Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah is very busy gigging over the next few months, with concerts of her own (Celebrating The Very Best Of Toyah in October, and An Evening With Toyah in November), as well as supporting Adam Ant on 10 dates of his UK tour (October/November) and supporting Big Country on five dates of their UK tour.

• Click here for rehearsal footage for all of the above… Toyah says “Virtually every song in the set is from 1978 to 1982 and the band are on fire”. Browse all of Toyah’s upcoming live dates at toyahwillcox.com. (Screenshot © Toyah Willcox)

Toyah was the latest guest star – On Saturday night at The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham – to cameo for a performance of the Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright theatre tour. Here she is pictured with the creators and stars – and also creators/stars of The League Of Gentlemen – Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton.

Previous Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright cameos include Stephen Fry, Mel Giedroyc, Michael Sheen, Tamsin Greig, Su Pollard, Emilia Fox, Rob Brydon and many others.

Interesting Fact #1: Toyah is a huge fan of The League Of Gentlemen. Interesting Fact #2: Toyah used to work at The Alexandra Theatre as a dresser in the 1970s before she went into drama and music! (Photo © Steve Pemberton)

• Saturday Song: Danced (Live In Islington) – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Ace Of Spades – Watch… (Image © Toyah Willcox)

We – myself and my long time pal Alec – had a fun day at BBC Scotland watching the recording of the 2025 Christmas Special of Mrs Brown’s Boys – This was our second recording of the year at the studios on Glasgow Waterfront’s Pacific Quay, having saw another episode being filmed earlier in 2025. This was a lot of fun and we laughed constantly for almost three hours. As well as the episode we were treated to stand up, a catwalk, a variety of games, fairy dance-off, a glow sticks rave, Christmas singalong and a big snowball fight between the cast/crew and audience at the end of the recording. A very eventful and memorable afternoon, then into the city centre for a fab meal.

• See all our 2025 “tour dates” :) here! (Photos © David Fleming)

• Toyah At Home: October 2025 – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Rebel Girl – Watch…

Press for Toyah & Robert’s new Sunday Lunch. This week covering Bikini Kill. (Image © Toyah Willcox)

• Classic Rock/Louder: “I want to try your clothes on!” Toyah and Robert Fripp explore uncharted musical territory in new Sunday Lunch video: They’re back! Again! – Continue…

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp cover Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl” – Continue…

• Brave Words: Robert Fripp & Toyah Perform Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl” for new Sunday Lunch video – Continue…

• Far Out: Watch Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp take on ‘Rebel Girl’ in latest ‘Sunday Lunch’ video: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp have returned with spunk to their weekly Sunday Lunch video covers series. This time, the pair take on the iconic Bikini Kill hit ‘Rebel Girl’ for its latest instalment – Continue…

• DGM Live: Toyah & Robert’s Weekend – Continue…

The Chase: Celebrity Special: Challenge: Friday 24th October: 7pm
Bradley Walsh hosts the quiz show as four celebrities take on the Chaser. Singer Toyah Willcox, ex-footballer John Barnes, writer Germaine Greer and heavyweight boxer Audley Harrison pit their wits against one of the country’s finest quiz brains in the hope of winning thousands of pounds for their chosen charities. (Photo © ITV)

Toyah continues the series of expanded deluxe reissues of her solo catalogue with Demon Records this autumn. On 21 November limited edition picture discs and Deluxe 2CD Editions of the solo Toyah albums Ophelia’s Shadow and Take The Leap! are issued. The releases can be pre-ordered now.

Rare and sought after material can be found on the Deluxe 2CD Editions whilst the vinyl picture discs carry on the set began earlier in 2025 with Minx, Desire and Prostitute.

Ophelia’s Shadow
Pre-order here… See also the deluxe 2CD full tracklisting.

Toyah’s 1991 solo album Ophelia’s Shadow is released as an expanded Deluxe 2CD Edition for the first time ever. Packaged in deluxe 7”-sized gatefold packaging, it continue the series of expanded solo Toyah albums released by Edsel.

Alongside the studio album that features Robert Fripp playing guitar on two tracks, CD1 adds six tracks Toyah recorded in 1993 with Kiss Of Reality, previously available on a very rare CD released only in Germany.

CD2 adds a full 1992 concert recording of Toyah and Kiss Of Reality in Warsaw, Poland. All 10 live tracks are previously unreleased with highlights being the otherwise unrecorded vocals for Amazon, Daydreaming and Shirt Of The Muse plus a rendition of Toyah’s 1987 album track Revive The World.

A selection of 1992 demos Toyah recorded with Kiss Of Reality in Berlin also feature including Dan The Man plus three demos (previously available only on a strictly limited self-released cassette) making this a treasure trove of Toyah rarities.

The booklet contains rare and previously unseen colour photography from the original album shoot. A new sleevenote by Toyah archivist Craig Astley chronicles the making of the album with reflections from Toyah herself on why this album is a personal favourite and so important to her.

