest having been in an otherwise hellish year this essence of the place and the fans were “great”. It’s thirty swept away in the with work. I walked out of my time of those formative years. years since Hannah died. I miss Twentieth Century job that week. I wasn’t cut out Only those who lived there can her still. All of us who knew her redevelopment... for an office job in the brutal ever know what it was really will always miss her and will Only the old church ’80s world of London finance. like. always be so thankful for her with the farmhouse When I told Kate about these kindness and her love. I and some work woes she gave me the best East Wickham Farm. Even remember the first visit to see outbuildings of East piece of advice: “Don’t take that the name sounds old and Dr. Bush after Hannah had Wickham Farm in kind of shit from anybody”. romantic. And those of us who died. He took us into the back Wickham Street were lucky enough to visit in room; informal, den-like and survive to remind Saturday 17th November those early, idyllic, heady days cosy. Her absence was tangible. us of the old 1990 and the KBC/ of the ’70s and ’80s will know To me she was always the heart agrarian hamlet.” HomeGround Convention at that is exactly what it was. We of the Farm. I cried the whole the Hammersmith Palais. Kate were transported into another car journey home. For Hannah. was happy and relaxed and was world. Timeless and romantic. For Dr. Bush, Kate, John, clearly enjoying herself. Near It was a magical place. It was Paddy, and Lisa. For all who the end of her hour on stage the place Kate had come from. loved this kind, remarkable and she leaned forward on the comfy sofa and rummaged into As soon as we lifted the her sock. She brought out a latch on the tall and quite piece of paper and then, to our ordinary wooden gate we were complete surprise and delight, in that other world. The path she began to sing her song to that led to the front door was the tune of My Lagan Love. Even lined either side with high dark thinking about it now brings holly bushes. We’d ring the bell tears to my eyes. It is one of at the old heavy white door. In those days I wish I could live later years the doorbell chimed over again. A happy, wonderful Für Elise. Dr. Bush always day. Perfect. A few days later greeted us with a smile and when we were going through would take us into the oak- the Convention boxes we beamed room immediately to discovered Kate’s folded piece the left. We’d sit on the Knole of paper. We told her that we’d settee, the three of us. Kate’s found it and she said she would Ivor Novello awards were on the red-brick mantelpiece to our right. There were china figurines. Framed photos of a HomeGround Summer 2022 11

Krys’s box of beautiful woman. summer’s evening. only to us but to everyone they special Kate things. We continued to visit Dr. I remember when had wrapped their wings Flowers from Kate around and welcomed in? How from 2003, 2006 Bush as usual, around Kate’s Dr. Bush had just I wish we had a replay-a-day and 2007, bronze birthday and Christmas. We’d had a new and option. We just have to Lionheart badge spend a couple of hours talking enormous shower remember. Remember it all. given to me by Lisa about all kinds of things. Dr. installed. He was so Bradley. Wrist band Bush was always interested in excited about it and Then there are my and confetti from Dave’s experiences of working wanted to show us. I memories of Kate. Not Kate the Family and in the music business. These told him it reminded the famous, but Kate the friend. Friends show of conversations were fascinating. me of the The wonderful cards, phone Before the Dawn. Dr. Bush’s understanding and Orgasmatron in the calls and flowers. I’ve kept them experience of the music film Sleeper. He all; the flowers, now faded, in Vita’s Lost Poem * business was astute and laughed. A favourite little boxes. She sent me a cloth- intelligent. He had a fine mind. memory of Dr. Bush covered notebook in which to When sometimes I On one visit to the Farm there is from December write my wishes. It turned out stroll in silence, was a heavy tome lying open on 1997. It was the year that my wish could never come with you the kitchen table that he was of dying cars. Our true but Kate was one of the currently reading. It was about latest old banger was dear ones who helped me Through great floral molluscs. It must have been on its knees and we through the challenging and meadows of open 800 pages. And we’d talk of almost didn’t make it emotional time of IVF Kate. And about the magazine, to the Farm. We told treatment. I was strong and country and what was happening in our Dr. Bush the car determined, I was a fighter. Her I listen to your lives. Often our visits coincided saga. He sat forward little cards had a habit of chatter, and give with a new issue coming back on his settee, as I turning up on specific days. In thanks to the gods from the printers so we could always remember 2006 I had an hysterectomy. It For the honest take some mags with us. I him doing, took his was a traumatic week. I have friendship, which adored the expression on Dr. pipe from his lips and said to never been so frightened in my made you my Bush’s face when he held a me, with a twinkle in his eyes, life as that day of the surgery. It copy in his hands, and so proud “Do you want to buy a Volvo?” was so final. The end of a companion of his daughter. How I loved “How much?” I asked. “Deal!” journey. The end. Kate phoned But in the heavy that warm, endearing smile, his And that was how we came to throughout that week I was in pipe perched at the corner of own his gorgeous old silver hospital to check that I was fragrance of his mouth, and he’d hold up a Volvo. I loved that car. It was okay - and that Peter was okay intoxicating night page with an illustration by like a tank. It also had a bite too. He wasn’t and he ended up I search on your lip Debi and say, “Look at that!” taken out of the driver’s seat breaking down in tears on the for a madder caress Sometimes a fox would peep in where one of the Hounds of phone to her. Kate was an I tear secrets from through the French doors on a Love had chewed it. Part of its Angel that week. I have tears in your yielding flesh history and I loved it for this. I my eyes thinking of this time. Giving thanks to the still have the number plate and fate which made Dr. Bush’s self-adapted car Kate did the same for many you my mistress. radio cassette player. others too. A card or a call that Around 1999 I’d started made a difference. The same (The translation growing plants from seed. I acts of kindness that Hannah from French of the took him a tray of snapdragons often showed. That same big, poem discovered I’d grown and he gave me some warm heart as her beautiful hidden in a book in holly tree saplings from his Mum. Kate didn’t have to do Vita’s Writing Room magic garden. One is still any of these things for anyone. in 2013; the hand- growing here in our garden. She just did them and made written original That holly tree is still as special time in her busy life. shown to me by to me now as then and I think Vicky, the of our old friend when I see it. In 1998 I’d made sleep-suits conservator). In later years Dr. Bush and I for Bertie when he was a baby. would get merry together; I’d tie-dyed them and painted Remy Martin for me and dragons, leaping hares, Jameson’s for him. Oh God, ladybirds and all kinds of those evenings. These creatures on them. Kate wrote memories bring happy tears to to me to say that she loved the my eyes, yet such a yearning for suits so much she’d cut the feet that place and those beloved, out of them to prolong their long gone friends. Did they life! And I just loved that. know how special they both were to us, and the joy that A particularly special time being with them brought not was when she phoned us on the day that we were having a celebration of the life of our beloved friend, Sarah-Jane 12 HomeGround Summer 2022

Mackenzie. Sarah had died on preserved for the future. the contemporary records Vita Sackville- 30th December 2002 at the age I first became aware of Vita written by Vita and her West Reading list of 31. Her funeral was associates. There is thankfully harrowing. We decided that Sackville-West in 1991 and had an abundance of Vita’s The poetry: awful day that we would do bought around ten books back published letters. There are also Collected Poems something to celebrate our then. My interest in Vita grew published memoirs and letters Vol. One; Selected Sarah. So on 27th September deeper nine years ago when by those who knew her, loved Poems; Orchard 2003 we had Sarah’s Bash. Peter and I joined the National her. A fine example being the and Vineyard;The Kate couldn’t make it but she Trust and we began visiting her detailed diaries and letters of Land; The Garden; phoned and we talked for an famous home and garden at Virginia Woolf. I love how Solitude hour. We talked about Sarah Sissinghurst, every month or Virginia addresses some letters and about lots of other things. I two. Over the last five years I to “Donkey West”, a teasing pet The novels: did my Scooby-Doo voice and have become deeply immersed name she had for Vita. Many Grand Canyon; made her laugh. Sarah would in the life and work of Vita. of Vita’s letters have been The Edwardians; have loved to know that Kate published, others have not but The Dark Island; had cared so much and was a In 2018 I read the are held in archives for people Grey Wethers; part of this special day. A little Glendinning biography which like me who like to research. No Signposts in the later there was a knock at the brought Vita to life for me. And The words of Vita’s friends and Sea. door and Kate had sent I bought a signed book: Some associates are invaluable sources Vita Sackville-West champagne and wine to raise a Flowers, endearingly inscribed in gaining a greater insight into - Selected Writings toast to our darling Sarah. We by Vita for her part-time the many and various aspects edited by Mary Ann partied in a way that would gardener at Sissinghurst “For of Vita as a person. The diaries Caws. have made Sarah proud. She Miss Lee, from her collaborator in the of James Lees-Milne and his was almost certainly there in garden”. From there I began biography Harold Nicolson are The biographies: spirit. collecting more books written wonderfully detailed records of Andrew Marvell; by and about her. This both Harold and Vita, written Pepita; Knole and Our beloved friend, Kate. I expanded into exploring books by their dear and mutual friend. the Sackvilles can never thank her enough for written by those closely I wish I had met her. I wish I her kindness through all of associated with Vita: her had photographed her. She Travel Writing: these years. husband Harold Nicolson; detested having her photograph Passenger to Violet Trefusis; Virginia Woolf, taken, and it shows. People Teheran; Twelve Saudade. Hiraezh. How this and the many other fascinating know her for the creation of the Days in Persia time and life flies. lives that had opened up to me. garden at Sissinghurst along with Harold, its designer and The letters: Growing older brings things Many of Vita’s letters and her “ideal collaborator”. Vita and Harold; up sharp and close, like what manuscripts are housed in Violet to Vita; The happens to these special things archive centres: the New York Had Vita been male she Letters of Vita of ours once we’re no longer Public Library, the Beinecke would have inherited her Sackville-West to here. For me it is those Rare Book and Library at Yale beloved Knole and title, 4th Virginia Woolf; treasured cards and letters from University, with recordings held Baron Sackville. In 1930 she Dearest Andrew Kate, and cards from her in The British Library, and bought (for £12,375) the parents. Not only these but the some archived letters and derelict Sissinghurst Castle and Gardening books: letters, cards and manuscripts manuscripts at Reading and land, and out of the ruins she In Your Garden; In of prose and poetry from John. Sussex Universities in the UK. Your Garden Again; These things have to be What I find most interesting are More For Your Garden; Even More For Your Garden Bibliography Robert Cross and Ann Ravenscroft- Hulme: Vita Sackville-West: A Bibliography Vita’s Writing Room at Sissinghurst. Photo: Krys HomeGround Summer 2022 13

Flowers from Kate created her own Knole. ** feels as though Vita has merely anger Denys Trefusis had January 2007 Vita is known for her many stepped out into the garden. burned all of Vita’s letters to That room is Vita and all that Violet. Violet’s letters to Vita Reading List: lovers. But she was so much was dear to her. Sacred ground were published in 1989 as Violet more, with a deep passion for where few in her life-time were to Vita. A tentative friendship Vita Biographies: so many subjects, from Darwin permitted to enter. between them resumed during Nigel Nicolson and to Astronomy, to psychology, the Second World War and a Vita Sackville-West: sexuality, travel, horticulture, Vicky, the lovely conservator handful of Vita’s letters from Portrait of a agriculture, literature and showed me so many things she that time are published in this Marriage; Victoria Shakespeare. Her garden thought I would be interested book. The love remained for Glendinning: Vita writing is informative and in. The room and turret is full the rest of their lives. Michael Stevens: V. entertaining, her novels of Vita’s beloved books. Vicky Sackville-West; interesting and observational, began by showing to me a first To stand at Vita’s desk is Jane Brown: Vita’s her poetry is quite beautiful and edition of Emily Dickinson’s something I will never forget. I Other World that is where she lays her heart Poems, inscribed in Vita’s hand, could feel it as a tremble in my open and exposed. It is her in green ink: “V.S-W Sissinghurst solar plexus. On her desk were Harold Nicolson: poetry I love the best. This is 1934, from Mrs. Dwight Morrow”. her special things. The portrait Diaries and Letters where Vita shows her sensuality. She showed me Vita’s photograph of Virginia Woolf (3 volumes 1930- Being in love fired her inscriptions and marginalia by Lenare; a photograph of 39; 1939-45;1945- creativity, and especially so in inside various books; and pencil Harold; another of her 62, edited by Nigel her poetry. Above all things, sketches of plans for The White daughter-in-law, Luisa and Nicolson); Vita wanted to be remembered Garden which Vita had made grand-daughter Vanessa Pepita. James Lees-Milne: as a poet. on the back and inside cover of There is a framed print of the Harold Nicolson - A a Courts of Justice booklet - Branwell Brontë portrait of his Biography (2 Vita’s Writing Room, on the and probably made as she three sisters. From a basket on volumes). first floor of the Tower at waited for a case to begin at the the desk Vicky took out Vita’s Sissinghurst is as she left it at Magistrate’s Court in bronze Land Army badge; Nigel Nicolson: her death in 1962. Or it was Cranbrook, where she was then she showed me Vita’s fine Long Life; The until August of last year. She Justice of the Peace. Vita had tortoise-shell cigarette holder, Letters of Virginia would have been horrified to amended the title on the cover with her bite-marks in the Woolf (6 volumes know that the ceiling of her of The Intermediate Sex to read mouthpiece: this was such an 1888-1941, edited beloved tower room had fallen The Middle Sex: a clear intensely personal and intimate by Nigel Nicolson, down onto her desk. The room indication of her feelings about thing to see. Also on the desk assistant editor is currently under careful repair her own sexuality. her last packet of cigarettes and Joanne Trautmann) and conservation before it can a leaf of matches. Nearby lay be restored to how she had left Vicky showed me the her spectacles, which again I Vanessa Nicolson: it. The blessing is that the Gladstone bag which had been found so very moving to see up Have You Been ceiling had been wallpapered found in a cupboard in the close. To me there is something Good?; and had held intact preventing turret by Vita’s son, Nigel of Vita’s spirit in such personal The Truth Game more serious damage to Vita’s Nicolson, a few days after she items that she used every day. desk and its contents. had died. The key was long lost How can there not be? Juilet Nicolson: A so he cut open the leather. House Full of In 2019 I was lucky enough Inside was Vita’s manuscript: Then Vicky reached for a Daughters; to be taken into Vita’s Writing her “confession, autobiography, book of French poetry from the Frostquake Room. A dream I never whatever I may call it”. It was the shelf; opened it, and took out a thought possible, but this account of her early life, and of piece of paper. She unfolded Adam Nicolson: happened twice that year her relationship with Violet the paper to show me a poem Sissinghurst thanks to the wonderful Trefusis; written in 1920 with that Vita had written, in conservator I’d met there. Being almost certainly the intention French, to Violet. This poem* Robert Sackville- in that room was comparable that it be published after her had lain undiscovered until West: Inheritance; only to being at the Farm. It death. This was to become 2013 when it was found during The Disinherited Portrait of a Marriage, with conservation work. I cried. additional material by Nigel, Susan Mary Alsop: and was published in 1973. This adventure with Vita Lady Sackville “has me by the heart”. It has Vicky showed me the Sir also made me realise more than Violet Trefusis: John Lavery portrait of ‘Violet ever the importance of Don’t Look Round Keppel, Mrs Denys Robert archiving, conservation and Trefusis’, painted after the love preservation of things such as Diane Souhami: affair with Vita had ended and our letters and cards from Kate Mrs Keppel and Violet had been exiled to Paris and how these should be Her Daughter by her mother, Alice Keppel, preserved and made available for the sake of the family for the future researchers, The Memoirs of reputation. It is a beautiful and scholars and musicians who Ellen Terry (edited sad portrait of a woman with a will, I have no doubt, be by Christopher St. shattered heart. In desperate studying academically the work John). 14 HomeGround Summer 2022

