Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Another report on the Media Molecule story, this one also published yesterday by, the mighty, Digital Spy.

Media Molecule teases mystery new game announcement with Toyah video

Media Molecule is teasing a mystery new game announcement on its website. Under the games section of the Media Molecule site, the LittleBigPlanet developer has a page marked with a question mark. Clicking on the question mark launches a YouTube video of Toyah song ‘It’s a Mystery’.

With Sony expected to unveil the PlayStation 4 on February 20, Media Molecule’s mystery game could be a next-generation release.

• Continue reading at Digital Spy.

Who would have thought a few days ago that ‘It’s A Mystery’ would be being mentioned all over the internet this week? Media Molecule using Toyah’s, second, Top Of The Pops appearance from 1981 on their “teaser” page for a new, highly anticipated, game project has led to mention of the song, and Toyah going sorta “viral”. Here are a few more of the many websites reporting the story:

• Gamezone: The new project is listed as “?”, and the dedicated page contains a YouTube video of Toyah Willcox singing “It’s a Mystery.” Attempting to scour the source code for any hints, Media Molecule has cleverly teased the keywords: “what are we doing at the moment, exactly, mystery, new game, how awesome will it be?, who knows.”

• Gameranx: In place of further information about what the game entails (or whether it’s a game or not at all), right now all they’ve posted is a video of early 80s UK New Wave artist Toyah singing her song “It’s A Mystery” on a classic episode of Top Of The Pops.

• Video Gamer: Click through to the game and you are greeted with a YouTube embed of Toyah Wilcox hit ‘”It’s a Mystery”. It sure is.

• Playstation Universe: The developer behind the critically-acclaimed LittleBigPlanet series has seemingly posted up a teaser for a new project. Media Molecule’s official website notably includes a ‘?’ among its list of games, with the page linking to a clip from Toyah’s ‘It’s a Mystery.’ No further information is given.

• Warp Zoned: The list of games on the developer’s website includes their previous titles as well as a question mark. The question mark links to the music video for “It’s A Mystery,” a minor hit for the UK band Toyah in 1981. Sadly, the lyrics aren’t much help: It’s a mystery, oh, it’s a mystery, I’m still searching for a clue, It’s a mystery to me, A shot in the dark, The big question mark in history, Is it a mystery to you? (minor hit? It was huge Warped Zone ;))

LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule has a page labelled “?” in the Games section of its website, which plays Toyah’s ‘It’s A Mystery’ when accessed.

This is now being reported on games websites and forums all over the internet, including Game Informer: There’s A Media Molecule Mystery Afoot, Only SP: Media Molecule Teasing Unannounced Title, VG24/7: Media Molecule website teases secret new project.

• Visit the Media Molecule ‘Mystery’ page, and the LittleBigPlanet website.

• News Shopper: Win a night at the theatre with friends and Hormonal Housewives: News Shopper has teamed up with The Churchill Theatre in Bromley to offer one lucky reader, and five friends, the chance to win tickets to the opening night on 5th March. You can enter online or by text. (Closing date for entries: 21st February)

• The Hormonal Houswives begin rehearsals today for their mammoth three month tour. They tweeted on Friday: “The hormonal housewives are gearing up for a relaxing weekend before rehearsals start on Monday.”

More great Toyah photos from the early 80s, both rarely seen shots from well-known photo sessions. The first is from the famous 1981 “leopard print” shoot and the other from thw ‘Daily Mirror’ British Rock & Pop Awards shoot in 1982. Click below to zoom. (Thanks to Kev Tucker and Ray Sears, and also Andrew York for colouring the 1981 photo)

• Victoria & Albert Museum: Jubilee @ The V&A: A fantastic photo of Jordan is included in the prestigious museum’s collection.

• Penny Black Music: Cheek of Her: Megaphonic EP: Toyah is mentioned in this new review… There are even spoken lyrics over what could be the harmonies of a choir of flouncy girls lead by the love child of Siouxsie Sioux and Toyah Willcox.

• Unofficial Toyah Top 20 2103: The results of the first part of James and Lärwi’s Toyah Song Poll are in, and the second part is now online. Toyah’s full back catalogue, excluding collaborations, was included and has been voted down to a final 28. 100 people participated in the fun poll so it’s hardly definitive but still interesting (and thanks to James for taking the time to organise it all). Vote here.

• First-Thoughts: A huge forum thread “discussing” Patsy Kensit, which over the last six weeks also includes Weight Watchers, Toyah and ‘Sensational’. To save you the bother of trawling through the, seemingly endless, posts I’ve cherrypicked the best one :) – “Giving serious thought to joining Weight Watchers. Mostly because I want to dance to Toyah’s Sensational with Patsy Kensit.”

Toyah is included in a new Birmingham Mail article on the Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s 100th anniversary.

