www.kajagoogoo.com - KajaGooGoo Official Website
www.kajagoogoo.cjb.net - KajaGooGoo and Limahl Official Unofficial USA Website | KAJAMANIA
This profile is not maintained by KajaGooGoo or Limahl. It was simply created by a very dedicated fan (*since 1983) to help introduce a new generation to KajaGooGoo and it's ex-lead singer Limahl. You can get in touch for any questions, suggestions, ideas etc... with KAJAMANIA on www.kajagoogoo.cjb.net | e-mail contact: [email protected]
BIOGRAPHY
Kajagoogoo were a British pop band best known for their first single, "Too Shy", which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart and number five in the U.S Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. The single was produced by keyboardist Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran and Colin Thurston who was, at the time, Duran Duran's in-house producer.
The band was founded in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, in 1979 as a four piece avant-garde instrumental group called Art Nouveau, with Nick Beggs on bass guitar, Steve Askew on lead guitar, Stuart Croxford Neale on keyboards and Jez Strode on drums. Art Nouveau released a track called "The Fear Machine". The single sold a few hundred copies, and was played on the John Peel show, but the band could not get a record deal.
KAJAGOOGOO 2007
In 1981, they advertised for and auditioned lead singers, and finally chose Christopher Hamill. He made his profile, and therefore that of the band, catchier by using an anagram of his surname for his stage name, becoming Limahl. The name of the band was then changed to Kajagoogoo. Writing out the phonetics of a baby's first sounds gave them "GagaGooGoo". With a little bit of "casual" alteration it became Kajagoogoo.
The band attracted the interest of three record labels (and Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes) while performing at the Embassy Club in London. The band was signed to EMI in July of 1982, and Rhodes was signed to produce their first album, White Feathers. In between they supported Birmingham New Romantic band Fashion on tour. The debut single "Too Shy" was released in January of 1983 and went to the top of the charts (before any of Duran Duran's singles had done so, Rhodes noted ruefully). Follow-up releases "Ooh to Be Aah" and "Hang on Now" both reached the UK top twenty as well.
However, Limahl never enjoyed good relationships with the rest of the band, and later in Summer '83, the others in the band fired him after an acrimonious dispute. Defenders of Limahl claim that the band struggled with fame and Limahl's popularity was proving too much of a diversion from the music.
Limahl accused the others of being jealous and told the press that "I've been betrayed!" and that "I was sacked for making them a success."
The band fired Limahl officialy in Aug. 1983 after a huge disagreement, with Nick Beggs taking over as lead singer, but the mainstream hits unfortunatly dried up completely, though a respectable success of their 2nd (mature) album "Islands" in 1984 with hits such as "Big Apple", Lion's Mouth" and "Turn Your Back On Me" and a World Tour incl. eastern Europe and Asia.
Limahl enjoyed a brief successful solo career, scoring a hit with the Giorgio Moroder-produced "The Neverending Story" the title track to the hit film of the same name in 1984. Limahl continued to record, working with producers Tim Palmer and De Harris. The result, his debut LP "Don't Suppose" ... (with "Neverending Story" appended as a selling point) was released in the U.K., then in the U.S. in 1985. He then resumed his collaboration with Moroder, resulting in the 1986 LP "Colour All My Days", his final project for EMI. His last album, 1992's "Love Is Blind", was released only in Germany on the Bellaphon label, and featured an updated take on their seminal hit, "Too Shy `92."
Direction changed for the band (again), when disagreements between Jez Strode (drums) and the rest of the band came along, unable to fulfill his writing commitments (and other things..) for the third album.
It was at this point that Nick, Steve and Stuart decided to continue as a three piece.
They tried a relaunch as Kaja in 1985 with the a 3rd and final album "Crazy Peoples Right To Speak" and the single "Shouldn't Do That" which failed as well, the album showed more of a rock influence than the previous albums but had limited commercial success. In 1986, the band decided to go their separate ways after the first single. Subsequently the album was not promoted by EMI.
The band briefly joined forces again on VH1's Bands Reunited (26 January 2004, Season 1, Episode 6).
Following the VH1 reunion, the band had offers to continue to play in this lineup but there were still too many disagreements between band-members to make this possible. The band felt that the VH1 feature was unfairly editied to portray simplified reasons as to Limahl's departure and complained that it also suggested the band remained together in the "fairy tale" ending.
In 2007 Nick Beggs, Steve Askew and Stuart Neale continue to play together as Kajagoogoo and a new album is about to be released.. - new single in 23 years "Rocket Boy" feat. bonus track "Tears" is to be released in June 25 2007
However, the door is still open for Jez Strode (drums) and Limahl (lead vocals) to rejoin Nick Beggs (bass, vocals), Steve Askew (guitar) and Stuart Neale (keyboards) at any time.
The three remaining members are still close friends and, 20 years on, are enjoying working together again.
KAJAGOOGOO 2004
In 2004, Limahl took part as a contender in musical reality show 'Comeback United' on German TV (Pro7). A year later 2005, he appeared in a similar UK show 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' (ITV).
(May 2006) Limahl released his first single in nearly 20 years called "Tell Me Why" under the ZYX label. - and a yet another reancarnation of "Too Shy" is released on May 11th 2007 by Physics feat. Limahl "TOO SHY 2007".
KajaGooGoo - ROCKET BOY (new track 2007)
Kajagoogoo ROCKET BOY / The new song!!!!
CRAZY CRAZY NICK BEGGS!!!!!!!!!!!
NICK BEGGS (of Kajagoogoo interview) - July 2007
pt. 2
View | Stream KajaGooGoo & Limahl videos on MYSPACE:
KajaGooGoo - H E R E -- Limahl - H E R E
Join LIMAHL's own MySpace profile H E R E