of Kate Bush. Her music will to the left on entering through hence. Haworth have a long and strong afterlife. the front door, where the With archiving and Parsonage, She will take her place Brontës wrote their novels November 2016 alongside the other venerated around the square table (if you preservation in mind, let us Photo: Krys composers and writers. look carefully the letter “E” is think about this in terms of our scored into the table-top); and own Kate collections. I know a Right: Charlotte I think of Ellen Terry’s 16th there against the far wall is the few very serious collectors of all Brontë’s mourning Century home Smallhythe chaise longue where Emily things Kate. What will happen shoes, 1850.From Place in Tenterden, Kent. After died. I cannot help but think of to your treasures, these things the Charlotte Great Ellen’s death in 1928, her her final days and how she which are in effect, historical & Small exhibition daughter Edy Craig, turned the would never know the impact documents? The albums and we saw in 2016. house into a museum to that her work would have on singles, the posters, the The description commemorate her mother’s life Literature. Without Emily’s mementos of a time when this states: “Long walks and work, and converted the Wuthering Heights Kate’s life happened and we were there. I over damp ground barn into a theatre where could have been a different think it’s very important that we caused damage to performances are still held. story. That room is a all think about this and to do so Charlotte’s After Edy’s death in 1947, Vita profoundly moving place to be, now. From my travels into Vita’s mourning shoes helped to instigate its ownership and it is always a wrench to world I know now more than which she by the National Trust in order have to walk away. Whatever it ever before how vital it is to meticulously that the place and its contents is in that room is tangible to preserve these items for the repaired with the would be preserved. Smallhythe me. There’s a different feeling future scholars who will study hair of her departed was very much alive with again in Emily’s small Kate’s music. They will see siblings. A sprig of creativity in Ellen’s and Edy’s bedroom, with their enchanting from the letters and cards that heather, lifetimes and retains that aura childhood drawings scratched she sent to so many of us how symbolising of having been created from into the plastered walls. I generous of spirit she was; these solitude, is believed love. There are fascinating remember many years ago are the things that make a to have been displays of Ellen’s personal when I first visited with my stitched with artefacts including the famous parents, the displays of those Emily’s hair.” beetle-wing costume for her tiny books that the Brontë Photo: Krys performance as Lady Macbeth children had made as a part of and immortalised in the their imaginary world of Below: A lock of painting by John Sargent. Gondal. At the Parsonage Emily Brontë’s hair. Ellen’s death mask is held in a today items from their shoes, Photo: Krys red velvet-lined glass case. clothes and bonnets to braids of Ghostly and quite beautiful. their hair are part of the collection. All of these precious With Smallhythe in mind, things preserved for the future. my imagined Kate Bush And it matters very much. Museum would be housed at Then, now, five hundred years The Farm, the place where it all began. Very much like Haworth Parsonage too where that vital creative essence of the Brontës can still be felt. Particularly so in that first room HomeGround Summer 2022 15

She walks in the person real, not just a name in a first family recordings. We can are many items belonging to loveliness she history book. Then there is the hear her laughing as she sings Kate; each item is associated digital aspect which is more and her Mother’s laughter too. with that given album and time. made, likely to be lost. Most of us There is film footage of Cathy Between the apple- don’t think about the dancing and singing in the We enter the Lionheart attic preservation of emails and the garden. Running into her with its atmosphere of a time blossom and the like, but we should. Daddy’s arms. He lifts her up just out of reach. My favourite water - into the summer sky. She’s is the Never For Ever room: this And so it is one hundred laughing. Further into the room door opens into the dove-wing She walks among years from now and we’re we hear more embryonic songs, sounds of All We Ever Look For the patterned pied about to enter the Kate Bush evolving into the early demos and we are greeted by the Museum at East Wickham of what will eventually lead to album cover’s holographic brocade, Farm, curated by the long The Kick Inside. There are a few creatures. Then into the rooms Each flower her established and highly of Cathy’s toys and games in of The Dreaming, Hounds of Love, son, and every tree respected Kate Bush Society, cabinets: a well-loved favourite The Red Shoes, Aerial, 50 Words initially started by Kate’s family bear, a rag-doll made by her For Snow, and yes, it’s snowing in her daughter. and friends, and just as it was at Mother, some glove puppets, a there. (There are another five Smallhythe it is built from love. train set and her dolls’ house, a rooms for albums yet to be Vita Sackville-West, And it still feels like home. replica of the Farm made by born in our lifetime). The Land (Spring) her Father. There are some tiny We walk through the white clothes: the family Christening The Video and Cinema Room Vita’s Centenary door and into the first room on gown of ivory silk and a pair of contains every visual recording poem for Ellen the right: The Early Years. It is kid-skin baby shoes. made; rescued and restored. Terry, The Times, the original family dining room Technology has expanded 27th February 1947: with the enormous fireplace. At We walk into the next room: beyond anything imaginable in Christmas time there is a tree The Writing Room. Here are 2022. Before the Dawn is an “She was all and the fire is lit. There are displayed Kate’s manuscripts, immersive film experience. woman to me, informal family photographs: her published and unpublished There is the film of her much- all the rhymes Kate - Cathy - as a baby in her works and musical scores, beloved 2028 show: the simple Hung by the young Mother’s arms, and as a small handwritten lyrics and crossed- perfection of Kate at her piano. child. Of the family gathered out notes in the progression of Orlando together. A child’s voice is a song’s journey. Here are the The Portrait Gallery houses a on the oak.” singing. A pure, clear voice. A notebooks, and her diaries. collection of photographs taken song she’s made up about the There are doodles and sketches by John Carder Bush; it is an Ellen Terry’s death Moon. Then another. The very intimate and heartfelt record of mask at Smallhythe of cats. Her favourite Kate’s life and career. There Place in 2013. ash-tray. Her lucky are informal family photos from Photo: Krys song-writing pens; babyhood to the polished pebbles and stones, formal publicity portraits. This mementos of happy room houses the manuscripts days and places; a of published and unpublished framed picture of a novels, poems and recordings king sitting on top of of John Carder Bush. a mountain, drawn by her little son. The Artwork Gallery shows the Kate’s final and artworks for the albums and unfinished symphony singles from the preliminary created for voices sketches and abandoned ideas only is displayed in a to the finished pieces. There are low-lit case. This story-boards from the videos. piece is performed on occasion in the The Costumes Room displays Lecture Hall where all of Kate’s costumes for the the acoustics are videos and her live shows. perfection. On one There are props and backdrops occasion her great- used in the shows. The silver- grandchildren had painted cardboard Cloudbuster performed the piece. from the Cloudbusting video is displayed (water damage from The Albums Rooms: the late 1980s, now carefully There is a room for restored). The Experiment IV each album, each has monster costume is still its own enormous terrifying! Her red ballet shoes. album cover. These The white Wuthering Heights rooms are full of dress. The velvet Sensual World music. On display costume. Babooshka’s costume. Tour of Life and Before the Dawn costumes and props. Skeletal 16 HomeGround Summer 2022

Fish People and bird masks. the magazine and newspaper their occupants have just ** “The amount of And the little wooden boy. cuttings folders which were stepped out a-while. Some old bedsteads, old gathered by Peter from 1978 visitors have reported the The Awards Room holds onwards, together with the occasional scent of tobacco plough-shares, old Kate’s Ivor Novello and Edison complete collection of smoke and have been quite Cabbage stalks, old awards, Rock & Pop awards, HomeGround magazines and the certain they heard laughter and Brits, Inkie Press awards, Gold Anthology. Some of the letters the sound of a woman singing. broken-down earth and Platinum discs, her CBE and cards from Kate are on closets, old matted and her robe and coronet from display here, including an early The last room is quite being created Baroness Bush of letter to Peter in 1978. The rest sparse, lit in the mauve of wire, and East Wickham in 2029. are in the archive. twilight in Summer. There’s a mountains of grand piano; a shadowy, figure The Instruments Room and The Studies Room and Lecture seated at it. Gradually the sardine tins, all Studio is situated in the old barn Theatre where Kate’s music and figure becomes solid. She is like muddled up in a where Kate’s first recording writing is studied to the level of sunlight through stained glass. studio has been reinstated with Masters degree. Talks are given She begins to play. Something tangle of Bindweed, all of the original equipment by experts, artists, musicians, unfamiliar. It is the unfinished Nettles, and and the leather desk chairs, just writers and members of the symphony. She looks up, smiles as it was. Here on display are Bush family who have and she and her last note fade Ground-elder, the instruments used by Del continued along the musical away. The room becomes silent should have Palmer, Brian Bath, Stuart and literary path. It is very and dark. A door opens and Elliot, Charlie Morgan, Preston much the continuation of what leads us outside and into the sufficed to daunt Heyman, Eberhard Weber, began with John, Paddy and afternoon sunshine of a anybody. Yet the Nigel Kennedy, John Sheahan, Kate, and it evolves and thrives Summer’s day in 2122. Dónal Lunny, Liam O’Flynn down the generations. place, when I first and so many others. There are The museum tour ends with saw it on a summer instruments of all kinds hand- Two rooms are sometimes the shop and the cafe in the crafted by Paddy Bush, inspired open to the public: Kate’s rose garden. The Half-of-a- day in 1930, caught by his many years spent in childhood bedroom where the Heaven angel cake is divine. instantly at my Madagascar and Ireland. Here idea of Wuthering Heights was in the old studio the demo conceived, and the room to the And this is what it was like heart and my recordings of The Dreaming can left of the front door, where the for those of us who lived in the imagination. I fell in be heard. The doves are still up Bushes welcomed the fans and same lifetime as Kate. The on the roof - one of the forever gave them coffee and cakes. future travellers will see a love; love at first sounds of The Farm. Both rooms have been kept just glimpse of something unique sight. I saw what as they were, and are as though and so special, and will wish The Collectors’ Room opens they had been there too.  might be made of it. into a display of record covers It was Sleeping from all around the world. Antique posters from the first Beauty's Castle; KT Bush Band days and but a castle running throughout Kate’s career adorn every wall. The last poster is away into from her final piano sordidness and performance at the Royal Albert Hall. Precious, fragile squalor; a garden ink on paper. All the crying out for memorabilia imaginable is in this room. Each item bears a rescue. It was easy small plaque naming the donor to foresee, even who once cherished it. But each item is more than just a then, what a cherished “thing”: it is a struggle we should memory. There are glass cabinets displaying badges and have to redeem it. buttons, matchboxes, stickers It took three years, and postcards, The Big Sky cigarette lighters, T-shirts and with the help of one sweatshirts. Some of Kate’s old man and his letters and cards to her fans are displayed on the walls, and son, to clear most these are rotated every few of the rubbish months. All of these are stored in archive which can be away.” accessed by appointment. Vita Sackville-West: The HomeGround Room holds Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, Vol. 78, 1953. HomeGround Summer 2022 17

My Jumbled Memories of Kate … Sharon recalls conventions, parties and fun, but mostly friends Sharon was for 1978: My last full year in In 1985 I got a job in Our beautiful memories I will keep many years in school. I was listening to Pink Price Music and made another forever. charge of Floyd, Genesis, Yes and The forever friend in Sarah-Jane responding to much Damned and suddenly this Longuet... Seeing Kate live with Peter of HomeGround’s amazing woman crashed into Gabriel: and then 2014 Before incoming mail. my world and everything The vivid memory I have in the Dawn. Our grateful thanks changed. 1990, whilst resting my to her for many, plastered broken leg in the back And then I met my soul- many letters My dearest friends, Krys room with Kate at the mate, first as a pen-pal through written, and and Peter, were made from Convention event. She took one the official KBC fan club mag friendship and buying the first few copies of of her flowers from a bouquet and married him in 1993, and support. HomeGround in the hope of she was given, gave it to me and in 1994 gave birth to our son. learning more about this told me “Heal well”... I kept that Kate sent a lovely photograph Sharon’s tribute to incredible singer, and then flower a long time. and signed it “Congratulations John Beaumont meeting them and John on the birth of your son one of our oldest Beaumont while attending the Michael” and this still hangs and oldest Convention in 1985. framed on our living room wall. HomeGround readers is on page Years on, my love for them 130 never wavered... Parties and sleep-overs at HG Towers, camping in Glastonbury (I slept in Peter’s little car as my tent had a spider), visiting Highgate Cemetery and various other places larking around with John. So many people I have met, places I have visited, and a path I have travelled since Kate Bush came into my life... I thank her eternally for those memories. Sharon xx Going to every exciting I was also lucky enough to event and meeting more life- be one of the lighter-wavers in long friends like Helen Taylor; The Big Sky music video, along and I do recall also the odd cold with many others which was Wuthering Hike and a drink in great fun, and was a dead body the pub afterwards... at the end of Experiment IV video and the red umbrella lady Artwork Opposite: at the start, which was a much Andrew Fry more serious video but such 18 HomeGround Summer 2022

