1979: KATE BUSH prepares for her FIRST TOUR | Nationwide | Classic BBC Music | BBC Archive

"Most live artists make their mistakes either in private, or before a very small audience. Tonight, at the Liverpool Empire, Kate Bush starts at the top."
Kate Bush has had phenomenal success in a short space of time. Her debut single, Wuthering Heights, topped the UK Singles charts for four weeks, The Man with the Child in His Eyes broke into the top ten, and her debut album The Kick Inside went platinum. Her music is both popular and critically acclaimed - she has even been nominated for an Ivor Novello award for Best Pop Song.
Still only 20 years of age, Kate Bush is now preparing for her first tour. Rarely will an artist's first show have been performed under such a heady mix of intense scrutiny and fervent anticipation. For all her studio success, the question remains: can Kate Bush's unique blend of theatrics, dance and music - at once intimate and extravagant - translate to the live arena?
Nationwide's Bernard Clark follows the pop prodigy as she prepares for her tour. She is undertaking a gruelling regime of dance lessons and band rehearsals to ensure that she is at the top of her game in both disciplines. Realistically though, will it be possible for Kate to deliver vocally while performing the kind of choreography fans know from her videos, or will she have to compromise? On a purely technical level - is there a microphone in existence that can keep up with Kate Bush while she is in full flight?
Clip taken from Nationwide, originally broadcast on BBC One, Wednesday 4 April, 1979.
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[@emmahoward7913]

I went to this concert, I was 9 years old. I made her a card and drew a lion on it as I was a Leo too. I put a letter in it with my name and address and told her I was her biggest fan. A week later I received a hand written letter from her thanking me for the card and letter. I was over the moon!! Ive still got it.

[@RosePetal17]

That is so special!!!💕🧚🏻‍♀️✨✨

[@mooville32]

Reading this gave me gooooosebumps!

[@waltercoyle6393]

This is the greatest Kate Bush and Emma Howard story ever. You are awesome Emma.

[@-______-______-]

Woweee

[@cv507]

bryte läydee. töök me decäydess. Finüllie oui get tv c a vvhich in äkkshn vFv vvöndäre vvätt gema could have dün with 200 gränd??

[@secretagentbloke]

Her first and only actual tour. I was lucky enough to meet her once, she was extremely polite, humble and gracious, exactly as you would expect.

[@richardsracingmad]

I met her at Strawberry Hill studio…

[@marksc111]

I saw her in 2013 at Hammersmith

[@alexeilindes7507]

I met her in a dark alley 🎳

[@mikewinston8709]

Why would you expect that? What a stupid thing to write. You write in the cheap English usage of an American.

[@JJONNYREPP]

1979: KATE BUSH prepares for her FIRST TOUR | Nationwide | Classic BBC Music | BBC Archive last time i saw her she was stuck in a plastic transparent ball on a TOTP's stage. i dont mind her, contrary to quips dished out in piccadilly records. ahahah..................... my kate bush music has been pilfered, though... which is kind of a pisser. she can't be that fragile, surely?

[@Geraint3000]

She is the definition of 'Artist'.

[@r4x2]

and Leo.

[@JamaicaWhiteMan]

Each to their own, man, but I couldn't stand any of it. There was something about her voice I found very painful, like fingernails on a chalkboard.

[@WarrenBridges-um5cg]

@@JamaicaWhiteMan So many different vocal styles and genres over her career and discography, it's hard to believe there isn't something amongst it someone would like.

[@JamaicaWhiteMan]

@@WarrenBridges-um5cg It might be a physiological thing with me. Joni Mitchell, the Cranberries girl, Kate Bush - the high harmonics make it painful. I also can't stand hearing tiny, yiping/whining dogs. If you like her, cool, no problem.

[@rickwilliams967]

When you put quotes around it you kinda had a Freudian slip there 😂😂😂 For clarification, usually you use quotes like that to indicate that is the opposite of the case.

[@howareyou857]

I am astounded at how intelligent, articulate and confident she was at just 20!

[@stconstable]

Kate was SO advanced they held her back for years.

[@Z3nHolEminD]

Results of “ grooming “

[@mariuspoppFM]

​@@Z3nHolEminDgrooming from who?

[@mikethebloodthirsty]

​@@Z3nHolEminDresult of a good education and good parenting, keep off the bongs mate.

[@Z3nHolEminD]

@ which funnels to “ grooming “ ,, nice and pretty for the big show

[@markgrimes5532]

I was there that night. I still have the programme. It's was pure magic, spellbinding

[@brandon1351]

Oh. I’m sure you weren’t.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

Me too Mark, saw Genesis there the following year as well.

