Graeme Thomson

The musical benefits of not playing live

Many of the greatest acts of creative experimentation came as a result of musicians renouncing the stage

Kate Bush quit gigging for 35 years, between 1979 and 2014, and gained the time and imaginative freedom to craft albums as daring as The Dreaming, Hounds Of Love and Aerial. Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Read next

Trending

James Rogers

How eastern Europe became a fortress

On Tuesday, Rishi Sunak chose Poland to announce that the United Kingdom would boost defence spending to 2.5 per cent of national income by 2030 – leading to a real term increase of over £20 billion over the next six years. The UK is confirming itself as Europe’s military champion, but it could achieve even more

Because you read about albums

Also by Graeme Thomson

Latest

Comments

A blooming good offer

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting the next 3 months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in