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| Limahl |
Limahl live in England, 2007.
|
| Background information |
| Birth name |
Christopher Hamill |
| Also known as |
Limahl |
| Born |
19 December 1958 (1958-12-19) (age 51) |
| Origin |
Pemberton, Wigan, Lancashire, England |
| Genres |
Pop
New Wave
Pop rock
Synthpop
Dance |
| Occupations |
Vocalist |
| Instruments |
Singing, Keyboards |
| Years active |
1978-present |
| Labels |
EMI, Bellaphon,
ZYX, Jimco, Laser Light, Disky et al. |
| Associated acts |
Kajagoogoo
Vox Deus
Crossword
Brooks |
| Website |
Official British Website
Official German
Website |
| Notable instruments |
| Keyboards |
Limahl, stage name and anagram of his surname, Christopher Hamill
(born 19 December 1958) is an English pop rock / dance vocalist. He was the lead singer of the
1980s synth-pop/new wave band Kajagoogoo, before
embarking on a briefly successful solo career, which reached its peak with the
1984 hit "NeverEnding Story", taken
from the film of the same name.
Early
years and Kajagoogoo
Hamill was born in Pemberton, near Wigan, Lancashire, United Kingdom. He attended Mesnes High
School, in Wigan, before eventually enrolling at the
Westcliff-on-Sea Palace Theatre Repertory Company. With aspirations
to be an actor, Hamill toured with the company in a production of
Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In 1980, he also had a
small role in an episode of the ITV police series The Gentle
Touch playing a schoolboy. Though his acting career never
took off, Hamill also had an interest in music and he formed a
short-lived punk band called Vox Deus. Next he
joined Crossword, but left to form Brooks, with Mike Nolan. He adopted his stage
name at the time he was recruited by the existing members of
Kajagoogoo, who were then an instrumental quartet called Art Nouveau.
These existing members of Kajagoogoo had placed an advert in the
music magazine Melody Maker, asking for a 'front man
who could sing and look good'. Soon after he had joined, the group
released their first single, "Too Shy", which went to Number 1 in the UK Singles
Chart and made the Top 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The band had
further hits with "Ooh to Be Ah" (UK #7) and "Hang on
Now" (UK #11), and their debut album White
Feathers (UK #5). Their first major UK tour was attended by 60,000 people,
and the final show at the Hammersmith Odeon
in London was recorded and
released on home video/Laserdisc (the 16-track White Feathers
Tour).
Limahl's relationship with the other band members was reportedly
always tenuous, though the singer would later declare that he
'considered them as family'. In mid-1983, soon after the end of the
White Feathers concert tour, the band fired him by telephone.
Defenders of Limahl claim that the band struggled with fame, and
that Limahl's prominence as the lead singer was proving
too much of a diversion from the music. Limahl himself accused the others of being
jealous, and was quoted in the press as saying that "I've been
betrayed!", and that "I was sacked for making them a success".
Defenders of the band, however, stated that Limahl had become
something of an egomaniac following the band's success, and was
unprofessional and difficult to work with. Neither view has ever
been conclusively proven, not even now that the band are currently
back together touring and recording new material.
Solo career after
Kajagoogoo
After leaving the band, Limahl launched a solo career, achieving hits with "Only for
Love" (UK
#16) in 1983, and with "The Never Ending Story"
(UK #4) in
1984. The latter was the title theme from the film of the same name,
composed by Giorgio Moroder. The English
version was sung with Beth Anderson, while the French version
(titled "L'histoire infinie"), was
performed with Ann Calvert, with translated lyrics by Pierre-André Dousset. The single was
no.1 in eight countries and Top 5 in nine more.
However, Limahl's solo success was brief, and his debut
album, 1984's Don't Suppose, was a commercial
failure, peaking at #63 in the UK.
Following this, Limahl released two more albums: 1986's Colour All My Days, and Love Is Blind in 1992, which were commercial failures
in the UK but found moderate success in Italy, Spain,
and Germany.