[@FiveSigma72]

Man, she was something else.

[@warrenbutterfield4208]

Is

[@giorgiopalmas7934]

Kate was such a gorgeous little firecracker.

[@markthompson62]

The way Kate Bush first delivered her music to us in the late 70's was a real revelation & totally different to anything we had heard before. The sheer amount of work that went into this tour was astounding. An extraordinary talent for the ages.

[@troygaspard6732]

A perfectionist, her show would become a template for future singers.

[@hilaryepstein6013]

She is one of the great survivors of the 1970s and now also loved by a new generation.

[@BennyTheBall8899]

Man With The Child In His Eyes has to be one of the most haunting, beautiful songs ever.❤ Great upload.

[@user-ue4he3li8b]

The dance practice footage is probably her at her absolute best. Stunning.

[@rolandluth2098]

super hot

[@markaveliRising]

Agreed 💯

[@lindsayaliciawilcox2440]

The Once and Future Kate. It was 1983. The first album I bought for myself with no other recommendation from anyone else, only from hearing it in my local small town USA record shop, was THE DREAMING. I can still hear the title track blasting through the store and me thinking, “I MUST have that!” I floated to the counter vinyl clutched in my hand and laid out my cash. I still have that vinyl.

[@apvanrijsoort6069]

The same with me. I bought 'The Dreaming' without any previous knowledge or consideration, just on a feeling. And man, did it change my world. Absolutely mind breaking and mending. Unbelievable. It still is after all those years.

[@doh4828]

These are the real treasures of our lives, right?

[@ianbannister8404]

What a gem of a documentary never seen it before absolutely showing the genius and brilliance of Kate bush a true musical goddess 😊

[@ChuckSchickx]

A friend at work introduced me to Kate Bush. It was like everything I thought I knew about music, went out the window. I'm forever grateful to my friend.

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

I initially read that and thought your friend had literally introduced you to Kate Bush, I thought " Lies! how did your friend know her!" 😂

[@SteveMusicMan1999]

I even love Kate's speaking voice!

[@76ToneCrome]

She takes my breath away.

[@ChrisM541]

No, that would be Terri Nunn ;)

[@Defalized]

​@@ChrisM541indeed 😂

[@RenghisKhan]

I still remember seeing her for the first time in the video of wuthering heights. Must've been nine or ten yo. One of the defining musical experiences in my life. Found out how the record player worked within a week, picked an album from my parents' collection because of the cartoonish cover and discovered Janis Joplin. I still consider myself lucky.

[@TheSilvercue]

20 year old Kate Bush might be the most beautiful human to have ever walked the planet. Maybe I am a bit tipsy…but..no, I think she really might be…..

[@charliehayward2512]

I remember when "Wuthering Heights" came out,and couldn't help being blown away by it ! It was completely unique,and a breath of fresh air. This documentary shows what a discerning artist she was,and what a sweet and gorgeous woman. Love you Kate ❤

[@RoySATX]

I could live a thousand lives each a thousand years and still be in complete awe of young Kate Bush.

[@fabiano8888]

I just realized that this video was uploaded less than an hour ago. I had her song stuck in my head all day long. 😊

[@obscuremusictabs5927]

Technically, it was uploaded seven hours ago.

[@1996connor]

Man, she was so fine. Easily one of the best female artists of all time.

[@ShareTalk]

I went to the Sunderland Empire concert "The Tour Of Life" and remember it to this day. The costume changes for each song were incredible. No one had ever done that. I also went to the Hammersmith Odeon concert Kate did with Peter Gabriel and Steve Harley at the end of the tour, which, if memory serves me correctly, raised funds for one of the roadies who died during the original tour.

[@S-North]

She is absolutely one of a kind. No one has ever even come close.

[@leea2112]

The most wonderful artistic beautiful singer I adore everything about kate bush I have followed her since I was 12 in 1978 !! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Guitarisforgrins]

What a stunning woman.

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

It's a testament to how undeniable and pure her talent was that even Johnny Rotten from the Sex Pistols who famously couldn't stand practically all music was a Kate Bush fan

[@aniburns329]

She has such strong and unique singing voice and yet such a cute,shy little girls voice!

[@ianw5725]

Genius comes in many unique forms. Kate was one such

[@JohnEdwardBerry]

My God she is incredible.

[@piccalillipit9211]

One of the best in the world.