Take The Leap!
Pre-order here… See also the deluxe 2CD full tracklisting.

Toyah’s 1994 studio album was recorded with Salisbury band Friday Forever and includes eight re-recordings of classic Toyah material and six original compositions. CD1 adds four tracks of which three are previously unreleased. This includes demos of album tracks Invisible Love and Lust For Love, first recorded in 1992 with Kiss Of Reality.

CD2 contains 16 rarities with seven of these previously unreleased. CD2 features the long-awaited release of original material Toyah wrote with members of Girlschool for their ‘supergroup’ project Strange Girls, who played live UK gigs and supported The Beach Boys in Germany. Long desired by fans who saw the Strange Girls live gigs; these three studio demos were recorded in 1991 but have remained unheard until their rediscovery in 2025.

Further rarities, demos and remixes include a rehearsal demo of live Strange Girls favourite King Of Pain and previously unreleased home demos recorded with Cris Bonacci. The booklet contains rare and unseen photography from the album original shoot. A new sleevenote by Toyah archivist Craig Astley chronicles the 1991-1994 period and reveals how the solo album Toyah originally envisaged from the extensive material recorded in 1992 morphed into the Take The Leap! project.

Get ready for a brand new Sunday Lunch today… It looks like Toyah & Robert will be covering US punky rock band Bikini Kill’s 1993 track, Rebel Girl. (Image © Toyah)

A new four-part radio documentary series – The Women Who Rock! – begins airing on Sunday 12th October, and it looks like Toyah will be participating in each episode.

Celebrate National Album Day with “The Women Who Rock!,” a four-part series that showcases the female rockstars who conquered a predominantly male influenced genre . From Grace Slick and Nico in the 60s, Patti Smith and Stevie Nicks in the 70s to Joan Jett and Chrissie Hynde in the 80s and Dolores O’Riordan and Skin in the 90s, this programme delves into the music, stories, and cultural impact of these musicians. Each episode is hosted by a legendary Radio 2 presenter, providing insights and interviews with contributions from Wendy James, Susannah Hoffs, Suzi Quatro, Toyah Willcox and PP Arnold and many more.

The Women Who Rock!: BBC Radio Two: Sunday 12th October: 00.00am
Episode 1: The 60s. Presented by Tony Blackburn, begins with a look at the groundbreaking 60s, where Tina Turner, Grace Slick, Nico, PP Arnold and Janis Joplin led the charge when it came to rock vocals.

The Women Who Rock!: BBC Radio Two: Sunday 12th October: 00.30am
Episode 2: The 70s. Bob Harris takes us through the 70s, focusing on the rise of rock giants like Stevie Nicks, Pattie Smith, Suzi Quatro, Christine McVie, Debbie Harry, who influenced a generation.

The Women Who Rock!: BBC Radio Two: Sunday 19th October: 00.00am
Episode 3: The 80s. Gary Davies, takes us into the 80s, where Belinda Carlisle, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Wendy James and Chrissie Hynde achieve massive success with their infectious pop rock sounds.

The Women Who Rock!: BBC Radio Two: Sunday 19th October: 00.30am
Episode 4: The 90s. Jo Whiley wraps up the series in the 90s with Skin, Courtney Love, Shirley Manson, Alanis Morrisette and Dolores O’Riordan who captivated rock and indie audiences.

Toyah’s October blog is available to read at toyahwillcox.com. As well as an abundance of news – there’s a very special announcement coming on 1st November, I think most of us are hoping this is about a much rumoured book – the blog also includes Part Two of Toyah’s personal insights into the songs included on her recent Chameleon album.

We – that’s my pal Sharon and myself – started off, what’s going to be a busy, October with a wonderful day out in beautiful St. Andrews in Fife. We had a great walk around the town centre, before visiting the seafront, beach and harbour. If you’ve never been to St Andrews I’d definitely recommend adding it to your bucket list.

We spent some time at St Andrews University – such a historic place, founded over 700 years ago and the oldest university in Scotland, and the third oldest in the English-speaking world. Amazing! Later we went to St Andrews Museum, another fascinating place.

The day was rounded off with a few hours back in Dundee, dinner and some time at the “Secret Pub”. This is gorgeous and the surroundings, ambience and music ensure you really do feel you feel like you’ve been transported back in time to the 1920s. Lovely!

• See all our 2025 “tour dates” :) here! (Photos © David Fleming)

It’s another month and time for a brand new Toyah At Home episode. Toyah provides a catch-up on what’s been going on, and there’s also an announcement too of new releases coming out. Watch below of at YouTube for a preview and all the details.

• Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Born To Be Wild – Watch… (Image © Toyah Willcox)

• Saturday Song: Sensational (Live) – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – My Generation – Watch… (Image © Toyah Willcox)

Toyah – Chameleon : The Very Best Of
(3CD/ Blu-Ray Box Set)

Chameleon is certainly well named; it perfectly describes singer & actor Toyah Willcox’s ability, much like David Bowie (the greatest chameleon of them all) to evolve and change with the musical times, whilst still holding her own identity and artistry.

It’s also, courtesy of Cherry Red Records, her first ever all-encompassing collection, one that covers every era and musical slant of her four-and-half decade career, from her late 70s new wave/ punk beginnings to the ultra-successful 80s pop period and into the 21st century as an artist who remains relevant through her contemporary pop and rock stylings.

CD1 is collated to showcase the best of Toyah the band, from 1979-1983; it also, unsurprisingly, leads with the Top 10 trio of glossy, new-wave pop hits ‘I Want To Be Free,’ ‘It’s a Mystery’ and ‘Thunder In The Mountains.’

Other chart successes, such as the atmospheric ‘Brave New World,’ feature, but the selected album tracks are their equal; choice cuts here include the pop-punch of ‘We Are’ (from best-selling album Anthem), the slightly darker textures of ‘Dawn Chorus’ and the semi-theatrical, new wave stylings of ‘Angel & Me.’

There’s also space for tracks from the band’s debut EP Sheep Farming In Barnet, including the frantic jazz-punk of ‘Neon Womb’ and the spacey synth & guitar led ‘Danced.’ The live version of the band’s first ever single, punk-pop hybrid ‘Victims Of The Riddle,’ closes out the first disc.

• Continue reading at Fabrication HQ. See links to other Chameleon: The Very Best Of Toyah reviews here. Buy the album on 3CD/Bluray Boxset, 2CD & Double Vinyl at Cherry Red.

Another chance to catch Top Of The Pops with Toyah’s studio performance of Thunder In The Mountains. This originally aired on BBC One on Thursday 1st October 1981 and wasn’t repeated by the BBC until almost 35 years later – on BBC Four in May 2016. This is only the third airing, nine years after that first repeat!

Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Friday 3rd October: 8pm
01/10/81. Mike Read introduces the pop programme. Includes appearances from Godley & Creme (Under Your Thumb), Sheena Easton (Just Another Broken Heart), The Teardrop Explodes (Passionate Friend), The Creatures (Mad Eyed Screamer), Ottawan (Hands Up [Give Me Your Heart]), Toyah (Thunder In The Mountains), Bad Manners (Walking In The Sunshine), Altered Images (Happy Birthday), Dollar (Hand Held In Black & White), Adam & The Ants (Prince Charming).

Our latest “tour date” (aka a day out) was a joint birthday celebration for Sharon’s birthday (18th September) and my birthday (15th September). Yes, we are both Virgos!! A faberoonie day out in Edinburgh – Delicious high tea at The Dome – lovely staff who added a wee bit extra for our birthdays – a visit to the amazing castle – a jaunt around the city – and finishing with a fun afternoon at Camera Obscura.

• See all our 2025 “tour dates” :) here! (Photos © David Fleming)

• Saturday Song: Good Morning Universe (1981 TOTP) – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – with added Cream! – Watch… (Image © Toyah Willcox)

Flatpack Monthly: Aaaaaaaah!
+ Q&A with Steve Oram & Toyah Willcox
Wednesday 26th November, 2025

The Mockingbird Cinema – Screen 1 | 19:00 – 21:10

It’s been 10 years since Aaaaaaaah!—the wild directorial debut from Sightseers star and co-writer Steve Oram—and we still haven’t seen anything else quite like it.

In a world where the line between human and ape is blurred, Oram creates a wild blend of bedlam and the bizarre as a suburban family goes full primate. When a visitor crashes the Ryan family’s pad, the domestic pecking order gets a hilarious, dialogue-free shake-up (communicating purely in grunts). Oram and his stellar cast (Tom Meeten, Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Toyah Willcox, Holli Dempsey, and Alice Lowe) go full-on bananas, delivering a gleefully unhinged and animalistic film that’s a true one-of-a-kind.

• Continue reading/Buy tickets at Flatpack Festival.

Celebrity Help! My House Is Haunted: Really: Saturday 4th October: 0.00am
Toyah Willcox. Series 1, episode 5. The team undergoes one of the most terrifying investigations yet when visiting Toyah Willcox, who has experienced strange activity in her home ever since she moved in. (Photo © Discovery)

A specially created extended cut of the classic 1982 promo video of Brave New World for the release of Chameleon: The Very Best of Toyah. Utilising the iconic and original footage filmed at Battersea Power Station and Birling Gap, this new edit includes previously unseen B-roll footage without any AI effects or recreations, to extend the narrative of the original audio-visual production.

The quintessential image of Toyah, and a firm favourite of Toyah herself, the striking hair was by Robert Lobetta and ethereal otherworldly make-up by Carolyn Cowan. (Screenshots from a video that is © Cherry Red)