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Remembering Del Palmer – Special memorial issue of HomeGround Magazine

As we all come to terms with the loss of Del Palmer, here at katebushnews.com we’ve been discussing ways to remember and celebrate his life with you. We will be putting a podcast episode together, but one idea was to share some excerpts about Del from the pages of HomeGround Magazine. So, just as we shared the 40th anniversary special with you online in 2022 as a free PDF file download, we have put together this special issue of HomeGround which we hope manages to touch just a little on what made Del the incredible man that he was – but we know it only scratches the surface. Del passed away at home on Friday 5th January, surrounded by his family.

Krys, Peter, Dave and Seán have all written about Del for this memorial issue and you will find articles, photos and memories covering his life and career in music, including the indispensable interview with him that was conducted by HomeGround in 2007, not long after the release of the Aerial album. We hope that you find some comfort and happy memories in remembering Del this way, and that this helps to reflect the enormous outpouring of sadness and sympathy from you all around the world since the sad news was announced.

How do I get my copy of HomeGround’s Del Palmer memorial issue?

Option 1) PDF download You can download this special issue of HomeGround HERE – this is a PDF document file that you can read on your computer, or print out at home if you wish.

Option 2) View online. You can read this special issue of HomeGround on any browser/device below as a flipbook. This is quite handy and we think you’ll only have to click away one pesky ad before reading. NB: We recommend that you view it FULLSCREEN. To open in Fullscreen click on the three dots on the top menu and select the Fullscreen option from the dropdown. You may need to close one brief advertisement when the magazine first opens. For iPads/tablets or phones it may be better to use this direct link to view the magazine online. Rotating your device from portrait to landscape orientation will display the magazine in the recommended two page spread.

Del Palmer 1952-2024

Photo by Edward Quant – Del playing his “Egly” bass at the Belfast Empire, Nov 25th 2018

We are heartbroken to tell you that Del Palmer passed away at home, yesterday, Friday January 5th, surrounded by his family. Del had dealt with health issues over the last few years and the announcement came today on social media from his niece, Debbii Louise Palmer on behalf of Del’s family. We don’t need to tell anyone out there the monumental role Del has always played in Kate’s work and music – it’s impossible to quantify. As this news sinks in, we will have more to share with you all about our friend Del, and we will be talking much more about his incredible life and career in the coming days as we remember this remarkable musician and wonderful, irreplaceable man.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Del’s family and loved ones, to Kate, to his many friends, and all the people who knew and worked with Del throughout his brilliant career in music. He’ll be so very missed. Rest in peace, Del. You are so loved – Seán, Peter, Krys and Dave x

Update from Kate (10th Jan): Kate has remembered Del on her official site. We again extend our deepest sympathies to you, Kate.

Del

It’s hard to know what to say… He was a big part of my life and my work for many years.

It’s going to take a long time to come to terms with him not being here with us.

He was incredibly creative – talented in lots of different ways. He was a brilliant musician, bass player, a great artist – he was always drawing. Once he covered a whole recording consul in cartoons. It took him days and it looked absolutely stunning.

He taught himself to be a recording engineer, engineering several of my albums and later releasing his own.

The image above is a mosaic that Del made. He called it Tree of Life.

I’m going to miss him terribly.

Kate

PODCAST EXCLUSIVE! Del Palmer interview special – on tour in Ireland!

Del Palmer in Ireland

No, Seán can’t believe it either: in this episode of the Kate Bush Fan Podcast he catches up with Del Palmer(!) and singer Mandy Watson and pianist/arranger Michael Mayell of The Kate Bush Song Book as they perform in Ireland together for the very first time. This relaxed chat finds us sitting around a kitchen table in Dublin discussing how Del became involved with the band, how he experienced re-visiting Kate Bush songs he hasn’t performed on in decades, and his memories of trips to Ireland with Kate and recording here with the cream of Irish musicians.

