The Dames Of Fame: Vintage TV: Sunday 6th July: 6pm
The Dames Of Fame: Vintage TV: Tuesday 8th July: 8pm
New! We’ve put together a selection of pop’s most iconic women in our ‘Dames of Fame’ playlist. A juicy mix of everything girl’ from Madonna to Bjork, Chrissie Hynde and Toyah!
Added more sensational photos of Toyah from a couple of the Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits…Live! UK Tour dates, Warehouse 23 in Wakefield (26th April) and the Astor Theatre in Deal (21st June), to the Live 2014 page at Dreamscape Gallery. (Thanks to Alyson & John | Photos © Alyson Evans & John Weston)
Great photo of Toyah’s first rehearsal with the Rock Choir on Tuesday. She performs with them on 19th July at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. This will include a version of ‘Sensational’. View the full photo at Toyah’s Official Twitter or Instagram. Click on the photo to visit the Rock Choir website. (Photo © Toyah Willcox Ltd)
The first series of Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, which originally aired in 2007, is being repeated on Sony TV. Toyah appeared in Episodes Two and Eight of the first series, playing Gail, Mother of the lead character, Belle (played by Billie Piper).
Secret Diary Of A Call Girl: Sony TV: Tuesday 1st July: 10.40pm
Secret Diary Of A Call Girl: Sony TV: Sunday 6th July: 11.50pm
Series One. Episode Eight. After falling out with her agent, Belle meets two women who run a company called Diamond International who invite her into their books. Starring: Billie Piper, Toyah Willcox, Aleksandar Mikic, Jamie Sives, Aislinn Sands and Scarlette O’Harlette.
Sunday Girl – The Blondie Story, repeated on BBC Radio 6 Music early yesterday, is now available to listen to at BBC iPlayer.
A great radio documentary on the band, presented by Toyah. It will remain online for the next six days.
The complete four-part radio version of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, with Toyah in the title role, is currently re-airing on ‘BBC Radio 4 Extra’. This was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1995.
A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of J. M. Barrie’s tale of childhood adventure starring Toyah Willcox as Peter Pan and Ron Moody as Captain Hook. These audio editions, especially dramatised for BBC Radio, are of timeless stories that have enchanted generations of readers both young and old.
Also starring Roy Hudd as Smee and June Whitfield as Mrs Darling, this sparkling production is directed by award-winning producer Dirk Maggs, with an original music score and stunning sound effects.
JM Barrie – Peter Pan: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Sunday 29th June: 9am/5pm
JM Barrie – Peter Pan: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Monday 30th June: 5am
Spring Cleaning Time Again. Wendy longs for home, but first she and the brothers must be rescued from Captain Hook. Stars Toyah Willcox and Ron Moody. episode 4 of 4.
Screen caps from Toyah’s guest appearance on this morning’s Lorraine. The interview, with Toyah discussing the 35th anniversary of Quadrophenia, is available to watch at ITV Player, or at the ITV website. Click on the caps to view larger versions.
Toyah Willcox joins Lorraine on the sofa to talk about the 35th anniversary of the film Quadrophenia, in which she starred alongside Sting, Ray Winstone, Leslie Ash and Phil Daniels.
The book marking the 35th anniversary of the release of the film, Quadrophenia: A Way Of Life – Inside The Making Of Britain’s Greatest Youth Film, by Simon Wells is out now.
Catch up on Lorraine with ITV Player
• Continue reading at itv.com.
Toyah has so far played four ACOUSTIC, UP CLOSE & PERSONAL dates, in Buxton, Lowther, Northampton and Bishop’s Cleeve on Sunday night. There are plenty more to come over the next few months:
ACOUSTIC SET WITH CHRIS WONG & COLIN HINDS
24 JULY: YORK / THE DUCHESS
25 JUL: SETTLE, N YORKSHIRE / VICTORIA HALL
2 SEP: NORWICH / MADDERMARKET THEATRE
5 SEP: STROUD / THE SUBSCRIPTION ROOMS
6 SEP: TOTNES / SOUTH DEVON ARTS CENTRE
26 SEP: BARNSLEY / BIRDWELL VENUE
2 OCT: SURREY / HARELQUIN THEATRE
3 OCT: SHOREHAM / ROPETACKLE ARTS
10 OCT: NR FLETHCING, E SUSSEX / TRADING BOUNDARIES
30 OCT: HOWDEN / SHIRE HALL
9 NOV: EVESHAM / REGAL CINEMA
The Acoustic, Up Close & Personal dates have run throughout 2014 as an extended series of gigs rather than in a single-month tour.
