Great photos of a weekend in Brighton! Sharon Dickson with Toyah, and Chris & Andy. Andy Mansfield with Toyah, and Sharon visiting Wykehurst Place. View larger versions of these photos at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks to Sharon)
Sensational photos of Toyah from Brighton on Saturday night. View larger versions of these, and more, at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks again to Paul Crutchley for his generosity in sharing his, always amazing, photos | Photos © PAC Photography)
Toyah being presented with The Changeling cake, at the final gig of ‘The Changeling Resurrection II’ gig at Concorde2 in Brighton, by Nigel Glockler. How brilliant to see Nigel onstage with Toyah again. View larger versions of these, and more, at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks to Paul Crutchley | Photos © PAC Photography)
Toyah’s tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Changeling and Warrior Rock reached its finale at Concorde 2 on Saturday evening.
It was also brilliantly odd as our very own Choccywoccydoodah had their film crew present. Nigel Glockler, one of Toyah’s former drummers, introduced Toyah on stage, presenting her with a typically extravagant cake to celebrate the anniversary.
It was clear throughout that Toyah has a fantastic set of adoring fans. It’s not hard to see why either, with her infectious energy embracing the whole crowd.
• Continue reading at The Argus.
A slightly different version of ‘Ghosts In The Universe’ from Toyah’s 1988 album Prostitute has recently been uploaded to You Tube. It isn’t vastly different but it certainly isn’t the same as the version available on the album. (Thanks to secondsish)
Two more: Waiting (Goodbye Mankind) and Last Goodbye. Unsure if these “slightly different” versions of well-known Toyah songs are fan “mixed” or not.
Well I sell my soul to Faust, each and every night for you…
An incredible lyric to start a song with. Even at 13 it impressed me, although I didn’t actually have a clue what it meant at the time. ‘Run Wild, Run Free’ is one of the standout tracks on The Changeling. No mean feat when you consider how good the entire album is.
A muted and subdued beginning belies the intensity of the song, and some of the lyrics sound incredibly personal and directed at a particular person: “It’s a lonely time, I’ve walked from the limelight, into an empty cobbled street… for you” .
Toyah’s voice is outstanding throughout, as are her own backing vocals. I really believe(d) she means every word she sings, and the band as always sound great. I love the energy and intensity, and the drama, of ‘Run Wild, Run Free’ from beginning to end – although there isn’t really an end as it segues brilliantly into ‘Brave New World’!
Written by the juggernaut songwriting team of Willcox/Bogen, produced by Steve Lillywhite and released in Summer 1982, it is one of the best Toyah songs of the Safari years.
Nigel Glockler, a former member of Toyah, presented Toyah with a Changeling cake at the final concert of The Changeling Resurrection II Tour at Concorde2, Brighton on Saturday night. Here’s the unique cake, and Toyah… (Photos © Damon King)
View Damon’s Concorde2 footage (I Want To Be Free, It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains, Obsolete, Good Morning Universe) here, and Kevin Tucker’s (Ieya) here.
Behind The Sofa, the Doctor Who book in which Toyah contributes a memory, has finally been published and is now available to buy from Amazon and other online book stores.
Behind The Sofa is a collection of over 100 celebrity memories of Doctor Who, compiled in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
• View a review of the book at Impact Online, a news report at Velvet Onion and a preview of some of the excellent content at Radio Times.
Following the success of last year’s smash-hit Marlowe Theatre pantomime, you’re guaranteed another fabulous, festive treat this Christmas with Sleeping Beauty. Topping the bill are singing sensation Gareth Gates and pop legend Toyah Willcox. With lavish sets, beautiful costumes, brilliant musical numbers, amazing illusions, lots of comedy and even a fire-breathing dragon, this promises to be Canterbury’s most magical pantomime yet. Sleeping Beauty runs from 30 November to 20 January.
Whitefriars has a family ticket for four to give away for this year’s panto, courtesy of The Marlowe Theatre. The tickets are for the special 4 December VIP performance and include free passes to the after-show drinks party with the cast. Closing date is 26 November 2012.
• Continue reading, and enter the competition, at Whitefriars Canterbury.
