Kate Bush to make live return? Pink Floyd's David Gilmour speaks up

7 October 2024, 10:47

Kate Bush's last long-awaited return was a full decade ago.

Ten years ago, Kate Bush made her return to the live stage.

Never a big fan of playing concerts, the singer-songwriter's 22-night Before the Dawn residency at the Hammersmith Apollo was her first live performance of any sort in 23 years and her first proper gigs since her Tour of Life all the way back in 1979.

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In a reader Q&A with The Guardian, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour has revealed that he's trying to convince Kate to play live once more.

"Kate Bush is the only person who can get Kate Bush back on stage," Gilmour admitted.

"I think the shows she did in 2014 at the Hammersmith Apollo were some of the best I’ve ever seen. We went several nights. I've tried persuading her recently, actually. Gently."

Kate Bush /David Gilmour - " Running Up That Hill "

Gilmour and Kate Bush have an important history together going back to the start of her career.

Bush's family had helped her make a demo tape packed with original songs which were turned down by all the record labels they contacted.

A mutual friend Ricky Hopper passed on a tape to Gilmour, who helped fund the recording of a better-quality demo for the then-16-year-old Kate.

That new tape was produced by Andrew Powell and had sound engineering from Geoff Emerick, already famed for his work with The Beatles.

That tape was sent to EMI and led to her being signed there by executive Terry Slater.

Bush and Gilmour remained friends and despite her dislike of live performances, she has appeared with him on stage several times.

They duetted on her 'Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)' for three consecutive nights at The Secret Policeman's Third Ball charity concerts in 1987, and in 2002 she returned the favour during Gilmour's solo show for a take on Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb'.