[@sonicplys64]

She's a visionary, innovator and revolutionary. A full force of nature.

[@denisruskin348]

Whenever she speaks it’s like the world stops to listen. Her charisma levels are pretty much infinite.

[@martinclousterman800]

she was the cutest!

[@AndyHepton]

Didn't realise until many years afterwards how lucky I was to get to see her live on 'that' tour!

[@SusanDoran]

My golly gosh! I have never seen this -- a friend told me this existed back in the 1980s but tonight was the first time viewing it. Thank you, @BBC Archive for sharing it with us.

[@passionparade]

What an amazing family she came from. I would have loved to have sat and taken in the conversations around the family dinner.

[@prodigalsorcerer1415]

Trailblazer. Genius. Wow.

[@rickwilliams967]

Can you give any reasons or are you just a parrot?

[@SpaceCattttt]

Talent aside.........What A Body!!!

[@the_fifth_wheel]

What an incredible VT that is…..she truly was top of her game.

[@MatthewHarrold]

Magnificent documentary in realtime of a timeless talent. BBC Archive ... your legacy journalists captured exquisite moments of history. This reminds me of the self-documenting Frank Zappa archives. As an Aussie kid growing up in the 70's and 80's, we saw a lot of Kate Bush. Great insight.

[@geinikan1kan]

Thanks so much for this. When I was in hs I knew a very pretentious lad who had both Bush albums. She was a singer who appealed to rock listeners as well as those who liked something different.

[@WarrenBridges-um5cg]

I was listening to the likes of Black Sabbath for the previous 8 years. Love Kate.

[@hyperglobal01]

Kate is a national treasure 🥰

[@JJONNYREPP]

1979: KATE BUSH prepares for her FIRST TOUR | Nationwide | Classic BBC Music | BBC Archive 0827am 26.9.24 is he Dave Gahan's sister - "that puff from depeche mode?"

[@willempinksterboer4794]

I see her as a treasure of humanity

[@JJONNYREPP]

@@willempinksterboer4794 1979: KATE BUSH prepares for her FIRST TOUR | Nationwide | Classic BBC Music | BBC Archive 0659am 5.12.24 first time i've heard it called that before... i wouldn't go that far, though - equating her with being deemed a national treasure... others are really quite obsessed. i used to own a few singles of her making, myself. prior to being burgled.. pilfered from... so she is still in demand. and any off hand quips about her or any other pop stars of the past are quite sarcastic and merely manifestations of my disdain for a lack of punk and pysch and the like stocking the record store shelves.

[@giorgiopalmas7934]

World treasure.

[@JJONNYREPP]

@@giorgiopalmas7934 Comments on ‘1979: KATE BUSH prepares for her FIRST TOUR | Nationwide | Classic BBC Music | BBC Archive’ 0722am 7.12.24 never make jokes which feature old timey popstars.. jeeeeez....

[@PierreDybman]

I saw it in Paris, it was in a nice Italian style theater, very good sound, good view, excellent programme

[@richardhoneybun5509]

The night before Liverpool the show was performed at Poole Arts centre (2nd April) which is where I saw her. They had problems with the head mic so she had to use a hand held mic for some of it but it was still a fantastic show.

[@gavinmaitland80]

She went from Poole to Liverpool in one night?! AS IF!

[@richardhoneybun5509]

@gavinmaitland80 That night her lighting director fell through an open panel in the stage floor and died of his injuries a week later. This very nearly put an end to the whole tour. If you don't believe any of this Google it.

[@NoctilucentStudios]

Holy Mother of God she was an absolute SMOKESHOW back then....perfection!!!

[@gagacrazy10]

She was so fckn hot!!!!😋🔥

[@hopebgood]

Kate Bush is one of the greats of music.

[@MicrophonesInTheTrees]

A truly beautiful woman.

[@stephenhuggins4710]

Fortunate to have seen her twice on this tour (utterly brilliant), but never knew this existed and Bernard Clarke did some good reports on musical artists.

[@diannewhite573]

I adore Kate Bush. Her choreography, voice, character, everything ❤

[@09nob]

I think she is one of the ultimate female musicians, if not the the ultimate, at least she is for me. What a collosal talent

[@gg_2377]

The kick inside is legendary

[@vincentlussier8264]

I remember when Kate Bush first surfaced I was just finishing high school in 1978 I think. I took one look at her on the album cover and heard her voice and I knew she had it all !