• View more details on the Acoustic… dates and links to book tickets here. View all of Toyah’s confirmed live dates for 2014 at The Official Gigs page.
Over the last four months Toyah has played 14 CRIMSON QUEEN/GREATEST HITS… LIVE! dates in Holmfirth, Nuneaton, Bury St Edmunds, Wimborne, London, Hastings, Clitheroe, Wakefield, Liverpool, Lowestoft, Blyth, Clacton, Isle of Man and Deal. There are still a couple of dates of the tour remaining:
LIVE IN CONCERT WITH FULL TOYAH BAND
7 SEP: DEVON / BUDLEIGH SALTERTON HALL
27 SEP: BUCKLEY / TIVOLI THEATRE
The Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits…Live! dates have run throughout 2014 as an extended series of gigs rather than in a single-month tour.
• View more details on the Crimson Queen… dates and links to book tickets here. View all of Toyah’s confirmed live dates for 2014 at The Official Gigs page. Browse all of our Toyah Live 2014 news here.
A fantastic photo of Toyah onstage at the Astor Theatre, Deal, on the latest date of the Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits…Live! UK Tour, and with John at the “Meet & Greet”. Click below to view the full versions of these at Dreamscape Gallery. (Thanks to Brian & John | Photos © Brian Marsh & John Weston)
If you’re never quite sure whether you preferred the music of the 70s, 80s or 90s, you will be in for a treat if you plan a short break in Blackpool next month.
On Saturday July 12th the city will host Rocking Through the Decades, a free show that will see a range of musical acts from various decades perform to the crowds. Representing the 70s, for instance, will be the three Dynamos from Mamma Mia, while Toyah Willcox – who is best known for songs like It’s a Mystery and Thunder in the Mountains – will be there to showcase the sounds of the 1980s.
• Continue reading at Superbreak.
Great photos of Toyah last night at the Astor Theatre, Deal, on the latest date of the Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits…Live! UK Tour. Click below to view the full versions of these, and more, at Dreamscape Gallery. Tonight Toyah plays a, sold out, Acoustic, Up Close & Personal concert at Tithe Barn, Bishop’s Cleeve. (Thanks to Angus | All photos © Angus Turner)
For a superstar who writes songs about the universe, Toyah Willcox is surprisingly down-to-earth. Performing for the first time in the Peel Centenary Centre, and for the second time in the island, she sung her lungs out to a nearly sold out theatre.
The pyramid seating of the theatre gave everyone a wonderful view as the white backstage turned to neon green and coral pink. The lights then shifted the hue farther as the band members walked out.
They took their positions, all wearing predominantly black clothing so our star could shine: Toyah. She emerged wearing her iconic eccentricities of a kaleidoscopic T-shirt and space invader accessories. Although her outfit certainly won the prize for uniqueness, her hair no longer wins the prize of weirdest style as ‘Mr Mohican’ (as Toyah named him when he shouted out) was far more exciting.
Toyah didn’t just perform a concert, she was also a personality on the stage; she stopped in-between tracks and spoke to the crowd about what she felt when she wrote the song, or what she felt when she performed it. This was fantastic for the audience as we gained so much insight into the mind of star.
• Continue reading at the Isle Of Man Today.
The book marking the 35th anniversary of the release of the film, Quadrophenia: A Way Of Life – Inside The Making Of Britain’s Greatest Youth Film, by Simon Wells is published today.
It’s 35 years since the film Quadrophenia first hit the world’s cinema screens. Jimmy the Mod’s search for identity against the backdrop of the May Bank Holiday riots of the 1960′s, is regarded as the finest example of a British “youth” movie and a warmly remembered timepiece.
As the generation that first saw it now approach their fifties with teenagers of their own, Quadrophenia has become a glorious benchmark for their own youthful excesses, hopes, dreams and nostalgia. To critics, admirers and casual observers, it’s intriguing: what makes a 30 plus year-old film like Quadrophenia so appealing? And similarly, why do people return to it time and time again?
For the first time, QUADROPHENIA… A WAY OF LIFE explores the making of Britain’s finest youth film and its subsequent influence on popular culture. With interviews with principal cast members, director Franc Roddam, scriptwriter Martin Stellman and other involved in the creation of the film, this is the definitive account of Britain’s greatest cult movie.
