FEATURE:
Kate Bush: The Tour of Life
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 2005/PHOTO CREDIT: Trevor Leighton
Might We Soon See a New Amazon Prime Documentary?
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ONE must always be a bit sceptical…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush received the Editors Award at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards at the London Palladium on 30th November, 2014/PHOTO CREDIT: Alan Davidson/Rex/Shutterstock
when it comes to rumours around Kate Bush. Especially regarding documentaries or T.V. projects. There were A.I.-generated articles and reports that Netflix were producing a Kate Bush documentary. There have been recent documentaries about her. I took part in one for French T.V. It was great fun. One of my ambitions is to feature in a big Kate Bush documentary. Even though there has been no official announcement, it does seem that a documentary is in the works. It will be for Amazon Prime. Yesterday (13th May), I saw a retweet from a Kate Bush fan site, FishPeople Kate Bush (@FishPeopleFC). They shared an Instagram post from producer Nicholas Bowen (it has since been deleted, though screenshots have been shared; this Facebook post suggesting it will be produced by Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s dad, producer/director Robin Bextor). This does not seem to be rumour or A.I. As this is coming from a real person, it is highly likely that we will get a properly huge Kate Bush documentary. There is not a release date or news of who will take part. I would expect it to be out late in the year, maybe towards Christmas, though that is pure guess. It does seem to be in the early stages. I wonder how many writers and journalists will take part. Not that I would ever be invited, though there are authors – such as Kate Bush biographer, Graeme Thomson -, and those outside of music that would make valuable contributors. Insights that few other can provide. The team at Kate Bush News giving their impressions and views on Kate Bush in the modern age. I suspect that the wheels might have started to turn after the success of Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) in 2022 after it was used in Stranger Things. Documentaries take a long time to come together. For Amazon Prime, you suspect that there are going to be a lot of people involved. Major artists. Again, I am not sure who, though I keep writing about the brilliant albums made by modern greats that you can connect to Kate Bush.
I do not know if ROSALÍA, Björk, FKA twigs or Charli xcx will take part. It is all speculation and TBC right now. Because it is for Amazon Prime, I think it will have a different feel to the 2014 BBC documentary. The Kate Bush Story: Running Up That Hill coincided with her residency in Hammersmith. Before the Dawn was this incredible moment where Bush announced she would be performing on a stage that she first played in 1979. I suspect that there will be a mixture of clips and interviews with people who have worked with Kate Bush or admire her work. Will her brothers, John and Paddy speak? Might we see Kate Bush herself on camera? That is one of the most frequent comments around the documentary. Bush has not been seen on camera since the 1990s. In terms of a T.V. appearance. She has not been photographed publicly in over a decade. There are reasons for that, besides the fact she has not released an album since 2011. I feel Bush would have given support to the documentary, though the likelihood of her featuring is slim. Perhaps some audio at the start. The chance of her being shown and talking to camera seems remote. Most documentary makers want the artist to be involved in some form when it comes to documentaries. I have pitched Kate Bush documentaries and, without fail, they want Bush involved before they do anything. So it interests me how involved Kate Bush will be. Whether there be a mix of filming styles. I keep thinking about The Beatles and Paul McCartney. How there has been a Wings documentary, Man on the Run, which is about The Beatles and how the love he shared with Linda became his bedrock and influenced a journey that would lead to the formation of Wings. A new Paul McCartney album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, is out on 29th May. This may be wishful thinking that an album will be announced around the time the documentary comes out.
For the longest time, I always assumed that any new Kate Bush documentaries would be smaller and from independent production companies. Given everything that happened after Stranger Things used her music, it is no shock that people would pitch a documentary. Kate Bush does say ‘yes’ to her music being used here and there. Though the thought of a documentary that has her in might have stopped everything in its tracks. Which makes me think that any contribution from her will be audio-only. Bush spoke with Emma Barnett for Today late in 2024. Stating she was keen to work on new music and had reached that point. Nice to hear Kate Bush speak and still have that enthusiasm and thanks for her fans. Though looking back at her career, is that something that she would want to do? In any case, an Amazon Prime Kate Bush documentary is hugely exciting. If it does happen. Though there is a post from someone involved, a dream is likely soon to become a reality. Whether out late this year or in 2027, fans will be incredibly intrigued by what form it will take. A multi-part series or a single documentary. I am looking ahead of 2028 and the fiftieth anniversary of Wuthering Heights (20th January) and The Kick Inside (17th February). Her debut single and album. At the moment, this is all speculation. A documentary looks very likely, though nobody knows when it will come, how long it will be and who will be involved. If Kate Bush herself plays any part. Though tis glimmer of light has whipped up excitement among fans. A Kate Bush documentary is not new, though one for Amazon Prime promises to be the biggest yet. Let’s hope there is an official announcement and details soon. How cool would it be to have a documentary announcement and an album one more or less at the same time?! Kate Bush is one of the most influential artists ever. A genius songwriter and producer, her legacy is enormous. She continues to inspire people across music and the arts. The least she deserves is a celebratory documentary. Announcements and fake posts have been made before and got our hopes up, yet this all seems like a genuine and very real thing. Kate Bush fans around the world will be holding their breaths…
WITH excitement!