Kajagoogoo
| Company type | Pop group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1978 in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England |
| Headquarters | Leighton Buzzard , United Kingdom |
Key people | Nick Beggs, Steve Askew, Stuart Neale, Jez Strode, Limahl (Chris Hamill) |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Kajagoogoo () were a British pop group primarily recognized for their 1983 chart-topping single "Too Shy", which secured the No. 1 spot on the UK Singles Chart and achieved top 10 status in multiple international markets.
Origins (1978–1982)
Established in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, in 1978, the ensemble initially operated under the name Art Nouveau. This avant-garde quartet included Nick Beggs on bass, Steve Askew handling lead guitar, Stuart Croxford Neale on keyboards, and Jez Strode playing drums. In 1981, Art Nouveau independently released the single "Fear Machine/Animal Instincts," which attained moderate sales and some radio exposure. Despite performing locally, they were unable to secure a recording contract.
In 1982, the band sought a new frontman and selected Christopher Hamill, who adopted the stage name Limahl—an anagram of his surname. Subsequently, they rebranded as Kajagoogoo, a name derived from infantile vocal sounds.
Rise and Decline (1982–1985)
Limahl's encounter with Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran while employed as a waiter facilitated the band's signing with EMI Records in July 1982. Rhodes co-produced their debut single "Too Shy," which launched in January 1983 and reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. Follow-up singles "Ooh to Be Aah" and "Hang on Now" both entered the UK Top 20, while their first album White Feathers climbed to No. 5 in the UK charts.
After supporting Fashion late in 1982, Kajagoogoo embarked on their own White Feathers tour during spring 1983, including a prominent show at London's Hammersmith Odeon that was recorded for home video release. However, internal conflicts culminated in Limahl's removal mid-1983, with Nick Beggs stepping up as lead vocalist. Limahl accused his bandmates of jealousy and betrayal, whereas they attributed his expulsion to problematic behavior and conflicting artistic directions.
The newly configured four-member lineup released "Big Apple" in September 1983, which reached the UK Top Ten, followed by "The Lion's Mouth," entering the Top 30. Public enthusiasm waned thereafter; "Turn Your Back on Me" failed to break into the Top 40, and their sophomore album Islands peaked at No. 35 on UK charts.
In the United States, the band shortened their name to Kaja and issued a modified version of Islands titled Extra Play, which reached No. 185 on Billboard rankings. The single "Turn Your Back on Me" performed well on US Dance Charts, peaking at No. 2. Meanwhile, Limahl pursued a brief solo career and Jez Strode departed from the group.
Attempting to distance themselves from their pop reputation, the trio re-emerged as Kaja within the UK in 1985, releasing "Shouldn't Do That" (UK No. 63) from their third album Crazy People's Right to Speak. Due to disappointing sales, Kajagoogoo disbanded by December 1985.
Reunions (2003–2011)
The original five members briefly reunited for VH1’s Bands Reunited in 2003. Although there were offers to continue, disagreements led to Limahl and Strode leaving once more, resulting in the band's dissolution again in 2004. The group criticized VH1’s portrayal for oversimplifying past conflicts.
In 2007, Nick Beggs, Steve Askew, and Stuart Neale revived Kajagoogoo with the single "Rocket Boy," which received airplay across UK radio stations. Plans for an album titled Gone to the Moon were postponed. Early in 2008, under new management by Bradley Snelling, the complete original lineup reunited and began producing new material. They toured extensively throughout Europe, debuting at Denmark’s Esbjerg Rock Festival and performing remastered tracks from Islands alongside B-sides. The previously recorded three-piece album Gone to the Moon was sold at live events and through their online shop.
In August 2009, Kajagoogoo headlined Buckinghamshire’s Hobble on the Cobbles festival. EMI leveraged renewed interest by releasing a compilation CD/DVD titled Too Shy – The Best of Kajagoogoo & Limahl, which included new songs and a video for "Space Cadet". Later that year saw EMI issue the White Feathers (Manhattan Clique Remixes) EP. Their last UK show during this period occurred in December 2009 at The Stables in Milton Keynes.
In 2010, their song "First Girl on Mars" was featured on a charity compilation supporting marginalized women. They performed at both Midlands Music Festival and Rewind Festival later that year. EMI released So80s Presents Kajagoogoo, a collection of extended mixes from their classic catalog. Their album Gone to the Moon was digitally released via iTunes in 2011.
June 2011 marked their first release as a five-piece since 1983 with "Death Defying Headlines," distributed digitally alongside an extended remix.
By 2017, bassist Nick Beggs confirmed Kajagoogoo was inactive again, describing their reunion as a successful retrospective venture rather than an ongoing project. In a 2018 interview, Beggs reflected that their reunion efforts and recordings provided an appropriate conclusion to the band's history.
Members
- Steve Askew – guitar, programming, backing vocals (1978–1985, 2003–2004, 2007–2011)
- Nick Beggs – bass guitar, Chapman Stick, guitar, keyboards, programming, percussion, backing vocals (1978–1985, 2003–2004, 2007–2011); lead vocals (1978–1982, 1983–1985, 2003–2004, 2007–2011)
- Stuart Neale – keyboards, programming, piano, backing vocals (1978–1985, 2003–2004, 2007–2011)
- Jez Strode – acoustic and electronic drums, percussion (1978–1984, 2003, 2008–2011)
- Limahl (Chris Hamill) – lead vocals (1982–1983, 2003, 2008–2011)
Studio albums
- White Feathers (1983)
- Islands (1984)
- Crazy Peoples Right to Speak (1985) released as Kaja
- Gone to the Moon (2008)