Too Shy, My Arse
Limahl on Fame, Fear and Festive Comebacks
By Fred Spanner
I remember checking into a hotel in Germany, and when I got to the room and opened the door, a girl was lying on my bed. She sat up, smiled and said, “Hi Limahl, I’ve been waiting for you!”
If you grew up in the ’80s, you’ll know Limahl as the peroxide-topped prince of pop who blasted out of your TV screens with Kajagoogoo before soaring solo with one of the most unforgettable (and unstoppable) movie anthems ever recorded. Four decades on, the man behind Too Shy and Never Ending Story is still very much alive, kicking and, frankly, ageing better than most of us.
Now riding a fresh wave of fame thanks to Stranger Things, Christmas playlists, and a full-blown ’80s revival that refuses to quit, Limahl’s back in the spotlight and proving he’s still got the charm, the voice, and the hair story worth revisiting. But behind the glitter and synths is a bloke who’s survived the madness of sudden stardom, opened up about parts of his life he once kept under lock and key, and faced down personal challenges that would’ve floored lesser mortals.
I sat down with the pop legend to talk band bust-ups, festive singles, fame highs, fame headaches, the truth about that hair, and what it’s really like when your biggest hit suddenly becomes cool again. Limahl’s got a few stories to tell.
Your ’80s look was legendary. How much of that was fashion, and how much was pure “this is who I bloody am”?
I probably had one of the most famous 80s hairstyles, which actually evolved over two years. I played the disciple Lamar in the Stage musical Godspell at the Palace Theatre in Westcliff on Sea. The Godspell cast consists of six guys and six girls, plus the Jesus character. The six girls looked very different: a blonde, a redhead, a brunette, et cetera, but all the guys looked exactly the same with brown, wavy hair.
So I went to the director, Chris Dunham and asked if I could try my hair blonde. Thankfully, you gave me his blessing and off I went to a local salon. That was the beginning of the hair creation. Clothes-wise, we didn’t have much money, so we’d go down to World's End market on Kings Rd, Chelsea, where a lot of independent clothes designers had stalls.
We simply experimented and tried to come up with something that was vaguely original in what we perceived as a very competitive music industry. I think it was definitely a case of this is who I am. There were no style gurus or independent stylists brought in. It was a very organic process where we followed our instincts based on our taste.
Fame hit you fast. What was the toughest part of suddenly being everywhere, all the time?
It was weird, especially coming from a council house upbringing in Wigan, where my dad was a miner, and my mum worked in a pub. We didn't have very much money at all. Escapism back in the late 60s and early 70s was simply watching TV, so the idea of being famous to me seemed to represent fun, colour AND success.
The four Kajagoogoo band members (who were called ‘Art Nouveau’ when I met them) seemed to dislike the idea of fame. For them, I think they felt they were ‘selling out’ so to speak. I remember one incident after our debut single Too Shy went to number 1 in the charts (and was selling 35,000 vinyl single copies a day at its peak). EMI Records sent a stretch limousine to pick us up for some interviews, and the band demanded it be cancelled and exchanged to normal taxis/cars.
I think when fame comes, it can be perceived as fast, but all of us had been working towards success for five or six years. And because of that, I think we had a solid grounding, as it were; a good foundation to deal with the sudden onslaught. For about eight months, it was like Beatle-mania with fans following us everywhere and even camping outside my north London flat.
I remember checking into a hotel in Germany, and when I got to the room and opened the door, a girl was lying on my bed. She sat up, smiled and said, “Hi Limahl, I’ve been waiting for you!”
At 23 and 24 years old, it was like the best funfair ride, all the best Ski run down the mountain or surfing one of the biggest waves in the ocean. It was just fantastic and exciting when you consider my background. I was on the front cover of so many magazines around the world and because Too Shy and Neverending Story were number 1 in so many countries.
It was the weirdest feeling to arrive in a country for the first time, and yet everyone would know you. It was almost like you immediately had 1000 friends. Of course, the flipside of that is that you can find yourself constantly being hidden away for your safety, coupled up in a hotel room or leaving quickly by the back door through the kitchens and sneaking in via the fire escape.
But you have no choice. You just have to go with it. There is a huge element of uncertainty because you're wondering where all this is leading.
What’s the maddest thing you remember from those early Kajagoogoo days: tour chaos, fan encounters, or general band mayhem?
I distinctly remember being at a private party with Elton John at the Ritz Hotel in Paris. There were about fifty people, and expensive champagne was flowing after Elton had performed a concert there. I saw someone walk past me with what seemed like a bowl of sugar. Then I overheard the word cocaine. Eventually, “someone” came over to me and said with a raised eyebrow and glint in his eye, “Will you be having a line, dear?”