We can’t thank Del enough for taking the time to do this. Seán also chats briefly backstage with Nadie Keating and Julia Krajewska, the immensely gifted surprise guest vocalists at the Dublin show! All song clips recorded in Monroe’s, Galway – Oct 20th 2018.  Read more about Cloudbusting and the Kate Bush Song Book at their site here and follow Del Palmer at his Facebook page here.

You can subscribe to the Kate Bush Fan Podcast on iTunes or on any podcast app you happen to use, such as Stitcher or Tunein or listen below on Soundcloud.

Del Palmer interview in The Irish Examiner ahead of Irish tour with Kate Bush Song Book

Kate Bush Songbook

There was an interview with Del Palmer in today’s Irish Examiner as he prepares to tour Ireland starting next week with the Kate Bush Songbook. Del talks about working and recording in Ireland with Kate, and about his reasons for finally going back on stage to perform on these songs again. Best of luck, guys, see you soon! Read the full interview here. Catch these special shows live here:

WED OCT 17 Set Theatre, Kilkenny, Ireland tickets
THU OCT 18 Cyprus Avenue, Cork, County Cork, Ireland tickets
FRI OCT 19 Dolans Pub, Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland tickets
SAT OCT 20 Monroe’s Galway, County Galway, Ireland tickets
WED OCT 24 The Sugar Club, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland tickets
THU OCT 25 The Belfast Empire, Belfast, Northern Ireland tickets
SAT OCT 27 Acapela Studios, Cardiff, Wales tickets

Del Palmer to join The Kate Bush Song Book on tour in Ireland in October!

Kate Bush Song Book Irish Tour

More exciting news from Del Palmer and the folks from the band Cloudbusting. Here’s the announcement from them:

“Cloudbusting’s Mandy and Michael are soon to find out what it’s like touring the greatest music in the world around one of the most beautiful countries in the world alongside one of the greatest bass players in the world!

Kate’s bass player and studio engineer DEL PALMER is joining The Kate Bush Song Book for some special dates across Ireland this October. The very same guy who created the bass lines on All The Love, The Sensual World, Kashka From Baghdad and so many others is going to perform them live, in many cases for the first time ever, with Mandy on vocals and Michael on piano.

In Del’s own words,

I wanted to celebrate 40 years of Kate’s music by working on some of her lesser-known songs with Mandy and Michael. Songs that some of my heroes and great friends contributed memorable bass parts to. Songs we worked so hard on in the studio to create complex arrangements also work so well in this simpler, more intimate setting.

The Kate Bush Song Book is a chance for us to explore those favourites we wouldn’t naturally perform with the whole band, with arrangements ‘reimagined’ as Kate might have conceived them on the piano. And with Del there we might learn something about these much-loved songs that’s new to all of us!”

Dates include:

KilkennyThe Set Theatre – Wednesday 17th
Limerick – Dolans – Friday 19th [Tickets]
GalwayMonroe’s Live – Saturday 20th
Dublin – The Sugar Club – Wednesday 24th [Tickets]
BelfastThe Belfast Empire – Thursday 25th
Cardiff – Acapela – Saturday 27th [Tickets]

Look for more updates at: The Cloudbusting website

Del Palmer – New album “Point of Safe Return” out now!

Del Palmer - Point of Safe Return
Del Palmer
Del Palmer CD cover

We’re delighted to let you know that Del Palmer has today released his new album, Point of Safe Return (Credible Records). This is Del’s third album following Leap of Faith (2007) and GIFT (2010).

Written, performed and produced by Del, it also features contributions from vocalists who Del describes as “three distinctly different female voices”; I.V. Webb, Sarah Daly (Metaphorest) and Odette Beris, as well as fellow Kate Bush veteran Kevin McAlea on saxophone and narration from poet/writer (and great friend of katebushnews.com!) Antonello Saeli. Wilton Beckford is featured on drums.