Unable to replicate the success of his earlier career, Limahl
hit hard times and was later photographed coming out of an
unemployment office in the UK. The pictures were published in a
British Sunday newspaper, highlighting how "the once mighty
can fall". He was also ridiculed by the British Viz comic, which satirised him as 'Limahl, whose hit
includes "Too Shy"'.
In the late 1990s, Limahl started making club appearances.
Wearing an orange wig similar to his original Kajagoogoo hairstyle,
he performed hits from his time with Kajagoogoo and from his solo
career.
Reunion
In late 2003, Limahl briefly reunited with the other members of
Kajagoogoo for the VH1 special
Bands
Reunited (which aired in 2004), but this did not lead to a permanent
reunion. Also in 2004, Limahl took part in the musical reality show Comeback on German TV channel Pro7. A year
later, in 2005, he appeared in a similar UK show, Hit Me Baby One More Time on ITV. Ironically, the episode of Hit Me Baby One More Time in which
Limahl appeared also featured Howard Jones, who had enlisted
the services of Kajagoogoo bass player Nick Beggs to support him
during his own performance.
Limahl eventually reunited with Kajagoogoo again in 2008. Now
reformed in their original five-piece line-up, the band took part
in various music festivals in Denmark and Scotland, and performed in other parts of
Europe. In August 2008, after the cancellation of a concert in the
Czech Republic
due to organizational problems (and not due to any of the bands or
artists involved), Limahl & Kajagoogoo then performed in Poland in a concert of 'stars of
the 1980s', sharing the stage with Kim Wilde, Modern Talking, Samantha Fox, Sandra, Sabrina, and Shakin'
Stevens. This concert was a part of the Sopot Festival 2008, and was broadcasted live on Polish channel TVN.
Kajagoogoo (including Limahl) are currently writing and
recording new material and will be embarking on tours of the UK and
Germany in September 2009.
Limahl recently played a concert in Ferry Meadows Peterborough
England on 8 August 2009 where he sang his two biggest hits, "Too
Shy" and "The Never Ending Story", alongside covers of 1980s hits
"Gold", "True", "It Must Be Love", "What Is Love", "Hello", "Just
Can't Get Enough", "I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", "Tainted
Love" and "Karma Chamaleon".
Personal
life
Limahl, who is gay,[1] once
shared a flat with disc
jockey Paul
Gambaccini (also author of the first official
Kajagoogoo biography, songbook and photobook - see
References), leading to rumours in the tabloid press that the two
were lovers, a claim they both deny.[2]
Discography
Solo
albums
Solo
singles/B-sides
- 1983 - "Only for Love"/"O.T.T. (Over The Top)" (UK #16, U.S. #51,
GER #8)
- 1984 - "Too Much Trouble"/"You've Been Gone for a Little While
(Too Much Trouble Reprise)" (UK #64, GER #26)
- 1984 - "The Never Ending
Story"/"Ivory Tower (Instrument.)" (UK #4, U.S. #17, GER, ITA,
Austria #2, Sweden #1, Norway #1 ["Ivory Tower" performed by Giorgio
Moroder]
- 1984 - "The Never Ending Story
(L'histoire sans fin)"/"The Never Ending Story (Instrument.