I didn't want to seem uncool or a party pooper, so I said “sure” and was escorted to one of the glamorous bathrooms in the Ritz presidential suite. He rolled up a £10 note and chopped it out with a gold credit card. With some trepidation, I sniffed the white powder, wondering how it would affect me.
Thirty minutes later, I distinctly remember thinking, “What the hell was all the fuss about?” it had absolutely no effect on me and in a way, I'm glad that happened because it took the shine and the associated coolness attached to what was a very fashionable drug in the early 80s.
Too Shy went nuclear. Why do you think that track, out of everything, exploded the way it did?
I think it has a unique intro with a very cool baseline, great musicianship from the band, and a chorus lyric that was very catchy. Add to that the production values and experience of Duran Duran’s Nick Rhodes and their producer Colin Thurston, which made for a dream team, really.
To this day, I am immensely proud of the song; I've been singing it live all my life and enjoying the beaming smiles that come back at me. Is the sort of track that just makes people feel good, and that makes me feel very good indeed.
How different was the Limahl of the solo years from the Kajagoogoo wild child? Older, wiser, or still rocking the same mischievous streak?
I’m definitely older and wiser, although I do hear myself saying, “Aah, I’d love to be 25 again, but know what I know now.” However, the sayings are very true: “You can't put a wise head on young shoulders,” or “youth is wasted on the young”.
I’d like to think I’ve still got a bit of mischievousness in me. I was expelled from one of my early schools for being mischievous, but I believe some of the world's biggest achievers were also expelled from school, so maybe it can be a good trait!
How did you react when you heard Never Ending Story became the anthem of a new generation thanks to the TV show, Stranger Things?
With glee and much joy, of course. I wasn’t familiar at all with the TV show. I got a WhatsApp message from my nephews saying, “OMG, OMG, they’re using your song in Stranger Things.” I was like, “What’s Stranger Things?”
It quickly became apparent how important it was when I saw the streaming numbers shoot up from 300,000 per month to the now average 2 million per month. It’s kinda happening again at the moment with the final series broadcasting soon. The TV company has created an official ‘Stranger Things’ playlist, which of course has Never Ending Story.
The song’s title is becoming a reality - it’s never-ending lol . . . when I am gone from the planet, it will become part of my music legacy. It’s the mark I will leave on the world, my little contribution to humanity.
You’ve spoken about how fame nudged you toward being open about your sexuality. Was that liberating, scary, or a mix of everything?
Everyone’s coming out is different. George Michael was quite late, as was actor Ian McKellen. Growing up in Wigan in the 70’s there were no positive gay role models. It was not openly discussed, not on TV, not in books, not in school. It was very much a negative thing, frowned upon; a crime even.
My dad was a typical macho man who was into rugby and worked down the mines. My brothers were also into rugby, which is quite a tough game. I was at home playing my Motown Records and dreaming of music. I knew I was different, and being different meant that I was bullied at school.
All in all, it wasn't easy. I dated a few girls in my teens and enjoyed it, but for some reason, there were incidents with boys, and when they happened, I remember thinking, well, that's not so bad. They all say it's a terrible thing, but I found it interesting.
One day, I had an experience with a guy, and an infatuation developed, but the feeling was definitely in the region of my heart, and I remember saying to myself, “Oh my God, am I one of those? One of those people everyone says is bad?”
Consequently, at the height of our Kajagoogoo fame, I wasn't ready to come out immediately. There were so many adoring young female fans, and I didn’t wanna hurt their feelings. I was out to my family and the band, but not publicly yet. Thank God things have changed, and gay people are accepted today.
I’m proud of my 33-year relationship with my lovely ‘civil partner’ Steve. My two straight brothers have both been divorced, so I poke a little fun at them, quoting my 33 years. They’re cool, though, and very supportive. Coming out is very liberating because you don’t have to hide anymore.
Gay people have contributed so much to society. Look at the mathematician Alan Turing, whose story was told in the movie The Imitation Game. They say his cracking the German Enigma code saved millions of lives by ending the war early.
From the 80s to now, how do you think the industry’s changed in terms of acceptance and just letting artists be who they are?
I think the landscape is totally different. Artists are free to express and be who they wanna be. Whether it’s a gay girl or a gay guy, it doesn’t matter. Is it perhaps even trendy nowadays to intrigue your audience by claiming bisexuality because that, in itself, is a fascinating idea to most people? That you could simply have a choice of both men and women, meaning your sex life is never quiet, lol.
You’ve been honest about dealing with OCD. When did you realise something wasn’t just a “quirk” but something bigger?
I think I realised when I heard other people talking about it on TV & Radio etc. Then you think, “Ah, it’s not just me then.” I think music production and planning for live shows, etc, with all its logistics, has contributed to my OCD-ness, but I now view it as a positive thing because it helps me organise. I just hope I don’t become a ‘hoarder’ in my older years and fill up my house with stuff! I'd better ask friends to keep an eye on me.
