Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah’s 1987 promo video for the single, Echo Beach, has been upscaled to HD format

Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW Rock: Monday 16th June: 6pm
T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of Heart and Soul to a countdown of ’80s ladies who like to rock! With Joan Jett, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. (as well as Toyah via the Thunder In The Mountains video).

Another chance to see a retro edition of Top Of The Pops, airing in early June on BBC Four. This edition was originally shown – almost exactly 44 years ago – on Thursday 4th June 1981 and includes a play of the, Godley & Creme,  promo video for I Want To Be Free.

Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Friday 6th June: 7.30pm
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Saturday 7th June: 2.05am
04/06/1981. Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring Siouxsie and the Banshees (Spellbound), Shakin’ Stevens (You Drive Me Crazy), Kate Robbins (More Than in Love), Squeeze (Is That Love?), Imagination (Body Talk), The Jam (Funeral Pyre), Michael Jackson (One Day in Your Life), Toyah (I Want To Be Free), Phil Collins (If Leaving Me Is Easy), Adam & The Ants (Stand & Deliver), Odyssey (Going Back To My Roots).

• Toyah’s next appearance on Top Of The Pops after this was on 1st October 1981, with the band performing Thunder In The Mountains in the studio. The TITM promo video was also shown on 15th October. On 26th November the band performed Good Morning Universe.

Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Wednesday 28th May: 3pm
T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of Heart and Soul to a countdown of ’80s ladies who like to rock! With Joan Jett, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. (as well as Toyah via the Thunder In The Mountains video).

Get 15% off Toyah’s back catalogue titles this month using code TOYAH15 at checkout at Cherry Red!

The discount ends at midnight (GMT) 31 May 2025

Toyah performing It’s A Mystery at Jasper Carrot’s Trevor Francis Memorial Concert on Thursday night at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.

Top Of The Pops: BBC Four: Friday 21st March: 8.35pm
Top Of The Pops: BBC Four: Saturday 22nd March: 1.15am
19/03/1981. Peter Powell presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 19 March 1981. Featuring Sharon Redd, Bucks Fizz, Colin Blunstone and Dave Stewart, Toyah, The Who, Phil Collins, Shakin Stevens, Visage, Roxy Music and Duran Duran. Plus, a dance performance from Legs & Co.

NB. This originally aired on BBC1 on Thursday 19th March 1981 and was Toyah’s second Top Of The Pops studio appearance/performance (screenshot below, with details from an episode featuring a repeat of Toyah’s very first TOTP studio performance).

Toyah’s interview with Michael Parkinson, on his chat show Parkinson, airs for the first time, since it was originally broadcast in October 1981, this weekend on BBC Four.

Parkinson: BBC Four: Saturday 15th March: 10.45pm
Dave Allen, Toyah Willcox and Peter Skellern. Michael Parkinson in conversation with comedian Dave Allen, actress and singer Toyah Willcox and singer-songwriter Peter Skellern. First broadcast 31 October 1981.

Video Killed The Radio Star: Sky Arts: Wednesday 26th February: 5am
Toyah Willcox. (Series 7, Episode 6). An insight into the making of videos by Toyah Willcox, whose hits included It’s A Mystery, Thunder in the Mountains and I Want To Be Free.

The release of I Believe In Father Christmas on 10″ vinyl single in December gave Toyah yet another Official Charts entry – Following many of the reissued deluxe albums since 2020, Posh Pop giving Toyah her highest ever charting solo album (so far!), and the Rebel Run 10″ hitting No. 1 on the Official Vinyl Singles chart in late September 2024 – I Believe In Father Christmas entered the same chart at No. 9 on 13th December!

Christmas 2022, Toyah announced the release of a special 10” cherry red coloured vinyl EP commemorating the classic 1982 single Brave New World. To be released in March 2023, and limited to 500 copies only.

This became the first in a series of 10″ single releases by Toyah, with Rebel Run, and I Believe In Father Christmas also receiving limited edition releases on the format in 2024.

The EP contained four tracks, all previously unreleased versions, including the long-awaited Dawn Chorus (6.55 Special Mix). The release was part of Cherry Red Records’ special ‘45s at 45’ vinyl series marking the 45th Anniversary of the label.

