Kate Bush

She’s become a bit of a name to drop all over again, and bands such as China Drum, Placebo and The Futureheads have all covered her most famous songs while Tori Amos set about being an inferior copy of the original, but Kate Bush hasn’t released an album since 1993.

Born in Bexleyheath, 1958, Kate Bush was spotted in ’73 by Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour. Despite her tender years (she was only 15!), Bush had already written over 100 songs by this point. Gilmour paid for her to record a demo which was then snapped up by EMI (also home of the Floyd). They put her to work in Abbey Road studios but it wasn’t until ’78 her debut single, Wuthering Heights, hit the shops. By this point she’d developed into an even more formidable talent with a four-octave vocal range. TV performances of the song saw her, ahem, unique dance-moves put into action. One thinks Bjork learnt a lot from this.

After two albums she set about a lengthy tour in 1979 but she found the experience – magic and mime, costume changes, dance routines, and her intense lyrics - too draining and hasn’t toured since. It paid off though and the following year’s Never Forever became her first No. 1 album. Her self-produced commercial flop, The Dreaming, was a nightmare for radio producers and contained an appearance by, of all people, Rolf Harris. The cool kids will tell you this is an undiscovered classic.

EMI released a singles collection the next year, by which point Bush had hidden from the public amid rumours of a mental breakdown. She was only 24. The truth is more cheerful: she’d taken the time to build a home studio and record for a few years, given her an enormously successful comeback in ’85 with Running Up That Hill charting at No. 3 (Top 30 in America) and the album Hounds Of Love at No. 1. It’s since sold over a million copies, remaining her most commercial work to date.

She kept herself busy as a guest vocalist for the likes of Peter Gabriel, Midge Ure and Big Country, wrote for film soundtracks and even made her acting debut for the Comic Strip TV special, ‘Les Dogs’. 1990’s The Sensual World gave her another hit single and contained Balkan folk singers Trio Bulgarka as well as her old mentor Dave Gilmour on guitar. Unfortunately it looked like things were taking a personal turn for the worst. Her mother died, and Bush split with long-term boyfriend, bassist Del Palmer. In no small part, this mental state contributed to what many consider her finest album (and the last she’s released at time of writing), The Red Shoes. One track, Why Should I Love You?, was a collaboration with the legend Prince, while joyous single Rubberband Girl was another hit.

It’s taken her 12 years or virtual silence but her follow-up album is set for release this year.

by adie nunn, january 2005