07.05.04

LBO Interviews with well-known local people

I hate modern films and football, but Edwina would taste great!

Leighton pop icon Nick Beggs found fame in the eighties as part of the chart topping band ‘Kajagoogoo’.

Now almost 20 years on the father-of-five has shot back into the national limelight after a one-off reunion gig on American TV led to the band being booked to tour the US later this year.

But as interviewer JONATHAN BOYLE discovers, funnyman Nick,42, will not be watching American movies while he’s over there; and he will certainly not miss the beautiful game.

Here is how Nick responded to Jonathan’s questions:

What Cd is in your car stereo at the moment?

The new Air album ‘Talkie Walkie’. Martin Fry of ABC gave me a copy and I haven’t stopped listening to it. I think it’s the kind of record Kajagoogoo should be doing, so I’m going to nick all the good ideas!

What is your favourite film?

‘Debbie Does Dallas”, because it’s got such a happy ending, ‘Fawlty Showers’ and ‘Saving Ryan’s Privates!’
But seriously, ‘Far From the Maddening Crowd’ is probably one of my favourite films of all time - they don’t make them like that any more.
I Hate nearly all modern films. I can’t stand films like ‘Notting Hill’ and ‘Love Actually’, which I tried to watch the other day. And I hate films like ‘The Matrix’ and all the new Hollywood blockbusters too - they’re all formulaic American rubbish.

What is your favourite book?

I think Delia Smith’s ‘How to Bake a Gingerbread House’. It’s the only way first time buyers will be able to afford a property in this area anyway! And I like ‘Kinky Hose Pipe Husbandry’ - it teaches husbands how to wind hose pipes up without a kink!

What is your favourite meal?

A nice stir fry. I like eating out at The Methi in Bridge Street and at The Grove Lock off the Linslade to Ivinghoe road.
My wife and I both don’t eat meat, so we like anything vegetarian really. Although I love meat, I just think there are a lot of things going on in our society that need an overview - one is the rubbish food we are expected to eat, the other is rubbish films. I bet 50 per cent of people would give up meat if they knew the despicable things that go on behind the scenes.

What is your favourite holiday spot?

I don’t have a favourite holiday spot because I never go back to the same place twice - it’s like having fish and chips all the time! I like Ireland, the Seychelles, Cyprus and parts of America are beyond breathtaking.
But to be honest, I feel like I don’t need a holiday because I love my work so much. Sometimes I can’t sleep because I’m so excited about a song idea, so i go downstairs into my studio and work through the night.

And we’ve got five kids - we’re thinking of velcroing them to the ceiling this year and going away without them!

Do you have any interesting or unusual hobbies?

Yes, but you won’t be able to print them.... I like origami, tantric sex and rollerblading origami tantric sex! I also like swimming, walking, snooker, pool and things like that.

Who is your dream celebrity woman?

Edwina Curry - curried. She would taste very nice!

If you could be invisible for a day, where would you go?

The fitting rooms at Harvey Nichols’ ladies’ underwear department.

Who is your most famous friend?

Well, I’ll tell you a few. Howard Jones, John Paul Jones from Led Zepplin, who I toured with for three years up until 18 months ago, Tony Hadley, who i played for, Cliff Richard who I toured with, Martin Fry and Boy George, who I hung out with for a bit.
George Michael once told me he was a big fan of Kajagoogoo, Pierce Brosnan bought me a drink once, and I know Belinda Carlisle very well. Oh, and I spent an evening on the Jack Daniels with Gary Oldman.
That will do, won’t it.

Who is your favourite band at the moment?

Kajagoogoo! Everyone else is so retro! But I think Mark Joseph is wicked, and I’ve got total faith in the new band I’m managing, ‘Industrial Salt’.
Travis are consistently genius, and I like Coldplay, Missy Elliott and The Darkness. I like all the boy bands too, i was in one of the first so I have to!

Do you like football? I’d rather have my head chopped off, scooped out and used as a fruit bowl than watch football, and I’m sure after this there will be plenty of offers of assistance! I’ve been to see one football match - I went to see Chelsea when I was nine. It was such a violent place, there were people punching each other in the crowd and I remember being really frightened.
I don’t like anything that brings out the yob mentality in people.