One of the departed Kate refers to in her song is Alan Murphy, the late guitarist for the band Level 42. He passed in 1989 from pneumonia secondary to AIDS, but not before he worked with Kate on three of her albums.
These are her lyrics that refer to Alan Murphy from Level 42:
"He meets us at the lift
Like Douglas Fairbanks
Waving his walking stick
But he isn't well at all"
and...
"'S Murph, playing his guitar refrain,"
I believe if you do a search for images of a young Douglas Fairbanks and compare them to images of Alan Murphy you'll see an amazing resemblance.
@PD5RRT The lyric that references Douglas Fairbanks is about Michael Powell, co-creator with Emeric Pressburger of the 1948 film 'The Red Shoes', from which the album takes it's name.
@PD5RRT The lyric that references Douglas Fairbanks is about Michael Powell, co-creator with Emeric Pressburger of the 1948 film 'The Red Shoes', from which the album takes it's name.
She met Michael Powell in New York in 1990 shortly before his death from cancer.
Kate has confirmed this in at least one interview.
There's a reference to the meeting here: katebushencyclopedia.com/powell-michael
She met Michael Powell in New York in 1990 shortly before his death from cancer.
Kate has confirmed this in at least one interview.
There's a reference to the meeting here: katebushencyclopedia.com/powell-michael
I can offer some facts:
One of the departed Kate refers to in her song is Alan Murphy, the late guitarist for the band Level 42. He passed in 1989 from pneumonia secondary to AIDS, but not before he worked with Kate on three of her albums.
These are her lyrics that refer to Alan Murphy from Level 42:
"He meets us at the lift Like Douglas Fairbanks Waving his walking stick But he isn't well at all"
and...
"'S Murph, playing his guitar refrain,"
I believe if you do a search for images of a young Douglas Fairbanks and compare them to images of Alan Murphy you'll see an amazing resemblance.
Patrick
@PD5RRT Thank you for this. Very interesting and moving.
@PD5RRT Thank you for this. Very interesting and moving.
@PD5RRT The lyric that references Douglas Fairbanks is about Michael Powell, co-creator with Emeric Pressburger of the 1948 film 'The Red Shoes', from which the album takes it's name.
@PD5RRT The lyric that references Douglas Fairbanks is about Michael Powell, co-creator with Emeric Pressburger of the 1948 film 'The Red Shoes', from which the album takes it's name.
She met Michael Powell in New York in 1990 shortly before his death from cancer. Kate has confirmed this in at least one interview. There's a reference to the meeting here: katebushencyclopedia.com/powell-michael
She met Michael Powell in New York in 1990 shortly before his death from cancer. Kate has confirmed this in at least one interview. There's a reference to the meeting here: katebushencyclopedia.com/powell-michael