# Identify an instrument from an old Kate Bush video **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 12, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922 "2004-06-12T02:01:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@sofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sofia)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/21 "2004-06-12T04:01:39Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Okay, NOW you have to join us! > šŸ˜ƒ awā€¦thatā€™s sweet. FINALLY, years of being a kate-freak have paid off. and it was all worth it. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/22 "2004-06-12T19:38:11Z")
Thereā€™s an odd, multistringed rectangular instrument called a Stick, and this may be it. Itā€™s a hybrid of an electric bass and electric guitar. It must be scary, because there arenā€™t many Stick players. On the other hand, it could be a hurdygurdy, which has been described as a violin wrapped around a wooden box, and played with a crank. Iā€™ve always assumed the ā€œcrankā€ referred to a part of the hurdygurdy, rather than the musician. I could be wrong. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/23 "2004-06-13T02:13:26Z")
[Hereā€™s another picture of Paddy playing the valiha](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=www.cie-taxibrousse.com/site/html/media/rambala.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cie-taxibrousse.com/site/html/audio/rambala.html&h=222&w=312&sz=13&tbnid=7zJ5rv9brycJ:&tbnh=80&tbnw=112&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvaliha%2Bpaddy%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8) ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/24 "2004-06-14T08:14:51Z")
Just to chime in and join the Kate fans. My first CD ever was Lionheart. I have every one she has made. Sheā€™s brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/25 "2004-06-14T13:24:37Z")
Iā€™m pretty sure itā€™s not a Stick. I saw some guy at the local guitar shop giving a lesson for it and yeah, itā€™s a pretty odd instrument. You play it by tapping, no plucking or strumming, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/26 "2004-06-14T13:37:37Z")
Ohhh myyyā€¦ Kate Bushā€¦ :: swoons :: (And Iā€™m a guy. I donā€™t swoon lightly.) ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/27 "2004-06-14T15:57:50Z")
Wow. I guess that IS Paddy. Heā€™s NOT aging well. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/28 "2004-06-14T18:39:05Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Also, look for David Gilmour on lead guitar! Heh heh. Iā€™m a big Floyd/Dave fan, and I remember this video. Poor Dave, the video was classic Kate Bush and well done for her style, but he just looked soooo out of place with all of the glitter falling and wind blowing. He was dressed up in awful _trendy_ clothes and was constantly grimacing as a wind machine blasted his face. I could just picture the director saying, ā€œDave just isnā€™t Fabio enoughā€¦unbutton his shirt some more, and more wind machine dammit! I want his hair to be liberated and free!ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/29 "2004-06-14T21:37:47Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Heh heh. Iā€™m a big Floyd/Dave fan, and I remember this video. Poor Dave, the video was classic Kate Bush and well done for her style, but he just looked soooo out of place with all of the glitter falling and wind blowing. He was dressed up in awful _trendy_ clothes and was constantly grimacing as a wind machine blasted his face. I could just picture the director saying, ā€œDave just isnā€™t Fabio enoughā€¦unbutton his shirt some more, and more wind machine dammit! I want his hair to be liberated and free!ā€ You gotta admire his dedication, though. He ā€œdiscoveredā€ Kate and got her a record contract when she was 16 or 17. Iā€™m sure he wouldā€™ve never turned down her request to be in a video. ---
**Author:** ![Club\_33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Club\_33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Club_33)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/30 "2004-06-15T00:00:23Z")
Imā€™ also wondering if it is a Chapman Stick. I wasnā€™t able to view your photos though. You can go to [www.stick.com](http://www.stick.com) and see what one looks like. Peter Gabriel and King Crimson have been known to use this instrument, played by Tony Levin. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/31 "2004-06-15T00:09:32Z")
> [@Club 33](#): > > Imā€™ also wondering if it is a Chapman Stick. I wasnā€™t able to view your photos though. You can go to [www.stick.com](http://www.stick.com) and see what one looks like. > > Peter Gabriel and King Crimson have been known to use this instrument, played by Tony Levin. Since the question was answered, I deep sixed the pics. [Hereā€™s a pic of one type of ā€œvalihaā€](http://roland.ratsimiseta.free.fr/madasite/culture/images/ins-valiha.jpg). The one in the video looks to be handmade. Paddy has made quite a few African and Celtic instruments. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922/32 "2004-06-15T08:25:00Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > (Calling Equipoise! Sheā€™ll know.) Iā€™m here, but since the question was answered before I got here, there wasnā€™t much to say. Other than, well, I owe my entire LIFE to the lady. Sheā€™s a goddess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-an-instrument-from-an-old-kate-bush-video/249922.md?page=1)