Brand New Limahl Single January 2012
Brand New Limahl Single ‘1983’ January 2012
We can exclusively announce that Limahl will be back with a brand new single in January called ‘1983’.
This track will be released worldwide by ‘Dig Music’ on January 10th 2012, that’s the same date as Too Shy was released back in 1983!
This is the only information we have so far and we will update more as it comes through.
Very exciting information, we’re promised a real feelgood song which we’re hugely looking forward to.
Worth noting that although the information came from the company, this has been confirmed by Limahl so it’s all genuine.
2011 KajaFax
KajaGooGoo Live at Stage Club Hamburg Germany
Kajagoogoo live at the ‘Stage Club’ in Hamburg, Germany
KajaFax has yet again been fortunate enough to track down some marvellous photos (and memories) from a recent Kajagoogoo live gig, performed by the guys in Hamburg in November 2008 at the beginning of the Reunion tour. A huge thanks to ‘goo fan Karsten Leiding for sharing both the photos and some fantastic memories of that night!
The mouth-watering set list for the gig was as follows:
Kajagoogoo
Interview Rooms
White Feathers
Big Apple
Hang on Now
Shouldn’t Do That
Only for Love
The Lion’s Mouth
Ooh to be Ah (acoustic)
Death Defying Headlines
Space Cadet
Dreaming of the Same Thing
High Life
Turn Your Back on Me
Lies and Promises
Never Ending Story
Too Shy
Monochromatic
We asked Karsten about life as a fan of the ‘goo and how great the Hamburg gig was…
Karsten, thank you for speaking to KajaFax! You have been so good as to give us these great photographs from the night – can you tell us a little more about the gig?
“I was very excited….and with good reason as it was a great concert! I had a ‘meet and greet’ ticket and so was very excited indeed! It was my first Kajagoogoo concert ever as I didn’t have the chance to see them or Limahl solo back in the eighties (or later). The ‘Stage Club’ where they played is in the same building as the ‘Neue Flora’ where I had twice seen the Phantom of the Opera about twenty years before…. although I had never even heard of the Stage Club until I got my Kajagoogoo ticket”
“I enjoyed the whole concert. It was fascinating to hear the old songs together with the four new songs, and the band obviously enjoyed playing the new songs for the fans. I stood in front of a pillar so that I didn’t take somebody else’s view where I took some pictures that I have since published on my website, and filmed two songs. I filmed the Never Ending Story performance for my wife who is a huge Limahl fan. Unfortunately, she couldn’t come with me to the show”
“After the concert at the meet and greet event, we stood in a row waiting to see Kajagoogoo. They sat behind a long a table waiting for us and I have to say were absolutely great! They talked with the fans, shook hands, signed autographs and so on. As I reached the table I was very, very excited. I was astonished as Nick told me that he had seen me standing at the pillar. There were so many people in the crowd and he had played the whole concert, but he had seen me! Nick is the member of Kajagoogoo I like best and now he has seen me! When I stood in front of Limahl I was so excited I couldn’t understand anything he said to me, so one of the guys from the staff translated everything for me! I felt very foolish at that moment, but did get a personal autograph from Limahl for my wife!”
“I’m very glad about the Kajagoogoo reunion, as I never dreamed that it could ever happen! I’m only sad that nobody really publicised the reunion much on TV or on the radio. I had to find out the fantastic news myself by chance on the internet. Everybody talked about the reunion of Take That, but nobody spoke too much about the Kajagoogoo reunion! Why not? It is just as interesting that Kajagoogoo are back as to hear about Robbie Williams is going back to his old band! I know that Take That had more hits than Kajagoogoo and Limahl and played together longer, but I don’t think it’s fair”
A massive thanks to Karsten for talking to us! More information on that night in Hamburg can be found at Karsten’s site:
http://www.gleismann.de/0.eg/kajagoogoo/stage-club.html
…and for our German speaking readers, here is a television feature to publicise the German leg of the tour:
Finally and to close today’s post, here is some great amateur footage of the band on stage in Berlin in November 2008 performing Lies and Promises, courtesy of ‘filia69’
2011 KajaFax
Limahl Contributes to Put The Needle On The Record Book
Limahl Contributes to New Book on the 1980s
Limahl has contributed to the new book ‘Put The Needle On The Record’ (The 1980’s At 45 Revolutions Per Minute) by author Matthew Chojnacki
Foreword by Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters Afterword by Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran.
