Limahl sings Betjeman
Limahl Sings Betjeman
Happy Valentines Day to all of our lovely readers.
A great opportunity for all Limahl fans here:
Fantastic Entertainment – The Stars Sing Betjeman – One Night Only!
18th March, the Criterion Theatre!
The Stars Sing Betjeman in aid of the Diana Award, is a musical celebration of acclaimed poet Sir John Betjeman’s work.
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE
Hear Betjeman’s poems as you have never heard them before- set to music by Mike Read. The evening will include musical performances from an array of stars.
Sir John Betjeman was a poet and writer and held the post of Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death in 1984. He was also a popular television personality and an exponent of Victorian architecture, becoming a founding member of the Victorian Society.
The evening’s performers:
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Tony Christie recently celebrated 50 years in music and is best known for his hits I Did What I Did for Maria and Is this the way to Amarillo, which he collaborated with comedian Peter Kay in 2005 for Comic Relief. @tonychristie1 | www.tonychristie.com |
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Mike d’Abo is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the former lead vocalist of Manfred Mann. www.mikedabo.com |
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Limahl is an English pop singer. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the 1980s pop group Kajagoogoo, before embarking on a successful solo career. @limahl1 | www.limahl.com |
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Cantabile – The London Quartet have been delighting audiences since 1982 with their amazing range of programmes. @theLondon4tet | www.cantabile.com |
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The Jive Aces are the UK ’s top Jive & Swing band. Together for over a decade, they are renowned for their high energy Jump Jive music and spectacular stage show. @jiveaces | www.jiveaces.com |
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The Springfields were the number one group in the UK , in 1962/63, achieving the FIRST hit record in the USA charts by a British vocal group ever! www.mikehurst.co.uk |
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Elliott James is a successful songwriter, featured on the ‘Words and Music’ album, and can be found performing from London to Nashville , Tennessee . @frisbyelliott |
This fantastic evening will raise essential funds for the Diana Award. The money raised will support the inspirational work of amazing young people across the UK , who work as volunteers, campaigners, careers and anti-bullying champions. With the award young people are encouraged to carry on inspiring the lives of others and improving our communities.
Don’t miss out on this amazing intimate event, keep the 18th March free in your diaries.
A perfect gift for mums on Mothering Sunday.
This event will be for ONE NIGHT ONLY and tickets will sell out fast!
All profits from the night will be donated to the Diana Award.
2012 KajaFax
Rare Kajagoogoo Japanese ‘Special DJ Copy’ Promo 12” Singles
Some of the rarest and most desirable collectibles originate in Japan, the country usually synonymous with the highest of quality in both packaging and audio content.
Today, KajaFax highlights two very rare Japanese releases, both released by EMI-Toshiba for the Japanese DJ market.
Firstly, we feature this rare 1983 Japanese EMI ‘Special DJ Copy’ 2-track promotional-only vinyl 12″ of ‘Hang on Now’, with this particular copy taken straight from the KajaFax archives:
The disc features the Sheena Easton track ‘Telefone’ on the flip side:
and bears the moniker:
“Let’s Dance with Sheena! Let’s dance with KajaGooGoo!!”
This particular release as well as being scarce, also commands a high price tag – sometimes as high as £50.
Think that’s expensive? Well, comparatively speaking, no.
In 1984 and also released by EMI-Toshiba, a similar pairing featuring ‘The Lion’s Mouth’ coupled with Duran Duran’s ‘New Moon on Monday’ was issued. Unfortunately, KajaFax does not own one of these discs, but we do have photos:
This disc would set you back in excess of £100 in mint condition, with a copy recently changing hands over the internet for a cool £175. Incredible.
Needless to say that we would dearly love one of these discs to add to our archive of all things ‘Goo!
To bring today’s post to a close, here is the video of Hang on Now, courtesy of EMI Music.
Now…..we go from something originating in 1983, to something about 1983!
