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Singer Limahl discusses new music, the success of Kajagoogoo and how hit song Never Ending Story changed his life forever in this chat with Heart 80s Simon Beale.
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0:00
We're having a meeting, we've decided to do the next album without you, we're really sorry, that was it
0:05
No discussion, no debate, no three strikes and you're out. I was just, I was just staggered
0:13
Lamal is here, good morning. Good morning Simon. When you first started in Kajagugu, I mean that look was so classic really
0:22
And was it to stand out at the beginning or did you have that hairdo before you even started with Kajagugu
0:28
If you rewind three years before Kajiguga, I was in a musical called Godspell at the Palace Theatre in Westcliff-on-Sea
0:34
Godspell is actually written by Stephen Schwartz, who is also the writer of Wicked, the current musical and film
0:40
I quite like the idea of playing around with my hair. So it gave me his blessing. I went off to a salon in Westcliff-on-Sea and I came out blonde first, all blonde
0:50
Let's come up to current day. brand new single. This is your first single in five years and a cover of America's Horse With
0:57
No Name. Now, I'm going to be honest with you. Before I heard it, I was nervous because I love
1:02
this song. And it's one of those tunes where you go, oh, do you tamper with it? Do you change it
1:06
You've done such a great job on it. It sounds fantastic. Why did you choose this song
1:10
I've always loved the song. I feel like it's been a friend in my life for as long as I can remember
1:16
but it's such a unique song, lyrically. Do I play around with it or do I stay well clear
1:21
because, you know, this is a classic, you know? So it was never definitely going to be released
1:28
but as I put it together and kind of went down the electronic route
1:32
because I thought, well, I can't use guitar because that's driving the original
1:36
the fabulous guitars of the original. My partner, Steve, and my sister, Caroline
1:40
were both saying, you've got to release this, you've got to release this. It was in my back pocket for a while
1:46
it really works and you've clearly given a lot of thought and care over it as well
1:51
Do you know what? On my way here this morning, I walked down Bond Street and old Burlington Street
1:56
where the Embassy Club used to be and this is like your sliding doors place You used to work there is that right and this is kind of where life changed for you so for people that don know about that club just
2:08
explain first of all what that club was like it was just an iconic venue the paparazzi were always
2:13
outside there were famous people in and out i served drinks to gary newman the bananarama girls
2:21
were in there the fun one of the fun things i used to enjoy was seeing lemmy from motorhead
2:26
attacking the slot machine because he was losing money, he was getting drunk
2:30
So you're in the embassy club, serving drinks, that kind of thing, and Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran comes along
2:36
This is kind of your real life-changing moment, isn't it? So what happens at this point
2:41
So I serve a drink to Nick and his manager, Paul Barrow. The Durans were managed by the Barrow brothers
2:48
who owned the Rum Runner Club in Birmingham. Two very tall chaps
2:53
Just get chatting. I'm enthusing about Duran to Nick and I slip in. I'm actually in a band, Nick, and we've just done
3:06
some demos, blah, blah, blah. In a later interview, he said he was quite charmed by me, which, you know
3:14
is a lovely compliment. So to my surprise, he said at the end, well, why don't you send me your demos
3:22
So I sent him a cassette. Remember those folks? He called me
3:28
I was living in Lancaster Gate. Yeah, he said, Hi, Lamar. It's Nick. I've got your tape
3:32
I really like the songs and I'm going to take them into EMI Records
3:37
It's also amazing because I can't believe you would have been the first person to give a tape to Nick Rhodes
3:40
That must have happened to him on numerous occasions, I would have thought, just because he was so into the music business
3:45
So for him to take yours and go, actually, I'm not only going to try
3:49
and take this into EMI, I'm going to produce it and do all of this too. That's quite a thing, isn't it
3:53
Indurani has the nickname, The Fixer. Did you know that? No. So obviously this is a theme in Nick's life
4:00
And it may have started even before he met me Well great person to have on board The December before the single was released in January I was in the EMI building in Manchester Square in central London
4:13
And one of the marketing guys pulled me aside in the corridor
4:17
I listened very carefully and he said, now look, Lamar, your first single, Too Shy
4:21
it won't be a hit. Yes, you're allowed to s. He said, but we've got long-term plans for you guys
4:29
You know, he's giving it all that. And I remember spending that Christmas being a bit disappointed that our first single's not going to be a hit
4:38
Not only was he wrong about it being a hit, it was number one
4:43
It was number one in Germany, in France, in Japan, all over Europe, number five in America
4:50
Do you know what? I can't remember his name. I can picture his face, but I can't remember his name
4:55
He'd like to take him some humble pie, I'm guessing. Yeah. And when Kajagoogoo ended, it was quite brutal for you, wasn't it
5:03
You didn't see that coming at all, did you? I got a call on the Monday morning
5:10
Hi, Lamal. It's Paul here. That was the manager, so-called manager, who was basically a roadie with no business experience
5:18
who was kind of given the role when we needed a manager. He was a friend of the band
5:22
Yeah, we're having a meeting. We've decided to do the next album without you. We're really sorry
5:26
That was it. no discussion, no debate, no three strikes and you're out
5:32
I was just staggered. Look, getting a call to work with George and Murda
5:38
would be like an actor today getting a call from Steven Spielberg
5:44
I was fully aware of George's legendary status. I was a fan of his work
5:51
There was no hesitation. But here's the irony. if I hadn't been fired by Kanji Gugu
5:59
I don't know if I would have got the opportunity to do Never Ending Story because EMI asked me to go to the Tokyo Music Festival in Japan and while I was there I met Giorgio He was there as well When I got back to the UK managed to receive a call
6:15
like to try my voice. Okay, so you didn't know that you definitely had the key
6:18
I did not. It was kind of an audition. And what did I do the night before, Simon
6:24
I was out clubbing till 4 a.m. I nearly missed the flight at 9 a.m
6:30
I was smoking and drinking. Because, hey, I'm 24 and I'm famous
6:34
so I'm on top of the world. I'm having a great time. And I get to Munich where Giorgio had his studio
6:40
and I couldn't sing a note. I mean, the voice was going... Well, that's a high song as well
6:45
And it's a high song. So I was very chilled, you know. When you're young, you do recover from the hangovers quicker
6:53
And I said to Giorgio, don't worry. I said, we'll get it tonight. I'm really good at singing in the evening
6:58
And that's what happened. We had some food, a couple of glasses of wine. I nailed it around 8 o'clock
7:04
And it's such a legend, it's become such a legendary song. It's one of the favourites on Heart 80s
7:10
It's obviously had a bit of a resurgence in the last few years. And that for you must be so exciting, such a buzz
7:17
So before Stranger Things, the song was streaming 300,000 times a month
7:22
which I thought was pretty good. Now it's 2 million. Goodness. A month
7:26
Wow. It's crazy. I am so proud of Too Shy and Never Ending Story
7:32
And of course, people tell me, you know, it was the first song at their wedding
7:36
the first single that they bought. And I just, I love that
7:40
You know, these songs are important to people. They're important to me. I've got as many memories with them as they have
7:48
So it's good. It's a win-win. Well, long may they live on
7:52
And listen, good luck with the new single. Look out for it. It is out now
7:56
It is, of course, A Horse With No Name from Lamal. And as I say, look out for the video as well, because it's great
8:00
Thank you for coming into our Heart 80s. It's great to see you. No, cheers. It's been fun
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