‘The Nick Beggs Story’ Interview by Iain McNay.

[@skylerrue]

I remember waiting for Nick to play with Steven Wilson in Amsterdam 2013. It was be the first time I saw him play live. It was freezing that day, a very strong cold wind and we weren't able to hide from it. I was waiting there with a few other fans. Then he came walking out of the venue, I showed him my selfmade Kajagoogoo shirt with him on it, we had our photos taken with him and then he walked over to the tourbus. Shortly afterwards he came out of the tourbus with a few cups of coffee and apologized for not having enough for everyone because there was no coffee left...I think he is one of the kindest and sweetest people I have ever met. Love you Nick! : )

[@jeffknighton6599]

I was with a few gathered people out in the cold, outside a venue in DC once, and Robert Fripp (King Crimson were who we were waiting to see, out in the cold and rain) popped out with as many cups of coffee as he could carry, and spare empty cups, and with apologies that he couldn't have brought us even more.

[@perrynn7173]

Wonderful story. I've never met him but somehow I'm not surprised. Cool dude.

[@lp9906-k8c]

One of the best interviews I've seen for a long time. An interviewer who gives the artist lots of space to talk. Nick is as articulate verbally as he is on the bass!

[@dwayneclark6]

I believe that Nick was at the top of his game in 83. I believe he was one out of the 5 top bassists of the world. I'm a black senior citizen and I still think that he is a brilliant musician.

[@chrisbennett606]

Dwayne Clark he a brilliant bassiest

[@gaycha6589]

@dwayne Clark - he is right up there with Stanley Clarke in my book!

[@ArjanYoyoman]

His current stuff with Steven Wilson is amazing. Hard to think he has already reaches his top of the game. But could be,.

[@ajs41]

I think Nick was heavily influenced by Mick Karn, the bassist of the band Japan, (with David Sylvian as lead singer).

[@jasonmcbain15]

@@ajs41 Mick Karn plays bass like no other, liquid bass playing as I call it, very distinctive and Nick is up there not far behind..Nick comes across very gracious and humble, a very open interview.

[@MarcioSilva-ssiillvvaa]

I'm learning a lot from this. I already knew this guy was a masterful bass player, but this is something else, such a fantastic human being.

[@zenpaganwarrior]

Absolutely right!

[@klistarf]

Spot on... \m/ (:o)

[@katiaeka8511]

I remember once I made a comment on Nick's video and he replied. I was so happy. He's a very talented and lovely person,I think. Love you Nick! People like you make the world beautiful.

[@declanmcdermott]

Wasn't a huge fan of Kajagoogoo back in the day, Appreciated some of their songs though, Not until bands reunited done a show on them and I then thought, Wow, They were amazing, Nick is a beautiful human being and that show showed the human side to each of the members, I love him, Amazing musician and damn right decent human being

[@annacisneros9434]

I enjoyed this interview. I respect all musicians that take their craft so seriously. The perfection. Your Christianity at that time planted a seed in a friend, who has now planted tens of thousands of seeds and continues to do so, because of you. It was all part of God’s plan. It was all purposeful. You’re amazing and extremely talented and I love the Beggs sisters as well. The chapmanstick blew me away; I love it! Peace to you. ✌️❤

[@JJMClark]

What a lovely bloke - the dustman story to pay the bills whilst caring for his sister just tugs the heartstrings.

[@acsaiyanbalce4610]

I love Nick. He makes his difficult bass playing so effortless with a smile, he matured at a very young age and doesn’t look at life as turmoil but as an opportunity. He’s not only an inspiration musically but in life and to tackle everything he’s been put through and become a success says a great deal.

[@williamchristian8705]

What a great guy. His bass abilities and singing are so damn good. Solid musician. Pleasant person. Very nice interview. Thanks.

