Transcript of Interview on GMTV at 7.17am BST ITV 22nd July 1998

J = John Stapleton

L = Limahl

J: I am 22, good looking, talented, with imagination, determination, song writing ability and I need four musicians with the same qualifications...and the person who placed the ad was the lead singer Limahl. Before we talk to him, a blast from the past; remember this from 1983:

(Clip from Ooh to be Ah video)

J: Well the bands not called Kajagoogoo any more but the barnet's (translation: hair) the same and the name's still the same.

L: Yes that's right

J: Tell us about it

L: Well basically I think we were very image conscious, and as with the name, anything that could capture the eye, stand out 'cause its fiercely competitive obviously in the music business so it was just you know do your best to stand out in the competition basically.

J: For the benefit of new readers who might be starting here, why were you called Kajagoogoo ?

L: Well we had a long list of names, that's for some really crazy names. We had all seen this film called The Mirror Crack'd and we were actually considering calling ourselves the Mirror Crack'd but that one got dumped. Nick...

J: Probably wise with the benefit of true reflection

L: ... the base player Nick came up with the name Kajagoogoo he just thought of something that a child would say something kind of not really meaning anything

J: Kajagoogoo. You're absolutely right. And what about Limahl? How did that come about cause that's not your real name obviously?

L: No, again. I thought of a one-word name like Sting I just thought you know would be easier to remember basically

J: Wasn't it a play on your own name? I thought it was

L: It is yeah

J: Your own name backwards isn't it?

L: It is yeah

J: So your own name was?

L: Hamill

J: Hamill, yes Very clever, yes, very clever

L: Boring

(Limahl laughs)

J: No. No. Lovely name

J: But fond memories of the 80s obviously it's a good time for you

L: I mean for me, I basically I made my dream come true. I was from a council estate in Wigan and when I used to tell my friends I wanted to be a singer basically I got sniggered at and told to go down the mines and get a proper job.

J: Yes, They thought you were joking but you made it. Now you've not been as quite high profile since then. What have you been up to?

L: I've got a studio in west London. Actually I've been working with Kim Wilde, Peter Andre , Liv'n Joy who had a number 1 a couple of years ago I been doing lots of things that you haven't heard of but obviously now with this 80's revival, they.. you know...

J: You're back in business

J: And what's the group called now?

L: Well its just Limahl and the Limahlettes

(Laughter from the group)

J: we have a Limahlette over there don't we. Why not ?

J: What are you going to do for us?

L: We're gonna go right back to 1983

J: With?

L: Too Shy

J: Too Shy. What else. Limahl and the Limahlettes -take it away

(Too Shy)

End interview: 7:25am