How on earth did you juggle OCD with the madness of pop fame? Are there any survival hacks you still use?
My survival hack is to live by yellow stickies. I write everything down, and at any time, there can be several things around the house. I think there are different levels of OCD, and mine hasn't debilitated me, thankfully. Even just being aware of it is helpful because then I can question myself.
Pop fame was a huge rollercoaster ride like doing a black run down a ski mountain or the highest ocean wave as a surfer, and when you come through the other side, you have to sort of shake yourself off and remind yourself that you're still the same person, that you haven't changed. The only thing that has changed is how people react to you in certain situations. You develop a survival technique, it's amazing how a pair of sunglasses and a beanie hat can allow you to go out and about in daily life.
You’ve also opened up about IBS. What made you decide to talk publicly about it instead of keeping it under wraps like most celebs would?
I think I've been helped by all kinds of ailments that are discussed in the Media, and so it's about giving something back. My IBS is caused by my stomach no longer making the enzymes required to digest certain foods, namely sugars in carbohydrates, dairy and fruit.
For a few years, there have been enzyme supplements you can buy/use for oligosaccharides and dairy, but I'm delighted to report that there is now an enzyme supplement for Fructans, which means before/during certain meals, I can take the enzyme,s which allows me to digest the food properly and avoid painful bloating, etc. Woohoo!
Is there anything still on your bucket list, musically or otherwise, that fans wouldn’t expect?
I think that life has been very good to me. I feel lucky and blessed, and so there's always a voice in my head saying, “Don't over-expect, don't push your luck, be grateful.” Let's face it, the most important thing is your health and- touch wood- I've been lucky so far, especially when I look back at how many friends I lost in the 80s and early 90s to the AIDS epidemic: Young, talented men, who never got the chance to fulfil their lives and dreams like me.
I would love to have performed a duet with my favourite soul singer, the late, great Luther Vandross. What a combo that would've been, his soulful velvet tones against my white, smooth pop voice. I actually cried when I heard Luther had passed. But in terms of doing work with who is living now, I am open to offers, so watch this space . . .
If you could have a cheeky word with your younger self at the start of all this, what would you tell him?
Oh god, what a question. I’d say:
1. Chill out, relax.
2. Less haste, more speed
3. Don't get angry, it’s not worth it.
4. If someone doesn’t love you, you can't make them, so leave and move on - save yourself a lot of heartache.
5. Always remain curious
6 Get the work/life balance right, have loads of fun but be sensible and you’ve a better chance of surviving.
Your Christmas single is a bit of a seasonal curveball. What possessed you to join the battle for December airwaves?
Finding a new angle on the Christmas battle was THE challenge. With pianist Jon Nickoll, who works at The Savoy and Claridges Hotels, we simply got together for an explorative songwriting session. There was no agenda, no deadline; it was a sunny June day, and I remember saying to Jon, “I’ve always fancied writing a Christmas song, but obviously it's impossible because every angle has been covered.”
That was enough to tempt John to pick up the baton. I'm a big fan of the Great American Songbook genre, which John performs regularly, so that was a great starting point. We imagined classic instruments like drums, bass guitar, piano strings. No current trendy music production sounds that would date the track in a couple of years.
On many travel websites, we now see adverts for ‘City Breaks’, so in ‘One Wish For Christmas’ our couple are talking about their planned city-break to London for Christmas. This also opened up a great door for us lyrically. I hope one day, when discussing this, I’ll be able to state “and the rest as they say . . .”
What’s Christmas like in the world of Limahl?
Quite normal, really. I usually wake up at home with my lovely partner of 33 years, Steve. We unwrap gifts, then go off to our respective families. He, to his sister and 89-year-old dad in Oxfordshire, and I to my Sister and lovely 87-year-old mum in Hertfordshire. Then more gift swapping, probably some bubbly and a roast turkey lunch. Maybe followed by a board game like Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit.
Then later some TV with cheese, crackers and wine. It’s been a bit of a rough year for my mum after a fall in early 2025 that damaged her hip, meaning she couldn't walk very much at all. In September, she finally had hip replacement surgery, and I'm happy to say she is on the mend, so I'm looking forward to seeing her smile and even having a little dance around the Christmas tree. Who knows, I might be able to put a clip of us having a boogie on social media?
And what’s the one Christmas song you secretly can’t resist belting out?
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, which apparently almost didn’t make it into the 1940s Judy Garland movie. Even Judy herself was apparently uncertain about it. Can you imagine the world without this December gem? Definitely not. Luther’s version, for me, it’s the definitive one.
Limahl’s new Christmas single, One Wish For Christmas, is out now via Christopher Music. More info at onewishforchristmas and limahl.com
Watch the video here.