The definitive guide to the most musically distinctive and visually provocative era of the last millennium – the 1980’s.
This exquisitely designed book contains over 250 vinyl single covers, providing a pop-cultural kaleidoscope of imagary and an authoritative journey back to the songs and images that defined a generation.
‘Put The Needle On The Record’ features exclusive commentary and a wealth of previously unheard stories from over 100 of the 80’s biggest artistes including Annie Lennox, Duran Duran, Gary Numan, Run-DMC, The B-52’s, Erasure, ABC, OMD, The Knack, The Go-Go’s, Roxette, Bronski Beat, Devo, The Human League, Yoko Ono and Limahl.
Facebook: RecordNeedle
Twitter: @RecordNeedle
MySpace: myspace.com/MattChojnacki
20% of the author’s royalties from ‘Put The Needle On The Record’ will be donated to the Keep A Child Alive foundation which provides first class AIDS care, treatment, surrounding support and food for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.
The book is available in beautiful hardback format here at Amazon:
This looks to be a very interesting and collectable book and one not just for Limahl fans, but fans of 80s music in general.
2011 KajaFax
Kajagoogoo Video EP Second Edition
Kajagoogoo Video EP – ‘Second Edition’
Many KajaFax readers will remember our article on the Video EP laserdisc edition:
https://kajafax.co.uk/2010/12/07/rare-kajagoogoo-laser-disc-ep/
Well, we at KajaFax have managed to source a copy of the revised ‘second edition’, to include lyric sheet and the addition of ‘Big Apple’ to the track listing.A Japanese release, the disc comes with its ‘obi’ strip and plays beautifully!
The additional track on this edition of the EP was ‘Big Apple’, so for your enjoyment, here is that video, complete with car sound effects as intended by the director in ’83!
Video courtesy of emimusic:
2011 KajaFax
Phil Hackett – The Official Kajagoogoo Photographer
Phil Hackett – The Official Kajagoogoo Photographer
We have all admired the wonderful photography over on www.kajagoogoo.com and also seen the great pictures of record label stablemate Gemma Aguilar over on www.gemmaaguilar.com.
Ever wondered who was responsible for those great shots? Well, we did, and with the generous co-operation of professional photographer Phil Hackett, KajaFax is proud to bring you this comprehensive collection of ‘goo concert pictures from their recent UK tour, taken at ‘The Stables’ in Wavendon, Milton Keynes.
We are extremely privileged to be on good terms with the entire Kajagoogoo family and were extremely excited when we discovered that Phil has this wonderful portfolio of unseen ‘goo pix and that he wanted to share it with us!
More information and examples of Phil’s wonderful photographic work can be seen over at his website www.philhackettphotography.com , but without further ado, let’s hear from the man himself. Phil took time out of his busy schedule to speak to KajaFax about his passion for photography and how it led him to the land of ‘goo…
Hi Phil….thanks for speaking to KajaFax and thank you for access to this terrific gallery!
My pleasure!
First of all, may I ask about you? When did you first pick up a camera and how long did it take before you realised that photography was more than just a mere hobby?
I first ventured into Jessop’s about 17 years ago because I wanted some advice on capturing pictures of the snakes I used to keep – a point & shoot wasn’t going to do the job so I had to learn more about cameras. I then started taking shots of people – often of school productions – as I worked as a teacher at the time. I guess it was a couple of years into taking photos when I’d photographed some plays and some weddings I realised I was hooked!
Do you have a favourite subject matter?
Definitely – people! I love taking portraits – everything from candid shots of strangers in the street to models.
How did the Kajagoogoo job come your way? Did you know any of the band or management prior to the gig?
I used to work with Glenn Kelly who was managing the band at the time. I had sent Glenn a link to my website and he was impressed with my shots and offered me the opportunity to shoot the band live.
Were you a fan of the band prior to the photo shoot at The Stables?
I was a teenager in the eighties and I think the music you listen to at that age always stays with you. I had a few of their singles from the time which I enjoyed, but I wasn’t familiar with their albums.