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In issue 79 we left Retracing the Scenes the story after the release of 50 Part 1: January to May 2012 Words For Snow and the Wild Man Following the release of for a long time now. Very special era of stop-motion this and 3D that, single. The reviews, Director’s Cut and 50 Words For thanks to Robert Allsopp for creating is almost more impressive to watch good to ecstatic, Snow in 2011, on 12th January the most beautiful puppets and to and be completely taken with. Thank and bad to 2012, 33 years after she had Rob and the puppeteers for their hard you, Kate Bush, for this short moment scathing, had first won the award, Kate was work. A big thank you to Roger of reflection” (Huffington Post 25th flooded in. nominated in the ‘Best British Pratt, to Bertie for his determination January).“This visionary animation Female Solo Artist’ category of and help and to everyone who has ... Haunting and moody, the piece This summary of the Brits, along with Adele, been involved in this project. I hope uses shadow puppet animation to its the last ten years is Jessie J, Laura Marling and you enjoy it.” finest effect … The originality of almost entirely Florence + The Machine. these videos show Kate Bush to be on dependant on Interestingly, Kate was not NPR in the USA loved it: fine form and pushing the barriers of Seán’s work on the nominated for Best British “Her use of shadow puppetry both music and animation.” (Jon KBNews website, Album of the Year. The matches song’s dreamlike quality. The Harris Inqisitr 25th January). recording as commentators expected Adele stark contrast between the black “What’s the perfect medium for Kate HomeGround used (representative of what Peter figures and the white world makes Bush’s thoughtful, melancholic to do in print, the Robinson at The Guardian called each set piece seem mystical. The dog music? How about some old-school news from all the “new wave of beige pop”) runs through phantasmagorical lands shadow puppetry? … Perfectly corners of the Kate- to win, and at the ceremony on filled with spooky woods, looking for performed, it captures the bleak speaking world. on February 21st they were his owner. It’s beautiful in its beauty of the track” (Electronic Beats proved right. On simplicity — emphasizing small Some media February 24th Kate 25th January). commentary from responded on her subtle movements over big The BBC News early 2012: official site: “I am so extravagance. The elegant design of thrilled to have been the puppets mixes fantasy elements reported on 24th “Kate Bush is back nominated in the BRIT like the moving trees with realistic January that vinyl at the Brits! It’s Awards. It really meant a pieces such as the soft sway of the record sales were at a almost like the lot to be placed among such woman’s hair.” (Dan Raby 24th six year high, and that good old bad old talented artists. Many, January). Other reactions were the vinyl of 50 Words days, when Bush many congratulations to equally positive: “I somehow had For Snow was No.8 in and Annie Lennox Adele. She is just fantastic goosebumps for almost the entire the Top Ten of the seemed to have the and really deserved to running time, and I got a tiny bit best-selling vinyl titles British Female Solo win”. choked up when the lady and the dog in the UK in 2011. artist category all to came face to face. That’s partly themselves ...But As now, then we because dogs are awesome and partly On February 24th as nice as it is to were celebrating a because Kate Bush has put together US radio station see this Belle significant milestone in yet another bewitching piece of work” KEXP aired an Dame of British pop the history of this (Tom Breihan Stereogum 24th interview that DJ El still being magazine. Thirty years January). “The simple tale matches Toro had done with deservedly since that first “very the animation technique, which, in an Kate about her recent acclaimed at the ‘umble” issue. So on work. This exchange age of 53, Bush is 22nd January we announced the particularly seemed to unlikely to carry off HomeGround 30th Birthday look forward to other the prize. Party: “it’s a fan gathering to things: celebrate that we are still alive! DJET: One of the things I’m “The Brits is We can promise lots of like- really enjoying about 50 Words For essentially a minded people and lots of Kate Snow, is the fact that there are lots of popularity contest, music, there may even be other voices on it ... Was that a reflecting radio play cake!” conscious choice, and if so, what and recorded music motivated that desire to have so many sales. Although On 24th January Kate other voices besides yourself on there? voted for by an released the third video from Kate: I really liked the fact that academy of 1000 50 Words For Snow. She it’s ... got this sort of sense of .. representative of introduced the five-minute clip community. You know, it’s not just my the music business, as follows: “Here is our third visual voice all the time, there’s a lot of you could probably piece: ‘Eider Falls at Lake Tahoe’. It other people who are also very create a computer is all done in camera with shadow present. And I loved the idea of algorithm to conjure puppets, one of my favourite art actually starting the album with up exactly the forms because of its simplicity and someone else’s voice. But I don’t same shortlist.” something I have really wanted to do really know how that happened, it just sort of did. Sometimes it’s to do Neil McCormick Daily Telegraph 13th January 2012 “WHAT a surprise —and what a pleasure: the front page of today’s Guardian newspaper in Britain is dominated by a photo of Kate Bush. The reason? Ms Bush has been nominated in the best British female solo artists category of next month’s Brit Awards ... But what pleases Cassandra is that Ms Bush has been nominated >>> <<< 20

with wanting to get a certain texture thought of haunting a bastard ex the year end charts compiled by <<< precisely a or feel to the music.” lover from beyond the grave appeals to the inky music press, when she quarter of a century me… and why the hell not?!! I’m won the categories that Genesis after she last won The last of the releases in sure that’s what I’ll be doing!” couldn’t win, being the wrong the award. A the 50 Words cycle was the 10- gender. In 2012 it was now triumph, in other inch picture disc containing The other was Theo charts like ‘Pop’s 20 Greatest words, for the Lake Tahoe and Among Angels, Bleckman, who on 13th March Female Artists’ in the 6th music and which was Kate’s special released Hello Earth! – The Music March Daily Telegraph which musicians of a contribution to the 2012 of Kate Bush, his jazz-inflected had Kate at No.3: “Her florid, generation ago. We Record Store Day on 21st April. album of Kate covers. Theo elaborate, mysterious recordings may should not, in truth, This disc was limited to 2,000 says in his 6th April interview in be the most utterly female pop music be surprised. As a copies (1,000 for UK record the New York Times: “I fell in love ever made, elaborate bulletins from marvellous article stores and 1,000 for with her music in high school,” and across the gender divide. A true one- in The World in international stores in the EMI he listened to Kate’s recordings off, Kate Bush opens windows to her 2012 notes, old territories) and featured incessantly until his interests inner world, dropping a needle in the rockers ... just keep imagery from Eider Falls at Lake shifted toward jazz in his late groove of her psyche”. on rocking... Dave Tahoe and also an ice sculpture teens. Aerial brought her back to Gilmour of the Pink by Robert Allsopp & Associates. his attention: “I thought, oh my On 18th March the website Floyd is a stripling God, this is still incredible: it’s Gigwise announced the results of just 65 but keeps Some cover versions to note. actually better now,” So he of its Mother’s Day poll to to wowing audiences First, Australian artist Robyn decided to make a project out find the ‘greatest mum in with his limpid Loau’s take on Wuthering Heights of it “because no-one had ever music’. Of course it was Kate. guitar solos. He originally recorded for her 2010 treated her as a composer in that way. On 16th April ITV announced must now be Only Human album and now … The songs are hard to do. Some its shortlist for ‘The Nation’s feeling particularly released as a single with three are very rangy, and weird intervallic Favourite Number One Single’. chuffed by Ms versions. These were the stuff is going on; there’s a lot of This included Wuthering Heights Bush’s nomination, version produced by Stu meter changes and uneven bars. in the 1970s section: “Kate since it was he who Hunter, a remix by Josh There’s so much weirdness about it, Bush’s record company didn’t want to discovered her in Abrahams and Davide which, of course, I love and is release this take on Emily Bronte’s the mid-1970s”. Carbone (S:amplify), and an a exactly the reason I wanted to do it .” gothic novel as her debut single – but cappella version. Robyn In December, NPR in the US Kate, who had written the song when Cassandra commented: “Kate Bush is a made this one of the Top 10 she was just eighteen, dug her heels The Economist genius and I’ve adored this song for jazz albums of 2012. in. In so doing, ‘Wuthering Heights’ January 14th 2012 so long. It is exhilarating, beautiful made her the first female to get to and twisted. While this is a Time was when we used to number one with her own Robyn Loau’s 2012 complicated tale of eternal love, the chronicle Kate’s appearance in single: a cover of Wuthering Heights Opposite: the 10- inch picture disc for Record Store Day 2012 Theo Bleckman's Hello Earth! Theo sings Kate Live Left: Kate receives the 2012 South Bank Sky Arts Award from Sir Tom Jones HomeGround Summer 2022 21

“rather than her composition”. of her songs being used (yet yet more unpleasant apprentice nomination being a Rather more substantially, again) in TV talent contests. Martin Clarke ... This time, the sign of misty-eyed This Woman’s Work, having been Mail has misjudged it badly, being nostalgia ... it’s the firstly on 2nd April, it was performed by Hope Murphy sneering and judgmental when most music Bush is announced that Kate, Adele (who thought it was written by of its readers – and anyone who cares making now that is and PJ Harvey were the Maxwell) on ITV’s Britain’s Got about Kate Bush and her unique still worthy of nominations for the 2012 Talent, re-entered the UK contribution to music – want to applause. .. ‘South Bank Sky Arts Awards’. singles chart at No.63 (Kate’s celebrate her achievement. Good for hypnotically These awards celebrate the best original version) and No.41 her”. beautiful records: of British culture, spanning (Maxwell’s cover version). bearing the eleven categories which also Wuthering Heights having been And there was further trademarks of include film, opera, dance, performed by Laura Bunting reaction from the Mail’s own ethereal and classical music and comedy. on The Voice Australia, re-entered female journalists: “Give her a elemental Bush, Then on 17th April, it was the Australian singles chart at break. Bush never enjoyed being a and yet carving out announced that the same three No.39. star and retired from public life after subtle inroads into artists were the nominations for the birth of her son - an event which new styles the 2012 Ivor Novello song- On 1st May Sir Tom Jones made her life complete ... she seems to encompassing jazz, writing awards, the very first presented Kate with the South have organised her life with amazing classical and soul time that award had an all- Bank Sky Arts Award for 50 astuteness. She is one of the few solo influences. ... female list. In the 18th April Words For Snow, ‘beating’, as teenage stars from that era to have Bush’s latest music Daily Telegraph, Neil Music Week noted, ‘Adele’s best- survived and thrived. A blast of sounds among the McCormick wrote: “The selling album of the past talent, a family, an enjoyable semi- most inventively extraordinary sonic adventuress Kate decade, 21, and PJ Harvey’s retirement? Well done that girl. weird on the Brits Bush is 53, and has been making Mercury prize-winning Let Today, she is still writing those line-up ... Bush has unique, almost wilfully eccentric yet England Shake. Backstage Sir whirling, ethereal songs, still determinedly open and accessible music since Tom commented: “If Kate could capturing imaginations ... What a refused to draw a 1978. … she was a beacon for high- come up with a song I would gladly legend” (Jan Moir 3rd May). “The line under her minded female pop, forging a body of do it with her.” goddess that is Kate Bush reappears creative relevance work that, in it’s interior psychology and snide comments are made about while being and ornate beauty, was somehow Kate was very pleased with her... Why do we not accept our great seemingly oblivious inherently feminine … with last both award and reaction from female artists as artists? Bush, to contemporary year’s 50 Words For Snow she the fans: having been hothoused, chose to stay sounds ... That the demonstrated that she has lost none out of the limelight and raise a son... youth-obsessed of her uniqueness of vision or “I am so thrilled and honoured Why do we have to pathologise these Brits have magical touch.” In The Guardian that ‘50 Words For Snow’ won the women as mad, bad or ‘unable to recognised Bush’s Kate biographer Graeme South Bank Sky Arts award cope’ if they play the game on their importance is a Thompson added: “The yesterday. It was a really wonderful own terms? Actually they are all sign that maybe our nomination this week of Kate Bush‘s event with the most extraordinary making, in their individual ways, pop scene is latest album, … for an Ivor Novello collection of artists. I was absolutely eminently sensible choices”. growing up. As it award is an acknowledgement of the delighted to be a part of it and (Suzanne Moore 5th May). slowly moves into profound influence she continues to simply stunned by the incredible Caitlin Moran in The Times 4th its jazz phase, exert … Anna Calvi, whose welcome. Many, many thanks to May: “All kudos to the Daily Mail where old records eponymous debut album was Melvyn Bragg for such a special day. this week, whose ongoing mission to are as important as nominated for the Mercury music I wonder if he knows what a total make all its female readers self- new ones, where prize ... believes that Bush, with her treasure he is? loathing, self-harming neurotics too veteran performers 2005 album Aerial and 50 Words scared to leave the house in case they are seen as For Snow … is mapping out a new I have been sent a great long list get mugged ... continues apace. exciting as young future for female musicians. ‘I like the of comments from you all and I am Reporting on the South Bank Show ones, and where fact that she’s embracing her age, her just completely overwhelmed. Thank Awards ... the Mail online greeted a novelty is replaced family and her life … I love how you so much for all your kind words rare appearance from Kate Bush with by nuance and unafraid she is of taking risks. ...It and love. You made me cry! I feel so a barrage of unflattering pictures and depth, the success sounds like there is a complete touched and grateful to have you there snide comments …This is, of course, of Bush is a vision surrender to her art, and I find that and I am over the moon! With love, the correct way to treat a shy genius”. of the future rather really inspiring.’ Amanda Palmer, of A very happy Kate xxxxxxxxx” than a blast from … the Dresden Dolls, believes one of The news about Kate’s the past.” the reasons that Bush remains so Naturally celebrating such award caused a spike of visitors important is that ‘she’s a creator, not talent did not stop the Daily to KateBushNews.com and so Bernadette a reactor’. Palmer says: ‘You can tell Mail 2nd May, from sneering at we felt it right to post an McNulty that she explores and translates the Kate’s appearance, though they editorial signed by Seán and the Daily Telegraph muses inside, as opposed to pleasing were taken in hand by Tim HomeGround editors: 14th January 2012 the worlds outside. Artists like Fenton in his Zelo Street Blog this...should be revered like gods.’” the same day. Under the “Of course, this all just Hope Murphy heading ‘Daily Mail Disgrace’: momentarily distracts from the real In April, Kate had a minor “But what should have been a happy story this week; the enormous Laura Bunting chart flourish as a consequence occasion, and celebration of a career appreciation and admiration which spanning 35 years, was soured by the Kate’s work continues to attract”. Artwork opposite: joint efforts of legendarily foul Debi Bowes mouthed sorcerer Paul Dacre and his 22 HomeGround Summer 2022

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Steven says: My Kate-Inspired Memories I was born and bred, … Steven Jones reviews the consequences of an LP Purchase and still live, in North Wales. I enjoy cycling I was twelve years of age when collection, and whenever I play watching the snow getting in the quiet hills around I first heard Wuthering Heights on it today, I am transported back my home, but my the radio on its release in in time to my childhood, sitting deeper and deeper around our cycling is slightly January 1978. listening to the album with my family home in North Wales different as it’s sister whilst reading the printed generally on a Being the youngest of five lyrics on the back cover. where we were often ‘snowed unicycle! I have always siblings, I had been exposed to in’ for days. enjoyed listening to rock and pop music from an Kate’s albums have music, and as I explain early age, but I had never heard bookmarked many chapters in The live Before the Dawn in my article, Kate’s anything quite like this before. my life, and listening to them album always makes me happy music has been a My sister and I saved up our stirs something deep within constant and pocket money to buy The Kick which I find difficult to express as it celebrates Kate’s successful reassuring companion Inside between us when it was in words. For example, I used to return to the stage, and since my childhood. released the following month, listen to The Dreaming constantly and both of us loved the album in between revising for my ‘O’ although I wasn’t there, I can Artwork below © 2022 instantly (and still do). We level examinations. Hounds of feel the excitement and elation by Carl Potts played it all the time. Love was my university companion album, and I will of the occasion when I listen to Carl says: As is the case with all Kate’s never forget the pride I felt as I it. Kate’s piano accompaniment albums, The Kick Inside remains sat with my fellow students in I have been listening to highly evocative for me, and the halls of residence common to the wood pigeon’s call on Kate’s music since The when I hear songs like Moving room watching Kate’s brilliant Prelude is also truly stunning and Kick Inside came out. and Them Heavy People today I performance of the album’s seem to reconnect with my title track on Top of the Pops. never fails to move me. In the mid-1980s, I was younger self in a totally unique I could go on (and on and working at Marvel way. I still have that original 50 Words For Snow invokes Comics in NYC. I vinyl copy in my record images of childhood winters on). Suffice to say that listening joined a batch of fellow to Kate’s music has always been Marvel Kate fanatics at Tower Records to meet an emotional and inspirational Kate where she signed experience for me. my UK pressing of The Kick Inside picture disc The sheer depth of feeling LP. conveyed by This Woman’s Work, Years before, I’d done for instance, touches me every an illustration that time I hear it, whilst upbeat featured Kate for my portfolio. I hoped it would be used for an LP or 45 sleeve. However, I was too shy to present a print of it to her at the Tower signing. tracks like The Big Sky and Rubberband Girl always fill with me with joy and wonder. Sometimes just looking at the artwork of one of Kate’s albums or singles is enough to evoke memories of a time, a place, a person, or an event. My life. My journey. It is a powerful emotion based on deep-rooted feelings. That twelve-year-old boy who saved up his pocket money with his sister all those years ago to buy a copy of The Kick Inside is now a 56-year-old man. Many things in his life have changed, but the music of Kate Bush has remained a loyal and constant companion throughout. I will always be grateful to Kate for giving me so many memories through her music and for enriching my life in so many ways.  24 HomeGround Summer 2022

