We all have that special soundtrack of our lives, and if you were in your formative years during the 1980s, there’s a good chance that Limahl was part of it. “The NeverEnding Story,” the title track of the 1984 fantasy film of the same name, was one of his best-known hits. As any Gen Xer might tell you, the Giorgio Moroder-produced smash hit was one of those big, stuck-in-your-head gems of the era, one you probably still belt out and know all the lyrics to even today.
And thanks to the popularity of Stranger Things, that song once again etched itself into the brains of a whole new generation, proving that “The NeverEnding Story” is the true gift that keeps on giving. Because of that viral Stranger Things a capella performance, Limahl (whose real name is Christopher Hamill) witnessed a whopping 800 percent increase in YouTube views and an 825 percent spike in streams on Spotify — a testament to the song’s undeniable staying power.
Unless you’ve been following him closely, you might assume that the ‘80s frontman disappeared into obscurity, much like his former (and short-lived) band, Kajagoogoo, the British new-romantic quintet best known for their 1983 hit “Too Shy.” But he’s actually still around and keeping busy, mostly performing throughout Europe (he’s scheduled to play Cologne Pride in Germany this July), and as he exclusively tells Out, he’s “loving life” and doing what he loves most: making music — but at his own pace and on his own terms.
And now Limahl has a new track and music video that he’s excited to share with the world: “Horse with No Name,” a lush, retro-future reimagining of America’s (the band, not the country) folk/rock classic that Out is premiering here. It’s catchy as hell — you’ll surely be singing “la-la, la-la-la” during your next shower.
During this exclusive interview, the ever-charming balladeer, now age 66, looked as dapper as ever (and, no, he no longer rocks his fabulous spiky mullet) as he discussed why he was drawn to add his own personal stamp on a classic song and the creative process behind his apocalyptic-themed new video. He also opens up about being a closeted band lead during the 1980s, the secret to his 32-plus year partnership with his husband, the importance of HIV awareness, and whether or not Kajagoogoo will ever reform.
Below, check out the exclusive video premiere of "Horse with No Name" and the interview with Limahl.
With “Horse with No Name,” you took a classic folk rock song and went with an electronic sound versus making an exact replica. Can you tell us about what sparked you to cover that classic?
Limahl: “A Horse with No Name” by America has been in my subconscious for quite some time. It just came together really nicely. It has been around a little while, but I kept coming back to it, making improvements, and I really liked the direction that it was going in. In 1981 Roland invented a synthesizer called the Jupiter 8 — they weren't cheap, but if you had one, that was really something. But now you can get it as a plug-in on audio software, so I had this sequencer going and I put some nice reverbs and stuff on it, and that really opened everything up because I just thought, that's quite magical. It's so different from the original. And like you said, I just didn't want to copy the original. And then I did a popular TV show here and met guitarist Steve Cooper and so I said to him, “Do me some guitar on this.” He sent me so much. It took me two weeks to edit it. And so, we have this real amalgamation of the electronica with this fabulous guitar. I'd be interested to see what the original band thinks when they hear it. That would be a nice seal of approval.
On the flip side, how are you about other artists covering your material?
I saw a girl on, I think it was America's Got Talent, who did “The NeverEnding Story.” That was interesting. I've seen a few online. I don't know. I'm a bit nervous about it because I don't want anybody else's version to become more popular than mine. Isn't that crazy? It's a bit selfish because I'm riding that wave. I mean, when Stranger Things used “The Neverending Story,” the streams of the song went up from 300,000 a month to 1.5 million and now that was just so exciting and, of course, it's reaching a whole new generation.
It seems you’ve kept your voice in tip-top shape throughout the years. What’s your secret to retaining a singing voice later in life?Well, I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. I've got a pretty healthy lifestyle. I probably sound really boring now, but I'm not at all. I drink a little wine with food and things like that. I don't go crazy. I did go crazy when I was younger, but I kind of grew out of that by the time I hit 40. I'm now 66. So at the moment, I'm really feeling good about life. I'm working out, I swim, so there's a balance of cardio and strength training. And I'd like to avoid death for as long as possible.
I also think probably something to do with it is the fact that I trained in theater when I started. And I think through that discipline, you realize, “Hey, take care of this little guy.” This muscle in your throat, it's delicate. Maybe that's got something to do with it.
Is “Horse with No Name” a sign of things to come? Are we going to get a full LP in the near future?
I am a self-recording artist. I don't have a record deal. When I was looking for a record deal, there were about 40 independent record companies you could go to in London and now there are four and they are the major conglomerates. So you've got Sony, Warner, Universal, and BMG, and they really control the music industry. So being a self-releasing artist, there's so much admin when you're doing it all yourself. At 66, I think, well, I just want to enjoy it. I don't want to be under any stress or pressure. If the opportunity arises, I would enjoy recording more stuff. But if I keep releasing great tracks, that's all I care about, really.
LimahlCourtesy Christopher Music Ltd.
Can you tell us about your vision for the music video?
