FEATURE:
It Looks Lightest Before the Dawn
PHOTO CREDIT: Ken McKay/Rex
The Famous Names Who Attended Kate Bush’s 2014 Residency
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BACK on 24th March, 2014…
Kate Bush provided her fans with a real treat. She announced that she would be on the stage at London’s Eventim Apollo for her Before the Dawn residency. Performing twenty-two sold-out dates between 26th August and 1st October, this was one of the most unexpected announcement of Kate Bush’s career. Look around now and there are a whole host of high-profile names that are Kate Bush fans. From artists to those in the media and beyond, there are some incredible and acclaimed people that cite Bush as an influence. There is renewed interest in her now considering the popularity and attention her music has garnered in the past few years. Back in 2014, one would imagine that the residency dates would be populated by regular fans. Of course, they are the majority of her fanbase and they travelled from around the world to see her. There is no hierarchy when it comes to her following. I will be publishing a feature marking forty-six years of The Tour of Life very soon. Bush’s only tour, that happened in 1979. There might have been some big names in attendance at a few of the dates though, for the most part, they were your average, loyal and loving fans. Fast forward thirty-five years and the demographic had widened and expanded. Especially on that first date of 26th August, 2014, there were some huge names to show their love for Kate Bush. I will do some anniversary features for Before the Dawn closer to August. For this feature, I want to talk about the array of incredible names that paid tribute to Kate Bush back in 2014 for this stage triumph.
As Graeme Thomson notes in his biography, Under the Ivy: The Life and Music of Kate Bush, the side effect of the success and brilliance of Before the Dawn and Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) being featured on Stranger Things n 2022, was how many constituencies she speaks to. World of comedy, literature, screen and queer discourse. We can look at the sphere of music and representatives who were there. Among the people who had this rare opportunity to show their support of Kate Bush was Lily Alen, PJ Harvey, Florence Welch, Anna Calvi, Grace Jones, Kylie Minogue, Annie Lennox, Adele and Alison Goldfrapp. In years since, artists like St Vincent, Olivia Rodrigo, Lana Del Rey, Lorde and Joanna Newsom have talked about Kate Bush or highlighted her as an influence. There is this whole other feature about just how far and wide her influence extends. All these different disciplines and corners of the map. Big Boi remains one of Kate Bush’s biggest fans. An event like Before the Dawn brought together such an array of artists. Representatives from Pet Shop Boys, Orbital, Prefab Sprout, Suede and Killing Joke were there. I believe Paul McCartney, Elton John, David Gilmour and Peter Gabriel were in attendance. Decades-lasting artists that knew how hard it was to remain active and relevant after so many years. It was this glorious outpouring of love from music’s alumni. Artists who could identify with Kate Bush. Some she had worked with and called friends. Others whom she had never met but wanted to express their gratitude and fandom.
IN THIS PHOTO: Paul McCartney/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
Outside of music, there were plenty of other big names in attendance. The world of film and theatre was well represented. Ian McKellen, Keira Knightley, Miranda Richardson, Jude Law, Gemma Arterton and Rachel Weisz. Directors Steve McQueen, Danny Boyle and Paul Greengrass. No doubt influenced by her music. Something they bring to their films. I wonder if we will see Bush’s music appear in future films from these directors. Throw into the mix the likes of Terry Jones, Tim McInnerney, Terry Gilliam, Noel Fielding, Dawn French, Frank Skinner, Jo Brand Lenny Henry. Those from the world of fashion were there. Stella McCartney and Kate Moss were at the concerts. Authors such as Jeanette Winterson, David Mitchell and Phillip Pulman were there. Winterson wrote about Kate Bush in an article praising her talent. Micthell wrote an introduction for Kate Bush’s lyrics book, How to Be Invisible (he also wrote some of Before the Dawn alongside Kate Bush). Although some rumoured megastars such as David Bowie and Madonna (and Prince) did not go to Before the Dawn, it is no surprising seeing the faces that went. Regular fans are brilliant and valuable, though celebrities and high-profile names how just how far her influence has spread. Its real impact. These names that saw Bush were not doing it to be seen or fashionable. They recognise that there was no Kate Bush before Kate Bush. That her catalogue goes deep and transcends boundaries, genres and time periods. The openness of her expression and singularity of her vision (thanks to Graeme Thomson for his words). David Bowie, Stanley Kubrick and Björk come to mind as comparisons. Individuals and mavericks. Futuristic and fearless. Those that mix humour, dark imagination and humour. Björk was among those who was at Before the Dawn. So too were Lauren Laverne and a galaxy of respected names from across the arts. Standing delighted and raptured with other fans.
After 2022, when Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) was propelled back into public consciousness, there was once again this widespread outpouring of collective love. However, Before the Dawn offered something else. A physical base. This location where fans from so many different countries were stood close to some well-known fans. I have written before about the celebrities who were at Before the Dawn. Instead, here, it is worth noting why they were there. I guess a few were there because it was a big ticket and they were not huge fans. However, it was this shared salute that moves me. How authors, film actors, directors, musicians and writers alike joined together to see Kate Bush perform. Not only to see her perform. Because they are influenced by her. Because her music has made an impact on their life. Different generations all affected by Kate Bush in different ways. In August 2014, the BBC broadcast a documentary about Kate Bush to coincide with Before the Dawn. Some famous fans who were at Before the Dawn contributed (including Elton John, Big Boi and David Gilmour), alongside Tori Amos and St Vincent. I do wonder whether another live event might be announced in years to come. Kate Bush has not ruled it out entirely. Just think about who might be in attendance. Since 2014, a whole new generation of artists count Kate Bush as an influence. Rather than she Before the Dawn as a final live chapter, it might be the middle of a trilogy. One that started in 1979 and might end shortly. One of the most important aspect of Before the Dawn was seeing just how far Bush’s music had spread. Kate Bush might have been nervous when she stepped onto the stage for that first night of the residence on 26th August, 2014. However, alongside her ordinary and loving fans was this wave of high-profile and acclaimed people who were so keen to pay respect to this incredible artist. In 2014, during a very special run of concerts, the Evetim Apollo in Hammersmith was…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush during the filming of the video for And Dream of Sheep; a song that is part of her suite, The Ninth Wave/PHOTO CREDIT: Trevor Leighton
FILLED with love.