Wishing our inspiring and brilliant friend, the poet, writer and photographer (and of course Kate’s eldest brother) John Carder Bush, an exquisitely wonderful day today as he celebrates his 80th birthday! John, you never cease to astound us with your brilliance, endless creativity, wit and warmth. Your writing is a constant gift. As his little sister Kate once wrote, “Growing up with a writer and poet in the family is a wonderful thing…whenever I read John’s work I can hear his voice, like that of a great actor, and the strum of his acoustic guitar as he speaks.”

You can celebrate John today by listening to our extensive two-part Kate Bush Fan Podcast episode (links: Part One / Part Two), where Seán met up with John at his home in London and discussed John’s early life, how he developed his writing, his days playing in folk bands in London (with a young Kate taking notes), forming the Salatticum Poets with his great friends Tony Buzan and Jeremy Cartland, the story behind “Nicholas Wade” of the Kate Bush Club fame, his involvement in Kate’s career, the 1979 tour, his famous video set and album/single cover photographs, the poetry books, novels and photo books he has published, his collaborations with Vivienne Chandler, his involvement in the Japanese martial art of Kyudo, the re-grouping of the Salatticum Poets in the 21st century, his return to the Jig of Life narration for Before the Dawn – and a lot more! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN! – Seán, Krys, Peter and Dave xxx