One of Toyah’s quotes on him is used in yesterday’s post about David Bowie at the ‘Vitiworks’ blog.
“Bowie set a standard. Within weeks every boy under the age of twenty had that haircut.” – Toyah Willcox
• View more of Toyah’s thoughts on Bowie, his influence on her and her memories of ‘The Jean Genie’, from last month’s My Vintage, on ‘Vintage TV’, here.
Toyah’s 11th song choice from My Vintage, ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’.
“I have never seen this band live. I would love to see them live, but I’m kind of put off by the fact that they are so mega, they are so big, they are the biggest band in the world. I think still, Coldplay might be about to overtake them. I’ve always loved their music. I think they’ve always released great albums that make you want to dance, they make you want to put your hands in the air…”
• Read the full transcript of the reasons for this song choice here. View all of Toyah’s other song choices from My Vintage here. The 12th, and final, song choice soon.
This has been available on Dreamscape for a few years but I thought I’d add it here in case anyone hasn’t heard it or wants to listen again. It’s a really interesting interview with Toyah in mid 1980, discussing details about her career up to that point. (Thanks to Giddy Gavin)
Toyah discusses the origins of her name, The Tempest and playing Miranda, how she was “discovered”, Jubilee, Quadrophenia, the forming of the first Toyah band, her career to date, future plans and more. (The sound is quite low so please crank up your volume)
• Read a full transcript of this interview, at ‘The TW Interview Archive’, here. (Thanks to Min)
• Toyah was mentioned in the ‘Funnel Of Love’ blog post, on Sunday 1st April, about the recent BBC2 documentary series The Tube: “The hawk is called Toyah after Toyah Willcox. ‘Aw bless’ or ‘ew groce’, depending on your view on naming birds after women. Considering Ms Willcox’ affection for strange headwear with feathers it’s probably totally appropriate”. View here.
• View a fantastic ‘flickr’ gallery of photos, by ‘Sanctuary Music’, of Toyah live at the HMV Institute, Birmingham last April on one of the first dates of the ‘From Sheep Farming To Anthem’ UK tour.
• Toyah Playlisted: ‘Don’t Fall In Love (I Said)’ is included in Dark Night of the Soul with Julie (3 April) on WFMU, and ‘Ieya’ (The Blue Meaning original) in the Ian Fairholm Special (2 April) on Phoenix FM. (Thanks to Sarah)
A full transcript of Toyah’s interview with Keith Middleton on BBC Radio’s Late Show is now available to read at The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive. The show aired last Saturday night and is still live for the next few days at BBC iPlayer. Click below to read the transcript.
‘Second Sight’, classic film and tv on DVD, has great pages dedicated to the DVD releases of Jubilee and The Tempest. Both of these. now iconic, films were reissued on Region 2 DVD in the mid-2000s.
Both are also just about to be reissued again, as part of The Derek Jarman Collection: A 5DVD box set of Derek Jarman films released by Umbrella Entertainment, in Australia, on 2nd May 2012.
I’ve periodically thought about a Toyah photo book for many years. If anyone is worthy or entitled to a photographic celebration of their imagery it surely is, the visual genius, Toyah? Sadly, I doubt it will ever happen. The copyright issues, sourcing high quality versions of photos, finding the owners/photographers, the cost involved… etc, but I still like to dream…
Toyah presents a radio documentary on the story, and history, of the tattoo: To Mother With Love: The Story Of The Tattoo aired on ‘BBC Radio 2’ on 2nd March 1999. This is Part One. I’ll upload the remainder when I’ve converted it from tape to mp3. (Thanks to Seàn)
A slightly strange but funny photo tweet from Toyah this evening: “Since her sex change toyah has been experiencing a little testosterone overload.”
• Maidenhead Advertiser: Let’s Rock The Moor: Family support charity to benefit: Families in need are set to benefit from a fundraising music festival in Cookham this summer. Proceeds from Let’s Rock the Moor, on Saturday, May 12, will raise money for the Link Foundation. This year’s line up includes Billy Ocean, Go West, Heaven 17, Toyah and Modern Romance, and will be hosted by Pat Sharp. Continue reading here.
• View photos of Toyah “at home” in 2010, by ‘Jamie Hughes Photography’, here and here.
• Many Happy Returns to Chris Wong. It’s his birthday today! (Thanks to Sugar Rush: The Humans.org.uk)
• Not exactly earth-shattering news, but it is related to ‘The Changeling’ in “Changeling Month” :) Yesterday Toyah was mentioned in a question at Just Quiz: 23. What links a Jacobean tragedy, an Oscar nominated film starring Angelina Jolie and a 1982 album by Toyah?
Tweeting with Toyah #1: Toyah tweeted a fun photo of Robert (aka Frank Fripp) yesterday morning. Tweeting with Toyah #2: Toyah also tweeted last night: “Small world! Bill rieflin & don gunn (humans producer) are with simon phillips (drummer on the changeling) in seattle!” Tweeting with Toyah #3: Toyah tweeted today: “Talk about synchronicity! Booking seattle recording studio for Humans 3 & steve lillywhite is mixing there!“
The 1-14 April, 1982 issue of ‘Smash Hits’ has just been added to the ‘Like Punk Never Happened – Smash Hits Archive’.
