Biography

In 1979, four men from Leighton Buzzard (UK) formed the band Art Nouveau. Art Nouveau was an instrumental avant-garde group, featuring Nick Beggs on bass guitar, Steve Askew on guitar, Stuart Neale on keyboards and Jez Strode on drums. In 1981 Art Nouveau recorded a single, "Fearmachine", which sold a few hundred copies. The band failed to secure a record deal during this period.

Limahl (Christopher Hamill) joined the band as a singer in 1982. The group renamed themselves Kajagoogoo. The band signed with EMI Records in July 1982. In January 1983, their debut single " Too Shy " was released and reached the top of the charts.  In april 1983 they released their album " White Feathers ", wich also includes the singles " Ooh To Be Ah " and " Hang On Now ". 

With the band's success came tensions, which ultimately resulted in Limahl leaving the band after the White Feathers tour. Limahl started a solo career and Nick Beggs took over the vocals and Kajagoogoo continued as a four-piece group. In September 1983 they released their new single " Big Apple " and reached the UK Top Ten. " The Lions Mouth " was released in February 1984 as a single and wasn't a great success. After this, public interest in the group waned, and their next single " Turn Your Back on Me " failed to make the charts. The subsequent new album " Islands " was a commercial disappointment.

In the US, the band adopted the Kaja moniker at this time, and a different edition of the Islands album was released as " Extra Play ". After this Jez Strode left the band. The remaining three members relaunched as Kaja in the UK in 1985. Following the name change, the band released the single " Shouldn't Do That " in August 1985. The song was featured on their third album " Crazy People's Right to Speak ". After this proved unsuccessful, the group disbanded in December 1985.