History of Kate Bush in Timeline
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.
1918: Hannah Patricia (Daly)'s Birth
In 1918, Hannah Patricia (Daly), Kate Bush's mother, was born.
1920: Robert Bush's Birth
In 1920, Robert Bush, Kate Bush's father, was born.
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.
July 1958: Catherine Bush Born
In July 1958, Catherine Bush was born. She later became an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer.
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.
1972: Original Release of Rocket Man
In 1972, Elton John's song "Rocket Man" was originally released.
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.
May 1979: Tour of Life
In May 1979, Kate Bush's only tour, the Tour of Life, ran for six weeks in April and May, covering Britain and mainland Europe.
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: Posing with James Callaghan
During the 1979 United Kingdom general election campaign, Kate Bush posed for a photograph alongside the Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan.
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: Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding British Lyric
In 1979, Kate Bush won an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding British Lyric for "The Man with the Child in His Eyes".
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.
July 1982: Performance at The Prince's Trust Benefit Concert
In July 1982, Kate Bush participated in the first benefit concert in aid of The Prince's Trust, singing "The Wedding List" with a backing band.
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: NME Interview Criticism
In a 1982 interview with NME, Kate Bush criticized how she was promoted as a "female body", overshadowing her songwriting and piano skills.
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.
1985: Interview with Hot Press
In a 1985 interview with Hot Press, Kate Bush stated that she preferred not to discuss how she voted and added "I don't feel I am a political thinker at all. I don't really understand politics."
1986: Comic Relief Performance
In 1986, Kate Bush performed live for the British charity event Comic Relief, singing "Do Bears...?", a humorous duet with Rowan Atkinson, and a rendition of "Breathing".
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.
March 1987: Performance at The Secret Policeman's Third Ball
In March 1987, Kate Bush sang "Running Up That Hill" at The Secret Policeman's Third Ball accompanied by David Gilmour.
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.
1987: Brit Award Win
In 1987, Kate Bush won a Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist.
1987: Gilmour Disputed EMI's Account
In a 1987 interview, David Gilmour disputed EMI's version of events regarding Kate Bush's initial signing, blaming them for using the "wrong" producers initially.
1988: Collaboration with Midge Ure
In 1988, Kate Bush sang on the Midge Ure song "Sister and Brother" from his album "Answers to Nothing".
1988: Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act was enacted in 1988.
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.
1991: Prince's Acknowledgement
In 1991, Kate Bush was one of the singers whom Prince thanked in the liner notes of Diamonds and Pearls.
1992: Hannah Patricia (Daly)'s Death
In 1992, Hannah Patricia (Daly), Kate Bush's mother, passed away.
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.
1996: Previous Grammy Nomination
Prior to 2024, Kate Bush's last Grammy nomination was in 1996.
1998: Birth of Son Albert McIntosh
In 1998, Kate Bush and Danny McIntosh had a son, Albert McIntosh, known as Bertie.
1998: Asteroid Named After Kate Bush
In 1998, an asteroid was named after Kate Bush, recognizing her influence and legacy.
1999: VH1's Greatest Women in Rock and Roll
In 1999, VH1 named Kate Bush the 46th-greatest woman in rock and roll.
2001: Q Award as Classic Songwriter
In 2001, Kate Bush was honored with a Q Award as Classic Songwriter, acknowledging her exceptional contribution to music.
2002: Performance with David Gilmour
In 2002, Kate Bush appeared with David Gilmour again, singing the Pink Floyd song "Comfortably Numb" at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
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.
2004: Purchase of Devon Home
In 2004, Kate Bush bought a second home in Devon.
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.
2006: Brit Awards Nominations for Aerial
In 2006, Kate Bush earned two nominations at the Brit Awards for Aerial, specifically for Best British Female Solo Artist and Best British Album, recognizing the album's impact.
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.
2007: Award for "Rocket Man" Cover
In 2007, Kate Bush's cover of "Rocket Man" won The Observer readers' award for Greatest Cover of all time.
2007: "Rocket Man" Voted Greatest Cover
In 2007, Kate Bush's cover of Elton John's "Rocket Man" was voted the greatest cover ever by readers of The Observer newspaper, highlighting the enduring impact and appreciation of her unique rendition.
2008: Robert Bush's Death
In 2008, Robert Bush, Kate Bush's father, passed away.
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: Duet and Praise from Elton John
In 2011, Elton John did a duet with Kate Bush and praised her talents as a musician, calling her groundbreaking and a bit like a female equivalent of Freddie Mercury.
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.
2012: Awards and Nominations for 50 Words for Snow
In 2012, Kate Bush's album 50 Words for Snow won Best Album at the South Bank Arts Awards and was nominated for Best Album at the Ivor Novello Awards, in addition to Bush being nominated for Best Female Artist at the Brit Awards.
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.
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.
2015: Adele Inspired by Bush's Comeback
In 2015, Adele stated that the release of her third studio album 25 was inspired by Kate Bush's 2014 comeback to the stage.
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.
2016: Maclean's Interview on Theresa May
In 2016, Kate Bush stated that she really liked Theresa May and thought she was wonderful during an interview with Maclean's.
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.
2018: Nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2018, Kate Bush was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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.
2019: Statement on Political Views
In 2019, Kate Bush published a statement on her website clarifying that she was not a Conservative Party supporter.
September 2020: Fellow of The Ivors Academy
In September 2020, Kate Bush became a Fellow of The Ivors Academy, the UK's independent professional association for songwriters, composers and music authors, acknowledging her significant contributions to the field.
2020: Fellow of the Ivors Academy
In 2020, Kate Bush became a Fellow of the Ivors Academy in the UK.
2020: Mention by UK Prime Minister
In 2020, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned Kate Bush as one of the five most influential women in his life.
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.
2021: Nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2021, Kate Bush was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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.
September 2022: Limited Edition CD Single Release
In September 2022, a limited edition CD single was released by Rhino, marking its first publication in this format.
December 2022: Christmas Message on NHS Nurses
In December 2022, Kate Bush expressed solidarity with nurses undertaking strike action, stating that NHS nurses should be appreciated and cherished in her annual Christmas message.
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.
2022: Nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2022, Kate Bush was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
January 2023: Included in Rolling Stone's 200 Best Singers List
In January 2023, Kate Bush was included at No. 60 in Rolling Stone's list of the 200 Best Singers of All Time.
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.
May 2023: "This Woman's Work" Featured in Netflix Film
In May 2023, the song "This Woman's Work" from The Sensual World was featured in the Netflix film The Mother, leading to a sales resurgence.
2023: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2023, Kate Bush was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted by Big Boi of OutKast.
2023: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
In 2023, Kate Bush was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
February 2024: Ambassador for Record Store Day
In February 2024, it was announced that Kate Bush was an ambassador for that year's Record Store Day.
April 2024: Release of "Eat the Music" as a Vinyl Single
On Record Store Day in April 2024, Kate Bush's cancelled 1993 single "Eat the Music" will be released as a 10" vinyl single.
October 2024: Release of "Little Shrew" Animated Film
On October 25, 2024, Kate Bush released a short animated film titled Little Shrew in support of War Child, featuring a radio edit of "Snowflake".
November 2024: Grammy Nominations for Hounds of Love Re-editions
In November 2024, Kate Bush received two nominations at the 67th Grammy Awards for Best Recording Package and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package for the re-editions of Hounds of Love, her first nominations since 1996.
