interviews
Aspel and Company Kate appeared on the UK ITV networked programme "Aspel and Company" on the evening of 20th June. The programme began at 10.30 pm. Introduction Michael Aspel introduces Victoria Wood, a British Comedienne who, as one of her characters, wears a raincoat and a beret (it is relevant later!). She is also well known for her comedy songs. They chat, he then introduces Kate. Michael Aspel: It is time for some more company you see, and taking over the warm seat from the Wood bottie is a singer whose first record in 1978 astonished listeners with it's originality, and her own extraordinary style made her an instant favourite with T.V. impersonators. She is in the habit of vanishing from time to time but the Garbo of pop has emerged from the shadows. Welcome, to Kate Bush. Michael Aspel: Kate, I've not seen you for a while but when we first met you were still a teenager and then you got this Garbo label. Did you shun publicity and the spotlight deliberately? Kate Bush: Erm, I think... On some levels, yes I did, but the main thing was I wanted to spend a lot more time working rather than spending a lot of time promoting the work, it all seems to be, becoming more promotion than the work I was doing. Michael Aspel: So you decided work was more important, and have you now been now, beavering away in the potting shed for your next project? Kate Bush: Yes I have. We've been working for about two to three years on this album that's coming out, probably, middle of September... and it's taking a long time, it's very intense work really, being sort of shut away in a studio. Michael Aspel: And this is The Red Shoes? Kate Bush: Yes, it's called The Red Shoes, yeah. Michael Aspel: Is it based on the film, the ballet film? Kate Bush: Well it is very much connected with the film erm, I was lucky enough to meet Michael Powel, the director of The Red Shoes before he died and erm, he was such a sweet man, he was really sweet, I thought one of Britain's best directors and erm, he had a very strong effect on me, he was a very sweet man and er, he seems to have popped up in two or three of the songs that are on the album. Michael Aspel: Was he dead by that time? Kate Bush: By the time I was writing the songs, yeah. Michael Aspel: Posthumous recognition... Kate Bush: Yes. Michael Aspel: 'Cos your first number one in '78 was inspired by a classic of course: Wuthering Heights, and we talked about that on a little program called 'Ask Aspel'... Cut to old footage from 'Ask Aspel'. Part of the Wuthering Heights studio video is played. Cut to Kate and Michael as they were then, in late '70 attire. The audience laugh. The interview went. Michael Aspel: That was Kate Bush with her first hit. What was the inspiration for Wuthering Heights, simply the story? Kate Bush: Well I hadn't read the book, that wasn't what inspired it erm, it was a television series they had years ago and I just managed to catch the very last few minutes where there was a hand coming through the window and blood everywhere and glass, and I just didn't know what was going on, and someone explained the story, and it was just hanging around for years, so I read the book in order to get the research right and, wrote the song. Michael Aspel: And then it just stuck in your mind all those years? Kate Bush: Yeah, it seemed so strong. Cut back to present interview. Applause Michael Aspel: Well... Kate Bush: Your little brother and my little sister! Michael Aspel: Yeeees, I think it was very cruel of the audience to laugh at you like that! (They laugh.) You haven't changed at all. Are you sick of references to that number? Kate Bush: I think I am now. I think at the time it was fine, it was a lot of fun but, it was fifteen years ago and I think erm, although its nice that people er, remember it and remember me, it is nice to feel that when you're working on something, that you considered to be a contemporary artist I suppose, rather than going back to something such a long time ago. Michael Aspel: Well it was so different, so astonishing. Victoria, what was your first impression of Kate, and that? Victoria Wood: Well, when I first saw it, and I was not at a very good time in my career, I, well, first I though she was mad, probably, a mad woman had slipped onto the airwaves, and then really, I thought that it was very, very good, but I didn't want to acknowledge that it was very good 'cos I was feeling very insecure at the time, and then I read a review by Clive James and he said 'This woman is either a genius or she's barking mad!' (Laughter) Well it probably falls somewhere between the two! Michael Aspel: Yes. (To Kate) Do you think that's a fair assessment? Kate Bush: Yes I do, I think I prob'ly am truly mad. Victoria Wood: That's all right! Michael Aspel: Oh that's nice (They all laugh). The theatrics of course were some... we all, all admired [How do you type a stutter?], now and, of course you've been a pin-up since you started doing this, er, this week we had a lot of letters in the office when they knew you were coming and (to Victoria), I can't imagine what your... (cut off) Victoria Wood: Did you have any letters about me? Michael Aspel: Not one oddly enough (Laughter) Kate Bush: Have they been sending berets? Victoria Wood: Kate needs a beret Michael Aspel: Not berets no. (Talking about Kate again) Just nice letters. But do you still enjoy being a male fantasy. Kate Bush: Erm, well I not sure if I've ever really enjoyed it! Michael Aspel: Horrible question Kate Bush: Yes it is, its a horrible question Michael Aspel: (to Victoria jokingly) Do you enjoy being a male fantasy Victoria. Victoria Wood: I love it (Laughter) Michael Aspel: Fine. And so do I, so there we are! Now, you did just the one tour in 1979 and it was a terrific extravaganza, and you did things that Madonna is really just coming round to thinking of isn't she, I mean, that telephonist's headset. Was that your idea as well. Kate Bush: Well, as far as I know, it's the first time it was