| Limahl |
Limahl live in England, 2007.
|
| Background information |
| Birth name |
Christopher Hamill |
| Also known as |
Limahl |
| Born |
19 December 1958 (1958-12-19) (age 50) |
| 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 |
Christopher Hamill (born 19 December 1958) is an English pop rock / dance vocalist. He is better known by his stage name Limahl (an anagram of his own surname), and 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 productuction 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[citation needed], 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'[citation needed]. 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.[citation needed]
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.
External links