The track ‘Nota Ghra’ has Del singing in the Irish language. As Del says in his sleevenote: “This album is best enjoyed within the intimacy of headphones” The CD is available for sale at Del’s site here. It is also available on iTunes.

You can listen to the album tracks here. Watch a video for the track ‘Future’ below.

Del Palmer album tracklist

Happy Birthday Del Palmer!

Wishing Del a very happy birthday today, from all of us at KateBushNews.com! Have a great birthday weekend, sir!  – Peter, Krys, Dave and Seán

Del Palmer reveals secret from The Kick Inside album artwork!

On his Facebook page, Del Palmer has posted the following image detail of his artwork from the back cover of Kate’s first album in 1978, The Kick Inside. Del writes: “The Flyer from T.K.I sleeve. I was asked if the logo on the opposite side to the KT symbol had a meaning..It is, in fact a pictogram of my name DEL…I know but life was simpler in those days!!….”

20120705-000454.jpg

Del’s new song and video

Del Palmer Kate’s long time bass player and sound engineer has released a new solo track Fallen Angel which you can find on his FaceBook page.

Del Palmer

Del Palmer writes a piece for the imminent re-launch of Kate’s official site!

Del Palmer’s official Facebook page has just posted the following. Just like the Kate Bush Club magazine days. Looking forward to Del’s piece, and to seeing what Kate has in store for us on her official site!

Del Palmer on Facebook

Del Palmer has now launched a page for his solo projects on Facebook, which can be found here. His latest album, Gift, is available at his official site.

Del Palmer on Facebook

New Del Palmer album, “Gift”, out today!

The exceptionally talented (and all round great guy!) Del Palmer has released his much anticipated second full studio album, “Gift”, available from Del’s website from today, Monday 6th December, priced at £8 plus £2 p&p. Downloads from iTunes etc also available. More details can be found at his official site and his Myspace page.

Del Palmer - "Gift" out now

BBC Documentary – view clips and vote at BBC site

The BBC site has been updated with interview clips (including Del Palmer, John Carder Bush, Peter Gabriel, John Lydon, Anthony Van Laast and Mark Radcliffe all talking about Kate) from Wednesday night’s upcoming documentary “Queens of British Pop” here. And in conjunction with this two-part programme, the BBC are asking site visitors to vote on “your favourite Queen of British Pop” – read more here.

Del’s Kate cover…

So, we’ve tried (reluctantly) to keep this a secret but, Del Palmer has released an exclusive recording of his take on “Watching You Without Me” on his MySpace page here. Please check it out soon as it is not going to be on his Myspace page for long. Great stuff…and adds to our excitement and celebration in this momentous year for Kate. Cheers Del!

Del Palmer writes about ‘Lyra’

On the day of the film’s world premiere in London Del Palmer has written a very interesting account on the recording of ‘Lyra’ posted on his official website: “The song was written very quickly as Kate was asked to do it at very short notice. In fact she only had a matter of days to write and produce it. She came to the studio with a rough demo recorded at her home using a ProTools LE system. Our first job was to record the keyboard and the lead vocal so that the Choir arranger could get to work as quickly as possible. This short project was to be a happy return to analog recording for us. We used a Studer A827 24 track recorder. Once the track was recorded it was transferred to ProTools for editing and mixing. This was so that the choir recordings could be done using a small mobile setup supplied by Abbey Road on a Monday morning. They were then imported into the original ProTools session for mixing on the Monday afternoon. Kate then took a car to Abbey Road for mixing in the evening. Abbey Road studio did the 5.1 surround mix. This was because all of the soundtrack music had been done there so it made sense to do the same. The following day we did a stereo mix at our studio for the soundtrack album release. In all, the whole thing took about 10 days to do. I personally think it’s a wonderful performance from Kate considering the time restrictions, in particular her vocal.” Thanks Del, and well done on an excellent job – I’m looking forward to hearing Kate at the cinema in 5.1 surround for the very first time!

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