[@Kosmonause]

I listen to her music eversince. but unfortunately never saw her live performing. well, her music remains epic, because there was and is and never will be something clear and harmonical as this kind of music. thanks to Kate Bush, there is pure love to listen to... I wish her love and all the best! ❤

[@akaski777]

Wish she was doing a tour now

[@faastwalker2273]

Amazing artist. Such drive and hard work in her career from a young age. There's few like Kate these days.

[@juliosanti]

E S T E L A R . . . E T E R E A L . . . E T E R N A L . . . Always mesmerizing! Just love her! ❤

[@stconstable]

A Fave since 1978. Unique. And seminal.

[@suspiciouswatermelon7639]

Yes, lots of semen.

[@sammyb1651]

Catering by her sister-in-law. 😂 I love how informal and wholesome it all is. Can you imagine that nowadays? The catering alone would be a bigger consideration than the likes of the sound and choreography here. The demands for instagram perfect food - and thats just from your average woman on her phone! Imagine catering to a bunch of 'artistic' divas! There'd be an absolute riot on. Kate Bush had it right and stayed true to what mattered. We're so spoiled and have our priorities so badly wrong these days.

[@imalrockme]

You mentioned 'instagram perfect' and Taylor Swift came to mind. I now have to take a shower.

[@ScyllaWyrm]

One year before this was recorded she was already showcasing her characteristic dance moves while making a promotional video for her debut album in a Dutch theme park. However, I can imagine the dancing aspect had to be expanded and perfected for a live show.

[@RolandoRatas]

Thing is at the time in the 80s you liked her work and you never realized back then that there wouldn't be any other just like her or similar, you sort of took her for granted and I sort of regret that, I should have gone out there and at the very least seen her live in concert.

[@karenboromeo899]

l was lucky..l liked her in her prime though l was only 9 when this video was filmed in 1979. * also was a dancer..ballet & gymnastics 5 played piano, guitar & sung. She was a mentor for me.❤️ Sort of a shame she didn't keep her lean & flexible body.

[@todd6851]

@@karenboromeo899 Have you kept your lean and flexible body?

[@JJONNYREPP]

1979: KATE BUSH prepares for her FIRST TOUR | Nationwide | Classic BBC Music | BBC Archive 0824am 26.9.24 yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, kelvin.

[@warrenbutterfield4208]

@@todd6851 actually it’s at the dry cleaners….

[@todd6851]

@@warrenbutterfield4208 Such a shame.

[@austins.2495]

She’s such a sweetheart, so lovely :)

[@piccalillipit9211]

*its called "THE TOUR OF LIFE"* and it is utterly astonishing - i wish I had seen it live " Kate Bush - The tour of Life HD LPR Remastering (Live at Hammersmith Odeon 79) "

[@mjarve909]

At the time it was called the Lionheart Tour

[@AtheistOrphan]

@@mjarve909- Really? I’ve never seen it referred to as such. All the contemporary promotional material refer to it as The Tour Of Life.

[@mjarve909]

Martin Fisher - the sound engineer as featured on this video- was recently commenting that nobody called it the Tour of Life at the time. The tour programme carried a Lionheart tour logo. He said some people just called it the Kate Bush Tour. Retrospectively Kate may have changed the name in regards of what happened to Bill Duffield.

[@piccalillipit9211]

@@mjarve909 I was aware of the confusion over the name - cos I was trying to find it to watch about 3 months ago - thats actually why I posted the comment. It was hard to find a HD videp of the show.

[@xochitlbk]

really wish there was documentation on her tour. from what ive heard it really pioneered all the theatrics people like britney, janet, gaga, or madonna did

[@WarrenBridges-um5cg]

@xochitlbk You can watch the concerts too.

[@johnorourke1636]

I had such a crush on her back then, I thought she was just beautiful. I loved her music too. She is a genius and a beautiful human being .

[@CliveB-100]

4:15 Kate Bush, and her band, seen here rehearsing at Woodwharf Studios, Greenwich, not 'Wharf Studios', as the voiceover says here. A fondly remembered place, long since swept away by 'improvement'. I rehearsed there a lot in the 80s, when it was under the able management of the charismatic Billy Jenkins.

[@360Fov]

This is such a fascinating piece! The music industry is completely unrecognisable now

[@Danmjubb86]

Stunning 😍

[@richalderson6069]

Only one tour her whole career, but it was a damn memorable one.

[@ImaginaryBoy.]

What a lovely pair of brothers she had too

[@rileyxxxx]

back in the days, when it was good to have friends doing music so you can join them in any random way they need. or just take photos cause who cares anyway, just drive with them and call yourself a legendary photographer decades later. things were easy and I wouldve loved experiencing that time.