Limahl’s brand new single entitled 1983 is currently on release and available from all digital retailers including iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/1983-ep/id490117109
Six mixes for £2.49 is a great price – why not support Limahl and buy your copy today?
KajaFax Comes Home
KajaFax Comes Home
Regular readers to KajaFax will know that we respectfully took our name from the official fan club that existed back in the eighties.
Of all the memorabilia out there, it’s the original KajaFax magazines that had evaded us for so long and we really thought we’d never get the chance to own our own set of five, until now. We have often uttered the words ‘holy grail’ when discussing these magazines, they are that rare!
A very rare item anyway, it’s extremely rare to find all five together and in such wonderful condition, especially after nearly thirty years since they were published.
We extend our heartlfelt gratitude and thanks to Kelly Knouse, a huge fan of the band from the USA. After talking with Kelly about the band and this site, she announced that she had the magazines tucked away and would love to send them to KajaFax to join our collection and as a gift to share with the readers. Kelly has owned these magazines from the start so we were truly overjoyed to receive these through the mail, they’ve travelled a long way to get here!! Kelly we can assure you these amazing items will be well cared for and enjoyed.
We had previously featured all five magazines with scans of every page thanks to KajaFax reader Florian. So beneath each of our own magazines, we shall give the link once again to the scans of the full content.
Behold the big five:
KajaFax 1
https://kajafax.co.uk/2011/02/17/kajafax-1-the-full-magazine/
KajaFax 2
https://kajafax.co.uk/2011/02/19/kajafax-2-the-full-magazine/
KajaFax 3
https://kajafax.co.uk/2011/02/21/kajafax-3-the-full-magazine/
KajaFax 4
https://kajafax.co.uk/2011/02/27/kajafax-4-the-full-magazine/
KajaFax 5
https://kajafax.co.uk/2011/02/28/kajafax-5-the-full-magazine/
And of course the burning question. What becomes the new holy grail now??!!………
2012 KajaFax
Limahl in the Wigan Evening Post
As some of you may have seen, Limahl was featured in Thursday’s edition of the ‘Wigan Evening Post’.
KajaFax made a special 100 mile round trip to Limahl’s home town of Pemberton to obtain a copy of the newspaper, a scan of which we bring you now:
*to open a bigger version of this image, left click your mouse on the above*
Should you find the article hard to read, we include a transcript below:
Wigan singer Limahl has gone back in time to release a new single. The Kajagoogoo star has spent the last year working with Norwegian writer Tommy Olsen. Together, they have produced a song called 1983 – the year the band’s hit “Too Shy” hit the top of the charts. Limahl came across Tommy through DJ Pat Sharp, a mutual friend, who told him that Tommy wanted to work with him.
“I just told him to send me across a few bars and we could go from there,” said the Pemberton singer.
“I had a lot of success in Norway – both Too Shy and Never Ending Story got to number one over there.
“It kind of made sense that there was a Norwegian element to it I suppose.”
Tommy sent over 32 bars of music, which included a mixture of drums, synthesisers and bass, with a retro vibe to it. Although Limahl wanted to go back in time, he didn’t want to make it all about the retro theme.
“It was all very organic,” added the 53-year-old. “There was no pressure, no deadlines – the word single wasn’t even mentioned. I think that really helped.
“Once we had a more solid outline of the melody, I sunk my teeth into the lyric-writing, to try to bring the year 1983 back to life. I decided on 1983 because it was the year Too Shy was released. We worked with two Scandinavian guys who have worked with everyone – and I mean everyone.”
Work continued on the single throughout last year, and it has now finally been released. A new mobile phone app has also been launched to supplement the single. Limahl added: “Everything has been done involving the web, which is all new to me!
“I use the likes of Facebook and Twitter to stay in touch with my fans, and the 1983 app has seen me use YouTube a lot.
“It’s absolutely fantastic. I’ve even got one of the new iPhones, something I originally refused to conform to.
“I received a text when I was driving once, and it blew my mind when I told it to read my message out to me, and it did!”