[@xprs1257]

My wife and I had the great fortune of meeting Nick recently. What a truly lovely guy. Musically IMHO Nick is up there with the likes of Pino Palladino, the late Mick Karn, even American bassist Billy Sheehan. All totally unique musicians , by that I mean to say as soon as you hear them you instantly know who is playing the instrument. Nick is exactly like that I think. I / We feel blessed to have met him.

[@perrynn7173]

Nicks honesty and transparency with a no little humour shines through. Great interview.

[@terrysteward]

What a lovely articulate talented man

[@glennhynes5263]

My goodness, Nick Beggs has incredibly incisive thoughts and no ego at all. Wow. And a great bassist/musician too boot.

[@zenpaganwarrior]

Lovely man. Excellent bassist. Created the sexiest bass line of the 80s (yes, even more so than Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax), and is so much more than Too Shy (not to knock the amazingness of that track). Nick, you beautiful man, don't you ever stop playing!

[@Sardiniansoul324]

Not only a talented, fine and inspiring musician but also a beautiful kind person . Unique nick

[@24WISH]

Nick Beggs is very special, but he seems so humble and sweet.

[@chroniclesofbap6170]

Nick Beggs. So much respect and admiration for this guy. Great musician and a top bloke.

[@radidov5333]

This guy is a legend...

[@philipsumesgutner]

Such a great interview! Very nice. And with a really well prepared interviewer! I really enjoyed listening to it. Touched me. Thanks!

[@MrCatalysis101]

Great interview of a great musician and great person. Thanks.

[@theanonymouscat5062]

Damn, Nick had a tough life. I remember him from my childhood. He always had a big smile on his face and he is one of the reasons why I play bass and love it so much.

[@adrianapremeru1197]

Only now, listening to this interview, I have realised that many groups I have loved as a teenager had Nick in them as a clue person that has set up a project! In those years I have lived in many different cities -London -Belgrade -Rome and can confirm that in all of them quality music has always been appreciated. Hope to see Nick very soon in Rome (we have seen all Steven Wilson concerts 2013 -2018 with Nick at the bass) . Good luck and compliments for your immense talent and sincerity.!

[@christopherking3937]

What a great interviewer. Wonderful demeanour and excellent preparation.

[@ashieuk]

What a nice bloke. Great interview. Well done both.

[@damianmcdonagh1325]

A brilliant bass player and a great human being.

[@Bonjori]

Very good interview. Impressed by Nick Beggs openness and honest answers.

[@jamesbond4633]

Very well spoken gentleman and very interesting to listen to.

[@adrian.banninksy]

What a great interview! Ian McNay has a pleasant way of asking questions and he gives Nick Beggs all the space he needs. I was searching for an interview with Nick Beggs. This because I find him a great musician, but didn't know the character behind the musician. I say him play live several times with Steven Wilson, and got curious. This interview is the best I could ask for. Nick Beggs is a very humble-, open-, intellectual and down to earth person. This man has great stories to tell, doesn't damage persons etc. This is a interview from interview heaven! At the end Ian mentioned the Belgium progessive rock band Fish On Friday. He says he likes it most of all. I can agree on this one! Fish On Friday is a very interesting band. The newest album Black Rain (2020) is an epic album.

[@cherryredgroup]

Glad you liked the interview! We work hard to bring the best of our artists to you. Nick is a wonderful artist who gave us an exclusive performance and interview here too: kzbin.info/aero/PLGc7A7EuvDEpP41wHPIukMkl_3dgtWWCw

[@adrian.banninksy]

@@cherryredgroup Thnx a lot for the reply !!! I will check the video's you linked. And yes, Nick is a really great person.

[@crystalwaters8852]

The interviewer is on it! - because he LISTENS very carefully & picks up on key points.❤

[@BroadcastJohn]

I enjoyed watching and recording music videos throughout the 1980s. When I first saw Kajagoogoo singing Too Shy, I found their unique image and sound to be interesting. But I did not follow them until almost 20 years later when they appeared on VH1s Bands Reunited program. They now are a favorite of mine.

