Post by ©KAJAMANIA Board Team (Slim K) on May 29, 2004 23:18:34 GMT -5
;D His mother still calls him Christopher, the rest of the world knows the now 45 years old as Limahl. The girls'-dream from Campton Town in London is back in the limelight since the "Comeback-Show" at ProSieben. In the 80s he had as frontman of Kajagoogoo a hit with "too Shy", as solo-artist he is known at least since the film-music of Michaels Ende's "The Neverending´Story". Limahls, whose name is an anagram of his real family-name Hamill, likes personally Usher, Prince, Britney Spears and Jazz. Concerning music-business he does not have a lot of praising words. He says "f**k the business" while he is eating his salad-sandwich. Nevertheless the vegetarian wants to go to the top once again. Why does he?
teleschau: Are you broke or what makes you going back to the unloved music-biz ?
Limahl (laughing): When I was asked to participate in the "Comebach-Show" I did not care about money at all. Sure, everyone needs money, but for me it was the challenge that counted. I could learn many new things. For three months everything was focused on this show only. But I went through with it and it was a great time. I could increase my facilities a lot and I am proud of that. But at the end I was really exhausted.
teleschau: How often did you have to sing "The Neverending Story"
Limahl : "Neverendingly" often ..
teleschau: Doesn't that become boring with the time ?
Limahl: No, even after 20 years "The Neverending Story" and "Too Shy" open the doors for me. I was invited to the "Comeback-Show" only because I had these 2 hits.
teleschau: How was it for a former professional to be judged by a jury and to risk to get the chop?
Limahl: It was terrifying. I have not been in such a situation for a long time. Just the imagination of being judged by a jury and the viewers in a sort of talent-show, was awesome. My heart was beating like wild during my performances. But that was the same already in former times.
teleschau: What is the difference between the music-biz in the 80s and now?
Limahl: Today it is more fast-food-music, everything has become faster. Yesterday you just had a number-one-album and tomorrow you are only a has-been. In former times you sold a million records, now – if you are lucky – 30.000. It has become harder for an artist to get your break-through. Talent-shows may help. But the normal way – playing gigs, gathering fans, getting a contract – does not work any more very often. I could talk about that matter for hours….
teleschau: After Kajagoogoo and your success as Limahl you decided to change the place on stage with the one behind the mixer in studios. Why?
Limahl: I did not have any other choice, as I did not have any record contract any more. I was recording an album in New York, my company invested 250.000 dollars and suddenly they said: Sorry, we are bored" and left me out in the rain. I just thought: "f**k the music-business" and between 1988 – 1992 I did not do anything until I became a producer. I was travelling a lot and gaining energy again. People did not want to know anything about the artists of the 80s, so what should I have done? A football-player becomes trainer, adviser or manager after his career. For the same an artist becomes a producer, songwriter or manager. It was quite natural for me to take this direction.
teleschau: Were you successful with this ?
Limahl: Not approximately as much as with Kajagoogoo or as Limahl; that was quite frustrating. I was working then with Peter Andre, Kim Wilde and some DJs, but it just did not really seem to work. And then there was the 80s revival…
teleschau: .. and then you decided to back on stage as a singer. Will there be also a reunion with Kajagoogoo?
Limahl: No, there are differences relating to business, which we could not solve. We have tried it, met three times, even VH1 reported about that in their broadcast of "Band Reunited". But three weeks later we talked about it again, and all the quarrelling began again.
teleschau: So how does it go on ?
Limahl: I just recorded a new song with Rosenstolz (i.e. a successful duo in German), they wrote it for me and produced it. At the moment it is being mixed.
teleschau: In 1992 you put a new version of "Too Shy" on the market. Will there be also a new release of " The Neverending Story"?
Limahl : Oh, no, I don't think so. It is hard to revive a classic again. I did not succeed in doing that with "Too Shy" either. I finally want to make something new….
Limahl at the TV gig of "Best Of Formel Eins -Die Show"
in May 19th 2004
photos courtesy of Kabel 1
-----------------------------------------------------------
This is a translation of an interview which has appeared on numerous German media news pages as part of the publicity for the Best Of Formel Eins show.
------------------------------------------------------------
peace & love
SLIM K
teleschau: Are you broke or what makes you going back to the unloved music-biz ?
Limahl (laughing): When I was asked to participate in the "Comebach-Show" I did not care about money at all. Sure, everyone needs money, but for me it was the challenge that counted. I could learn many new things. For three months everything was focused on this show only. But I went through with it and it was a great time. I could increase my facilities a lot and I am proud of that. But at the end I was really exhausted.
teleschau: How often did you have to sing "The Neverending Story"
Limahl : "Neverendingly" often ..
teleschau: Doesn't that become boring with the time ?
Limahl: No, even after 20 years "The Neverending Story" and "Too Shy" open the doors for me. I was invited to the "Comeback-Show" only because I had these 2 hits.
teleschau: How was it for a former professional to be judged by a jury and to risk to get the chop?
Limahl: It was terrifying. I have not been in such a situation for a long time. Just the imagination of being judged by a jury and the viewers in a sort of talent-show, was awesome. My heart was beating like wild during my performances. But that was the same already in former times.
teleschau: What is the difference between the music-biz in the 80s and now?
Limahl: Today it is more fast-food-music, everything has become faster. Yesterday you just had a number-one-album and tomorrow you are only a has-been. In former times you sold a million records, now – if you are lucky – 30.000. It has become harder for an artist to get your break-through. Talent-shows may help. But the normal way – playing gigs, gathering fans, getting a contract – does not work any more very often. I could talk about that matter for hours….
teleschau: After Kajagoogoo and your success as Limahl you decided to change the place on stage with the one behind the mixer in studios. Why?
Limahl: I did not have any other choice, as I did not have any record contract any more. I was recording an album in New York, my company invested 250.000 dollars and suddenly they said: Sorry, we are bored" and left me out in the rain. I just thought: "f**k the music-business" and between 1988 – 1992 I did not do anything until I became a producer. I was travelling a lot and gaining energy again. People did not want to know anything about the artists of the 80s, so what should I have done? A football-player becomes trainer, adviser or manager after his career. For the same an artist becomes a producer, songwriter or manager. It was quite natural for me to take this direction.
teleschau: Were you successful with this ?
Limahl: Not approximately as much as with Kajagoogoo or as Limahl; that was quite frustrating. I was working then with Peter Andre, Kim Wilde and some DJs, but it just did not really seem to work. And then there was the 80s revival…
teleschau: .. and then you decided to back on stage as a singer. Will there be also a reunion with Kajagoogoo?
Limahl: No, there are differences relating to business, which we could not solve. We have tried it, met three times, even VH1 reported about that in their broadcast of "Band Reunited". But three weeks later we talked about it again, and all the quarrelling began again.
teleschau: So how does it go on ?
Limahl: I just recorded a new song with Rosenstolz (i.e. a successful duo in German), they wrote it for me and produced it. At the moment it is being mixed.
teleschau: In 1992 you put a new version of "Too Shy" on the market. Will there be also a new release of " The Neverending Story"?
Limahl : Oh, no, I don't think so. It is hard to revive a classic again. I did not succeed in doing that with "Too Shy" either. I finally want to make something new….
Limahl at the TV gig of "Best Of Formel Eins -Die Show"
in May 19th 2004
photos courtesy of Kabel 1
-----------------------------------------------------------
This is a translation of an interview which has appeared on numerous German media news pages as part of the publicity for the Best Of Formel Eins show.
------------------------------------------------------------
peace & love
SLIM K
