Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kate Bush

Discover the career path of Kate Bush, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, record producer, and dancer who began writing songs at a young age. Discovered with the help of David Gilmour, she signed with EMI Records and achieved fame at 19 with her self-written debut single, "Wuthering Heights," topping the UK charts for four weeks and becoming the first woman to accomplish this feat with a self-written song. Her debut album, 'The Kick Inside', reached number three in the UK, solidifying her place in music history.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1957: Inspiration from Night of the Demon and Man of a Thousand Faces

In 1957, the horror movie Night of the Demon and the film Man of a Thousand Faces influenced the gothic nature and storytelling in some of Kate Bush's songs.

1961: Inspiration from The Innocents

In 1961, the film The Innocents (based on The Turn of the Screw) inspired "The Infant Kiss", about a haunted woman's infatuation with a young boy.

1967: Inspiration from The Bride Wore Black

In 1967, François Truffaut's film The Bride Wore Black, based on Cornell Woolrich's novel, inspired Kate Bush's song "The Wedding List", a dark comedy about a bride seeking revenge for her groom's murder.

1973: "Passing Through Air" Demo Recording

In 1973, the song "Passing Through Air" was recorded as a demo at David Gilmour's studio a few weeks after Kate Bush's 15th birthday.

August 1977: First Album Recording

In August 1977, Kate Bush began recording her first album.

1978: "The Man with the Child in His Eyes" Top 10 Hit

In 1978, "The Man with the Child in His Eyes" became a Top 10 hit for Kate Bush in the UK.

1978: Top of the Pops Appearances

In 1978, Kate Bush appeared on Top of the Pops five times with "Wuthering Heights", solidifying her image.

1978: The Kick Inside Album

In 1978, Kate Bush was persuaded to use established session musicians instead of the KT Bush Band for The Kick Inside album.

1978: UK Singles Chart Topped

In 1978, at the age of 19, Kate Bush topped the UK singles chart for four weeks with "Wuthering Heights", becoming the first female artist to achieve a UK number one with a fully self-written song.

1978: Lionheart Album Recorded

In late 1978, EMI persuaded Kate Bush to quickly record a follow-up album, Lionheart, to take advantage of the success of The Kick Inside.

April 1979: The Tour of Life Began

In April 1979, Kate Bush's The Tour of Life began, combining music, dance, poetry, mime, burlesque, magic, and theatre.

August 1979: On Stage EP Release

In August 1979, Kate Bush's first experience as a producer occurred on her live On Stage EP.

1979: Tour of Life

In 1979, Kate Bush performed Tour of Life

1979: Collaboration with Peter Gabriel and Roy Harper

In 1979, Kate Bush provided vocals on Peter Gabriel's albums, including the hit song "Games Without Frontiers", and appeared on his television special. In 1979, she also sang on Roy Harper's album, "The Unknown Soldier".

1979: Pioneering Headset Microphone

In 1979, Kate Bush was the first artist to use a headset with a wireless microphone built for use in music for her Tour of Life.

1979: Decision to Limit Live Performances

In 1979, after only six weeks on the road, Kate Bush made the decision not to tour extensively again, establishing herself as an autonomous artist creating masterworks on her own terms.

1979: Alan Murphy joins The Tour of Life

In 1979, guitarist Alan Murphy began working with Kate Bush on The Tour of Life, marking the start of a significant musical partnership.

September 1980: Never for Ever Release

In September 1980, Never for Ever, co-produced by Kate Bush and Jon Kelly, was released.

November 1980: "December Will Be Magic Again" Release

In November 1980, Kate Bush released the standalone Christmas single "December Will Be Magic Again".

1980: "Babooshka" Top 10 Hit

In 1980, "Babooshka" became a Top 10 hit for Kate Bush in the UK.

1980: Never for Ever Album Release

In 1980, Kate Bush's album Never for Ever reached number one in the UK.

1980: Distribution of Releases

In 1980, The state51 Conspiracy took over distribution of Bush's post-1980 releases.

September 1982: The Dreaming Release

In September 1982, The Dreaming, produced by Kate Bush, was released and featured experimental production techniques and extensive use of the Fairlight CMI.

1982: The Dreaming Production

Since The Dreaming in 1982, Kate Bush has produced all of her studio albums.

November 1985: "Running Up That Hill" on Billboard Hot 100

In November 1985, "Running Up That Hill" reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

1985: "Running Up That Hill" Top 10 Hit

In 1985, "Running Up That Hill" became a Top 10 hit for Kate Bush in the UK.

1985: "Running Up That Hill" Chart Performance

In 1985, "Running Up That Hill" originally peaked at No. 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

1985: Hounds of Love Release

In 1985, Kate Bush's Hounds of Love was released and topped the charts in the UK.

1986: Vocals on Big Country's Album

In 1986, Kate Bush sang on the title song of the Big Country album "The Seer".

1986: The Whole Story Album Release

In 1986, Kate Bush's album The Whole Story reached number one in the UK.