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

Always been a big fan of Nick's very down to earth

[@adamgault7741]

I remember at Kajagoogoo's peak in the 80's thinking how ridiculous his hair was. Oddly, now I think it was actually totally unique and quite cool. That shallowness aside, he is a kickass bass player, and as many are writing here, a totally awesome human being! The more I listen to him, the more I like him. BIG props Nick!

[@derekgibson3859]

Nick seems to be a very down to earth, open and nice guy- as well as being an awesome base player

[@rolfvansoelen8916]

Great , no, sublime interview.... something to watch again, if only because it has such a positive, sweet vibe

[@nigelbrown8319]

THE best Bass player!!

[@MrTAT275]

Nick Beggs..Respect!

[@lizc2023]

I love Nick Beggs and Kaja! Absolute beast on the bass 🔥

[@johnraspberry2269]

Nick is amazing person. I adore him

[@cherryredgroup]

You can find a more recent interview we did with him here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/baaQd6qEgbWshc0 😉 Happy New Year!

[@misterghee1]

Agree and I'm sure he's an overall great artist in any medium🎶

[@tomc2821]

Outstanding depth and profound sadness, overplayed by extraordinary joyfulness. An incredibly talented musician who has succeeded in learning his life's lessons to gain incredibly deep wisdom.

[@ronschwolsky1626]

Nick Beggs never disappoints! Great guy, extremely talented musician and a wonderful interview.

[@tramlad2]

What a lovely man, and a superb musician, that was a great interview, nicely paced and respectful. Nick is such an easy guy to talk to, really enjoyable watch.

[@carloc8763]

What an amazing interview! Congratulations to the interviewer. And to Nick Beggs, I hope to see you live again at the next SW tour.

[@andreapaoles5375]

Incredible musician and a wonderful person. Good Luck Nick!

[@deanomar1356]

"After the singer Limahl left he formed Ellis, Beggs and Howard..." NO, after Limahl left in summer 1983, Kajagoogoo went on without him and Beggs sang on two more Kaja albums, before they disbanded in December 1985. Ellis, Beggs and Howard came together two ýears later, in 1987.

[@girardsayumi993]

How beautiful person hi is!!! I loved him when I was teenager, and still now!!

[@mattevans7884]

Eloquent, considered and vastly talented. How lucky are we to have lived in a time when this man has made music?

[@TrazomGV]

Very sencere and informing interview! Respect for Mr Beggs and both his musician and human skills! I am a proud owner of "White Feathers" album since it apeared in 1983. in local record store. Eighties were rich in pop-music achievements and then I was unable to find Kajagoogoo's music essentialy different from many other performers of the time. As a musician myself, today I often play this record at home on my record player rediscovering beauty of musical ideas, technical skills and brilliant production. There's no doubt it has its original sound, original melodies and modestly applied traditional brittish harmony traces. It is different from Duran Duran, Culture Club or Spandau Ballet that shared similar popularity in these years. This talk prooves how a good musician must be a complete, widely developed personality to create a song worth listening. Besides, he is very original and inventive bass player.

[@randyclere2330]

WHat a humble, and incredible talent.... AND the cat is FUNNY!!!

[@zenpaganwarrior]

I know...Nick is an amazing man/bass player. I can only hope for the chance to see him and Kajagoogoo live somewhere. Cheers.

[@Justme77400]

I love this guy!! He's such a great musician that doesn't get the mentions he deserves here in the states.

[@RocStarr913]

Justme77 Kajagoogoo were one-hit wonders with “Too Shy” in the States and were largely forgotten very quickly after. It didn’t help that none of their other big hits in their home country of Britain were released here as singles and all their post-Limahl music was released here under the Kaja name, so it’s likely most Americans didn’t even knew who the band even was without Limahl, who was likely what Americans had most identified the band with. Both the Kaja singles that came out in America, “Turn Your Back On Me” and “Shouldn’t Do That”, did make an impression on the American dance club chart though.