• View further details and buy the book at Countdown Books.
• Visit Lancashire: Rocking Through The Decades: A free concert which celebrates the best of the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and bang up to date music with artists from those decades really rocking the stage on St John’s Square. Come along and see Brutus Gold, Denise Pearson from Five Star, Ntrance, and Toyah Willcox showcasing their decade. And bang up to date, we have Harry Mondryk and Kingsland Road. Come along and experience St John’s Square really rocking with everyone’s favourite stars. Further artists to be announced – Continue reading… (Taking place on 12th July – Toyah’s inclusion is, as yet, officially unconfirmed)
• Live 2014: Check out Toyah’s full, confirmed, “bang up to date” gig schedule at toyahwillcox.com – Lots of concerts!!!
• Spoilers: “Had Wild nite @ Pinewood Studios“, Toyah tweeted the other day… and here is why – Only click if you want a future surprise “spoiled”! (Thanks to @MaisieRoach at Twitter)
• Berlin 1980: Breaking Through, Toyah’s Official Newsletter, will be bringing news of an exclusive new photobook of a set of photos taken by Ilse Ruppert in Hamburg in 1980, whilst Toyah was promoting the abum ‘The Blue Meaning’.
Toyah is the cover star of the July – September 2014 issue of The Stroud Subscription Rooms magazine. Toyah plays an Acoustic, Up Close & Personal tourdate at the venue on 5th September. Click below to view the magazine online. (Thanks to Kevin McNamara)
Punk icon Toyah Willcox will become an honorary member of the UK’s largest contemporary choir next week.
The actress and singer will visit a Rock Choir session at Pitmaston Primary School, Malvern Road, Worcester, on Tuesday, June 24 at 8pm ahead of joining the choir for a special performance at the Birmingham Symphony Hall on Saturday, July 19.
The Birmingham show will be used to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust after the choir was inspired by the multi-million charity efforts of Stephen Sutton.
• Continue reading at Worcester News. Toyah also tweeted earlier: “Learning Rock Choir arrangement of Sensational 4 B’ham Symphony Hall 19th july. pure joy. Had Wild nite @ Pinewood Studios“.
A new interview with Toyah, ahead of her Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits…Live! gig at The Astor Theatre in Kent on Saturday, published yesterday by Kent Online.
Former ‘high priestess of punk’ Toyah Willcox may have mellowed with age but she still loves donning the dramatic costumes to become her on-stage musical alter-ego, as she tells Jo Roberts
“In my youth, I was happy standing out but I love that now I can be anonymous in the street. I’d rather just turn it on for the stage,” says Toyah, whose current conventionally blonde tresses and subtle chic contrast with the flame-haired punk appearance she sported in the 1980s.
The prolific singer has released more than 20 albums in the past 35 years. Her biggest chart hits came in 1981 with the EP Four from Toyah and the single Thunder in the Mountains. Toyah forged a three-pronged career as an actress and media personality too but she will be returning to her first love when she hits the stage at Deal’s Astor Theatre this weekend with her Crimson Queen Greatest Hits show.
“It’s definitely a different part of me,” she says of her musical alter ego, known for a signature dramatic look which manages to combine a futuristic vibe with retro 1980s stylings. “The majority of the time I’m a businesswoman, but I can’t wait to get out of the office and become my on-stage persona, I love that freedom”.
• Continue reading at Kent Online.
Lorraine: ITV/STV: Wed 25th June: 8.30am
Morning show with a topical mix of entertainment, discussion and showbiz glamour, as well as featuring the latest fashion, food and celebrity gossip.
Maureen Lipman talks about her role in the play Daytona, which transfers to the West End this month, plus Toyah Willcox recalls her starring role alongside Ray Winstone, Sting, Leslie Ash and Phil Daniels in the classic film Quadrophenia, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year.
• Visit the Lorraine website at ITV.com.
You’ve been asking for a t-shirt with tour dates on…..and here it is!
From this Saturday’s gig at Kent Astor Theatre, you will be able to get your hands on one.
The reverse of the t-shirt carries all 2014 dates up until the Intergalactic Ranch House Tour. The front carries the classic Toyah logo on the breast.
Get these on tour at the gigs this year. If any remain they will be sold online but they might not last!
• Check out larger photos at toyahwillcox.com.
