"I'm tough but humble and I hiss a lot!"

IT'S BEEN MORE THAN TWO YEARS SINCE LIMAHL'S LAST BRITISH HIT (REMEMBER 'NEVERENDING STORY'?) NOW HE'S BACK, WITH A NEW SINGLE AND (THANK HEAVENS) A NEW HAIRCUT. FRANN JEPPS FINDS OUT WHAT HE'S BEEN UP TO.

"Elton (John) was partly responsible for the new hair do. I met him in Paris and felt very priviledged talking to him, as he's someone I greatly admire. I told him I really wanted to cut my hair but I was scared to do it! He said something very camp like (Limahl adopts a funny voice):'Well listen dear, I bald and I'm still selling records so if you want to have your hair cut, go for it. I really believe in trusting my feelings."

My feelings were so strong that when I got to L.A. I had it cut! I look back to the old Kajagoogoo days, and that hair! You know, at our concerts we'd have the whole first row full of Limahl lookalikes, so it was good for that era! But it's a fast changing business. Looking at the old pictures now, my image was outrageous. It kind of shocks me."

So would you say that you're vain Limahl ?

"No, I wouldn't say that I was vain, I'm very aware of the way that I look and it's a responsibility I have as I'm in the public eye, trying to put over these good vibes."

GLITTER

Since his biggest solo sucess, 'Never Ending Story', we've seen and heard little from Limahl, so just what has he been up to ?

"Never Ending Story was a hit in 17 countries, so I went to most of those countries to work. That was November'84, and I was promoting the record 'til June '85. Four million copies were sold in the end ! It was Number One in eight countries, everywhere else it was Top Five."

"After radio and TV promotions I stayed in Hollywood, just resting and hanging out there. Then I sealed a deal with Giorio Moroder who produced and co-wrote my latest single, 'Love In Your Eyes', and new album."

Were you tempted with the bright lights of the movie world ?

"Well, um, I originally came from the world of theatre. I was even in one episode of The Gentle Touch for London Weekend Television -that was a few years ago now! Hey, I'm revealing my age here! I've just turned 27 -I'm getting old!

"I love Dynasty and The Colbys, but I wouldn't do anything like that. I'd ruin my music career if I did.

So what keeps you going?

"It's very simple: I've decided if I never have another hit record and I have to leave the business I'll always be happy 'cause I have my health. There are murders and people getting bombed and dying of AIDS in this world. Being healthy and happy keeps me going and makes me grateful for the small things. So I really have no problems, I'm just providing a little glitter in this pretty dismal world. The satisfaction I get from life is that I provide a little entertainment, a little colour in our days ('Colour In Our Days' is the title of Limahl's new album) I feel a sense of achievement."

SHARING

During the early part of '83 Kajagoogoo were riding the charts with their hit singles 'Too Shy' and 'Ooh To Be Ah'. What did you do with the money you made?

"I've spent a lot of the money, and I've spent it well, and enjoyed every minute of it -probably because I come from a poor background. I bought my first appartment in London and I have a nice silver sports car, a Jaguar into which I've has a phone and a great stereo put in. It's lovely."

"There's this terrible thing about money -people say, 'Oh, I can't say I've made any money, that's a terrible thing to admit', but I think honesty is such a fine quality. Of course I've made money -I'd be lying if I said I hadn't.

"I'm very sharing too. I called up my mum and said, 'Hi mum, do you want to come on holiday?' We went off to the Canary Islands for two weeks!"

What's your flat like?

"It's very luxurious, very Colbys and Dynasty! I don't have that much money but I've done it up very nicely. I think the place you live is important, especially when you are on the road all of the time, it's easy to become emotionally unstable. I won't allow myself to feel lonely, if I do I go out and I make something happen! In fact my sister has moved down from Wigan and is living with me now. We get on great, she's a real cutie!"

Having done his time with a sucessful pop group, can Limahl offer any tips or useful advice to aspiring popstars?

MISSING

"Yes. First of all if you have any sort of voice you should take singing lessons. I trained my voice for nearly two years. The most important thing is the wish to succeed! Learn a basic knowledge of an instrument, possibly the keyboards. You will develop a talent - I don't think one is born with this talent.

"There's a great guru story I like: One day this loving spiritual man who went along through the woods found a snake who was biting everyone. Throwing his loving influence on the snake and telling him to bite no-one, he went on his way. A year later the same spiritual man came past to find the snake was a plaything for little children. Very hurt and distraught by this the spirtual man said, 'I told you to bite no-one. But not to give up the hissing'. I think that's important in life - you have to hiss a little."

On the subject of hissing, what does Limahl think of the press's treatment of him. Are they unkind?

Unkind? No. The pop press are harmless, I really like them. They provide the colourful things that I always liked when I was a teenager. They are informative and interesting - and that's what they're all about.

"Of course, the more serious music press will always slag off someone like me, so I don't expect them to like what I'm doing! The national press (newspapers) are always after dirt. They've said some pretty sleazy things about me, or implied sleazy things. Now I've learnt the lesson the hard way. I'm afraid it's a case of once bitten, twice shy.

"I've seen this happen to other bands. So I'm fine. I'm tough, cause I have to be. I'm also compassionate and humble -but I hiss a lot."

No. 1 24^th May 1986