A Little Night Music … Collin Kelley and Kate as a constant companion I grew up as an only child with I flipped the channel to a Bush’s music putting me in Collin Kelley is the overly-indulgent parents. They show called Night Flight, and touch with my own creativity. bought me the toys I wanted, there was a video clip of a While I would never be any author of the poetry and only occasionally would I young woman who looked good with music, her songs collections Midnight have to make my eyes well up incredibly unhinged, shrieking were their own form of poetry. and my lower lip tremble to at the camera, “Heathcliff, it’s me, Her vantage point as narrator in a Perfect World sway them. I was a good kid, it’s Cathy, I’ve come home, let me in was always wildly diverse, such (Sibling Rivalry making decent grades and not your window….” I was a bit as a baby in its mother’s womb causing them any grief. frightened of her as she twirled during a nuclear attack, Press), Better To in the mist and pulled faces Aborigines being run out of Travel (Poetry Sometimes they let me stay during exaggerated dance their homeland in Australia, or up late on weekends to watch moves. as Mrs. Houdini trying to make Atlanta Press), TV, but midnight was the limit, contact with her magician Slow To Burn and my mother would turn off When that video finished, husband through a séance. And the box and stand with her they played another. This time before Bronski Beat or Pet Shop (Seven Kitchens arms folded in front of it until I she was curled on the floor in a Boys even touched on Press), and Render “marched my little behind off white room, and her soothing homosexuality, there was Kate to bed.” I had always wondered voice sang, “I hear him before I go with subtle yet unmistakable (Sibling Rivalry what came on TV past to sleep and focus on the day that’s affirmation. Press), chosen by midnight; what fantastical been….” She looked incredibly things I might be missing that beautiful, and her gyrations on In Kashka from Baghdad from the American my mom and dad didn’t want the floor were sexual and her Lionheart album, she tells of Library Association me to see. My parents tried to shocking to see on television. I two men who live together and throw me off the scent by was captivated by this woman, are only seen at night in for its 2014 Over saying stations went off the air and when an off-screen silhouette against the curtains: the Rainbow Book at midnight, and there was announcer finally said, “That “At night, they’re seen, laughing, nothing but color bars on the was Kate Bush with Wuthering loving, they know the way to be List. He is also the screen until 6 a.m. But some of Heights and The Man with the happy.” And then, saucily, she author of The my friends, who had either Child in his Eyes,” I was hooked. chides an actor in the song Wow been allowed to stay up past the For life. for not committing further to Venus Trilogy of witching hour or had snuck out his craft because “he’s too busy novels – of bed, told me the truth. Since Kate was unknown hitting the vaseline.” In the video, There was a whole other world here in America for most of her banned in the UK, she pats her Conquering Venus, of talk shows and music early career, the music ass to make sure you Remain In Light programs that I was missing. magazines rarely mentioned understand this isn’t some her, and MTV didn’t play her beauty regimen. and Leaving Paris – In the late 1970s, I until 1985, when she finally also published by discovered my taste in music, broke through with the single In 1985, the Hounds of Love not the country or 1960s rock Running Up That Hill. Even album couldn’t have arrived at Sibling Rivalry my parents usually dialed in on then, they wouldn’t play the a more perfect time in my life. I Press. Remain In the car radio. I was digging proper video clip, claiming it to already knew I was gay but Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, be too sexual, and instead used Running Up That Hill – a plea for Light was the and ELO when I was 12, and one of her UK television understanding from one lover runner-up for the my friends at school said there appearances instead. to another and God to swap were a couple of shows that their places to “feel how it feels” 2013 Georgia came on late at night that Only a handful of people at – became my anthem. I had my Author of the Year showed these bands performing my high school had ever heard first gay crush on an older live or something I’d never of Kate Bush. By the mid-80s, college boy, who messed me Award in Fiction heard of – “music videos.” everyone was either into hair around and wouldn’t commit and a 2012 finalist bands or rap. I became goth- because he was still in the So, one Friday night in lite, wearing a black trench closet. I remember buying the for the Townsend 1981, I got up the nerve to coat, listening to lots of 45-rpm single and playing it Prize for Fiction. sneak out of bed and silently Siouxsie and the Banshees, The over and over in the living room slip past my parents’ bedroom Cure, Depeche Mode, This until my parents begged me to Collin is also the and into the den. I closed the Mortal Coil, and Cocteau stop. author of the short door, made sure the volume was Twins. Kate Bush never fitted low, snuggled up in a chair, and into any of these genres, which There would only be two story collection, turned on the box to see what made me love her even more. more Kate Bush albums after Kiss Shot (Amazon was on the other side of Hounds of Love (1989’s excellent midnight. Forty-odd years later, I am The Sensual World and 1993’s Kindle Exclusive). A eternally grateful for Kate recipient of the Georgia Author of the Year Award and Deep South Festival of Writers Award, Collin’s poetry, reviews, essays and interviews have appeared in magazines, journals and anthologies around the world. With Karen Head he co-edited Mother Mary Comes To Me: A Pop Culture Poetry Anthology (Madville Publishing), which was named a 2022 Book All Georgians Should Read by Georgia Center for the Book. Wonder & Wreckage: New & Selected Poems will be published in 2023 by Poetry Atlanta Press. HomeGround Summer 2022 25

BELOW: One of a underrated The Red Shoes) before By this time, I had worked throughout the years. We drank number of pictures a long silence of 12 years. through several shitty heavily, partied hard, and sang During that long gap, the relationships, lost friends and Kate’s lyrics that we all knew by newly discovered, Internet came into popular use, family members to AIDS, heart long into the night and taken by and I found thousands of other traveled widely, and forged a the next morning. isolated fans who had been career as a writer. I made photographer Don brought up on Kate’s music. friends in other parts of the Since then, Kate has Smith, as Kate Now we were all connected via world who were fans of Kate released two more albums the World Wide Web, and we and on Nov. 7, 2005, we all met (2011’s middling Director’s Cut rehearsed and all waited patiently (and in London to celebrate the and the elegant 50 Words For performed her sometimes not) for Kate to release of Aerial. It was stunning Snow). And, after a 35-year return. In 2005, she finally did to be in a room full of people absence from live performing, Wuthering Heights with the double album Aerial, of all ages, races, and sexual did a transcendent 22-night routine at the BBC which became one of the most orientations who had used residency at the Hammersmith lauded of her career. Kate’s music as a survival tool Odeon in London in late TV studios, in 1978. summer 2014. I saw her twice – one night from the second row, the other from the back of the circle – and it was one of those “you had to be there” moments to truly appreciate the spectacle. Her live album of the concert (the video never materialized) is brilliant but doesn’t do Before the Dawn justice. I’ve pretty much sworn off concerts since; nothing could possibly ever compare. And then silence again. In this interlude, I’ve lost friends and family, the world has devolved into a new era of fear and uncertainty, and I was diagnosed with a rare cancer that will, eventually, end my life. Through all of this, Kate’s music has been constant, unwavering, and, as always, inimitable. As I lay strapped to a table five days a week for six weeks of radiation treatment, it was Kate’s music that got me through the fear and panic. I’ve asked this question before – in these pages – how do you thank someone properly for being the soundtrack of your life? I’ve decided now that there is no proper way other than to put the needle on the record and let the music transport you to another time and place. These days, I find myself back in my childhood home, age 12, entranced by a woman singing to me, forever changing my life, a constant companion through all the midnights.  26 HomeGround Summer 2022

Retracing the Scenes Part 2: May 2012 – March 2014 On 5th May on BBC talent Howth by some great Irish geezers playing tribal drums, and then show The Voice, Bo Bruce musicians, recitations, peaches some actor-model-dancer sorts in performed Running Up That Hill white body stockings come on and to the acclaim of the judges, and seedcake on the hill and position cubes on the stage. 303 of commentators, and Kate: “Dear picnic fun!” them. In honour of the 303 events of Bo, Many congratulations on your the Games, as Huw Edwards tells fantastic performance last night on On 6th July Prog magazine us. Alright, smarty pants. A superb The Voice. I thought it was really announced details of its remix of the mighty Kate Bush: beautiful and very moving. I feel so ‘Running Up The Hill’ plays” proud of you. Good luck for tonight inaugural ‘Progressive Music (Daily Telegraph live blog). Was and very best wishes to you and your Awards’ designed to “celebrate she there? Singing live? Argh! mum. With love, Kate Bush xx”. As Sadly not, though the Spice a consequence Kate’s original a long-underserved genre that Girls were. But it was the new recording briefly re-entered the has, in recent years, finally been re-mix with a new vocal. “Kate singles chart at no.51. Bush’s Running Up That Hill Bo Bruce getting its due”. The awards makes the point that men and women Later that May we were sad were to be handed over at a cannot trade places. It was fitting at Liz Pearson to hear of the death of Liz a Games where women have made up “Dearly Missed” Pearson. Kate posted: “I was ceremony in September. The a greater percentage of the athletes very sad to hear the news about Liz inaugural nominations for the than ever before, and been allowed to The remix of Pearson who passed away last week. box” (BBC News review of the Running Up That She was one of the two backing category of ‘Prog God(dess)’ event). Hill reached no.6 in singers on the tour in 1979. She was included Kate. the UK charts in a sweetheart with the most beautiful Only segments of the August 2012 voice and she was a lovely friend. She By the curious route of a ceremony were relayed on NBC will be dearly missed. Deepest transitory listing on Amazon in in the US, excluding the sympathies to all her family, Kate”. sequence featuring the new re- Del added on his Facebook early August we became aware mix. Much to the chagrin of page: “Another of the wonderful that on 12th August 2012, the Big Boi and many US fans. people from The Tour of Life has According to The Guardian (Dan died!!… Lovely Liz Pearson one of date of the closing ceremony of Sabbagh 13th August) the bee-vee singers… My thoughts are the London Olympic Games, “Organisers of the £15m show had with her family.. She was a also hoped to persuade the Rolling wonderful singer and a special person Kate would release a 2012 re- Stones, Kate Bush and the Sex and I will miss her!!... just bothers mix of one of her greatest Pistols to appear in what was me that all these wonderful people are intended to be a history of British gone!!… As someone said earlier God tracks, Running Up That Hill (A music … Kate Bush was among is putting together one hell of a Deal with God). This listing was band!!” rapidly removed. There had On 2nd June we finally been rumours earlier in July announced 17th June as the date for the HomeGround 30th about a new expanded Birthday Party, at Lo-Profile in compilation along, curiously, London’s Wardour Street, an occasion which was to be with a single entitled Running “relaxed and fun, a chance to Up That Hill 2012. Nothing meet other Kate fans and hear Kate’s music played in a club”, more was heard of the alleged and as it happened, the first of 22-track compilation, or the 35- a highly successful string of HomeGround parties. track DVD which was supposed to accompany it, but Running That 16th June - Bloomsday - was the day of the 2012 Up That Hill (A Deal with Sensual Walk, the event God)[Remix] was released organised by Seán on Howth Head in Dublin: “the emphasis on iTunes on 10th will be on music performances August. The key to this in the open air on the Hill of was the speculation such as that in the Washington Post on 9th August: ‘If speculation in the British media is accurate, the entertainment for the Olympics closing ceremony may include Ray Davies of the Kinks, Adele, The Who, Kate Bush, One Direction, George Michael and, of course, the reunion of the Spice Girls”. So to 12th August: “As the insanity begins again, here come some white clad HomeGround Summer 2022 27

records when he was the biggest injustice of all. Given a only in middle vague emphasis on “pushing music forward”, the Mercury Prize has long school, Big Boi (aka struggled with veteran artists ... Antwan André Bush’s 50 Words For Snow was a deeply strange and original album Patton of hip hop from a woman widely recognised as duo Outkast), one of the greatest and most original popular recording artists of our times. tweeted in mid- Even if it isn’t Bush’s finest work August “Just Got off (and, actually, I’d argue that it is up there), surely any committed album the Phone with Kate by a globally admired, bona-fide Bush !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”, and genius has got to be of greater significance than, say, the debut of a then “Stay Tuned….. thrashy jazz rock trio making small ooooowwww !” the first waves on the Leeds local improv scene?” (Daily Telegraph 12th indication that September). Mercury Prize maybe, they would chairman Simon Frith, ‘sociomusicologist’, was, as in It’s interesting to those Gavin and Arnold hoped would do some work 2006, quite satisfied with his read Frith’s first appear … However, Bush too is together. “Who doesn’t want to list. reluctant to appear in public. writing about Kate, Organisers agreed to play a remix of work with Kate Bush? Or for Kate Kate was nominated (12th in The Shape of Running Up That Hill”. Bush? Or pay their own money just September) by folk promoter website Folkroom Records, for Things to Come On 14th August Kate’s to stand in her shadow? No one, its annual Hg (geddit?) Prize: (US Rock magazine official site confirmed the that’s who” - the response of “Kate Bush – 50 Words For release of a digital download of Snow. The idea, of course, is that Creem) in July the new re-mix and she HolyMoly website. eskimos have fifty different words for 1978, the year of commented: “Hi there, I hope you In mid-September there was snow. It’s all bollocks, course. But it all enjoyed the remix of Running Up does lend itself to a certain truth – his first book, The That Hill this evening at the the continuing mystery of why Sociology of Rock. Olympics Closing Ceremony. They such an original artist as Kate certainly put on a brilliant show. Anticipating Kate”. was not even nominated for the Thatcher winning Mercury Music Prize. Of Within days, and despite the next British very little radio play, the re-mix course we have mentioned this General Election was at no.7 in the iTunes chart. before, noting that Aerial was Kate was pleased with the “she will, she will”, response: “I am completely thrilled similarly snubbed back in 2006. he turns to and touched by the overwhelming Six years later Neil McCormick response from everyone to the remix of anticipate Kate’s RUTH. I thought the whole closing was back in the fray “Kate Bush success “She’s ceremony of the Olympics was has been overlooked, which may be extraordinary and I’d like to thank been ... packaged, everyone there for choosing me to be a imaged, sent to part of it. It is such a huge honour. What an incredible wealth of mime school, musical talent we have in this arranged, country. I thought everyone was fantastic. I especially loved Elbow, rehearsed, Annie Lennox, George Michael (who developed, dressed was totally brilliant) and The Who, who were simply stunning. Thank and briefed. Out of you so very much. Very best wishes, nowhere in Kate’s Kate” (17th August). case means a On 19th August the re-mix portfolio of songs was at no.6 in the UK singles chart, with The Whole Story up and sights and from no. 125 in the UK album sounds, pre-tested, chart, to no.21. As Seán noted on KBNews, the success of the guaranteed re-mix meant that Kate has had successful. Ms. Top 20 singles in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s and now the teens. Bush’s chart conquests (she will, Having outed himself as a huge fan of Kate’s work since she will) are a his uncle turned him on to her triumph of the romantic will”. And so he deploys the same sleight of hand that Pamela Stevenson did with that extended arm salute, and as Fred Vermorel did, with mention of the Eddas, to let us know, that, you know, they know. Frith apparently believed then that Kate’s art was inauthentic, that, in the words of the January 1978 NME, it was “a product manufactured to be consumed”. Perhaps the lack of a Mercury Prize nomination for Kate is not so much of a mystery after all. Well, apart from the possibility that no- one can persuade Kate to fill in the application form and write a cheque for the fee. Peter 28 HomeGround Summer 2022