Version)" (FRA #7[French version
- France only]
- 1985 - "Tar Beach (7" Remix)"/"The Greenhouse Effect (Live)"
(GER #30) [Germany
only]
- 1986 - "Love in Your Eyes"/"Love Will Tear the Soul" (UK #80,
GER #28, ITA #22)
- 1986 - "Inside to Outside (7" Remix)"/"Shock" (GER #57)
- 1986 - "Colour All My Days"/"Love Will Tear the Soul"
[Spain only]
- 1986 - "No lo pienses más"/"Colour All My Days (7" Version)"
[A-side is the Spanish
version of "Colour All My Days" - Spain only]
- 1986 - "Don't Send For Me"/"Colour All My Days"
- 1992 - "Stop (7" Version)"/"Stop (Instrumental)"
[released as 'Bassline featuring Limahl' - Germany/Japan only]
- 1992 - "Maybe This Time (7" Mix)"/"Maybe This Time (Acapella
Version)" [released as 'Bassline featuring Limahl' -
Germany/Japan only]
- 1992 - "Too Shy '92
(Radio Edit)"/"Too Shy '92 (Acapella Version)"
[Germany/Japan only]
- 1992 - "Love Is Blind"/"Love Is Blind (Acapella Version)"
[Germany/Japan only]
- 1996 - "Walking in Rhythm" EP (7" Radio Euro/7" Radio Club
Garage/12" Euro/12" Club Garage) [cover version of the 1970s
hit by The
Blackbyrds - released as 'Shy Guy featuring
Limahl']
- 2002 - "Love That Lasts"/"Lost in Love" (Limahl/Tina Charles double A-side
single) [released as 'Discobrothers Presenting Stars of
the Eighties featuring Limahl & Tina Charles' - Germany
only]
- 2006 - "Tell Me Why (Radio Edit)"/"Tell Me Why (Dance Mix)"
(GER #96) [Germany only]
Other
singles/remixes
- 1980 - "It's Christmas"/"It's Christmas (Instrumental)"
[released as 'Chris Hamill']
- 1980 - "Angel"/"Goodnight Sleep" [released as 'Chris
Hamill']
- 1999 - "Then Suddenly (Almighty Remix)" [from the
12-track sampler 12" of
Pleasure - The Ultimate Dance Party featuring various
artists]
- 2004 - "Survivor" [released collectively as 'Comeback
United', and performed along with the other contestants from the German reality show
Comeback - Germany only]
- 2004 - "The Never Ending
Story"/"Can You Feel the Love
Tonight" [from the double CD Best of Comeback
United[3] -
Germany only]
- 2004 - "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
[released as a duet by
'Limahl & Dynelle' from CD2 of the double greatest hits
Best of Comeback United - Germany only]
- 2006 - "Too Shy (Club
Mix - Extended Version)"/"Too Shy (Club Mix - Remix)"
[released as 'Limahl vs. Julien Créance' - France only]
Other
(sound)tracks
Main solo
compilations
- 1996 - The Best of Limahl (Disky Communications Europe)
- 2003 - Best of Limahl (Silver Star)
- Same collection released in different years, with
different sleeves and slightly different titles, on two different
labels, compiling 8 songs out of the totally 11 originally
featuring on Don't Suppose except "Oh Girl", "Tar
Beach" and "The Greenhouse Effect", and 8 songs out of 10 from
Colour
All My Days except "Love Will Tear the Soul" and "For My
Heart's Sake".
- 1999 - Limahl (Laser Light Digital)
- 1999/2007 - All the Hits plus More (Brilliant Netherlands)
- Same collection with different titles but similar
sleeves, on two different labels, released in the same year, in
different countries, including 2 brand new songs, "Rhythm of Love"
and "Lost in Love"; and compiling 5 songs out of 10 from Love Is Blind plus 3
singles from Don't Suppose, as well as Kajagoogoo/Kaja's first 7
singles, including the 4 post-split tracks Limahl didn't originally
sing on, here all (the 3 pre-split singles too) completely
re-played, and resung by himself, i.e. "Big Apple", "The Lion's
Mouth", "Turn Your Back on Me", and "Shouldn't Do That". The 2007
edition also includes Limahl's latest solo single, "Tell Me Why",
eventually making it a 17-track compilation. It must be finally
noted that more than 20 different versions actually exist of this
greatest hits album, all of them following two alternative track
listings only, corresponding to those as in the two representative
compilations mentioned above. As for their various titles, see the
"After Kajagoogoo" chapter
above.
- 2002 - Never Ending Story (Best of) (Disky Communications
Europe)
Kajagoogoo/Kaja/Limahl
joint compilations
- 1993 - Too Shy: The Singles and More (ERG)
- Includes Limahl's "Only for Love", "Too Much Trouble",
"The Never Ending Story", "Love in Your Eyes", "Inside to Outside
(7" remix)", "Only for Love (12" mix)", "The Never Ending Story
(12" mix)".