1986: Brit Awards Nominations and "Don't Give Up" success

In 1986, Kate Bush's album garnered nominations at the Brit Awards for Best Female Solo Artist, Best Album, Best Single, and Best Producer. Also in 1986, her duet with Peter Gabriel, "Don't Give Up," became a UK Top 10 hit, and EMI released her "greatest hits" album, The Whole Story, featuring a refreshed version of "Wuthering Heights" and a new single, "Experiment IV."

1986: "Don't Give Up" Top 10 Hit

In 1986, the duet "Don't Give Up" with Peter Gabriel became a Top 10 hit for Kate Bush in the UK.

1987: Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist

At the 1987 Brit Awards, Kate Bush won the award for Best British Female Solo Artist, marking a high point in her career.

1987: Singing on Ferry Aid's Charity Single

In 1987, Kate Bush sang a verse on the Beatles cover charity single "Let It Be" by Ferry Aid.

1988: Collaboration with Midge Ure

In 1988, Kate Bush sang on the Midge Ure song "Sister and Brother" from his album "Answers to Nothing".

1989: Release of The Sensual World

In 1989, Kate Bush released "The Sensual World", an album she described as her most honest and personal, featuring tracks inspired by James Joyce's Ulysses and a song about dancing with Adolf Hitler. The album later achieved Gold certification in the US.

1989: Collaboration with Trio Bulgarka on The Sensual World

In 1989, Trio Bulgarka provided backing vocals on the songs "Deeper Understanding", "Never Be Mine", and "Rocket's Tail" from Kate Bush's album "The Sensual World".

1990: Production of Alan Stivell's "Kimiad"

In 1990, Kate Bush produced a song for Alan Stivell, titled "Kimiad", marking her only production work for another artist to date.

1990: Vocals on Roy Harper's Album

In 1990, Kate Bush sang on Roy Harper's album, "Once".

1990: Release of This Woman's Work Boxed Set

In 1990, Kate Bush's boxed set, "This Woman's Work", which included all of her albums with their original cover art, as well as two discs featuring the majority of her singles' B-sides recorded from 1978 to 1990, was released.

1991: Cover of "Rocket Man"

In 1991, Kate Bush covered Elton John's "Rocket Man" for the tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin.

November 1993: Release of The Red Shoes

In November 1993, Kate Bush released her seventh studio album, "The Red Shoes", which achieved her highest chart position in the US.

1993: Collaboration with Prince

In 1993, Kate Bush collaborated with Prince on the song "Why Should I Love You?" from her album The Red Shoes.

1993: The Red Shoes Album Release

In 1993, Kate Bush released The Red Shoes, then took a hiatus from releasing albums.

1993: Trio Bulgarka on The Red Shoes

In 1993, Trio Bulgarka appeared on Kate Bush's album "The Red Shoes" in the songs "You're The One", "The Song of Solomon", and "Why Should I Love You".

1993: "Eat the Music" Single Cancellation

In 1993, the single "Eat the Music" was originally cancelled, before its eventual release as a vinyl single in 2024.

1993: "She's Gone Mad" Album

In a 1993 interview with Q magazine, Kate Bush stated that The Dreaming album was her "She's gone mad" album.

January 1994: "Rubberband Girl" peaks on US singles chart

In January 1994, "Rubberband Girl," a single from "The Red Shoes" album, peaked at number 88 on the US singles chart, marking its presence in the American music scene.

1994: Cover of "The Man I Love"

In 1994, Kate Bush covered George Gershwin's "The Man I Love" for the tribute album The Glory of Gershwin.

1996: Collaboration with Prince

In 1996, Kate Bush collaborated with Prince on the song "My Computer" from Prince's album Emancipation.

1996: Contribution to Common Ground

In 1996, Kate Bush contributed a version of "Mná na hÉireann" to the Anglo-Irish folk-rock compilation project Common Ground, singing in Irish.

2002: Ivor Novello Award

In 2002, Kate Bush received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

2002: Ivor Novello Award and Performance

In 2002, Kate Bush was awarded an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, and she performed "Comfortably Numb" at David Gilmour's concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London, celebrating her impact on the music industry.

September 2005: "King of the Mountain" Premiere

In September 2005, Kate Bush's single "King of the Mountain" premiered on BBC Radio 2, marking the beginning of the album cycle for Aerial.

November 2005: Release of Aerial

In November 2005, Kate Bush released her eighth studio album, Aerial, on double CD and vinyl, marking her return to the music scene after a 12 year hiatus.

2005: "King of the Mountain" Top 10 Hit

In 2005, "King of the Mountain" became a Top 10 hit for Kate Bush in the UK.

2005: "This Woman's Work" resurgence

In 2005, "This Woman's Work" reached number eight on the UK download chart after being featured in a British television advertisement for the charity NSPCC, demonstrating the song's enduring appeal.

2007: "Lyra" Release for The Golden Compass

In 2007, Kate Bush wrote and released the song "Lyra" for The Golden Compass soundtrack, receiving a nomination for the International Press Academy's Satellite Award for original song in a motion picture.