[@peterbartholomew7023]

Wonderful footage, I've never seen this before, I wish I had been there to see the live shows!

[@okimono75]

La plus belle voix du monde ❤

[@angusuranus]

I love her I adore her

[@oscoe]

Kate (Cathy) is just wonderful.

[@kellymelrose8527]

i saw her at Poole arts centre..sadly i had a crap seat but consider myself lucky to have been there

[@medusaman1]

The embodiment of a complete artist.

[@itsdebs]

She is and was a class act.

[@GeorgeSaint666]

I am 52. Kate Bush was one of these boy dreams of mine,... just like The Bangles. I think she is great.

[@fradaja]

She’s still so on point it hurts

[@gracenotes5379]

What a delightful, hard-working, risk-taking, soulful human being showed herself to be!

[@rayacarr2354]

She revolutionized the pop singer by being aesthetic with her sound, and her AMAZING team came up with the tiny face mic?!?!?!?!?! Like?!?!?!?!?! What????? It’s very scary to take a risk on something as a vocalist. I would say she is comparable to Imogen Heap in that way…. Something magical, innovative to the point of scientific. Really a fabulous documentary I’m glad my feed recommended this

[@harqalada65]

It would have been awesome to see her perform live but I'm glad she chose to be a recluse. Can you imagine what kind of stress all this would produce for each and every tour, every year or so? And she might be so drained it would be hard to go into the studio and create and make masterpieces. As artists are people not pieces of meat for flies to leech off of. Thank you Kate Bush for sharing your gift and being you.

[@FranzSausage]

Love the fashion in these times, especially her brown knee length boots tucked into her jeans.

[@marksc111]

@@FranzSausage I love those too! I was 5 at the time, I remember all the female teachers at school wore those! Ahh the late 70s 🤎

[@FranzSausage]

@@marksc111 Wished i was at your school back then 😊

[@WarrenBridges-um5cg]

@FranzSausage Her Norton 850 Commando was parked out back. But seriously, my missus dressed the same just riding around the streets.

[@Sam-cz2bz]

Kate has got so much class about her.

[@eduardoalfonso3765]

that start (with that image quality decades and decades ago) sounded to me like : This man is about to jump the channel. Does anybody else feel the same?

[@AtheistOrphan]

12:36 - Glass of wine and a packet of Benson & Hedges. Good times.

[@DOGOID]

haha, i was just thinking that, my mum used to smoke B+H in the 80s, so i instantly recognised the golden brown box.

[@Hammerhook12]

This is amazing..

[@mattwiggin9458]

When you could smoke and sing indoors still kates voice amazing

[@garethglitter5932]

Such a beauty and so smart, talented.

[@RiffRock51]

That woman is a national treasure. Protect her at all costs.

[@doh4828]

A generational talent.

[@ryeguy7471]

KB putting in work, NO diva crap.👍

[@perge_music]

Very few like that, it's a cliche but there was a sense of magic to it all. Everything is too polished now that there's no sense of wonder.

[@CatsOfMarrakech]

Well done. Yes what can we do about this sort of polished stuff now. We'd love a poetic troupe of troubadours eh

[@smoath]

Yes, everything is pitch corrected these days, even older stuff that's remastered. And many live acts aren't actually live. Sad state.

[@unzenonsen7948]

what a great video !

[@djtricks1]

Kate Bush = WOW 💚✨💚

[@sarahlouise7163]

what a talent, what a beauty.

[@fredo1070]

Wow, wow, wow, unbelievable!

[@oscarwilde5473]

fredo1070 We're all alone on the stage tonight We've been told we're not afraid of you We know all our lines so well, uh-huh We've said them so many times Time and time again Line and line again Ooh, yeah, you're amazing! We think you're incredible You say we're fantastic But still we don't head the bill Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Unbelievable! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Unbelievable! When the actor reaches his death You know it's not for real, he just holds his breath But he always dives too soon, too fast to save himself He'll never make the screen He'll never make the Sweeney Be that movie queen He's too busy hitting the Vaseline Ooh, yeah, you're amazing! We think you are really cool We'd give you a part, my love But you'd have to play the fool Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Unbelievable! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Unbelievable! We're all alone on the stage tonight We're all alone On the stage Tonight

[@WarrenBridges-um5cg]

@fredo1070 You left a few "wows" out.

[@gerardmcnally]

Kate is so lovely ....

[@englishbob9492]

Jesus that voice ❤