[@susanam.deleonsantiago7623]

Nick you're the best.

[@Bravemarbles]

What a nice chap and a genius musician. I think what he achieved with Lifesigns was incredible and interesting that now Dave Bainbridge (Mr Iona) is now in the band so small world.

[@Frankenbear1]

A true , and Liveline mented Interview!! Thank you, Nick.

[@tashaimpressions]

Not seen this before. Thank you for posting. I've followed Nick's music since his Kajagoogoo days.

[@MrGordonGartrelle]

Wow. Nick and bandmates erupted when I was in high school and his playing stunned all of us -- Stanley-Clarke-level playing as the centerpiece of peak 80s pop?! All these years later, I stumble on this. I love his sense of humor, the methodical introspection (and still, obviously, his musicianship). Also love the belief in himself as the tidal wave of fame approached -- a great illustration of self confidence as opposed to arrogance. Thank you, what a charming guy, great video.

[@futureisgosub]

In 1990 Nick co-wrote a song called Shame with Gary Numan. It is an excellent song and was meant to be a single but ended up as a b-side in 1991

[@cicero5513]

Thank you for telling this story and introducing me to this talented musician. I was blessed to be able to enjoy his music growing up without ever knowing anything about the people and stories behind it. Thank you for the video and thank you to Nick for sharing your talent with all of us

[@burnsport1]

Looking forward to watching all of this

[@oddcreature8953]

Quality interview with depth. A great interviewer who helps reveal the story of a very impressive person not only from a musical perspective but from the human side.

[@moishe43]

What a beautiful human being Nick Beggs is.

[@patriciomaldonado2215]

Nick Beggs. Great Bassist. Greettings from Chile

[@Gusrikh1]

Fabulous interview..

[@drtonyhaworth5711]

Hi cherry red this interview was over 4 yrs ago can we fans have an update from you and Nick…it’s good to see him after a long while….

[@lindanoble7047]

Working with Steven Wilson... What an honour...

[@micmac1121]

He is my favorite bass player. I love all you do Nick!

[@montdewallydehonk.395]

Bless you nick Beggs x

[@peipy44]

Wow I really love the music at the end of the interview, those accomplished multi-layered acoustic guitar textures sound absolutely beautiful!

[@hmcdonnell23]

I've been following Steven Wilson's music for years so familiar with your work as well although had no idea until now you were in Kajagoogoo.

[@saraheart2804]

Really?

[@goodlife6145]

This is an excellent interview, well conducted and Nick articulates very well.

[@Eishockeyfledermaus]

Nick is Amazing . I like his voice so much. 🥰

[@scottblack9213]

I remember in '83 I was 10 years of age and thought Kajagoogoo were a manufactured pop band - I distinctly thought that it was the most uncool, pop pap and I instinctively knew they would be a short lived project - it just seemed so glitzy and vacuous at the time. In 83 for me it was U2, Simple Minds and Big Country - they called it the "Big 4" at the time (The Alarm were included but the songs weren't there for me). Fast forward to 2023 and I have the utmost respect for Nick Beggs. He's so real in this interview, and of course he's a real player. When you look at how much Bono has completely lost himself in 2023, he thinks he's a world leader, so detached from reality. And here we have Nick, down to earth, reasonable, alive!

[@xtrict]

Wow!, that's some life story.

[@derekstocker6661]

Very good interview, great musician and a super background in music. Thanks for this.

[@drewmg3301]

Amazing chap.

[@SKOGLUND65]

Awesome guy!! Talented. But Nick, YES. Too shy IS a Classic!!!! Lol.

[@naturesrhythm8506]

Wow, that's quite a life story! Talented, and lovely dude.

