Sensational photo of Toyah, Madeline Bell, Patti Russo and The Fabbagirls, from last night’s 25 Riff Tour date by The SAS Band at The Guild Hall in Portsmouth. Toyah, and a host of others including a surprise guest are also playing another date tomorrow night at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London. (Photo © Susie Webb of The Fabbagirls)
The full schedule for Sky Arts’ special evening of celebration for the 40th Anniversary of Quadrophenia has just been made available – *Updated* with further air dates and times!
Quadrophenia – Our Generation: Sky Arts:
Saturday 21st September: 9pm
Monday 23rd September: 1.45am
Wednesday 25th September: 10.30pm
Celebrity fans and cast members come together to shed light on the making of Quadrophenia and explore the legacy that the cult film has left behind, 40 years after its release.
Quadrophenia Reunited – 40 Years On: Sky Arts:
Saturday 21st September: 10pm
Monday 23rd September: 0.15am
Wednesday 25th September: 9pm
Lauren Laverne hosts a one-off special bringing the stars of Quadrophenia together. Featuring reminiscing, interviews, a table-read of the script and plenty of other surprises.
Quadrophenia: Sky Arts: Saturday 21st September: 11.30pm
Quadrophenia: Sky Arts: Sunday 22nd September: 10pm
The Who wrote and produced this energetic story of a young man disillusioned with his life in 1960s London. Phil Daniels excels as the alienated anti-hero Jimmy Cooper.
This New York City Playwright’s Music Video Puts a Fantastical Spin on the Tutu
When New York artist Leah Hennessey starts describing some of the influences of her band’s first official video, “Sleeping Beauty,” you can tell straight away that she’s a pop culture fanatic.
She references comic books like Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles, old fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty—unsurprising, given the song’s title—and deeper cuts like cult director Derek Jarman’s 1979 film The Tempest.
…The ballet look, on the other hand, was loosely based on Toyah Willcox’s costumes in Jarman’s The Tempest. “I was going for a feral balletic ethereality to evoke the fairy-tale aspect of the song,” she describes. Plus, she never before had an excuse to wear a tutu.
• Continue reading at Vogue.com. Browse our archive dedicated to The Tempest.
A great mini article on the Thunder In The Mountains single, just published by From The Stacks.
From The Stacks: Toyah, “Thunder In the Mountains” (Picture Disc)
Toyah never made a dent in the American charts, but lead singer Toyah Willcox left a big impression on the new wave kids. Willcox had it all: Big hair, beauty, and that “new wave diva” vocal style shared by so many early ’80s Brit artists. She was an art school kid’s dream.
And speaking of art school dreams, the video for “Thunder in the Mountains” is a Mad Max meets Spartacus fever dream:
Willcox is still getting things done, both as an actress and a musician. Her latest release is an extended version of In the Court of the Crimson Queen, featuring a guest appearance by her husband, King Crimson’s Robert Fripp.
As for this beautiful “Thunder in the Mountains” 7-inch: Expect to pay about three bucks, and just imagine how cool it will look hanging behind your turntable. Happy hunting.
• Continue reading at From The Stacks by clicking below on the Thunder In The Mountains collage I created circa 2012 (which, much like a lot of the other Toyah imagery I’ve created over the past 20 years, has been posted all over the internet/Facebook/Pinterest etc but never with any sort of link back to this website or design credit).
A belated Happy Anniversary/Birthday to an incredibly important single/AP/EP!
Not only is it one of the most important but also one of the best – all six songs are amazing and all stand the test of time, still sounding fresh, vibrant and way ahead of anything else that was released in 79!
Toyah’s second single, the Sheep Farming In Barnet (EP/AP) – following the debut single, Victims Of The Riddle, a few months earlier – was released in July 1979. The traditional EP contained four songs, Toyah’s record label wanted to differentiate from that format and decided to release SIX songs on one single (a mini album really). This was the first, and last, AP release. Tracks were: A. Neon Womb, Indecision, Waiting; B. Our Movie, Danced, Last Goodbye.
The band members were Pete Bush: Keyboards, Mark Henry: Bass, Joel Bogen: Guitar, Steve Bray: Drums, Toyah Willcox: Verbals. As with the debut single, this was a huge hit on the UK indie chart, and also increased the band’s, already growing, popularity in other parts of Europe. The, now iconic, cover shot for the single was taken at the RAF Fylingdales radar station near Whitby in Yorkshire. Unfortunately, the “golf balls” were demolished in the mid 1980′s.
• Continue the celebration – See Official Toyah’s Sheep Farming in Barnet collage/info post at Instagram (part of the Crimson Queen Tour countdown). Visit the SFIB AP page at the Toyah Discography. You can also check out our Toyah 40 Archive.
A Musical History: BBC4: Friday 20th September: 8pm
Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mac fan Edith Bowman provides a narrative overview alongside other celebrity fans who all pay tribute to the band in this hit-filled hour. Contributors include KT Tunstall, Travis’ frontman Fran Healy, Toyah Willcox, Sian Pattenden and Emma Dabiri.