that music critics have a seemingly magazine W, Tim wrote: “Kate Bush, unlimited amount of compliments for me, encompasses reserved specifically for Kate Bush. the passionate heroine with a tender On this, Bush’s first album since ordinariness, kind of 2005, we saw a Kate Bush like a mother going into battle”. In the Christmas. A sort of Christmas that Foreword to his you’d be unlikely to observe in any new book, Kate explains what she other house but hers. No dry turkey. likes about Tim’s No pigs in blankets. Instead, one hour work: “Often black and white and five minutes of introspective photography holds songs that challenge your expectations, the greater power but not so with Tim. but never fail to amaze you”. His sense of colour In another part of the is breathtaking ... This book is like a collection of wood, in mid-September Rob paintings. I imagine Tim perched up da Bank of BBC Radio 6 and in the crow’s nest of a giant toy sail- boat, sailing a painted sea, hunting the renowned Bestival Music for ship-wrecked dreams … Tim’s festival was still trying to get extraordinary work takes us on a journey in to his exotic imagination, Kate to play in 2013: “Kate Bush where giants, dreams and broken I think is pie in the sky, it won’t fairy tales are all welcome”. Blau on the Creative Loafing happen. “But while she’s still making In mid-December we heard site he revealed that Green Grass The signed faux fur records then yeah, I got to try”. more from Big Boi, whose new may appear on his next album. hat Kate donated to solo album had been released. Of the tracks: “She loves them, St Mungo’s Woolly Toward the end of October In an interview with Phillip and we’re just waiting for a chance to Hat Day auction. celebrities including Kate and Mlynar on the Red Bull Music go to London and have a sit down Academy site, Anton revealed with her and have crumpets and tea Opposite top left: Daniel Craig donated items for that he had been in telephone so we can kind of get more familiar That Hill. The 2012 St Mungo’s ‘Woolly Hat Day’ contact with Kate during the with each other. Hopefully in the near Olympic Closing making of his album, discussing future that can happen — we’re just Ceremony. eBay auction. From the her taking vocals on Tremendous looking for that little tea date”. And auction catalogue: This perfect for Damage (actually written with was there anyone else he Opposite bottom: Kate in mind), and a song wanted to work with? “Shit, only An out-take from winter hat has been signed by Kate on ultimately missing from the Kate. Only Kate”. the Director’s Cut the inner silver satin lining. This is album that he refers to as Green sessions by Tim Grass. Unfortunately, ‘despite On 22nd December Kate Walker has recently the same hat worn on promotional sending Kate both of the wished all her fans a happy surfaced in the 40th artwork for her critically acclaimed productions, deadlines and Christmas: “Thanks for all your anniversary edition geography conspired to keep lovely messages of encouragement of W Magazine. Tim latest album, “50 Words For Snow”. her off the album. “Hopefully, over the year. It means such a lot. captioned the After 58 bids, Kate’s hat raised next time we can get it crackin”. In Wishing you a merry Christmas and photo: “Kate Bush, another interview with Max a very Happy New Year. With love, for me, £861. St Mungo’s provides Kate” and on the 29th received a encompasses the housing and support to more present of her own from Her passionate heroine Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. with a tender than 1,700 people each night in Kate was named among the ordinariness, kind London and the Home Queen’s 2013 New Years of like a mother Honours list for services to going into battle.” Counties. music. She would become Kate Tim Walker, the world- Bush CBE. The official citation KateBushNews for Kate says: Ms Catherine Bush. 16th December renowned photographer known (Kate Bush) Singer and Songwriter. 2012 for his magical and eccentric For services to Music. Kate would be invested with the insignia of Kate wrote the images, was responsible for the honour by Queen Elizabeth foreword for Tim much of the booklet at an investiture ceremony at Walker’s 2012 Buckingham Palace in 2013. compilation of his photography in the Director’s Cut First founded to recognise the photographic work. packaging. At the beginning of service of all ranks of British society in 1917, in its modern Kate joins fellow November he published a book form the Order recognises CBEs Eric Clapton, of his photos entitled Tim distinguished service to the arts Brian May, Arthur C and sciences, public services Clarke, and Richard Walker: Story Teller. In the 40th outside the Civil Service and Curtis. Anniversary edition of fashion work with charitable and HomeGround Summer 2022 29

The remix of welfare organisations of all was invested by the Queen with about this time, Kate had made Running Up That kinds. Valuable service is the the insignia of the CBE, in a a very important decision. Hill was issued as a only criterion for the award. ceremony at Windsor Castle. 10-inch picture disc CBE is awarded amongst other She did not speak to the press Kate had been watching for Record Store things for a distinguished, telly: on 15th April she posted: Day 2013 innovative contribution to any after the ceremony “I saw Liam Tamne singing ’This area of national life. Kate but issued a short Woman’s Work’ on The Voice this Liam Tamne was responded on the official site: “I statement: “I feel week. His performance was congratulated by feel deeply honoured to be included in incredibly thrilled to absolutely stunning and I found it Kate on his this list. It’s a great surprise and I’m receive this honour which really moving. He has an incredibly performance of really delighted. Thanks to everyone I share with my family, beautiful voice, full of emotion. This Woman’s who’s encouraged and supported my friends and fellow Many congratulations on getting Work on The Voice work over the years”. musicians and everyone through, Liam. I hope your dream April 2013 who has been such an comes true. Wishing you lots of luck, Ken Livingstone, the subject important part of it all. Kate x”. Below: Kate of Kate’s eponymous song, was Now I’ve got something receives her CBE also offered the gong but turned really special to put on Unfortunately Liam did not from Her Majesty it down on the basis of his top of the Christmas make it through the next round Queen Elizabeth II belief that politicians shouldn’t tree”. Later she of the talent show and Kate receive honours. Arlene added: “The ‘everyone’ commiserated: “I was sad to see Phillips, with whom Kate took in the quote above of that Liam didn’t get through on the dance classes at the beginning course includes all of Voice this week. It must be so tough of her career did accept her you. Thank you so very for all the performers who don’t stay CBE, and David Munns, long much for all your in the show. Liam, you mustn’t be serving EMI executive, now an fantastic support and disheartened. You really have a advisor of Kate’s, accepted an encouragement. I feel special talent and you’re a fantastic OBE for his work with music extremely privileged to singer. You’ve already been heard and industry charities. still have an audience. appreciated by a huge audience. Try It’s you that have made not to be too disappointed. Just keep On 10th April 2013 Kate my work, which would going. I’m sure that your nan would otherwise have just been be very proud of you having achieved creative projects, into a so much. Good luck with all your success. Many, many future projects. Very best wishes, thanks to the best fans Kate”. ever, Kate x Liam returned the PS I hate the term compliment taking to Facebook ‘fans’ but couldn’t think to write “I love this Lady so much. of how else to word it”. This is Fantastic. Thank You Kate Bush.” And what we didn’t know was that We liked the comment by Tom Hawking on Flavourwire: 30 HomeGround Summer 2022

On May 26th the British Left: Shambush lead Electric Foundation, the band 300 Kate fans and production company of gathering in a park in Heaven 17 synthesiser player, Brighton. Guinness Martyn Ware released their were not impressed. first album in twenty-two years, the third volume in the Music of Lady Maisery's This Quality and Distinction series on Woman's Work which Andy Bell (him again) covered Breathing. Martyn says: The second “this is quite an operatic recreation of HomeGround Party the original Kate Bush track”. Andy featured the original performed this cover version at line-up of the BEF concerts in London Cloudbusting with and Sheffield on October 3rd vocalist Lisa Oliver and 4th. “Frankly, if will.i.am doesn’t like On 24th May the blog Musical Elegy considered Kate’s vocal range: “This is the most accepted Kate Bush´s vocal you and Kate Bush does, you’re probably doing something right” as Liam’s subsequent 2021 nomination for a Grammy indicated. Record Store Day rolled around again on 20th April 2013, and Kate’s contribution was a limited-edition 10-inch picture disc the A-side featuring the 2012 remix of Running Up That Hill and the B-side the original recording of Walk Straight Down The Middle, which initially appeared on The Sensual World. Let’s notice a couple of covers. Folk ensemble Lady Maisery released a cover of This Woman’s Work, for International Woman’s Day March 8th, with all profits donated to lobby group ‘End Violence Against Women’. This single version was a special mix by Andy Bell, and different to the version which appeared on the group’s subsequent album Mayday, released in June. “All three of us have always loved Kate Bush. We were struck by the way this song shows the complexities of the relationship between a man and a woman before the birth of their first child, addressing the possibilities of loss whilst exploring the situation from a man’s point of view. It felt like an unusual angle for a song, and Kate’s lyrics get straight to the heart of this very human relationship, illustrating the complicated gender roles and emotions at play”. HomeGround Summer 2022 31

doesn’t write easy songs. She’s a complex songwriter and this is a weird song, but I love it so much. I’m so proud to be on a Kate Bush record; she’s always marched to the beat of her own drum. She was groundbreaking … she came to my civil partnership occasion ... There were so many stars in the room, but all the musicians there were only interested in saying, ‘You’ve got to introduce me to Kate Bush.’” On 7th September what was the Hammersmith Odeon, where Kate had finished her 1979 live tour, reopened after a £5 million refurbishment as the Eventim Apollo. What’s that got to do with anything? About this time we noted that another jazz person was talking Kate. Zoe Gilby, jazz singer and songwriter was performing Kate covers as part of her set, and in December would release her third album Twelve Stories which contained a range, registering 4,5 octaves (Bb1- this as an official record, F7) as Lyrical Coloratura “because the chosen song and cover version of In the Warm Kate’s design for Soprano ... Time has passed by and Room. the 20th anniversary her voice has changed … The fact dance were not iconic enough”. MoJo she reaches the 7th octave makes true Following the success of the Late October saw the she´s a coloratura Soprano, but she publication of Mojo’s 20th Zoe Gilby also reaches the 1st (some baritones previous year’s 30th don´t do that). Some people say she´s Anniversary, on 21st June we Anniversary issue. To mark it, Artwork opposite: a Dramatic Soprano. I´d say she they asked Kate to design the Andrew Fry moved from Lyrical Coloratura to held ‘A Midsummer Night’s Below: ‘Never Be Dramatic Coloratura Soprano over Kate Bush Party’ the first at hand-drawn cover. The Mine’, the print the years” Independent commented: Kate donated to the London’s Royal Vauxhall Thames Hospice Over 300 Kate fans Tavern. Including a set by the “There’s probably only one media charity auction. gathered in a Brighton park on brand in the world that could get the 1st June to break the record for tribute band Cloudbusting, this the most lookalikes re-enacting was another hugely successful famously private Kate Bush to fetch the first video for Wuthering down her sketching equipment and Heights. The event, organised by event. performance group Shambush, 30th July was Kate’s produce a hand-drawn illustration in saw fans spend the afternoon its honour. And that’s Mojo.” Kate practicing the dance moves birthday, noted widely in the before breaking the record. media, and Kate responded: apparently signed her cover art However, Guinness World with the following dedication: Records refused to recognise “Thank you so much for all the lovely messages you sent for my “Glad to see you’ve still got your Mojo after 20 years”. birthday. I had a really great day. Kate”. On 22nd December Kate posted a Christmas message: At the end of August, a charity auction in aid of “Wishing you a really wonderful Christmas. Thank you for your kind Thames Hospicecare, held at The Flowing Spring pub in messages and continual positive presence throughout this year. It Playhatch, raised around £6,500. Kate means a great deal to me. I hope 2014 is a great year for all of us. donated an original canvas print called With love and best wishes, Kate x”. Little were we to know what Never Be Mine, using the Fish People logo, would occur in the next year! 2014 opened strangely which sold for £120. In 1st September’s quietly and innocuously enough with a rather nice essay on the Observer, Sir Elton John spoke about BFI website on how the darker side of cinema influenced some recording with Kate: “That session with her of Kate’s greatest hits. And then …  was hard, because she 32 HomeGround Summer 2022

