It was one of the most striking videos of the 80s and helped to sell the key song in what was a sort of comeback album for Kate Bush, Britain's Queen of Quirky Pop.
1982's Dreamtime album had been a relative flop for Katie, who had been milking the tsunami of simp juice unleashed by her 1978 single 'Wuthering Heights". But after 4 years of posh tottie vibes with kooky Bohemian characteristics, the punters were getting a bit "meh." So, 1985's The Hounds of Love had to try a few new tricks and pull out the stops.
This is exactly what it did -- a stronger slate of toons, pumped up with a bit of avant-garde technology (Fairlight samplers and Linn drum machines). The visuals also had to raise the ante, especially for the spearpoint single "Deal with God" (deftly retitled to "Running Up the Hill" so as to not scare of the Godophobes).
But what to do?
Cue the smouldering good looks and taut physique of dancer Michael Hervieu from New Jersey.
This is exactly what it did -- a stronger slate of toons, pumped up with a bit of avant-garde technology (Fairlight samplers and Linn drum machines). The visuals also had to raise the ante, especially for the spearpoint single "Deal with God" (deftly retitled to "Running Up the Hill" so as to not scare of the Godophobes).
But what to do?
Cue the smouldering good looks and taut physique of dancer Michael Hervieu from New Jersey.
Under the direction of choreographer by Diane Grey, Kate and Michael, togged up in grey Japanese hakama (basically Samurai trousers) went through a bruising dance routine that looked at times more like a mix between a judo bout and a dry humping session. And the rest, as they say, was history.
But what about the future? Well, we all know what happened to Kate. Having proved her comeback chops, she slowly slid into a slightly reclusive middle age, with occasional simp-milking forays back into the music world.
But what about Michael, what happened to that young lad?
But what about Michael, what happened to that young lad?
Well, now all can be revealed. The dude became a dudeness, getting the full sexual transition treatment.
After appearing with Kate, he starred in the Lloyd Webber musical "Aspects of Love," during which he changed his name to Misha and then went through the gender reassignment surgery. Trying hard to think of the upside of this, but maybe it made a few dance moves bit easier. After that. it was a stint in a burlesque cabaret show bar called "Funny Girls" (erm, quite!) in downmarket seaside holiday resort Blackpool.
Clearly on a sloping trajectory. Misha next returned to his native New Jersey, where, according to at least one Kate Bush fan site, he is now running a cab. Driving up hills instead of running up them, so to speak. After a life like that he must be all bushed out.
After appearing with Kate, he starred in the Lloyd Webber musical "Aspects of Love," during which he changed his name to Misha and then went through the gender reassignment surgery. Trying hard to think of the upside of this, but maybe it made a few dance moves bit easier. After that. it was a stint in a burlesque cabaret show bar called "Funny Girls" (erm, quite!) in downmarket seaside holiday resort Blackpool.
Clearly on a sloping trajectory. Misha next returned to his native New Jersey, where, according to at least one Kate Bush fan site, he is now running a cab. Driving up hills instead of running up them, so to speak. After a life like that he must be all bushed out.
The Fly
Riff Raff
25th July, 2023
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