Limahl lives in London these days, but still has time to pop back up to the town he grew up in when he gets chance.
He said: “I was last up in October. Wigan holds a special place in my heart. Everything that happened to me between the ages of one and 16 happened in Wigan – it has a lot of poignant memories for me. I’m proud to be from the town, not least because of the strong musical background it has, and how many different types of music it has helped produce.”
The “Limahl 1983” iPhone app was released following the release of the new single, and is listed as one of 21 “cool new apps” to try out in an article run by The Guardian.
For more information on the ‘1983’ app, click on the below KajaLink:
https://kajafax.co.uk/2012/02/01/limahl-1983-app-now-available-in-app-store/
and to purchase a copy of the ‘1983’ EP:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/1983-ep/id490117109
We hope you enjoyed this article. Special thanks to Madison for making the above post a reality!
KajaFax interviews Kim Wilde
KajaFax Interviews Kim Wilde February 2012
In February 2012, KajaFax caught up with pop royalty, the gorgeous musical legend that is Kim Wilde, we bring that interview to you today.
Many thanks for interviewing with us today Kim, it’s a real honour to have you here at KajaFax.
Well, we’ve done the twitter thing…time to move this relationship on to another level! ; )
We’ve been fans of your work for many years but it’s your musical relationship with Nick Beggs that brought you back firmly onto our radar, can you tell us how that firstly came about?
Nick has been in my band proper for about 5 years now; before that we played together on some of the Here & Now shows between 2002 and 2006. Nick joined my band for the first German tour we did in early 2007 to promote Never Say Never – my first studio album for 11 years after I took time out to marry and have a family. Before all of this he had worked in the studio with Rick on a number of occasions, back in the 90’s…
We think he’s absolutely perfect for your band, the Wilde Bunch always seem to be having such a blast on stage. Putting Nick together with Ricky must be quite a handful for you?!
Yes, they’re both a bit mad, bad and dangerous to know! Nick of course is a total gentleman, but that doesn’t stop him stripping off at various sound checks, climbing into mini-bars and playing hide and seek on the tour bus! It is inadvisable to get in a lift with Ricky, or offer to briefly hold his guitar case while he looks for his passport. Ricky will always be the last one to bed, while Beggion usually slopes before any of us, although no-one actually sees him disappear…spooky.
Nick is a real character but one of the finest bass players in the world I’m sure you’d agree?
There’s no one like him. Nick is very versatile, and totally committed to his instrument (no sniggering please!) At gigs he can usually be found sat down, cross-legged practising in a quiet corner with his head phones on. Over the years I have recorded in various different styles from the rock inspired Chequered Love and Kids In America, to more dance inspired styles such as You Keep Me Hanging On or The Second Time. Nick can easily adapt to any style from pure pop, to the most complicated Prog Rock he loves so much with the likes of Steve Hackett and Steve Wilson. Without doubt, Nick Beggs is one of the finest bass players in the world, and I am very proud to have him play in my band.
Your drummer Jonathan Atkinson played on the 2008 Kajagoogoo album, ‘Gone to the Moon’, was Jonathan initially a recommendation from Nick to you or from you to Nick?
Neither. Jonathan was also an early member of the Here & Now band and he was also a full time member of the Kim Wilde Band from that first German Tour. When you then get two musicians as good as Nick and Jonny on stage together, other work between them is a natural progression.
Do you see yourself an as eighties artiste or an artiste who just so happened to begin having success in the eighties? Do you think the eighties tag is a negative thing to have when it comes to releasing new material?
I feel in the last 10 years I have developed as a live artist together with Nick and the rest of my amazing band. We tour at least once a year, the rest of the time we play festivals and various 80’s revival events. The ‘80’s tag’ has become cooler as the years have passed I’m very happy to say, but of course that depends on how you present yourself. I have released 3 albums in the past decade with a fair amount of success, especially in Germany, I’m more than happy with the results.