May 2011: Release of Director's Cut

In May 2011, Kate Bush released Director's Cut, comprising reworked tracks from The Sensual World and The Red Shoes, marking her first album on her new label, Fish People, and debuting at No. 2 on the United Kingdom chart.

November 2011: Release of 50 Words for Snow

On 21 November 2011, Kate Bush released her tenth studio album, 50 Words for Snow, featuring Elton John on the duet "Snowed in at Wheeler Street."

2011: Collaboration with Elton John

In 2011, Elton John collaborated with Kate Bush on "Snowed in at Wheeler Street" for her album 50 Words for Snow.

2011: Director's Cut and 50 Words for Snow Albums Released

In 2011, Kate Bush released the albums Director's Cut and 50 Words for Snow.

2011: BBC Radio 4 Interview

In 2011, Kate Bush told BBC Radio 4 that the amount of time between albums was stressful and denied being a perfectionist, emphasizing the importance of family life.

2012: Olympics and "Running Up That Hill"

In 2012, Kate Bush declined to perform at the Summer Olympics closing ceremony in London, but a new vocal remix of her 1985 single "Running Up That Hill" was played instead.

2013: Chart Success in Five Decades

In 2013, Kate Bush became the only female artist to have top five albums in the UK charts in five successive decades, showcasing her enduring relevance and popularity.

2013: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

In 2013, Kate Bush was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to music.

March 2014: Announcement of Before the Dawn Concerts

In March 2014, Kate Bush announced her first live concerts in decades, Before the Dawn, a 22-night residency in London, creating immense excitement and anticipation.

October 2014: End of Before the Dawn Residency

In October 2014, Kate Bush's Before the Dawn 22-night residency in London came to an end, with universal acclaim.

2014: Before the Dawn Concert Residency

In 2014, Kate Bush drew attention with her concert residency Before the Dawn, her first shows since the Tour of Life.

2014: Kate Bush's Comeback to the Stage

In 2014, Kate Bush's comeback to the stage inspired Adele to release her third studio album 25.

2014: Son's Feature in Before the Dawn

In 2014, Kate Bush's son Bertie featured in the concert Before the Dawn.

November 2016: Release of Before the Dawn Album

On 25 November 2016, Kate Bush released an album of recordings from the Before the Dawn concerts, further solidifying her comeback and artistic achievements.

November 2018: Release of Remastered Box Sets

In November 2018, Kate Bush released two box sets of remasters of her studio albums, with vocals from Rolf Harris replaced by versions by Bush's son Bertie.

December 2018: Publication of How to Be Invisible

In December 2018, Kate Bush published her first book, How to Be Invisible, a compilation of lyrics, offering fans a deeper insight into her songwriting.

March 2019: Release of The Other Sides

On 8 March 2019, Kate Bush released The Other Sides, a compilation of rare tracks, cover versions, and remixes from the box sets, including the previously unreleased track "Humming," recorded in 1975.

September 2019: "Ne t'enfuis pas" / "Un baiser d'enfant" Vinyl Release

In September 2019, Kate Bush released "Ne t'enfuis pas" / "Un baiser d'enfant" on vinyl, in France, as a limited-edition promotional single.

2019: Release of Kate & Me Album

In 2019, French record producer Pone, who is paralyzed from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, released Kate & Me, an entire album created from samples of Kate Bush's work.

April 2021: Open Letter on Streaming Royalties

In April 2021, Kate Bush was one of 156 signatories of an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for a change in the wording of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to make royalty payments for streaming closer to the amounts paid for radio broadcast.

June 2021: Publication of Listen And Donate EP

In June 2021, Pone published Listen And Donate, an EP composed of four tracks including two originals and two remixes based on samples of Kate Bush's work, to raise funds for the Trakadom association.

May 2022: Resurgence of "Running Up That Hill" via Stranger Things

In May 2022, Kate Bush's 1985 single "Running Up That Hill" experienced a resurgence in popularity after being featured in the Netflix series Stranger Things, becoming a global streaming hit and introducing her music to a new generation.

June 2022: "Running Up That Hill" Re-enters Charts

In June 2022, "Running Up That Hill" experienced a resurgence, re-entering the US Billboard Hot 100 at number eight, surpassing its original 1985 peak and achieving Bush's first US top-ten hit. The parent album, Hounds of Love, also saw a new peak, charting at number 12 in the US.

June 2022: "Running Up That Hill" Reaches Number One

In June 2022, "Running Up That Hill" reached number one in the UK, marking Kate Bush's second UK number one and breaking chart records for the longest time between number ones and oldest female solo chart-topping artist. On June 10, 2022, the song had reached number two on the UK charts.

2022: "Running Up That Hill" Resurgence

In 2022, "Running Up That Hill" received renewed attention after appearing in the Netflix series Stranger Things, becoming Bush's second UK number one.

February 2023: Fish People Moves to The state51 Conspiracy

On February 22, 2023, Bush announced that her label, Fish People, had moved to a new distribution partner, The state51 Conspiracy, taking over distribution of her post-1980 releases worldwide and the entire catalogue in the US only.