50 Words For Kate: An Introduction

50 days from tomorrow, Kate Bush will step back on stage for her first headline concert in 35 years, entiled Before The Dawn. The surprise announcement in March sent the media into a frenzy and Kate's army of fans into meltdown. It was by turns the best and worst week of my life, as the euphoria of the chance to see my favourite artist perform live was balanced by a chilling terror that I might not be able to secure one of the precious tickets. I didn't get a good night's sleep the whole week before the tickets went on sale, with dreams of both success and failure toying with my subconscious mind.

The night the tickets went on sale I was at my computer at 2am waiting. This is not as mad as it sounds, as I'm living in Los Angeles now, and thanks to a difference of transatlantic opinion on when summer time starts, we were nine hours behind the UK rather than the usual eight. The tickets went on sale at 9:30am GMT. My hands shook, my heart was beating out of my chest and each second the computer hung motionless felt like an eternity. I got tickets in my basket, only for my credit card to be declined! This is the closest I have yet come to an aneurysm. Thankfully my back up card was accepted. I'd done it. I had tickets to see Kate Bush live. Finally the week of worry was over and the giddy joy could erupt unhindered. The adrenalin and endorphin rush ensured no sleep was had at all that night.

That hurdle over, it was now just a matter of waiting for the months to tick by. Thankfully, as a Kate fan of many decades standing, I have people to turn to for comfort and support who truly understood what this all meant . Both the legendary Homeground fanzine crew (now reborn online in conjunction with the excellent KateBushNews.com), and the more recent and admirably congenial Facebook community, FishPeople, gave fans a space to join and celebrate (and for those unlucky to miss out on tickets, sympathise and commiserate).

As you can probably tell, this is a big deal for me. This is not just another pop concert. This is a life event. The anticipation of the live shows has led me to reflect on my history with Kate and just why it is she means so much to me. In an attempt to explain to the bewildered, illuminate the curious and entertain the faithful, I have decided to put together a countdown to the return of Kate Bush: Live on Stage. Please join me as I count down the next fifty days and look back on Kate's career: the highs, the lows, the brilliant and the bizarre. Whether you're a paid-up member of the KT Bush Club or secretly stole your mum's copy of The Whole Story, I promise there will be plenty to enjoy.

See you tomorrow!


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