You released ‘Come out and Play’ in 2010 to a fantastic reception. Personally, I was stunned by this album and right from the first moments of ‘King of the World’, it just grabs you and doesn’t let go for the entirety. You must have been absolutely delighted with this album?
I love this album, and the reviews confirmed to me that it was indeed one of the best albums I have ever made. I spent a lot of time song-writing, collaborating with some fantastic writers, and collecting a really strong selection of anthemic pop tunes! Come out and Play was a true labour of love, and I’m really glad you liked it so much : )
There are tracks on that album that I strongly believe could have been massive in the UK. As you hold the incredible crown of being the Biggest Selling British Female Artist of the 80s, why do you think you now have more success and support in Germany than here in the UK?
I was handed a big hit from Germany’s own Nena, who asked me to sing on an old song of hers, called Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime. It became a huge hit all over again in 2003 with both of us singing the song together, and began a renewed interest for me in Germany. I haven’t looked back since.
I’d like to talk about Snapshots now, an album of cover versions which you released in 2011. An inspired list of tracks, was this a very natural selection for you or did you spend a long time finely tuning from a long list down to the final cut?
The album was inspired from last years tour in Germany where I added some cover versions to old hits and new album tracks from COAP. My record company came along to a few concerts and liked what they heard, and asked me if I was interested in a covers project after the tour. We were given just a few months to come up with song ideas and record all the songs, this helped to focus my mind. I asked all my band, my family and friends, fans and Twitter for suggestions, while writing lists and lists of favourite songs. I wanted to try and choose songs from each decade that I have been a ‘Pop’ fan, so it starts in 1964 with Cilla Black’s Anyone Who Had a Heart, and finishes with a Sugababes track from 2007.
It’s very difficult to pick a favourite from the album but for me, it is ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart’. It’s such a beautiful song but I have to admit I was never 100% sold on the voice of Cilla Black. Your version has really given this song back to me so many thanks for that. Do you have a personal favourite from the album?
I love the Cure’s ‘Inbetween Days’, it reminds me of old Altered Images records, ‘Remember Me’ by Diana Ross and the Supremes is also a favourite. So glad you love my version of AWHAH – that song was the first ‘Pop’ record I remember loving as a 4 year old .
Last year was very busy for you with live shows, the album and of course ‘Quofest’, how was that experience for you?
I loved every minute. The Quo are a fantastic live band, still rockin’ hard with some classic songs. The crowd were warm and receptive, and Roy Wood is simply a LEGEND! I had a great time going on stage with them all every night for the finale singing Rock’n’Roll Xmas songs dressed as Mother Xmas (with killer heels!)
We know you have more Germany shows coming up in March, can we hope to see you playing any shows in the UK this year?
Never Say Never…..
What about a UK show or tour with KajaGooGoo, is that something that you’d ever consider?
I have been on the same bill as KajaGooGoo a few times over the years and am very fond of them all. I’d love to as long as they didn’t mind sharing Nick!
What’s lined up for Kim Wilde in 2012, another album or tour perhaps?
I have the Snapshots and Greatest Hits tour starting in March in Switzerland and Germany; hopefully later in the year in Scandinavia, Holland and France. At the moment my commitments are still being confirmed and I’m really hoping for some UK dates too.
Kim, it’s been a real pleasure talking with you and we wish you continued success and happiness. Lots of love from everyone here at KajaFax.
My pleasure. So proud to have Nick in my band, we all love him to pieces.
2012 KajaFax
Kajagoogoo television feature – “Welcome to the 80s”
Today, we bring you some more video footage.
Kajagoogoo were quite heavily featured in this one hour special documentary show, filmed by ARTE television for broadcast over central Europe. KajaFax has edited and made the show available, which features our guys talking all things 80’s.
The show also features Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, The Thompson Twins and Devo amongst others…
Better suited to our German readers, the audio track is overdubbed into German, but retains enough of the English to make it watchable, wherever you come from!
The below fifteen minute segment of the show features interviews with both Limahl and Nick Beggs…enjoy!
Like that?