How much fun were the guys backstage, and what was it like to meet both the band and Paul Gambaccini?
It was a pleasure and a privilege to meet both the band and Paul Gambaccini. Before the gig started the band were friendly, but I felt there was a certain tense feel about the place as everyone made final preparations. After the gig when the band met some of the fans they were clearly very relaxed and I think you can see that in the photos.
Finally, what gives you the most satisfaction from your work? What in terms of photography are you most proud of, and what would be your dream photo-shoot?
The most satisfying thing in photography is when you imagine an exciting image and then successfully create it. Last year I joined a challenge on a web forum to take a photo each week on a different theme – I was really proud of the quality and diversity of the 52 images I created. My dream photo-shoot would be a National-Geographic assignment to capture a remote tribal community.
Thanks again Phil – we know that the fans are going to love this gallery!
Thanks guys! I’m only too pleased to be able to share them with the fans.
Phil has kindly given KajaFax direct access to a small selection of his Kajagoogoo gallery which, as you can see below, are absolutely fabulous!
For full access to all 146 photos taken on the night, please visit:
http://www.philhackettphotography.com/kajagoogoo
I’m sure that you will agree that these superb photographs really catch the spirit of those Stables gigs! Thank you Phil!
For the latest news on all things Kajagoogoo, please visit:
and, of course,
http://www.philhackettphotography.com/
2011 KajaFax
Bloggers Choice Awards Update
Bloggers Choice Awards Update
After a spell back down the rankings, I’m delighted to say that we’re back at the top of the ‘Pop Culture’ category in the Bloggers Choice Awards 2011.
As you can see, it’s VERY tight at the top so every vote counts, this position could change in seconds! Thank you so much to everyone who has voted so far.
If you haven’t found the time yet, please spare us a few moments to make your vote and help see KajaFax win this category for 2011. As we know is the voting ends in ‘late 2011’ so we’d expect this to happen sometime in December. We have two months left to make this happen.
You’ll need an email address to vote and if you have multiple email addresses, you can vote from all of them!
The link to the category is:
http://bloggerschoiceawards.com/categories/22
Hit the vote button underneath our score and help us bring an award to KajaFax!
2011 KajaFax
Kajagoogoo Tour Review – Friars Aylesbury May 1983
‘Goo Tour Review – ‘Friars’ Aylesbury – Saturday 7th May 1983
It is sometimes easy to forget the hysteria surrounding some of Britain’s top pop stars back in the eighties – mania of a type now seldom seen with the security guarded, vaguely aloof megastars of today. The 50’s saw Cliff Richard, 1960’s the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the 70’s had Queen, Elton John, and the Bay CityRollers (!)…. By the 1980’s, the media had embraced the new wave of visually striking multimedia pop stars, with acts like Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran making waves globally – able to be in living rooms all over the world via the power of cable TV and VCR machines!
Despite the advent of the video age, the music was still paramount, and the live circuit was vibrant and exciting.
Kajagoogoo had just burst onto the mainstream music scene and chose the Friars, Aylesbury to play the fourth date on the UK leg of their tour in promotion of the White Feathers album.
Speaking recently about the gig, Nick Beggs recalls:
“Playing Friars was always a buzz…..my earliest gig there was with Art Nouveau. We opened for the Scars and John Cooper Clark…..Amazing! It was the first big stage I ever played on and couldn’t believe how different it felt to a club gig….”
The UK was witnessing scenes of ‘GooMania’ similar to those seen with Duran Duran some months earlier. The below article gives some insight into the frenzy that followed the guys as they toured their debut album.
‘Fans faint in pop concert hysteria’
A TOUCH OF SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
Saturday night reached fever pitch in Aylesbury when heart-throb band Kajagoogoo played at friars for the first time.
Security at the Civic Centre was tightened and the Police were out in force as fans – more that 1200 of them – began queuing early to ensure a good view of the Leighton Buzzard band which has taken the music world by storm. Tickets for the concert were sold out two weeks ago. “We knew there would be a lot of young girls there and we knew the effects this band has on them, so we made sure there were extra St John’s Ambulance people on hand” said the bands concert promoter David Stopps this week.
