Expert: Birgitte S.C. - 5/9/2005

Question
A confluence of memories lead me to this message, to you.

I used to watch a Kate Bush VHS from the ages of...birth, until 9 years of age.

I have seen the video at least 50 times.

What sticks out, is Running Up That Hill.

Is this an actual portrayal of her Father?

If it is, Kate Bushes father may be Vannader Bush.

He may have created something called the Pabulum Seed, which is capitalized on today in the shadowy parts of government, to control weather.

This is not a joke, nor is it a prod at you, or Kate Bush.

I am very intrigued to know if her father actually researched fringe science.

Thanks for reading my message, and I would very much enjoy a reply.

In Love, Devin

Answer
Hello Devin,

No, the dancer in Running Up That Hill is definitely not Kate's father (he'd be way too young for that), but I think you're referring to the Cloudbusting video. The man playing Kate's 'father' is actor Donald Sutherland. The song Cloudbusting is based on the book A Book Of Dreams by Peter Reich, son of the scientist Wilhelm Reich.

In the 1930s Reich discovered a physical, biological energy in all living matter that he called “orgone,” and for the next two decades devoted his life to the investigation of its laws and properties. Orgonon preserves and presents the natural and scientific environment in which Reich researched orgone energy functions in living matter and in the atmosphere. He built a machine that allegedly could make it rain: a cloudbuster. The US government found Reich's research dangerous and busted him, which had a profound impact on the life of the young Peter. The book is currently out of print but maybe the local library still has a copy.

Kate has written the song through the eyes of the son, Peter Reich, based on his book which she had read. So it's not about Kate's real dad or about her life in any way. Kate's real father is a GP, a local doctor, and is not involved in fringe science in any way. Kate's mother was a registered nurse.

To learn more about Peter Reich and his research you might like to visit this website: http://www.wilhelmreichmuseum.org/

I hope this information is helpful for you.

Kind regards,

Birgitte