The full version, 52 minutes in length, can be seen here:
**NB: full version video may be blocked in some countries**
A fabulous documentary indeed.
We hope that this has been an opportunity for some of you who may have missed the original broadcast to catch up!
Limahl on Vintage TV with Mike Read
Limahl on Vintage TV with Mike Read
Limahl recorded an interview with Mike Read for Vintage TV in January and this was shown on a show called ‘Read All About It’ at 8pm Monday 6th February 2012.
Vintage TV is such a great channel, if you don’t usually watch, please do so very soon!
This was a fantastic relaxed interview and we’re delighted to share this with you today.
Please let us know your thoughts and comments on the interview as always.
2012 KajaFax
Ellis Beggs and Howard in ‘Record Mirror’
Regular KajaFax readers will have seen our recent features on the video work of Ellis Beggs and Howard.
As a way of bringing this feature to a close, we have for your reading pleasure this great magazine scan taken from ‘Record Mirror’ magazine in July 1988.
*For a large version of this scan to open in your browser, left click anywhere on the document*
If you are interested in the current activities of any of the members of Ellis, Beggs and Howard, you may want to check out the below KajaLinks!
Ellis Beggs and Howard – Promotional Videos (Part Two)
As any Kajagoogoo fan will know, Nick’s first major project following Kajagoogoo’s hiatus in the late 1980s was Ellis Beggs and Howard. The group was active between 1987 and 1990. During this time, they released one fabulous album, Homelands, from which they lifted three singles, as well as recorded their second formally unreleased long player.
The third single release by Ellis Beggs and Howard was the awesome ‘Where Did Tomorrow Go?’
Issued by RCA in November 1988, the track was the last one to be taken from the Homelands album and was issued to coincide with the group’s support slot with then recent chart toppers T’Pau on their UK tour of 1988.
Today, we bring you this great quality upload of the promotional video for the single!
Although RCA re-launched the band in ’89 with a remixed and re-issued version of debut hit ‘Big Bubbles, No Troubles’, Where Did Tomorrow Go? was to be the last original single from the band.
They split as the recording of their second album came to an end.
For further reading about the ‘EBH’ project, you may want to re-visit our recent interview with band front-man Austin Howard.
https://kajafax.co.uk/2011/07/05/kajafax-interviews-austin-howard/
or visit Nick’s site, which has a page dedicated to the project:
http://www.nickbeggs.co.uk/music.html
Unfortunately, the ‘sleuthing’ department of KajaFax is yet to track down a high quality copy of second single, Bad Times, so instead, we bring you this lower resolution copy courtesy of GimpyDak.
We hope you have enjoyed this feature!
2012 KajaFax
Ellis Beggs and Howard – Promotional Videos (Part One)
As any Kajagoogoo fan will know, Nick’s first major project following Kajagoogoo’s hiatus in the late 1980s was Ellis Beggs and Howard. The group was active between 1987 and 1990. During this time, they released one fabulous album, Homelands, from which they lifted three singles, as well as recorded their second formally unreleased long player.
The promotional video clips for these three singles are, for some reason, quite hard to find. So much so that the usually plentiful YouTube only has one upload of each of those songs, all of which are in very poor quality.
KajaFax love to bring you the very best in ‘Goo content and thus set upon the task of rectifying this ‘quality control’ oversight!
Firstly, and presented in fantastic quality, here is the clip for the group’s debut 45, Big Bubbles No Troubles, initially released by RCA in 1988. The single was issued twice, with the 1989 re-mix/re-release having different cover art.
Which one do you prefer?
Watch the video for the song whilst you make up your mind!
‘Stay tuned’ to KajaFax – part two of this feature contains another high quality video by Ellis Beggs and Howard….
For further reading about the ‘EBH’ project, you may want to re-visit our recent interview with band front-man Austin Howard.
https://kajafax.co.uk/2011/07/05/kajafax-interviews-austin-howard/
See you in part two with another great video!
kajafax.co.uk 