HomeGround Summer 2022 33

Meeting Kate … Sky Boswell remembers ‘Shop Assistance’ Sky is a life-long I met Kate on 30th July 1988, at banners to advertise the event. as presenter of Eurovision. I Kate fan, and a Covent Garden in London. It Having tracked down Blazer, a spent some time chatting to singer-songwriter in was a pretty special day. Not gentlemen’s outfitter, there was Katie, who was a warm and her own right. She only was it Kate’s 30th Kate’s name on a piece of lovely lady. also performs as birthday, but a big fundraising paper taped inside the shop the Kate tribute act event was taking place door. It was official: Kate was Back to Blazer for the A Sky of Honey. organised by Terrence Higgins going to be there! appointed time, and there was She currently lives Trust and Frontliners, the two now a huge crowd amassing in North Cornwall, major AIDS charities of the As I peered through the outside the shop waiting for and records over day. Numerous celebrities had shop window I was spotted by Kate to arrive. So I was the border in been invited to take part in the an assistant, who came out to surprised and delighted when Barnstaple, Devon. event which was called ‘Shop say hello. When I told him I the assistant I’d been talking to Assistance’, the idea being that was a big fan of Kate he told earlier spotted me, and ushered Below: Shop said celebrities would serve me that the shop owner was, me and my companion into the Assistance 1988. customers in a number of the too. He saw my card and shop through the astonished Sky and Kate at shops around Covent Garden. present and suggested coming crowd, who had to remain Blazer. back at a specific time when he patiently outside. Inside Blazer A friend who helped would, “let you come in with the the press were already organise the event rang me the press photographers.” assembled, then the door evening before, to say, “Kate will opened again - and in came be there – she’s doing a stint at I spent some time Kate. She seemed to know most Blazer.” I hardly slept that night wandering about as the area of the press photographers by and was out of the flat early to became busier, and over the name, and appeared very head to Covent Garden on the next hour or so spotted several happy and relaxed as she made tube, armed with a birthday well-known faces, either in the her way through to the counter card and present for Kate, shops or walking about among where she would be ‘working’. which I hoped to give to her if I the crowds. Those I remember got the opportunity. were Feargal Sharkey from The I stepped forward and said Undertones, Leee John of something stupid like, “Hi! When I arrived, Covent Imagination, actress Jane Happy Birthday,” and handed Garden was already buzzing Seymour and Katie Boyle, Kate the card and gift. I have with volunteers hoisting big actress, writer, but best known no idea what she said to me 34 HomeGround Summer 2022

because I was too star-struck. was not disappointed, I was that day, and the ones which Above: Kate cuts What I do remember clearly is entranced. Kate was a gracious, include Kate are my treasures. I the chocolate shaking her hand, which was sweet lady who everyone realise how fortunate I am to birthday cake, soft and warm, and looking into seemed to love - and no have met Kate, even if I had to provided by Blazer those amazing amber eyes. I wonder. The day remains one wait ten years since I first heard on the advice of remembered to ask Kate if she of my happiest memories. Wuthering Heights in order to do Dave of would mind if I had my picture so. Since that magical day, a HomeGround. taken with her, and she said The next morning the further 34 years have passed but that would be fine. The rest of national newspapers carried the memory has not faded and A Sky of Honey on the day is a bit of a blur as I stories about Shop Assistance, as I write Running Up That Hill is Soundcloud was on cloud nine. I’d been a and many illustrated their conquering the world's music fan since the very beginning articles with a photo of Kate charts an incredible 37 years and had finally actually met my cutting her chocolate birthday after it was first released. What hero. And the old saying was cake, which had been presented an incredible time it is to be a certainly not true in this case: I to her by the owner of Blazer. I fan of Kate's music.  have an album of photos taken HomeGround Summer 2022 35

Kate & The Podcast That Came To Be … Cecilee Landefeld finds that there’s always something to discover Cecilee says: I was in college when I first comforting place, but one in project that I knew would take heard Kate’s music. 2005 to be which I always discover new me into the next decade for Strange exact. I was 20 years old, things. Like a background vocal sure! More importantly, would I Phenomena: The finding my place in the world. I just realized was there in the actually follow through and Music of Kate Bush So I was coming in at a good background of Symphony in Blue finish this project? is available now time! As I was getting into her or a production technique in wherever you get music, there was talk of Kate Pull Out the Pin. Fast forward to 2022. your podcasts. releasing her first album in And the show is still going! twelve years, Aerial. I had a There’s always something to I’ve had to do a few Spotify, Overcast, massive back catalogue to look discover, and thus it led me to unexpected long breaks in the Apple Podcasts, at AND a new album too? an idea: why not do a podcast course of the show, but I’m Stitcher, you name Great timing! all about Kate Bush’s music, actually following through with it! going song by song, and talking the project. I can associate every album with fans for each track? She As I write this, I’m To be a part of the of Kate’s with where I was has so many different songs, preparing for episodes about show, you can find when I heard it. and fans all across the world, The Red Shoes. I’ve made it me on and Kate fans love to talk about through The Kick Inside, I was in France in 2006 their favorite tracks and what Lionheart, Never For Ever, The Twitter when I got CDs of Lionheart and they mean to them. Dreaming, Hounds of Love and as Never For Ever. At the time, CD of March 2022, the last few Facebook copies of her music were The thing is, I’ve never been episodes of The Sensual World harder to find in the United good at finishing projects. I season are coming out. and on the hotline, States. iTunes also didn’t have tend to start more books than And what a ride this has where you can much of her music either. So I actually finish. I’ll get going on been! leave a brief was grateful to find more of her a crochet project and then The audience started small. message about back catalogue. I was in my abandon it partway through I remember when I had only 50 your favorite Kate dorm room discovering her when I get bored. downloads per episode. Now it’s song: +1 757-349- stranger side when I put The grown to hundreds of people 6369 Dreaming on my third generation Kate has a lot of songs! And downloading each episode! iPod as my room-mate slept. I given my history of starting and Hundreds of people listening to was in Hawaii on a family then stopping projects, I was the work I’ve done and, most vacation when I picked up a worried the Kate Bush podcast importantly, coming to a new well-worn CD of Hounds of Love would end up the same way. appreciation for the songs we at a pawn shop. Just to name a However, I decided I had to try. all know and love. few! It’s not about me as the So in the summer of 2017, I host. It’s about us all coming A lot of music has come began planning it all out. I together and sharing in our love and gone for me over the years, decided I’d get into not just the for Kate’s music. Showing just but Kate’s has always been album songs, but her b-sides how far her audience really there in a way that no-one else’s and the many collaborations goes in terms of geography and music has. Every time I sit Kate has done with people over age. I’ve called Israel, Australia, down to listen to her music, it’s the years. I didn’t want it to be Denmark, the UK of course, like coming back to a just me talking, so every episode and over to the US West Coast would feature a different Kate to talk with Kate fans. I’ve fan talking about their favorite talked with Kate fans who are song and the history behind it. in their late 30s like me, others Every album would be who have been with Kate since considered a “season.” I’d go the beginning, and those who track by track through the have just discovered her music album in question, then I’d get through the Internet. into the b-sides, and then the I’ve also met some collaborations to finish off each wonderful people who have season. become friends with me outside the show! And what brought us I knew right away I wanted together was our love of Kate’s to call it ‘Strange Phenomena: music. I can’t wait to see where The Music of Kate Bush’ the show takes me!  because her music came blasting out of nowhere and changed the world and people’s lives. It would be a lot of work, a 36 HomeGround Summer 2022

A Note … by Ger Traets Here’s a note from a great Kate In those days I sent a letter I got a signed Hounds of Love Items from Ger's Bush fan, and a great fan of to the Kate Bush Club album. I was in heaven, and still collection HomeGround. Newsletter, run by Lisa, and to I can’t believe I met Kate. my surprise I received a letter I still have all the copies of back - from Kate! Yahoo! I was In the years that passed I your beautiful magazine. I am in heaven. went to the Big Sky video shoot, pleased to read that you are and other meetings and again bringing out a special In the years that followed I conventions. I still have daily edition. wrote several letters to Kate contact with Rob, Renéee, and again she sent letters back, Theo, Cecile and Viola, and we From the beginning of and many, many signed photos also see each other at home and Kate’s career I have been a and posters - mmmmm Yes! play Kate’s music. Still over 40 huge fan. I fell in love right years, friends - if only Kate away. At that time I was hidden In November 1985 we were could hear this! away in my room, having the invited to the KBC/ syndrome of Gilles de la HomeGround Convention, and Kate sent me a signed photo Tourette - not the swearing - packed with 27 white roses and for my wedding, the greatest but tics, heavy tics. It was a a piece of artwork that I had gift that day. Unfortunately the difficult time for me. I didn’t made we went to London. Lisa marriage didn’t last, but my want to see anyone, and I arranged that after Kate had love for Kate is endless. At the locked myself in my bedroom been on stage, that I could meet funeral of my mother and with Kate’s Music. her. Lisa knew that I had Gilles father we played Running Up that de la Tourette and that Kate’s Hill, and we were all in tears, But the music and love for music helped me a lot and such a beautiful song, I think it’s Kate sent me to some fan club actually made me go out again the best. meetings and there I met Rob and meet the most beautiful Assenberg, Theo, Renée, Cecile people. Her music saved my life So dear Peter, Krys, Dave and Viola, and they embraced and it helps. Thank you Kate! and Seán, I wish you all the me with such love, and the luck with the new same love for Kate’s music. In So there she was, my HomeGround magazine. I can’t the years that followed we saw heroine. We had a short wait to get a copy. each other many times and conversation and Kate was spent whole days discussing delighted that her music helped For now, All the Love, from Kate’s music. me. Lisa took some photos and 00514, which was my HomeGround number.  Ger was a HomeGround foundation subscriber and contributor, and as he says we were and are always glad to see him at conventions and other gatherings. HomeGround Summer 2022 37

Retracing the Scenes Part 3: March 2014 – March 2017 … A bombshell dropped on the Kate-speaking world on 21st March 2014 with Kate’s news that she was going to play a full live set again! After 35 years: Before the Dawn... … “I am delighted to announce that we will be performing some live shows this coming August and September. I hope you will be able to join us and I look forward to seeing you there. ...Very best wishes, Kate” Kate announced a 15-date many people who wish to see a show Piece by piece information live residency in August and can do so”. Of course the tickets began to trickle out about the September at the Eventim (bar the de luxe deals) all sold nature of shows Kate was going Apollo, the refurbished out in 30 minutes and many of to perform. On 6th April David Hammersmith Odeon. The us have psychological scars Rhodes, Gabriel’s long-time shows were to be called ‘Before from the experience! That’s the guitarist, posted on his the Dawn’. This was a huge successful ones. Not all were. Facebook page: “Have just spent media event as the listed On the morning of the 28th, the last eight days rehearsing with coverage on our KBNews page Dave appeared on Sky News to Kate Bush”; singer Sandra showed. The Guardian reflected comment on all the fun, and Marvin tweeted “my summer will the surprise, writing that the Kate said on her site: “I’m be spent singing for news “confounded all reasonable completely overwhelmed by the @KateBushMusic in her UK expectations ... her website almost response to the shows. Thank you so Concerts!!”. On 11th April it was immediately broke down under the much to everyone. Looking forward to revealed that theatre director weight of traffic ... she returns to the seeing you all later this year”. Adrian Noble was helping Kate stage ... a towering, totemic presence Unfortunately, despite stringent to prepare for the gigs. As he in British rock”. The BBC re-selling safeguards, by the had been the Artistic Director reported that the internet went afternoon some ticket re-sellers and Chief Executive of the into “meltdown”, and the news were already seeking up to Royal Shakespeare Company was everywhere from the Bexley £2,500 for a single re-sold for thirteen years and had News Shopper to Thanhnien in ticket. Plus extortionate directed several successful Vietnam. Seán was interviewed “booking fees”. London West End musicals, we on BBC Radio 6 and on RTE2. It was a prominent item on BBC Radio 4’s PM, and 6 O’Clock News. But as yet, there was no revelation of what form the shows would take, unless you count the photo with the announcement, of Kate bobbing about in water, wearing a life jacket, and much speculation ensued. Tickets were to go on sale at 09:30 on 28th March, but just before that, on the 26th and just in time for the pre-sale for those registered with the official website, Kate added a further seven shows to the residency making 22 gigs in all. Her spokesperson said in a statement: “Kate decided to add the extra shows in a bid to make sure as 38 HomeGround Summer 2022

were beginning to get an idea also the publication of the two- excited!” The excitement level Opposite Top: of what Kate had in mind, and volume HomeGround Anthology. A went up on 7th August when the Kate’s stunning as we now knew she was going very special year indeed!” Again the first ‘fan’ tickets started arriving, announcement is to present the whole Ninth Wave party featured a live set by revealing some of the artwork discussed on BBC sequence, it was not simply tribute band Cloudbusting, and or possibly visuals to be used in TV News sitting at the piano! On 22nd was again a huge success. the shows: starfish and seaweed Top Left: Dave of May in the NME ‘an insider’ in a sea of stars. HomeGround joins was quoted as saying: “It’s her On July 25th Seán the discussion on statement that she wants to come back commented on KBNews: “Kate The NME ‘100 Most Sky News to the stage…it’ll be a Kate Bush has hired a very exciting and Influential Artists currently show, but it’ll be theatrical and tell a interesting range of musical talent to working today’ was announced David Rhodes story”. bring her stage ambitions to life, and on 6th August. Kate was placed as expected the crew of people she has at No.8: “Kate Bush pretty much Adrian Noble The third HomeGround gathered around her have been keeping created the archetype for mysterious Party, this time called ‘Before tight-lipped about these shows, so singer-songwriters everywhere. Turn Sandra Marvin the Night’ took place on 20th that Kate can unveil her shows to on the radio these days and you’ll June: “Not only can we celebrate everyone in August in the way that hear echoes of her in the overblown Bottom Left: The Kate’s forthcoming live shows, but she wants. We couldn’t be more production of Wild Beasts, the third and also electro-celt inventions of Björk and hugely successful PJ Harvey, the expansive wafts of HomeGround Party Zola Jesus and in the dolphin-lunged took place at Mid vocals of Florence + The Machine Summer 2014 or London Grammar”. Opposite Bottom: On 20th August Kate issued Kate’s sell-out was a request for no phones: “We’re headline news. all very excited about the upcoming shows and are working very hard in “The rock world preparation. It’s going very well cherishes its myths: indeed. I have a request for all of you Elvis is alive, Ozzy who are coming to the shows: We Osbourne eats have purposefully chosen an intimate bats, Kate Bush will theatre setting rather than a large one day return to venue or stadium. It would mean a the stage. It takes a great deal to me if you would please lot to surprise a refrain from taking photos or filming business built on during the shows. I very much want improbability, but to have contact with you as an last week, Britain’s audience, not with iphones, ipads or longest-missing cameras. I know it’s a lot to ask but pop star managed it would allow us to all share in the it” experience together. Looking forward William Langley to seeing you there. Respectfully yours, Daily Telegraph Kate”. 23rd March 2014 Two days before the shows began, on 24th August, BBC 4 aired a new documentary about Kate. Entitled The Kate Bush Story: Running Up That Hill the programme explored Kate’s career and music from Wuthering Heights to 50 Words For Snow, through the testimony of some of her key collaborators and those she has inspired. Contributors included Del Palmer, David Gilmour, Peter Gabriel and Nigel Kennedy. Those influenced included Annie Clark, Natasha Khan, Tori Amos, and Big Boi. Admirers included Jo Brand, and Neil Gaiman. The documentary was followed by a compilation Kate Bush at the HomeGround Summer 2022 39

