50 Words For Kate: #1 - Dawning

I have been fascinated by Kate Bush since I first saw her perform Wuthering Heights as a seven-year old. At thirteen, with the money earned at my first summer job, I began buying her albums and singles and fell completely under her spell. For over three decades, Kate has been an intrinsic part of my life. Her music affects me like no other, it speaks to my soul, ignites my imagination and excites my emotions. Quite simply, I cannot imagine what my life would have been like without this woman's work.

Through the decades the one element that left a slight pang of sadness was the thought that I would never get to see her perform her music live on stage. I was too young to have gone to her tour in 1979, but I bought the video of that show and played it endlessly. In some ways that made the absence harder, as Kate was electric on stage, in every part an equal to the artist she is on record.

Occasionally there would be stirrings that she might perform again, even one time when I heard it from her own lips. But each time it came to naught. It would become a regular topic of conversation with Amanda, my bestie and fellow Kate adorer: how amazing it would be, but how it might also cause us to expire from the stress of it all.

When the announcement finally came, just five short months ago, it felt unreal. Each day I had to check the news to make sure it was not another of the "Kate's doing a tour" dreams that sporadically troubled my sleep. And it was as stressful as we'd feared. That week between the announcement and the tickets going on sale was not good for my blood pressure. And the actual buying of the tickets... well, let's just say I'm glad nobody could see me shake.

Tonight, Kate Bush begins her 22-date residency at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London. I wish her well with all my heart. I will be there in seven days' time, alongside Amanda, and we will be pinching each other. The dream is finally coming true.

These last 50 days, sharing Kate's extraordinary career with you through my own personal experience, has been a labour of love. Thank you for coming along for the ride and for the many comments and compliments that have made it all worthwhile. I'll be back in October, when the dust has settled, to share my thoughts on Before The Dawn.

Until then, here's a little something to cherish from the last time Kate played live...

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