FEATURE:
Home For Christmas
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in an album cover outtake for 1989’s The Sensual World/PHOTO CREDIT: John Carder Bush
Kate Bush and Charity
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I wanted to focus on an aspect of Kate Bush…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1993 during filming for The Line, The Cross and the Curve (the shirt she's wearing goes back to an album signing for The Dreaming in 1982)/PHOTO CREDIT: Guido Harari
that has always been there, but it has come more to mind the past few weeks. From 1982, where Bush performed at the second Secret Policeman's Charity Gig in London, to a news story that broke recently, there is this benevolence and charitable side to her that I really love. In 2018, I visited a Kate Bush pop-up shop that appeared in London. Not only was it a great idea to get Bush fans in the same space. She was also raising money for Crisis. This is a charity close to her heart. The Standard reported the news:
“A Kate Bush-themed pop-up charity shop is to open at King's Cross next week.
It will sell CD and vinyl versions of the newly released box set of her ten studio albums plus rare track and cover versions, called Kate Bush - Remastered, as well a book collection of lyrics titled How to be Invisible.
Other items for sale include Christmas cards, T-shirts and art prints.
The shop at the new Coal Drops Yard development near the station will open from Wednesday 5 December to Sunday 9 December and all profits will go to the housing charity Crisis.
The Wuthering Heights singer said: “I can’t imagine how it must feel to be homeless. Our attention is drawn to this tragic issue at Christmas when most of us can share the celebrations with those we love but, of course, homelessness is there all year round - all the time. It must be so frightening”.
PHOTO CREDIT: EMI/Fish People
One can say that many musicians support charity and have this kindness, though I think that this has been encoded into Bush from a very young age. It seems that her heart is very much going out to those in need. Not only is improving the plight of the homeless important to her. As we learn from the Kate Bush News website, Bush has donated several items to a charity auction:
“Kate has donated six newly signed items to a cancer charity auction. She has signed one each of the Remastered in Vinyl box sets plus a copy of the How To Be Invisible book and a 50 Words for Snow CD. There’s also a Red Shoes promo box that has been donated by an ex EMI Marketing Director and a copy of the 2011 50 Words for Snow vinyl.
Cabaret vs Cancer is a small independent charity that works to raise money to support people living with the effects of cancer, especially children who have lost someone. Our very own Dave Cross has been an ambassador for the charity for two years now and has put together this, their first music charity auction. The auction also includes very special signed items from Kylie Minogue and Kim Wilde, plus other items from Elton John, U2, Steps, Iron Maiden and lots more. The auction is live now and will be open until Sunday 25th April – you can start bidding here! Well done, Dave, fantastic work on this!”.
PHOTO CREDIT: Kate Bush
There are other occasions where Bush has either donated to charity or supported them in some form. In 2005, the NSPCC were given permission to use one of her best-loved songs for an important campaign. This article provides more details:
“The NSPCC has launched a DRTV advertising campaign to encourage people to donate to the charity for its work in clamping down on cruelty to children.
The charity has been in discussion with singer Kate Bush, together with EMI. Bush has donated her song This Woman's Work for use in the advert, which was broadcast for the first time on Monday.
The advert, which will be shown in 60-, 40- and 10-second versions, depicts children in a number of distressing circumstances of the kind experienced by thousands of children each day in the UK. The voiceover points out that, as children, they are unable to stop or cope with the abuse inflicted on them.
League of Gentlemen actor Michael Sheen waived his fee for doing the voiceover in the advert, created by WWAV Rapp Collins London.
In the opening scene, a boy of about four is shown, with the sadness in his face explained by the voiceover: "He's just a child, so Andy can't defend himself when his father attacks him."
In another scene there is a little girl in her back garden, with the voiceover saying: "She's just a girl, but Charlotte's uncle makes her do things she's too young to understand."
As a toddler is depicted alone in his cot, the advert states "They're just children and they need your help" before asking viewers to call a number to give £2 per month to the charity.
Lisa Williams, donor recruitment manager at the society, said: "We haven't exaggerated - these things really happen and, sadly, there are countless examples."
The advert will run until 31 August on terrestrial and other channels, including Channel 5 London, ITV North, ITV2, MTV, UK Gold and Sky News”.
PHOTO CREDIT: Record Collector
It is no surprise, for those who know Bush and her warmth, that she is very much committed to charities. I think she has this attitude where she wants to see change and the people come together. Some might get cynical, yet one only needs to read or listen to interviews she has conducted to know that Bush seems to care about everyone! It is this generosity of spirit and inner-beauty that is one (of many) reason why people respect her so much. Recently, Record Collector were inspired to donate to Crisis. They produced a beautiful edition dedicated to Kate Bush. And, as Kate Bush News reported late last year, the profits raised went to a very important cause:
“One of the joys of working on this unique Kate Bush special edition magazine from Record Collector magazine was the fact that they agreed to donate the fee from the work done on selected collectable articles to a charity of our choice. The work on those beautiful illustrated features, involved the collected efforts of many fans around the world, and was a joy for me to manage and facilitate. I am so happy that we can instantly send £650 (much-needed funding) to the same charity that Kate Bush selected to be the pre-Christmas beneficiaries of her amazing Remastered Pop-Up Shop initiative in December 2018. Please consider also making a donation this Christmas to Crisis UK here if you’ve enjoyed reading this wonderful, fantastic fan-focused Kate Bush magazine! – Seán Twomey, with special thanks to the Record Collector Special editor Jamie Atkins from all us fans”.
PHOTO CREDIT: Trevor Leighton
I will finish up soon. I just get struck when musicians bond with charities or make contributions. Kate Bush has done it a lot through her career. I am sure we have not seen the end of his charitable endeavours. There is so much to admire about Bush. I feel her kindness and good heart is almost at the very top of the list. Even when new music is not out, there is no shortage of activity when it comes to the Kate Bush world! From the recent flood of books and magazines with her very much at the heart, to a couple of times Bush has either made a small announcement or donated items for a charity auction, she is very much present and always inspiring. I’ll leave it there, but I couldn’t just read the recent news about the Cabaret vs Cancer auction without looking back at the times where Bush has got involved with charitable causes. It does makes me wonder whether there will be new music soon. I say this a lot. It is just a natural instinct. One can never predict what Bush is working on or what will come next (or when). The fact we get these glimmers of news where she is doing something positive gives us all so much heart and cheer. It is evident that charity and making a difference (however small)…
IS so dear to her.