Before the Dawn... … BBC. Radio 6 added to the All was good. It was going to be inevitable notes of bemused anticipation with a three-hour okay. It was going to be great. It dissent, they were Kate special programme on was great. overwhelmingly positive. We 24th August: ‘A ... special show, quoted just three: featuring Kate songs, Kate Kate’s first full gig after 35 covers, Kate fan Jessie Ware as years was a national, if not “It’s quite stunning, undoubtedly a guest on the show, and Kate’s international event. the most ambitious, and genuinely brother John also in moving, piece of theatrical pop ever conversation... We immerse “A remarkable achievement...”, seen on a British stage.” ourselves in all things Bush, “a triumphant return...”. ahead of Kate’s long, long- Andy Gill awaited comeback shows at the On KBNews we tracked Hammersmith Apollo’. 128 reviews. With a few “Everyone’s calling it a triumph. And then the 26th August arrived. On KBNews we were feverishly posting and reposting all day as print and broadcast media joined he anticipation of Kate’s first show. The massive interest created by the build-up to the shows and the broadcasting of the BBC4 documentary, created a surge of interest in Kate’s back catalogue to the extent that before she appeared on stage Kate had five albums in the week’s Official UK album chart: The Whole Story No.15, Hounds Of Love No.29, 50 Words For Snow No.83, The Kick Inside No.87, and The Sensual World No.93. Kate had more than twice that number on the UK iTunes chart. On KBNews we posted: “Wishing Kate and her crew all the luck in the world – enjoy it! Big hugs from us. We cannot believe this day has finally arrived!” Those who attended the first show know what a hugely emotional experience it was. Hearing Lily’s invocation surround those present with a golden glow, From whom all things proceed To whom all things return the first notes of Rhodes’ guitar, then seeing Kate come tripping onto the stage at the head of the line of her backing singers, to the massive response from the euphoric audience. And then the voice. Gabriel before me Raphael behind me Michael to my right Uriel on my left side In the circle of fire 40 HomeGround Summer 2022

Everyone’s right... The prog event of a fantastic achievement for Kate performances on 16th and 17th Opposite: Kate the year. The musical event of the Bush. Her new live shows have September. Some ticket holders enters, Kate sings. year. The event of the year. Just don’t created a huge stir, but for them to for those shows were notified expect three chords and the mundane help push her catalogue to make such that their seats had been moved Top: Bertie, Kate’s truth. Or Wuthering Heights. I put a significant sales impact is further in order to accommodate the son, to whose this moment here” evidence of the love that the British cameras and other equipment. encouragement of public have for her music, from However, we should have noted his mother that we Chris Roberts generation to generation.” the subsequent comments by likely owe the fact Paul Sinclair of Super that the concerts “In A Sea of Honey’s long day, On 9th September we DeLuxeEditions, on 2nd happened at all. nothing particularly remarkable learned that Kate had been October who was at the final Here as the painter happens, just as nothing really nominated in two categories in show the day before: “It’s by no in the Sky of Honey remarkable happens in Ulysses. The the 2014 Q Magazine awards – means guaranteed however … Kate is sequence from sun comes up, and ‘the sky is filled ‘Best Live Act’ and ‘Best Act in a perfectionist and won’t put out Before the Dawn with birds’, and the Moon rises, and the World Today’. anything she considers to be sub the protagonists swim in the sea, at standard. Before the Dawn was an In his 2017 night. But some people are just more As the shows proceeded, exhilarating and jaw-dropping interview with alive than others, all eyes and mouth, Kate took the decision that they experience watching it live, but if Stefan Franzen his and overloading senses – and that’s should be properly filmed with Kate doesn’t think it ‘works’ on the Uncle Paddy said of what Joyce was, and that’s what the intention of producing a small screen there is no doubt at all Bertie: “he's a very Kate Bush is. They appear in your DVD This was done at the that it won’t happen.” Wise words. extraordinary life to remind you that to watch a person. He is sunrise is to watch a burning star, 1st October was the final currently studying and that pollen is sperm, and summer night of Kate’s 2014 live physics at Oxford at is fleeting, and everything on Earth is residency. She did not appear a very high level. so unlikely – so improbable – that we exhausted: “At the center of it all, For me, he is the might as well live somewhere where merrily barefoot and wearing one perfect Kate Bush can end a concert by magnificently embellished cloak after Renaissance man, turning into a one-winged bird and another, Bush - all porcelain skin and there is nothing he flying out into the auditorium” cascading Renaissance curls and pure cannot do: Bertie genius - was a revelation, showing no can play Caitlin Moran signs of fatigue from performing 21 instruments, he can of these high-intensity, endurance- sing, dance and he testing shows”: Lyndsey Parker knows about Editor in Chief, Yahoo Music. astrophysics. For his birthday I gave Towards the end of that last him the Feynman show Kate told the audience: Lectures, very “Without you, there is no show. I complex physical couldn’t ask for a better audience … theories ... I gave it We’re sad because it’s the last night. to him to test how I’m going to miss everyone so much. serious his interest But to have spent it with you means in physics actually is. He got it all in a few days and understood everything … He has a great future.” Below: A poem and graphic by Brian Cloughley based on the confetti fired by the canons to announce The Ninth Wave Section of the show By 31st August Kate had eight albums in the Top 40, and her entire eleven album back catalogue in the Top 50 led by The Whole Story at No.6 and Hounds of Love at No.9. Kate was holding 22% of the Top 50 album chart! Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts Company, said: “This is HomeGround Summer 2022 41

Before the Dawn... … so much”. She also paid tribute my breath away. Every single night McKellen, at the ‘Evening to Charlotte Williams, whose they were so behind us. … I just Standard Theatre Awards’, portrayal of a wooden puppet never imagined it would be possible to presented annually for who comes to life was said by connect with an audience on such a achievements in London Kate to be “our secret weapon … powerful and intimate level; to feel theatre. Kate’s live residency Every night she has played this part such, well quite frankly, love … ” was cited for achieving “a new for us and up until tonight she’s never high in music performance.” In had a round of applause”, a On 30th November at a her acceptance speech, Kate situation which was promptly ceremony at the London credited both the sorted. Kate also inevitably Palladium, Kate was handed encouragement of her son, paid tribute to Bertie “my the Editors Award by Sir Ian wonderful son, I’m so proud of him” who appeared throughout the run in a number of roles and guises, and to whom we can probably give the credit for encouraging Kate to do the shows in the first place, and supporting her throughout, in a way that only her beloved mother Hannah could previously have done. Before the usual performance of Cloudbusting, Kate teased the audience: “This is the last song tonight… and for a while,”. The song ended with a long, long standing ovation, during which Kate was presented with enough bouquets to start a florist. “Thank you again everyone for sharing this with all of us,” Kate told the audience, blowing three kisses as she took her leave. In 2016 Chrissie Hynde said of Kate’s live performance: “Fantastic, amazing. I saw two of the shows. Absolutely breathtaking. She has the perfect voice – her voice made people cry. And her presence, it was all there. She could have been doing it for the last 30 years every night. You wouldn’t have known the difference”. Twenty days after the last show Kate posted a reflection on the experience: “It was quite a surreal journey that kept its level of intensity right from the early stages to the end of the very last show. It was also such great fun. It was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life ... It really was the ultimate combination of talent and artists, both from the music business and the theatre world. I never expected everyone in the team to be so lovely and we all grew very close ... One of the main reasons for wanting to perform live again was to have contact with that audience. They took 42 HomeGround Summer 2022

Bertie, and the enthusiasm of being such an invaluable part of the In May, Björk performed a Opposite: Kate at London audiences: “It was just team, for being so dependable and for secret DJ set for experimental the Evening an incredible experience. You hope being there for me and helping me label Tri Angle Records’ 5th Standard Awards. that the audience will like what have the confidence to get up there and birthday party in New York as you’re doing, but my God – every perform live. I’ll always remember part of the RBMA festival. The Ian Newton night these people were there, driving you sitting there, behind the monitor set included Kate’s cover of “Hard to take in that us on and filling us with energy! desk with your lovely big warm Lord of the Reedy River (mixed he’s no longer with Thank you to everybody who came to smile”. with music by Lotic/Vessel) and the shows and made it feel like it was My Lagan Love (mixed with us ...” something special.” On 21st December Sir Elton music by Rabit). Björk: “the mix John and his partner David i played was … merging together Included a new KT Fellowship member Furnish, formally converted some of my fav beats last year with version of Kate’s Mark Henderson, Kate’s their civil partnership into some of my fav vocalists doing some Wild Man lighting designer, was also marriage at a ceremony and of their best songs”. nominated in the ‘Best Design’ wedding lunch at their Windsor ‘Strange Fruit’ – category but lost out. estate, and Kate was one of the On July 24th The Art of Kate’s sculpture invited guests. Peace Foundation released an tribute to Billie On 20th November Kate’s album entitled The Art of Peace: Holiday brother John Carder Bush, In March 2015, on his BBC Songs For Tibet II to mark the published a revised and Radio 2 show, jazz musician 80th Birthday on July 6th of the Below: Kate expanded edition of Cathy his and singer, Jamie Cullum, exiled leader of Tibet, the celebrates with Sir iconic book of photographs of hosted a month-long ‘Billie & Dalai Lama. Track 5 was Wild Elton John Kate as a child. The new Me’ feature celebrating the Man (with remastered shimmer) at 7 edition included a new centenary of Billie Holiday’s minutes. Stephen W. Tayler, introduction by John, illustrated birth. On 31st March Kate who mixed the original track with eight previously shared her favourite track with for 50 Words For Snow, told unpublished photos. him and talked about how Billie KBNews that: “it’s the original was an inspiration to her. Kate mix with an added layer that makes Kate ended 2014 with has long spoken of Billie it subtly different and beautiful”. In sadness and happiness. On 19th Holiday as an inspiration, and a 2020 interview, he added: “I December, Ian Newton who we remember her 1996 bronze added layers of sound to it, but had been the monitor engineer sculpture, “Strange Fruit”, they’re almost inaudible... fans were for Kate’s shows, suddenly died. created for the War Child pissed off because they felt it wasn’t In her Christmas message to ‘Milestones’ exhibition. any different to the original... In fact, fans, after thanking everyone for their support, Kate said: “He was a complete sweetheart, a gentle man and an incredibly important part of the sound team right from the very beginning of the live project even before the first rehearsals. … It was Ian who encouraged me to use the in-ears system and oversaw the whole process … He encouraged the whole band and Chorus to use in-ears so that all of us were using the same system for all the shows. … He was personally very supportive to me. There were quite a lot of things I was nervous about especially as I hadn’t sung or played live for such a long time. Ian … spent a lot of time making sure that my monitors had exactly the right mix for every track, as he did with every member of the band and chorus. This meant that we could all work as confidently as possible with each other and in the context of the venue at Hammersmith. … It’s hard to take in that he’s no longer with us. It’s a real loss for the live music industry. ... He was a lovely, warm, generous-spirited man with a lovely sense of humour. Thank you Ian for HomeGround Summer 2022 43

Before the Dawn... … it’s completely different. It has a very what’s unearthed here enhances and Europe on 28th October. different sonic approach”. even changes how I think about some The costume and set of the work that Kate has produced, The fourth HomeGround so utterly associated as is it is with designs for Before the Dawn were Party ‘Nocturn’, was held on the visuals over the decades ... It’s featured in an exhibition which 19th June, the night before the also a supremely loving tribute to the ran from July 2015 to January Summer Solstice, again at the entire extended Bush family, with an 2016 at London’s V&A Royal Vauxhall Tavern, and unexpected and sensitive biography of Museum. Robert Allsopp’s fish again featuring an amazing set Kate thrown into the bargain”. skeleton masks and Dick Bird’s by tribute band Cloudbusting. set design for Watching You John chatted to Graham Without Me were on display as The Kate event really, of Norton on BBC Radio 2 on 7th well as photos of set sketches 2015 was the publication on November, and also to Dave and rehearsal photos as part of 22nd October of her brother Hodgson on Talk Radio the ‘Make/Believe’ exhibit in John’s new book of photos Kate: Inside the Rainbow. This was a collection of images from throughout Kate’s career including out-takes from classic album shoots and never-before- seen photos from sessions including The Dreaming and Hounds of Love, as well as rare candid studio shots and behind- the-scenes stills from video sets, including Army Dreamers and Running Up that Hill. The new book also included two new essays from John: From Cathy to Kate, describing their shared childhood and the early, whirlwind days of Kate’s career, and Chasing the Shot, which describes John’s experience of photographing his sister. In The Observer Sunday Magazine 18th October John wrote: “For 20 years I was involved with my sister’s creative career … I started photographing her ‘professionally’ in an almost accidental way. For her first album … her record company began to arrange for … full-time photographers. The thought was daunting. So we thought we would have a session of our own at home … Maybe it is the brother-sister connection that makes the pictures I took of her distinctive. It may also have something to do with where the photos were taken: it was always where we were living. I would turn a room into a studio ... At the same time as taking photos, I was involved with her career on many other levels: driver, book keeper, bodyguard and executive producer, occasional backing vocalist. There was no time to pursue a career in photography with the kind of dedication it requires.” On first look Seán commented on KBNews: “I think the shimmer and glow of 44 HomeGround Summer 2022

HomeGround Summer 2022 45

Before the Dawn... … the Theatre and Performance Whatever journey his beautiful and political events in Ireland. area of the museum. soul is now on, I hope he can 2016 took another major somehow feel how much we all miss Following a campaign by A- him.” And on 27th January, creative musician with the level student Jessy McCabe, the guitarist Jimmy Bain died. He death of Prince on 21st April. ludicrous contention of the who had “played on all the crazier Prince worked with Kate on Head of Music at exam tracks” (Kate, 1982) on The two songs, Why Should I Love authority EdExcel: “Given that Dreaming. You?, and My Computer from his female composers were not prominent own triple album Emancipation in the western classical tradition (or Along with dozens of well- (1996): “I am so sad and shocked to others for that matter), there would be known people, in March Kate hear the tragic news about Prince. He very few female composers that could signed an open letter to Prime was the most incredibly talented be included” was quickly buried Minister David Cameron artist. A man in complete control of and added to the A-level music asking for a delay to the his work from writer and musician to specification for the new year demolition of the Calais producer and director. He was such 2016 were five new set works by ‘Jungle’ to protect the children an inspiration. Playful and mind- female composers, Clara there: “The recent announcement by blowingly gifted. He was the most Schumann, Rachel Portman, the Calais prefecture to raze the inventive and extraordinary live act Anoushka Shankar and Kaija Southern part of the “Jungle” refugee I’ve seen. The world has lost someone Saariaho, and Kate! In the camp in Calais is an act that if truly magical. Goodnight dear ‘Popular Music and Jazz’ area allowed to happen, will destroy the Prince”. of study, three tracks from temporary homes of over 3000 Hounds of Love were set: people including 443 children ...” The fifth HomeGround Cloudbusting, And Dream of Sheep, Party ‘A Song of Summer’ was and Under Ice. On March 31st an excerpt held on 8th July, again at the from Kate’s version of Seán Ó Royal Vauxhall Tavern, and So what appeared to be Riada’s Mná na hÉireann was featured a superb set from publicly, a quiet year for Kate featured in the centrepiece of Mandy and Michael of tribute ended with a brief message on RTE’s Easter Rising 1916 band Cloudbusting, and 27th December: “Wishing you all commemorations. Kate’s voice performances by Rose Garden a wonderful Christmas and a very was heard as part of a montage and A Sky of Honey. A great, Happy New Year ahead, With love, exploring the more recent social great night! Kate x”. Of course it had not been an inactive year for Kate. There was much work done to prepare the Before the Dawn material for public release, whatever form that was to take. It was with great sadness that the Kate-speaking world received news of the death of David Bowie on 10th January 2016. Bowie had been a profound inspiration for Kate, and her reaction appeared in an article in The Observer on 17th January: “David Bowie had everything. He was intelligent, imaginative, brave, charismatic, cool, sexy and truly inspirational both visually and musically. He created such staggeringly brilliant work, yes, but so much of it and it was so good. There are great people who make great work but who else has left a mark like his? No one like him. I’m struck by how the whole country has been flung into mourning and shock. Shock, because someone who had already transcended into immortality could actually die. He was ours. Wonderfully eccentric in a way that only an Englishman could be. 46 HomeGround Summer 2022