I got together with a guy called Simon, whose nickname is Goat, and he insists that you call him Goat. And we talked about the lyrics in the song. I think these lyrics written by Dewey Bunnell — it's like one of those really crazy dreams you have just before you wake up and you remember and you go, “What was that about?” It feels a bit like one of those scenes in War of the Worlds or something where the aliens have taken over, and it's all going tits up. What else can I add about the video? It's the usual process. We were just trying things and being very open minded, but keeping a sense of humor and having fun. Sometimes things just come to you, it was the same with the video, and I'm thrilled. I can't wait to share it with the world.
Kajagoogoo last reformed in 2008 for a brief reunion tour and EP. What’s the likelihood of another reunion or perhaps a new album?
We've had so little contact and everybody's doing different things in their lives, but I get asked this almost every week on social media and my response is, “Highly unlikely, but never say never.” It really all comes down to Nick [Beggs] on bass. He was very instrumental in the breakup of the band. I just think he wanted to do other things. The band felt that we were teen idols, and they kind of responded negatively to that. Probably with hindsight, they should have realized the Beatles were teen idols, Wham were teen idols, Duran Duran were teen idols. If it ever happens, it'll be down to Nick.
LimahlCourtesy of EMI Records
Back when you were in Kajagoogoo, you were out to your friends, family and your band, but you were in the closet with your fan base. Some artists of that era, such as Mark Almond of Soft Cell, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and the Pet Shop Boys, were openly gay. But I imagine it was tricky for you to be out since Kajagoogoo drew a teenage girl fanbase. Did your bandmates or the record label ever have any discussions with you about keeping your sexual orientation hidden?
It's a very good question. I was out to my family and the band and all my friends. Some of these bands that you've mentioned, that was almost their aim, to do this kind of political statement. A good example of that would be Bronski Beat with their brilliant song “Smalltown Boy.” And I was right behind them, totally. But I wasn't ready myself at that point. And then, before I even got the chance, the band broke up. And suddenly it's a different thing that's going on. George Michael came out very late. Ian McKellen, the actor, came out very late. I don't think I would have been as late as Ian McKellen or George Michael, but I just wanted a little more time, and I think I would have been more prepared, mentally and emotionally, to talk about it. But I just didn't really get the chance. And I didn't talk about it initially. I just thought I'll wait for the right moment.
In 2024 you took part with the Terrence Higgins Trust HIV charity, which I understand is the biggest sexual health and HIV charity in the U.K. Can you talk a little bit about that?
Helping any HIV charities is very important because I'm from the era. I saw so many friends die over a period of seven or eight years, and it was devastating. I don't know how I dodged that bullet. I really don't. I can only thank God, if there is a God. It's wonderful where we are now. Personally, I still wouldn't like to get HIV because you're taking medications and then if something else comes along in your life, the medications can clash. So my ethos is try to avoid as many medications as you can. And it's weird, isn't it? Because the HIV message is hardly talked about now. They talk more about COVID, but I think STIs are on the up. And, you know, I probably sound like an old granny, but I would say just be careful out there.
You’re scheduled to play Cologne Pride in July this year. What does Pride mean for you these days?
Pride is such a wonderful event to realize you're not on your own. That there are thousands and thousands like you and we can all come out legally and celebrate our identity and, for me, as an artist to come out into a crowd of fellow gays, like-minded people who know my music. And the energy is wonderful. It's like the biggest hug that you could ever get. Because, I will say, yes, I'm proud to be here. I'm gay. And I might even drag my Steve on the stage. You want to meet my husband? Here he is!
You've been with your partner Steve for over 32 years. What's your secret to a long-lasting relationship?
Yeah, we feel we should get a medal or something from the king. Well, first of all, until I was about 27, I had two or three major breakups — a lot of pain. And it was basically looking back, I associated pain with love, mistakenly. So when I met my partner Steve in my early 30s, he didn't cause me any pain because he's a nice guy, and so I didn't think I was in love because I wasn't hurting. And then a magical thing happened. We had a fight. We almost broke up. Suddenly the value of the relationship just shot up because there's nothing like losing something for its value to go up. So, I would say to any young guys out there, if you're with someone and they're not causing you any pain, it doesn't mean you're not in love. Give it a chance.
Limahl (R) with partner Steve (L)Christopher Music Ltd.
Looking back at your career, do you have any regrets or things you wish you would have done differently?
I think one honest regret would be that I didn't get to record more albums with Kajagoogoo, so that was cut very short because I was fired famously in that phone call after just one album — absolutely bonkers. But everybody's life has a few what-ifs. That whole, “What if we'd made another album?” Or, “What if we'd stay together?” I'll never know, but the irony is, if the band hadn't broken up, would I have had the opportunity to do “The NeverEnding Story,” which has become such an important song in my life? The thing is, you learn in life, you can't change the past and you can't go back. Those times have gone. It's a great question, but honestly, I just can't answer it. I think I'm a fatalist in that I am where I am.
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