BEFORE THE DAWN
THE APOLLO MISSION
IT WAS THE NEWS THAT FANS HAD BEEN PRAYING FOR: KATE BUSH WAS TO PLAY LIVE ONCE MORE. AND SHE WOULD DO IT IN THE VENUE IN WHICH SHE LAST PERFORMED, OVER 30 YEARS EARLIER…
MARK ELLIOT
Kate Bush on stage at The Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 26 August 2014
© Noble & Bright/REX/Shutterstock
Of the thousands of words written about Kate Bush’s record-breaking run at the Hammersmith (Eventim) Apollo in 2014, there is one universal theme: the tremendous anticipation that preceded each of the 22 performances and the sense from all the lucky ticket-holders that this was something truly special. As opening night approached, a thick shroud of secrecy hung over the season, with feverish speculation about which songs were to be included and how the set would be performed. In classic Bush tradition, few accurately predicted what was coming, and all the endless guesswork proved largely wide of the mark. It all added up to an intoxicating brew of genuine showmanship – so authentic and distinct from the intensive efforts that create the hype so essential for many of today’s more transient superstars.
It all started suddenly back in March 2014 when a bleak Friday was illuminated by the brightest of news. It seemed the gently swirling rumours had substance: Bush was going back on the stage and the faithful who had registered to her site would get first access. The choice of venue was perfect – London’s Hammersmith Apollo was where she’d concluded her only previous tour back in 1979, and it offered scale but not impenetrable depth for what the singersongwriter hoped would be a unique, personal and moving presentation as far removed from modern-day stadium shows as could be imagined. The following week, tickets went on sale to the fans before being offered to the wider public. Inevitably, all the seats were gone in minutes, resulting in seven extra dates being added to the original announcement of only 15.