And they were needed for at one stage 24 young girls fainted in the space of just one hour and three more required hospital treatment.
“The band caused mild hysteria among the audience and we were glad we had doubled the number of our people on duty. They were rushed off their feet but our volunteers are trained to be able to deal with this sort of thing” said Mr John Berry the St. John Ambulance Brigade’s county staff officer for public events. “This sort of thing does happen at pop concerts. Young girls get excited, they probably haven’t eaten anything and the hall is hot and that’s where the trouble starts. But we were warned in advance”
On Monday, David Stopps said it was one of the most successful concerts for a long time. “It was like Beatle mania all over again…the girls were dropping like flies” he said.
Kajagoogoo have been at Friars before – last year they played under their former name of Art Nouveau, supporting Fashion. Since then, they have reached the number 1 spot in the charts with their first single ‘Too Shy’ and their second single ‘Ooh to be Ah’ reached the top 10.
A local man, Marcus Robinson, designed and operated the lighting system for Saturday’s performance which took six hours to set up!
The tour was a triumph, as ‘White Feathers’ reached #5 in the UK album charts with sales of 3 million, and all three singles lifted from the record making it big in the singles charts too.
In the UK alone, the White Feathers tour played to over 60,000 appreciative fans…
Taken from that tour, here is a clip of the second top 10 single from the album, ‘Ooh to be Ah’
KajaFax would like to deeply thank the Friars Aylesbury website www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk for their consent to use materials of their ownership.
2011 KajaFax
Nick Beggs Back in the UK Charts
Nick Beggs Back in the UK Charts
As part of the Steven Wilson band, it’s wonderful to see Nick Beggs back in the UK charts with the album ‘Grace for Drowning’ which currently sits at No34.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/albums
This is a new entry so let’s hope the only way is up and the album makes an even higher placing next week.
To read more about this album, visit the official website:
http://www.gracefordrowning.com/album-info.php
I must admit that I have not bought this album yet but I will be doing so. We know prog is the first musical love of Nick so I’d really like to hear it.
Well done Nick, best of continued success with the album.
2011 KajaFax
KajaGooGoo YouTube Man
KajaGooGoo YouTube Man!
It really was a treat to see this particular chap, doing his stuff to songs on YouTube and we can only admire his love for the ‘Goo.
He does make it clear that these videos are a parody so as much as I wish he was being 100% serious here, he’s not! Though I still prefer to think he is.
First up, you’ll enjoy this one. Wonderful song choice, he’s on a plane:
And secondly, we have Big Apple:
Videos courtesy of mg42mg42
I’m sure you loved these videos too, great sport and great fun.
If you are the guy in the videos, drop us a line!
Many thanks to Anna for bringing this to my attention.
2011 KajaFax
Old School Blog Interview with Nick Beggs
Interview with Nick Beggs at Old School Blog
Our friend Tim Schoultz from the Old School Blog contacted us recently to ask if we’d seen his interview with Nick Beggs.
Well, the answer was ‘no’, we hadn’t seen this so major thanks to Tim for dropping us a line and sharing and for giving us kind permission to open this one up to the lovely readers at KajaFax.
At this point, I’d encourage you to read the interview and then return back here for discussion!!
http://oldschool.tblog.com/post/1970112820
Welcome back. Well, it’s a great interview and catches Nick in the mood for a good discussion with serious genuine answers!! 🙂
I think the most disappointing thing that I read in that interview was the very simple ‘no’ answer to any further music from KajaGooGoo. That’s not a never say never or maybe, that’s a very straight no. I know time can change things but I think this one really is a very final no.
Thankfully, there is nothing in there about future gigs with the band, I have a feeling those would still be a possibility of the situation was right for the guys to get together on. I still have my fingers crossed for something in 2013 to mark 30yrs of the band. If the band read this and would like to hear our thoughts on the ultimate 2013 KajaGooGoo concert, email me!!
For me personally, the quality of Gone to the Moon was so high, when you look at what the band did with the EP afterwards, the burning thought was how amazing a five piece album could be and it sounds like we’ll never actually get to see that happen.
Still, maybe we expect too much of a band that we’re only together for a few years, a long time ago. What’s your thoughts?
2011 KajaFax
kajafax.co.uk 