- 1996 - The Best of Kajagoogoo & Limahl (Disky Communications
Europe)
- Includes Limahl's "Inside to Outside".
- 1996 - The Very Best of Kajagoogoo (EMI Gold Collection)
- Includes Limahl's "The Never Ending Story", "Only for
Love".
- 1998 - Premium Gold Collection Kajagoogoo & Limahl
(EMI)
- Includes Limahl's "Too Much Trouble", "The Never Ending
Story", "Love in Your Eyes", "Inside to Outside", "Tar Beach"[5].
- 2000 - Best of the 80's Kajagoogoo & Limahl (Disky Communications
Europe)
- Includes Limahl's "Don't Suppose", "Only for Love", "Too
Much Trouble", "The Never Ending Story".
- 2003 - The Very Best of Kajagoogoo and Limahl (EMI)
- Includes Limahl's "Only for Love", "The Never Ending
Story", "I Was a Fool", "Inside to Outside", "Your Love", "Shock",
"Love in Your Eyes", "Too Much Trouble", "Tar Beach"[6].
N.B. In all of the joint compilations above,
obviously, Limahl also sings on Kajagoogoo's tracks from their 1983 joint debut
album White Feathers.
Notes, sources and
references
- ^
"Geburtstagskinder" (in
German) (pdf). GAB. p. 4. http://gab.epaper.publigayte.com/2008/2008-12/04-05_moderne_menschen.pdf. Retrieved
2009-03-22.
- ^
Dingwall, John
(2008-02-21), I've had surgery to look
good for my fans, admits Limahl, Daily Record, http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/festivals/retrofest/retrofest-news/2008/02/21/i-ve-had-surgery-to-look-good-for-my-fans-admits-limahl-86908-20326045/, retrieved
2008-07-14
- ^
Best of Comeback United, the double greatest hits CD from
the German reality show Comeback, features the biggest
hits of the contestants on CD1 and the best from the
Comeback reality show on CD2, and totally includes 4
tracks either by or featuring Limahl, i.e. "The Never Ending
Story", "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", "Dont Go Breaking My
Heart" as a duet with Dynelle, and "Survivor" as sung collectively,
along with the other contestants from the show. The double album
peaked at Number 15 in the German charts, reaching Number 541 in
the final 'Charts of the Year 2004' in Germany.
- ^
The compilation entitled What a Feeling II - The Rock'n'Pop
Musicals in Concert is the original soundtrack from the
musical of the same name, starring Limahl, Melanie Marcus, Gwen
Dickey (formerly of the Rose Royce), Dylan Turner, and the 4 the
Boys. The front cover of the soundtrack album describes the records
as 'the original cast recording of the new show featuring hit songs
from the hit movies and musicals'. The track listing totally
includes 20 tracks, 4 of which are solo performances by Limahl, 2
are duets by Limahl and Melanie Marcus, 2 are sung by Limahl,
Melanie Marcus, Gwen Dickey and Dylan Turner. As for the rest, 5
tracks are performed by Gwen Dickey, 3 are by Melanie Marcus, 1 is
by 4 the Boys, 1 is by Dylan Turner, and, finally, 2 are
generically credited to 'Cast', but not featuring Limahl. The
soundtrack, recorded at the Oxford Apollo Theatre, in October 2000,
and produced and mixed by Stuart Epps, at the Snake Ranch Studios,
in London, was released in the
UK on Demon Music Group Ltd./Flying Music labels.
- ^
Limahl's "Tar Beach", originally released as a remix single in
Germany, but not in the UK or anywhere else, only appears here and
on EMI 2003 The Very Best of Kajagoogoo and Limahl, both
of these being joint compilations of Kajagoogoo/Kaja & Limahl,
but, strangely enough, the song does not feature on any of Limahl's
own solo collections.
- ^
See previous note #4.
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