[@MrDanamp]

I enjoyed seeing this introspective side of Nick Beggs, as his fun, playful side is on stage, usually. The pieces at the very end of this are just beautiful, but why wasn't "Lula" played? What I also found fascinating in this video was Nick's chest. At the beginning, the horizontal stripe is barely a pink tinge, then it slowly turns deep red. He seems so calm and reassured, but he must have also been anxious. (He and I share the same birthday - December 15... insert smiley face here.)

[@zuzannasymonowicz1752]

I was also born on 15th Dec

[@skinnywebb]

Wonderful interview!

[@curtwall7089]

I find it ironic they got rid of him but no one remembered music without his vocals for to shy made it iconic and memorable for that one song

[@cirofuchs3722]

Yes...and "Hang On Girl" gives me chills. But, I love Nick Beggs on "Shouldn't Do That". I love that song.

[@cardtrix1970]

A very talented, educated & classy person, methinks! "Too Shy" may have been Kajagoogoo's only *big* hit, but I feel it was one of the catchiest, coolest tunes in Music...to this day! And...a great video. I dated a woman in the mid 1980s(shortly after Too Shy came out)that looked just like the Beautiful woman in the Too Shy video. Her name...was Gabrielle.

[@PhiliciaTaylor]

So talented 🧡

[@paco448]

Nick is a genious!

[@TheMolacho1]

MASTER CLASS INTERVIEW!

[@Smokyjohnson1983]

Too Shy was number 1 on the day I was born. Thank You Mr Beggs 👍

[@tonyrobles2696]

Great bass player❤️

[@donnasmyth45]

Marvellous interview.

[@Cakebattered]

I expected to hear more about his time with the Band Iona. He did 3 albums with them. Given his account of his time with Christianity, I can see why he was so reserved recounting his time with the band.

[@tultrade]

Beautiful music Nick

[@klistarf]

What an amazing guy. On EVERY level! And what a great interview. Great questions/leads. Great answers/anecdotes. Nice work, Guys! Certainly kept me enthralled... \m/ (:o)

[@giancarlopettorino5940]

Iain mcnay..wonderful interviewer

[@karenchapman6225]

Brilliant interview!

[@rentropmedia1703]

Crazy People are right to speak is one of my Top 10 Albums of my life. I love this guy.

[@mooski-mooski]

Great bassist... Lovely bloke!

[@stevewhitham6839]

Great interview - Nick's a legend!!

[@vancecalvin4042]

Absolutely Brilliant 👏

[@mikesonlineacademy]

An underated bass player

[@ursamage]

Agreed!!!!

[@SuperNolaguy]

Indeed...

[@Awistas]

he is supposed one of the best bass players around. so - no!

[@WizardofOoohsandAhhs]

Nick, thank you again for the bass strings. I will have Jasmine relay a message that I think you’ll find yourself quite over the moon. By the way, fantastic interview!

[@blamejez]

There’s a diff between being ignored by The Sun and the Mail and being underrated as a musician. I think once you’re touring and recording with people like Steven Wilson and Guthrie Govan, you’re not underrated. You’re actually immensely successful.

[@adrianlang6550]

I knew nothing about Nick Beggs and being a rock fan when Kajagoogoo were famous disliked that type of pop. (Not that i’m prejudiced said Ron Mael) Nick stood out as a musician but then for me that was it. His name would pop up occasionally in articles. However he has clearly grown and grown as a musician and artist. This s a superb and very interesting interview with a man dedicated to improve his musicianship. I know have put my youthful prejudices in the dustbin although Nick when young may have collected that rubbish. What a great level headed guy. Now to do some further listening.

[@Jamestele1]

I loved looking at albums to see who played on them, who produced them. I loved knowing that the New Romantic Blitz Kids were in the Bowie video for Ashes to Ashes, for example. I wanted to know how everything was connected.

[@TheFergie9]

Seen Nick play with Steve Wilson & Steve Hackett..incredible bass player..Mute God's 👌

[@seamus2112ophelan]

I saw Nick with JPJ on the Zooma album tour and that show was nothing but musical FIRE!! Incredible!