used live, erm, 'cos I wanted to be able to move around and dance and use my hands and erm, at the time, the engineer, the sound engineer that we were working with, came up with the idea of actually, adapting a coat hanger, he actually used a coat hanger, and opened it out and put it into the shape, so, that was the prototype. Victoria Wood: Madonna wouldn't use a coat hanger, that's probably the difference; she would insist it was done properly. Michael Aspel: Except for opening a car with probably. But, why haven't you repeated all this and done another tour? Kate Bush: Well, I did enjoy it. I think a lot people think I didn't actually have fun, but I did, it was great. But I think I found it erm, a bit overwhelming as well as, it being very hard work physically I think it was a bit rough for me being so exposed publicly, I found that a bit rough. And then I suppose I wanted to just retreat and work. Michael Aspel: It did all come with a rush didn't it of course at the beginning? Kate Bush: Yeah, those first few years were very intense yeah. It was quite overwhelming really. Michael Aspel: What about the image of this vulnerable, pre-Raphaelite girl. Is this a pure invention? Kate Bush: Erm, well I think er, I think everyone's vulnerable, on some level. But pre-Raphaelite, I suppose that's erm, probably a lot to do with Wuthering Heights; I think a lot of people... Michael Aspel: I mean... Do you live in a gothic mansion with candelabra? Kate Bush: Er, no, not at the moment, no Michael Aspel: You mean you have! (They laugh) Kate Bush: (Jokingly, I think) I'm planning to. (Giggles) Michael Aspel: Oh that's nice. (To Victoria) Can I ask, what's your style in decor Victoria Victoria Wood: (jokingly) Oh it's like Kate's, I live next door to her, semi-detached. (Laughter) Michael Aspel: Yeeees, right, (back to Kate) what is a typical day for you? Kate Bush: Well, I do spend a lot of time working so I s'pose erm, a typical day would be, being in the studio, you know, just working on erm, some ideas for a song and stuff. Pretty boring really. Victoria Wood: What do you do, sit at, at what? A keyboard or what? Kate Bush: Yeah, yeah, a keyboard and we tend to put stuff straight onto tape so I'm actually working onto tape and then I'll play the tape back, and, you know, work to the stuff that's on there so... Michael Aspel: What about lyrics, 'cos, I'll ask you both about lyrics. (To Kate) Yours are very passionate and provocative erm, do you get inspiration, anywhere? Kate Bush: Erm, I think it is illusive stuff, but I think really the biggest inspiration is people, I think, people are just so inspiring, they're fascinating and wonderful and, I think, you know, that nearly every idea that a person has had has probably at some point, come from another person. Victoria Wood: (To Victoria, jokingly) And I can't think of you giving a different reply, to all that. Victoria Wood: No, I'm not going to, no. I'll going to give the same reply. (Laughter) Michael Aspel: Really? Victoria Wood: Absolutely! (Pauses) Errm, things do come from people, what else is there really, if you're going to talk about any sort of human relationship: comedy, or whatever it has, it has to be based in life, so it has to be based on people. Michael Aspel: (To Victoria) But, do you always do the housework first, and put off writing - I've read you do that. Victoria Wood: I don't, no, I don't put off, I mean, I do, I do you know, I do, deal with poo, first. That's always the priority with babies. Michael Aspel: (jokingly) A baby poo, Kate, you understand. Victoria Wood: Do the poo, and then do the writing. I do like Kate, in an office, all day, just doing, you know, just trying stuff out. Michael Aspel: I do it the other way round; I write and then have a poo. (Big laugh). I'm sorry about that, its time for a... (Cut off) Victoria Wood: (jokingly) That's why you're not a male fantasy, if a might say so! Michael Aspel: We're going to have a break now, err, Kate will be singing for her warm glass of white wine later, but in a few moments we will have Lenny Henry. Fade to commercials When the next half of the show resumes, Lenny Henry joins the party. His interview commences, with many additions from Victoria. Kate meanwhile sits and listens, smiling and laughing occasionally. Every so often she is brought into the conversation... On the subject of Funk... Michael Aspel: Kate, do you enjoy Funk? Kate Bush: Yeah, very much, yeah Michael Aspel: I mean, I didn't know how to phrase that question but I'm glad I asked it. (Kate giggles) They (everyone except Kate) are talking about the '70s, and how crap the clothes were, Lenny is leading the conversation ... Michael Aspel: what about you Kate, you know, you're very simply dressed now, but you... (Cut off) Michael Aspel: Simple elegance, that's what I was groping for (laughter). So what about the seventies stuff, do you go for that? Kate Bush: No, I agree with Lenny, I mean, why go back to it when it was so awful the first time? This conversation moves to talk of Lenny's musical career... Michael Aspel: To bring it up to date, I mean, as an expert Kate, you think he's got what it takes don't you, as a singer? Kate Bush: I think Lenny's a really good singer - he's done some singing on the new album, it's really good. Michael Aspel: Yes, (to Lenny) you are on Kate's new album. Michael Aspel: Doing what? Michael Aspel: I thought you might have had the odd solo in the middle of it. At the end of the show... Michael Aspel: (Interrupts Lenny) Well, I've just been told, miss Bush, that they are going to be ready for your song, so erm, thank you very much for being with us and perhaps you'd like to (cut off)... Kate Bush: Thank you Michael Aspel: (continues) ...prepare your young body. Michael Aspel: (says goodbye to Victoria, Lenny and us) And here is Kate Bush with some 'Moments of Pleasure. plays "Moments of Pleasure" Cast: Kate (lip-syncing) Piano Strings (not on set) A pair of red ballet shoes is on her piano. | 
