Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Where Were You When: Ziggy Stardust made his TV debut

David Bowie’s performance of ‘Starman’ was out of this world, recalls singer Toyah Willcox.

I was born in Birmingham in 1958. My life was quite conventional by today’s standards: I went to an all-girls school, ate with my family twice a day at a dining table and wasn’t allowed to speak unless spoken to. Men led the households and were affectionately known as ‘blokes’.

Then the singer Marc Bolan came along with T Rex in 1970, strutting his stuff to ‘Ride a White Swan’. He was clearly in touch with his feminine side but was very palatable to look at. While my brother scoffed at Bolan’s satin trousers, I sneaked off from school to see him on stage – and fell in love with rock ’n’ roll.

My adolescence was completely normal until an afternoon in June 1972, when I was 14. After coming back from school, I turned on the TV to see who was singing on Lift Off With Ayshea, a music show on ITV. I was expecting Slade, Bolan, Dana, maybe Val Doonican – but instead, there was David Bowie singing ‘Starman’, in his television debut as Ziggy Stardust. It derailed me completely.

• Continue reading at You Magazine.

Quadrophenia cast spill BTS antics as they reunite to celebrate 40 years of cult film

The cast of Quadrophenia have reunited to celebrate 40 years since the cult movie was released. And what an evening it was.

Returning to Shepherds Bush, where the much-loved classic was filmed, the likes of Leslie Ash (Steph), Garry Cooper (Peter), Phil Daniels (Jimmy) and Toyah Willcox (Monkey) joined Lauren Laverne to talk all things mod. Phil Davis (Chalky), Trevor Laird (Ferdy), Gary Shail (Spider) and Mark Winget (Dave) were also in attendance to discuss the key themes of the plot, as well as spilling a number of backstage antics.

• Continue reading at the Metro. (Photo © Metro/Joe Newman/PinPep)

Toyah will play Morecambe Carnival Festival Weekend 2019 on Sunday 11th August. Click below for more info.

Toyah Special – talking about her life in music and much much more

Toyah musician, singer, songwriter, actress, producer and author. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Willcox has had 8 Top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays and 10 feature films, and voiced and presented numerous television shows.

Between 1977 and 1983 she fronted the band Toyah, before embarking on a solo career in the mid-1980s. At the 1982 BPI/Brit Awards Toyah was nominated for British Breakthrough Act, which The Human League won and Best Female Solo Artist which Randy Crawford won.

Toyah was nominated a further two times in this category in 1983, which Kim Wilde won and in 1984, which Annie Lennox won. Her biggest hits include “It’s a Mystery”, “Thunder in the Mountains” and “I Want to Be Free”.

Toyah continues to tour both with her full band and also with an acoustic line-up for her “Up Close And Personal” shows. In 2018 Toyah toured her #Toyah60 show, which marked her sixtieth birthday and fortieth year in music. This was accompanied by the release of her Four From Toyah- Birthday Edition EP of new material, which charted highly in the digital charts.

In 2019 Toyah charted at #74 in the UK album charts with a re-issue of her 2008 album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen. It also peaked at #22 on the Official Charts Company’s sales chart and #7 in the independent chart. This was Toyah’s first appearance in the British album charts since ‘Minx’ in 1985.

• Continue reading/Listen to the audio interview at C86 Show.

A brand new Radio Mix of Dance In The Hurricane is out now digitally. Toyah said of DITH: “This is my favourite song which I want to be remembered by“. Click below for links.

Toyah’s blog for July 2019 is available to read at toyahwillcox.com – Click below to go there.

Toyah will be appearing in the film Give Them Wings directed by Sean Cronin. The film is raising funds to complete production. Find out how to donate and about the film including Toyah talking on camera about her role in the video above.

Give Them Wings will follow in the footsteps and the success of the incredible biopic true story of Christy Brown, My Left Foot which in 1989 at a budget of $600,000 grossed $15m at the box office, Billy Elliot at a budget of $5m grossed $99m at the box office and The Full Monty at a budget of $3.5m grossed $257m at the box office. Untouchable, with a very similar narrative to Give Them Wings at a budget of $10.5m and grossed $366m.

• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com.

A repeat airing for last year’s Pointless Celebrities, with Toyah and Sonique, on BBC1 this weekend. (Photo © BBC)

Pointless Celebrities: BBC1: Sunday 21st July: 5.15pm
Music (Series 11, Episode 14). A special celebrity edition of the general knowledge quiz in which four teams try to come up with the answers that no-one else could think of. Presented by Alexander Armstrong and co-host Richard Osman. Featuring Glen Matlock, Slim Jim, Barbara Dickson, Ralph McTell, Keith Duffy, Brian McFadden, Sonique and Toyah Willcox.

Sold out concerts, festival appearances, radio interviews, Quadrophenia rehearsals and much more. Check out Toyah’s recent happenings direct from her at Twitter! There’s a busy rest of July ahead, with four festivals, the Quadrophenia 40th Anniversary reunion and an Acoustic gig!

Minder: ITV4: Tuesday 16th July: 3.40am
Minder: ITV4: Thursday 25th July: 0.55am
All Mod Cons. Arthur decides to sell Terry’s flat without his permission. Meanwhile, Terry gets a job minding at a local club and ends up getting into more trouble than he had planned for when he realises the club’s manager is on the fiddle. Starring: George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Toyah Willcox, Simon Cadell, James Ottaway, and Tony Osaba. (Series 2, Episode 8, 1980). Also showing on ITV4 HD and ITV4 +1.

Celebrity Ghost Stories: Lifetime: Saturday 20th July: 10.45pm
Series 1, Episode 6. Sue Cook reveals creepy encounters with a malevolent nutcracker and a UFO, Toyah Willcox speaks of a spooky apparation, and Alex Fearns discusses sinister sounds he caught on tape.

Toyah’s Sack The Stylist?! Top 30: NOW 80s: Wednesday 10th July: 6pm
Pop legend Toyah brings 30 memorable videos featuring a cavalcade of clothing calamities from superstars including Bowie, Madonna, Adam Ant and many more in this crazy countdown!