Just a small news article (in Bitz!) on Toyah this fortnight, accompanied by this great photo from the 1982 Rock & Pop Awards: If you haven’t managed to secure tickets for Toyah’s forthcoming tour, here’s a flicker of light on the horizon. The 32 year old has just added an extra show at Sheffield City Hall on June 18th and two extras at London’s Hammersmith Odeon on July 17 and 18. Tickets cost £5, £4.50 and £4.
In addition to the tour she’s recording a new album for release in June. On April 25 she appears on telly in a play called “Blue Marigolds” which kicks off the new teeth-chattering series of Tales Of The Unexpected. This girl deserves a holiday.
View scans of the full issue, and every previous issue of ‘Smash Hits’, here.
The second monthly online live track has been added to Toyah’s official website. It’s the majestic ‘Pop Star’, recorded live at The Regal, Oxford on 2nd July 2011.
Toyah’s official website will be offering visitors exclusive live tracks each month as Toyah’s Changeling Tour and summer festival/concert dates approach. At the beginning of each month an exclusive live track recorded from Toyah’s extensive 2011 tour dates will feature on the Gigs page.
The live tracks will be available to listen to for a limited time only with a new track replacing it each month. These live tracks are a taster for a special live album release planned for digital release in autumn/winter of 2012.
• Listen to ‘Pop Star’, live at Oxford’s The Regal, here.
More new gigs, festivals and PAs for Toyah have been confirmed by the official website.
Toyah plays the ‘Decades Festival’ in Workington on Saturday 26th May, a return to ‘Blackpool Pride’, with a live PA at the North Pier Theatre, on Saturday 9th June. There’s also a return to ‘Manchester Pride’, headlining the Women’s Stage at Sackville Gardens on Sunday 26th August.
• All the details are available on the Gigs page at toyahwillcox.com.
Celebrity Fantasy Homes: Home: Sunday 15th April: 6.00pm
Celebrity Fantasy Homes: Home +1: Sunday 15th April: 7.00pm
Celebrities hunt for a new home. Gaby Roslin helps punk-pop princess Toyah Willcox search for a second home, in Richmond upon Thames, with a budget of £650,000.
Two brief excerpts from last night’s ‘BBC Radio Shropshire/Stoke/etc’ interview, with Toyah talking about ‘The Changeling’ and ‘The Changeling Resurrection’. See below for info on how to hear the full interview. (Apologies for the noises, they are included in iPlayer’s recording)
The Keith Middleton Late Show, broadcast on various ‘BBC Radio’ stations last night – a “Punk!” special – is available to listen to for the next seven days at BBC iPlayer.
Toyah guested, along with Hazel O’Connor and Annabella Lwin, via pre-recorded telephone interviews. Toyah and Keith’s conversation was recorded on Friday.
Annabella’s interview begins at approximately 1h 09m, Hazel’s at 1h 37m, and Toyah at 2h 13m
Toyah talks The Changeling, The Changeling Resurrection and its set list, her haunted home in Worcestershire and its history, ghosts and the paranormal, punk (obviously) and how unique and exciting it was, her career, living in the present and not stopping working, how she relaxes and more.
There are plays of ‘Thunder In The Mountains’, ‘Brilliant Day’, ‘I Want To Be Free’ and ‘It’s A Mystery’, and Toyah’s interview, including the music, lasts for around 30 minutes.
Steve Riley saw The Power Of Three in Brooklyn last night and, very kindly, agreed to share his thoughts, with ‘Falling To Earth’ and our readers, on the movie:
The Power Of Three is a feel good, funny, moving, motivational and enlightening movie. I am amazed at how women are treated as they age, It’s very different being a man. All of TPOT cast were very believable and Toyah was excellent of course. I would happily see the movie again. The rest of the audience certainly appreciated it as everyone applauded as the end titles rolled.
Definitely a film worth seeing. (A huge thank you to Steve: www.steverileyart.com)
More ‘Changeling’ related tweets from Toyah yesterday: “Fab day plugging in2 The Changeling. Started to really like the songs again. Can c beyond the stresses at the time.”, and this morning: “Pop Star (Live) is online 4 ur pleasure. toyahwillcox.com/gigs. Only 13 days till 1st concert. Can’t wait. The devil in me is excited.”
Welcome to the month of ‘The Changeling Resurrection 2012’… It’s going to be wild (child)!
From Toyah’s Official Facebook today: Welcome to April…the month of THE CHANGELING RESURRECTION 2012 tour which kicks off in Brighton on 14 April. Full details of the 7 tour dates plus lots of additions to Toyah’s gig diary are now online along with a new exclusive live track….. ONLY at www.toyahwillcox.com/gigs
Yes, I’m afraid Frail Pool was my pitiful attempt at an April Fool weeze. As if you didn’t know :)
