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.

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

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:

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

Look for more updates at: The Cloudbusting website

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!!….”