At the end of September we to an powerhouse climax, and shows … Clearly a degree of Above and page learned that Kate would release the sensational drumming of tinkering has gone on with the music. 46: Artwork by Neil a live album of the residency, to Omar Hakim. The track was A beautiful take on Never Be Mine, Sheriff. be entitled The KT Fellowship then made available for from 1989’s The Sensual World, Opposite:The fifth presents Before the Dawn. Before download on iTunes for those seems to have mysteriously HomeGround Party, then, there was to be a digital who pre-ordered the digital appeared ... which never happened and fourth at the single King of the Mountain (Live album. during the actual concerts ... the RVT. 2014), taken from the live set. A really arresting thing about Before the clip of this was first played by On 17th November Seattle Dawn ... is how raw it sounds. Bowie, Bain and Ken Bruce on BBC Radio 2 on Radio Station KEXP unlike most latter day live albums, it Prince. More 20th October. Introducing the unexpectedly played five tracks actually sounds like a band playing recruits for the clip in the programme’s Music from the live album. DJ El Toro live … It’s a state of affairs Band of Heaven News section, correspondent revealed that it was his final amplified by Bush’s voice, which is in Matt Everitt described the show on the station: “One of my fantastic shape … there’s a vividness shows as “the most eagerly awaited happiest episodes at KEXP – in my about the emotional twists and turns shows I can remember, they were entire life, frankly – was interviewing of A Sea of Honey, A Sky of Honey incredible shows; Kate’s singing was the notoriously press-shy Kate Bush – from the beatific, sun-dappled amazing, the band was superb and circa the release of her 2011 album contentment associated with Balearic the production and the stage set was 50 Words For Snow. It seems music to brooding sadness and back unlike anything anyone has ever especially appropriate then that I’ll be again – that just isn’t there on the attempted at a pop or rock gig, ever.” previewing selections from her studio version That answers the forthcoming record ...” Review question about what the point of The full track was broadcast copies were out, and the first Before the Dawn is: … it’s an album the following day by Shaun review we saw was Alexis that shows Bush’s back catalogue off Keaveny on the BBC Radio 6 Petridis, in the 17th November in a different light. And perhaps Music Breakfast show: “Sweet Guardian. Making it ‘album of it’s ... more fitting, that her 2014 Jesus, that’s amazing!” Joined in the week’, he writes: “A pressing shows are commemorated with an the studio by Matt Everitt, the question looms over Kate Bush’s new album rather than a film ... They praise continued: “incredible ... live release ... what’s the point? Live were a huge pop cultural event, as the beautiful … remarkable”. Such was albums can only ever hope to give the first gigs in four decades by one of the reaction from both listeners faintest flavour of the multi-sensory rock’s tiny handful of real elusive and presenter, the show played experience of attending a gig ... You geniuses were always bound to be, but the track in its eight-minute get a vague sense of the crackling they were shrouded in a sense of entirety again an hour later. excitement in the audience, but ... it enigma: … that air of mystery clung Fan reaction focused on Kate’s can’t give you any real sense of the to the shows after the 22-date run extraordinary vocal as it builds overwhelming visual spectacle of the HomeGround Summer 2022 47

Before the Dawn... … ended: … Before the Dawn provides a memento for those who were there and a vague indication of what went on for those who weren’t, without compromising the shows’ appealingly mysterious air” On 18th November Kate released And Dream of Sheep as a second digital download, and this was sent automatically to those who had pre-ordered the digital set of Before the Dawn. It was first played by Ken Bruce on his BBC Radio 2 show that morning. Also on the 18th, the first copies of the ‘January 2017’ issue of Mojo landed with subscribers. The issue had Kate on the cover and featured eleven pages of what the magazine proudly boasted was ‘the only interview’. The first thing we learned from the interview, to the great disappointment of fans, was that there was not going to be a DVD of Before the Dawn: Mojo: Is there going to be a changed her mind about live journey on which all were to go. DVD as well? It was filmed work having done two albums The section would end with after all… in quick succession, and wanted King of the Mountain whipping to do something different which up a storm which would carry Kate: It was filmed. And it has didn’t involve sitting in the players and audience to a been archived. But there are no studio. However, as much as the different world. current plans to bring out a DVD. I idea of a show was interesting think that the CD is, in a way, much and exciting, stepping into it The planning started about more representative of being at the was terrifying. Bertie was really 14 months before the show with shows than a DVD. When you’re at key to it, she wanted him to be two essential elements: the a live show it’s the whole experience involved and he was very lighting designer – the of sitting in an audience, you can positive. imaginary worlds were created scan the stage, choose where to look, by use of light - and the it’s completely different from film. Kate already had ideas for drummer who was to be the live work, and knew she wanted core and beating heart of the Mojo: Obviously it was this to revolve around the band. Kate didn’t want it to such a visual experience, a conceptual parts of her albums look like a concert with visual delight, it would be a so that there was a narrative, a theatrics – she wanted a piece shame to lose that. sketched shape. She knew she of theatre, like we were telling a wanted to start with a bunch of story. She knew she didn’t want Kate: Well, I dunno, there songs that would make it seem to tour it. She had found before might be something at some point, but as if it was a straight concert that energy went in to travel there’s certainly no plans at the and then transition into The rather than into the show. Also moment. I want to very much move Ninth Wave, and the other part the sets and technical set-up for on and do something new. I’d like to would be A Sky of Honey. The what she wanted would not be do something (pregnant pause)… two conceptual pieces opposing collapsible. She didn’t want to new! (Laughs.) in atmospheres and journeys. do anywhere too big, like the 02. Hammersmith, being an Kate’s first broadcast For the first part Kate knew old cinema, was the right shape interview since 2011 was an she wanted to start with Lily, a and right size. hour long feature with Matt prayer so that everyone was Everitt on BBC Radio 6 Music involved and protected on the The entire team were on 20th November. Refreshing to hear Kate so happy after the experience of the live shows. This is a summary. Kate explained that she had 48 HomeGround Summer 2022

working right up to the first sections, and for the first section The music allows the Opposite: Mojo night on sound and technical knew she wanted Lily and King imagination to summon up November 2016 issues and then as the of the Mountain. For the rest of what was there. She had “The Only performances unfolded, with the first part she wanted an up- worked very hard to put a live Interview” the evolving process of the tempo rhythmic set, and so album together from a huge moment as the energies obvious songs like Running Up amount of material. However, Kate Bush recalls changed from night to night. That Hill and Hounds of Love the shows were not a full stop the 'terror' of her For Kate the most difficult had to be in there. The first set just a big comma. It was, as 2014 live shows thing was to be continually in was actually the hardest part of ever, hard to get started until the moment. Normally she was the show for her as she had new energy and direction were Kate Bush thinking and moving ahead, but nowhere to hide, and each song apparent. Would she perform discusses the had to struggle to fix herself so was a different character. She live again? This time the material she that she remembered where she did actually prepare Never Be material had been already recorded with was was in the song and in the Mine for section one and more written. To produce another Prince performance. There was a encore tracks, but it would have such quantity of new material really powerful welcoming made the show too long. would take immense work. Kate Bush rejects presence from the audience. Don’t know. Next will be recluse tag over Kate didn’t read any of the something new. long absence from It was difficult to enjoy at early reviews, as she was stage first. Kate was pretty terrified already too frightened going on Tom Robinson’s BBC Radio most nights trying to hang on to to the stage, and didn’t want to 6 Music programme played the Kate Bush Got the moment, but toward the read anything bad going on entire Ninth Wave part of the Hypothermia end was feeling more relaxed. A stage with that in her head. show later on the same day, and Shooting Her “And real oddity was the ‘in-ear’ Others told her that the during the first half of his show Dream of Sheep\" monitors, which could be very reaction was very good. played Kate-inspired music Video, So The isolating in that you didn’t hear requests sent in by the listeners. Least You Can Do the audience in the same way as She did not plan to release a Is Watch It you would have done with the DVD. A live performance was The following day, 21st old style stage monitors. She completely different to November, Kate released the Kate Bush couldn’t wait for the moment watching a film. In the theatre full video for And Dream of Sheep, exclusive interview: when she could take out the you go on a journey with the as seen in the live shows. The 'I'm not sure you’re buds, and let in the sound and company. Music is an press release stated: “...The vocal ever really happy the actual atmosphere of the important art form and the live was performed live while filming with what you theatre. album more representative of Kate lying in the huge water tank at create' what the show was about. She Pinewood Studios. This was to create The first four albums did didn’t want what would be a sense of realism … However it Kate Bush Is not feature because Kate knew trapped in a DVD to replace became more realistic than Kate had Running Up That she wanted the narrative the actual theatrical experience. imagined. She spent so long in the Concert Stage for a Giant Live Album Kate Bush pays tribute to the ‘beauty and power’ of David Bowie Below: The video 49 clip for the digital single And Dream HomeGround Summer 2022

Before the Dawn... … water during the first day of filming joyous flamenco-esque guitar, before political but rather was in the defence that she contracted mild hypothermia. … “Aerial” offers a lingering of women in power … it could make She recovered after a day off and reminder of the daily round. It’s a it seem like I am a tory supporter carried on filming. Everyone agreed it beautiful juxtaposition of dark and which I want to make clear I am had added to the authenticity of the light which leaves one alternately not”. performance.” scared and soothed by the knowledge that whatever comes to pass, it will In the US the live set was On 22nd November the pass by again, and soon.” released on Concord Records website Super Deluxe Edition on 2nd December. On that date published an interview they had On that day the Metacritic the UK official chart site conducted with David Rhodes website was rating the album at reported: “The live album about his part in the live shows. 84, i.e. “universal acclaim”. continues Kate’s unbroken run of Top From this we learned that Sat In The TV advertising campaign 10 albums on the Official Albums Your Lap was first considered for was well under way. The new Chart and becomes her 12th Top 10 the slot finally occupied by Top video for And Dream of Sheep had record”. of the City, though never received over 250,000 views on rehearsed. Never Be Mine was YouTube and over half a Kate was pleased and rehearsed, but considered too million views on Facebook, and plainly surprised at the success downbeat. As for The Big Sky: Kate was briefly the “top of the live set, and posted 4th “We only tried it once with the whole trend” on both Facebook and December: “A huge thank you to band – once or twice – and it just YouTube as a result. Seán and everyone who has supported the live sounded like a bit of a mess because Dave discussed the release with album. It means so much to me and she was thinking of that as the Tom Dunne on Ireland’s for a triple live album to go into the encore, maybe. I think both Bertie Newstalk FM radio station. charts at such a high position is just and I thought Cloudbusting would be extraordinary. Wishing you a happy better, so we pushed for that”. Before the Dawn was released and restful Christmas and a great on 25th November. Kate did New Year ahead. Very best wishes, The day before the release some promotional interviews Kate.” of the live set, 24th November, including with the Canadian Andy Gill reviewed it in The magazine/website Macleans. On 20th January 2017 Before Independent as follows: “her band They asked her about Waking the Dawn was certified Gold by of old hands and session virtuosi ... the Witch: “You once said that the the British Phonographic bring a thrilling urgency to familiar song was about ‘the fear of women’s Industry (BPI), achieving sales songs … there is a satisfying sense of power.’ With regard to Hillary in excess of 100,000 in the UK. musicians keenly exploring works Clinton’s recent defeat, do you think As Kate had noted, considering which even in their original recordings that this fear is stronger than ever?” this was a triple CD and … bulged with unusual ambition, To which Kate replied: “We quadruple vinyl set, it was quite both musically and thematically … have a female prime minister here in astonishing. The angel-surrounded “Lily” makes the UK. I actually really like her and a suitably dramatic opener … A few think she’s wonderful. I think it’s the Before we leave this part of songs later … leads into the indelible best thing that’s happened to us in a looking back, we thought some synth hook of a resonant realisation long time. She’s a very intelligent of you might be as confused as of “Running Up That Hill”, before woman but I don’t see much to fear. I Peter was about Kate’s label an intense, passionate ... “King Of will say it is great to have a woman situation at this point. Okay, The Mountain” builds to an in charge of the country. She’s very this is what we understand. overwhelming sonic maelstrom … sensible and I think that’s a good What comes across perhaps more thing at this point in time”. A In 1978 at the beginning, strongly … is the subtly contrasting number of people insisted on Kate was originally on the EMI nature of the two suites, their reading this not as a response to label, owned by EMI Ltd. Then disparate characters - entrapment the actual question put to her, a EMI Ltd merged with electrics versus liberation, petrifying terror defence of the very concept of giant Thorn in 1979 to form versus exultant joy - reflected in the women holding positions of Thorn EMI. They de-merged music. The Ninth Wave is couched in power, but as an endorsement in 1997. In 2006 EMI and vulnerable piano, ensnaring strings of the Conservative Party. Warner each made unsuccessful and sombre choral harmonies, Bush’s Unfortunately, this allegation attempts to buy the other. Then vocal at times splintering with fear would follow Kate around for a after EMI had incurred huge before the work eventually resolves couple of years until she issued losses, in 2007 the firm was into the folksy acquiescence of “The a clarification in January 2019: acquired by private equity Morning Fog” ... By contrast, A Sky “I was very disappointed that the use company Terra Firma, the Of Honey is a languorous paean to of a quote out of context was timed usual methods and attitudes of an artist’s appreciation of the with the release of the live album and that firm immediately causing elemental “diamond sea and diamond it seemed as if the focus went onto the some artists to depart from the sky”, a rustic Eden invoked through quote rather than the work. It was label. Following further losses bells and birdsong ... with the deeply frustrating … My response to and fears of insolvency, honeyed hues of “Sunset” evoked in the interviewer was not meant to be ownership of EMI passed to CitiGroup in 2011. £2.2B of debt was written off, and the 50 HomeGround Summer 2022