The Tracklist: Side One: 1. Brave New World (Razzmatazz Mix). 2. Street Creature (Razzmatazz Mix) | Side Two: 1. Dawn Chorus (6.55 Special Version), 2. Ieya 1982 (Edited Version)

Christmas 2022, and a mere 41 years after its original release, Four More From Toyah was rereleased – on expanded eight song neon violet colour vinyl mini LP. Boasting gorgeous artwork and unreleased tracks, the LP, which was remastered from the original master tapes, referenced that original release while bringing the glorious EP bang up-to-date for new and old fans alike.

The Four More From Toyah Extended EP/Mini Album was the latest in an impressive release schedule of colour Toyah vinyl LPs made available over the previous five years – and something which has also continued since, with more great releases in 2023 and ’24.

The Tracklist: Side One: 1. Good Morning Universe, 2. Urban Tribesmen, 3. In The Fairground, 4. The Furious Futures | Side Two: 1. Go Berserk (Tour Intro), 2. Stand Proud, 3. Clapham Junction, 4. I Want To Be Free (Roundhouse Session)

• Click below to browse the album’s page at toyahwillcox.com.

Roses In Chains from Toyah Willcox

Renowned artist Toyah Willcox’s latest single, ‘Roses In Chains’ is a captivating collaboration with her long-time writing partner Simon Darlow, and features the legendary Robert Fripp, adding his signature guitar to the production.

‘Roses In Chains’ emerged through collaborative song-writing sessions between Wilcox and Darlow, crafting a song that delves into the intense dynamics of human relationships. “The idea behind the song is the intensity of relationships; nothing is plain sailing, but bonds are unbreakable” Willcox explained. This theme of enduring connections is powerfully conveyed through both the music and the lyrics.

The single showcases the unique synergy between both them and Fripp. “Musically, we aim for our life experiences to add up to one,” the singer said, highlighting the trio’s diverse backgrounds: her roots in punk, Fripp’s eclectic genre-spanning career, and Darlow’s history of pop success. This convergence of influences is evident in the rich, textured sound of ‘Roses In Chains’, that follows in the footsteps of the pairings previous collaborative success, 2021’s charting album Posh Pop (#22 Official Album Chart). A standout feature of the song is their dual voices, symbolising the sometimes painful yet inseparable nature of deep relationships. “I asked Simon to sing with me to represent how sometimes two people cannot be apart, even if it hurts, that there is a symbiotic relationship.” Willcox explained.

• Continue reading at Ramzine.

So much more to 2024! Amazing chart stats for the recently released Rebel Run 10″ vinyl!

Official Charts: 27 Sep – 3 Oct 2024

Official Vinyl Singles Chart: No. 1 | Official Physical Singles Chart: No. 2

Today saw the release of Toyah’s amazing 1983 single, Rebel Run on 10″ grey vinyl, which includes unreleased tracks, including an extended version of the lead song. It feels like a new era of Love Is The Law. I’m celebrating from a fan perspective with a new issue of Toyah Fanzine, which I’m currently working on, focusing on all things Love Is The Law. This bundle also includes part two of our Toyah Album Discography collection – flyers & postcards for every Toyah album release.

• More info on Issue 61, including previews and order link, here.

Video Killed The Radio Star: Sky Arts: Monday 30th September: 5.30am
Toyah Willcox. (Series 7, Episode 6) An insight into the making of videos by Toyah Willcox, whose hits included It’s A Mystery, Thunder in the Mountains and I Want To Be Free.

It’s another Saturday Song with Toyah and to celebrate the beginning of Strictly Come Dancing this weekend its a classic song and very rarely seen footage. Enjoy the absolute Toyah anthem “I Want To Be Free” in a super rare 1981 Italian TV performance.

A new t-shirt featuring the iconic Toyah logo from the Rebel Run/Love Is the Law album (1983) is now available for pre-order in the Toyah & Robert merchandise shop! (Image © Toyah Willcox)

50 Wild Women Of The 80s!: NOW 80s: Thursday 5th September: 4pm
Brilliant songs, big voices, blazing hair & bags of attitude – the ladies of the 80s had the lot! From Toyah to Tina & Joan Jett to Janet Jackson.

Toyah & Robert are thrilled to be No.1 in The Heritage Charts with Roses In Chains.

Toyah during Saturday’s Toyah At Home: “Look out, as there are more announcements coming up over the next few months… Oh boy! Are there more announcements coming up! Yes!” Pre-order the Rebel Run EP.