The ‘Whitstable People’ news report (see below) means there are now five Christmas Lights switch-ons by the Marlowe Theatre Sleeping Beauty cast taking place in the lead up to the panto opening on 30th November.
These are: Canterbury (15 Nov/5.30pm), Herne Bay (16 Nov/5pm), Whitstable (17 Nov/6pm), Deal (22 Nov/7.30pm) and Dover (24 Nov/5.30pm).
Please note that the Sleeping Beauty cast appearing at the above events are thus far unconfirmed. As is which cast members will be participating in each switch-on!
Canterbury’s Christmas lights will be switched on in St George’s Street on Thursday, November 15 at 5.30pm.
Herne Bay’s switch-on will be on Friday, November 16, in Mortimer Street, starting at 4pm with the lights going on at 5pm.
Whitstable’s event is on Saturday, November 17, starting with a parade from the harbour to the library at 4.45pm, followed by the switch-on at 6pm. Stars from the Marlowe Theatre pantomime Sleeping Beauty will be flicking the switch at all three events.
• Continue reading at Whitstable People.
Live footage from two recent Changeling Resurrection II gigs: Ieya at The Horn in St Albans (1st November) and Our Movie at The Electric Palace in Bridport (26th October). Click on either below to view at ‘You Tube’. (Thanks to Kevin Tucker & Stephen Bennett Troake)
Coming Soon: A dedicated page at Dreamscape’s Gallery for the various Toyah bits & pieces I’ve put together over the years. Storing it all in the one place will mean easier access to having a laugh at my feeble attempts at “fan art”. I didn’t realise quite how many I’d done!
A few more eightiestastic photos of Toyah taken when she guested on The Saturday Show in 1982 and then presented an edition of the programme, in 1983. View more here. Please click below to zoom. (Thanks again to Ray Sears for sharing his rare photos of Toyah!)
A few photos from the ‘Mini Tour’ in December 1982. Click to zoom. (Thanks to Ray Sears)
Tonight is the final gig of The Changeling Resurrection II Tour, back where the Spring Tour began in April, at Concorde2 in Brighton. Here are more great photos of Toyah at the Birmingham Ballroom date. View larger versions of these, and more, at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks again to Paul Crutchley | Photos © PAC Photography)
• The fantastic Revelations, from the 1981 EP ‘Four From Toyah’, was played on ‘Q Radio’ on Thursday night. Still sounds great after, almost, 32 years!
• Toyah tweeted a great photo of herself, James Endeacott and Frankie from Frankie and The Heartstrings when they guested on Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable yesterday.
• Dark Beauty Mag: Brilliance From The Past: Lady Gaga, Madonna, and so many others would never match up. (This tribute to Toyah was published in January 2011 so I’m not sure why it showed up in my news feeds today but I’m glad it did!)
Stunning photos of Toyah from Wednesday’s Changeling Resurrection II gig at Birmingham Ballroom. More of these tomorrow. (Thanks to Paul Crutchley | Photos © PAC Photography)
More great photos of Toyah at Wednesday night’s Birmingham Ballroom concert. View larger versions of these, and more, at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks again to Ray Sears)
A review of last night’s Birmingham Ballroom gig, by David Lumb at the Express & Star.
Review: Toyah Willcox, The Ballroom, Birmingham
It’s more than 30 years since Toyah Willcox launched her solo career – but anyone who thought the Birmingham singer was done and dusted has reason to think again after a headbanging performance in her home city last night.
Dozens left the warmth of their homes on a cold and wet Wednesday evening to see an intimate gig at The Ballroom. Taking to the stage in a black Chinese-style dress with an ornate headdress and boots, she kicked off the show with Good Morning Universe, before moving on to Castaways, Blue Meaning, a song she said was inspired by Tolkien and the Black Country.
• Continue reading at the Express & Star.
Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable, which aired earlier this evening on ‘BBC 6Music’, is now available for the next week at BBC iPlayer.
Toyah, James Endeacott and Frankie from Frankie and The Heartstrings are on the panel reviewing the latest releases.
Toyah briefly talks about The Changeling Resurrection II Tour and the audience who go to her gigs in 2012, and along with other guests reviews the new singles by, among others, Adam Ant, Little Green Cars, Stubborn Heart, The Lumineers and Madness.