Toyah and Fuzzbox among the stars at this weekend’s Whitwell Festival of Music
Whitwell Festival of Music is a not-for-profit, volunteer- run event that is now in its 11th year.
Well- respected on the festival circuit, this year will see British music icon Toyah as the headline act on Saturday. Friday night’s headliner is Tony Wright of Terrorvision fame.
• Continue reading at the Derbyshire Times. A limited number (50) of tickets will be available on the gate on Saturday from 1pm – get there early!
Toyah will appear at the London Film Fair on Sunday 15th September 2019, alongside many of the actors from Quadrophenia.
The Film Fair will be held at the Congress Centre (Great Russell Street, WC1B 3UB)
The London Film Fair will appeal to avid film buffs, collectors, archivists researchers and students. A must for anyone with an interest in cinema and cult television!
• Further info at the London Film Fair website. (Thanks to Graham Bashford) – See our previous news on this here.
A past behind the scenes still with Toyah playing Dr Bennett in Swiperight. The film is currently in post production. See our previous Swiperight news here. (Photo © GabrielNita.com)
Toyah – as part of The SAS Band All Star line-up – appears with Midge Ure and Tony Hadley on the 25 Riff Tour, at the Guild Hall, Portsmouth, the first of two the anniversary gigs, on Thursday 12th September.
The second gig takes place a couple of days later, at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London on Saturday 14th September.
Numerous other guests have also been previously announced for the SAS Band 25th Anniversary tour dates, taking place between September and December this year.
The SAS Band tweeted: Coming up Thur 12 Sept. Toyah appears live alongside @midgeure1 @TheTonyHadley & more with @SpikesSASBand on The 25 Riff Tour at #Portsmouth @PortsmouthGhall.
• Further info on the tour and ticket links are available at sasband.com.
Celebrity Fantasy Homes: Really: Thursday 19th September: 2pm
Toyah (Series 2, Episode 2). Celebrities hunt for a new home. Gaby Roslin helps the original punk-pop princess Toyah Willcox search for a second home, in Richmond upon Thames, with a budget of £650,000.
The first date of the Crimson Queen Tour 2019 is just weeks away.
Toyah’s autumn concerts tour will see her celebrate and perform material from her re-imagined double album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, released by Edsel Records on 12 April 2019. The album, written and arranged by Toyah Willcox and Simon Darlow, presents a collection of finely honed songcraft, killer hooks and brings together two lifetimes of performing, writing and producing music.
This concert will see Toyah present songs from the album including lead single Sensational and the epic album opener Dance In The Hurricane alongside instantly recognisable classics from her revered catalogue of hit singles, live favourites and renowned album tracks. Simon Darlow will also join Toyah on stage at some of the tour dates.
• Further info and Crimson Queen Tour ticket links available at toyahwillcox.com. Check out our In The Court Of The Crimson Queen news archive here.
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Tuesday 17th September: 9.30am
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Saturday 21st September: 7.30am
Blue Marigold. Series 5, Episode 1. Dropped by her agency for her diva-like behaviour, supermodel Marigold’s mental health deteriorates. Years later, she plots a comeback. Director: Giles Foster. Starring: Toyah Willcox, Ralph Bates, Sharon Duce, Helen Fraser, Billy Hamon, Edward Jewesbury.
The Independent recently interviewed Robert Fripp and The Express have published an article of cherry-picked quotes from the piece:
Toyah Willcox husband: The secret to 30 year marriage is separate HOUSES – and naughty sex
TOYAH WILLCOX has revealed the secret to her happy marriage is separate houses – as well as plenty of naughty sex.
Toyah Willcox is a four time Brit Award nominated singer who has had eight Top 40 singles and released more than 20 albums. The 61-year-old musician from Birimingham is also an author and actress, having written two books and appeared in more than 40 stage plays and 10 films – and now she will compete on BBC’s Pointless Celebrities. She married guitarist Robert Fripp, known for position in progressive rock band King Crimson, in 1986 – but why has Toyah said the secret to marital bliss is separate houses, and ‘very naughty’ sex?
Toyah Willcox, 61, has had a very lengthy career, since fronting band Toyah in 1983, before embarking on a solo career.
As a singer, songwriter, and actor, she has achieved many accolades, but one of her happiest achievements was meeting her husband Robert Fripp. The couple met at a charity lunch, first in 1983 and then in 1985.
Speaking to the Independent, he said: “My life really began when I met this little creature and she became my wife. It was like an arranged marriage. We didn’t know each other, but it was perfectly clear to me within a week of knowing Toyah that she was the woman I wanted to be my wife – just as I knew within a fairly short time of having a guitar in my hands at the age of 11 that this was going to be my life. We got to know each other within the commitments and vows of marriage.”
• Continue reading at The Express.
Toyah’s Sack The Stylist?! Top 30: NOW 80s: Tuesday 3rd September: 11am
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!