Birmingham Rep 100th birthday: Kenneth Branagh leads glowing tributes to venue

The Birmingham Rep celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Famous names who have performed there pay tribute to the venue.

Birmingham’s own Toyah Willcox began her creative life at The Old Rep Theatre School, where she was a teenage drama student.

“My roots are firmly in Birmingham. As a teenager I always idealised the Birmingham Rep and its creative work,’’ she recalled. “I wish the Rep a fantastic centenary year and I look forward to seeing its brilliant new productions under the guidance of the new artistic director Roxana Silbert.”

• Continue reading at the Birmingham Mail.

The positive feedback for Imaginary Toyah Singles has been something of a surprise. I thought about doing it a while ago and then, like so many other things, promptly forgot about it again. I’m glad some of you are enjoying it. I’ve added another three: Voodoo Doll (especially for Lärwi); Martian Cowboy and Kiss The Devil.

Toyah’s My Vintage, which originally aired on ‘Vintage TV’ last March, is repeated this coming Tuesday.

My Vintage: Vintage TV: Tuesday 12th February: 11pm
Toyah Willcox. Toyah was a rebellious child, but the arrival of rock ‘n’ roll reinvented her life and gave her grounding. Here she shares with us the songs that brought her to where she is today.

• View all of Dreamscape’s previous My Vintage news here.

• It’s the final couple of days of, the first part of, James and Lärwi’s Toyah Song Poll. Voting closes tomorrow so there’s still time to get involved. The top two from each album will then be voted on to find fans current favourite song. It’s not going to be a Top 50 as I, incorrectly, previously mentioned, more likely to be either a Top 20 or 15! Vote here.

• Entertainment Focus: Hormonal Housewives returns to Woking: Hormonal Housewives is returning to Woking’s New Victoria Theatre for one night only on Monday 18th March. Toyah Willcox and Julie Coombe star in the hilarious show which will features all-new sketches and all the best bits from the successful 2012 tour. Written by Julie and her husband John McIsaac, Hormonal Housewives looks at everything that makes today’s women tick…

• You Tube: Two clips of Toyah, possibly from around 2008, in fine voice playing It’s A Mystery and I Want To Be Free with The Subs have just been uploaded to ‘You Tube’. These clips are filmed from various angles and edited professionally but I’m not sure where they originate from.

Check out the latest addition to Dreamscape: A page dedicated to Hormonal Housewives, the theatre show that Toyah will tour with through March, April and May.

Dreamscape’s page includes info, photos and the full tour dates. I’ve also added direct links to the Hormonal Housewives page at each theatre website (just click on the theatre’s name).

Hormonal Housewives 2013 opens at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley on Tuesday 5th March and goes country wide over the following three months. The complete dates are also available at The Official Toyah Gigs page.

(Thanks to Valeria Carboni & Jamie Wilson Productions)

I’ve had a few great comments about the “imaginary” single cover for Snow Covers The Kiss (a wonderful song from 1985) so I thought I’d share the “ad” for it too. Please click to zoom.

2013 is shaping up to be yet another eventful and busy year for Toyah, with Hormonal Housewives, The Humans and the Love Is The Law Autumn tour being just some of Toyah’s plans.

Dreamscape is looking forward to another busy year too. As well as the usual news updates we have just launched the Imaginary Toyah Singles feature, there’s the ongoing Remember ’83 and there are a few other interesting projects to come – including a brand new WEBSITE dedicated to Toyah – AND a substantial feature focusing on a specific time in her career.

I can’t say much about these right now as it would just spoil the surprise. If you are a Toyah fan I can assure you they are not to be missed!

Thanks to those of who you said they like the new feature. I’ve just updated with another four new, completely imaginary, single covers.

An article from today’s Birmingham Mail, on Toyah and Hormonal Housewives in Birmingham.

Toyah Willcox joins Hormonal Housewives at to the New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

TV and music star joins comedy show in Birmingham

The irrepressible Hormonal Housewives are back and return to the New Alexandra Theatre Birmingham with Toyah Willcox next month. The show for all the women out there whose man is more James May than Christian Grey, Hormonal Housewives is a comedy written by husband and wife team Julie Coombe and John McIsaac.

• Continue reading at the Birmingham Mail.

It’s the official flyer/leaflet for the Hormonal Housewives 2013 UK tour, featuring great photos and most of the later tour dates (in May). Please click on the photos to zoom.

Hormonal Housewives opens in just under a month’s time, on 5th March, and visits dozens of theatres and venues over the following three months. No doubt there will be tons of press and interviews in the build up to, and during, the tour.

• Visit the Hormonal Housewives website for more info. The complete list of dates is also available at The Official Toyah Gigs page at toyahwillcox.com. (Thanks to Sharon Dickson for the flyer)

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to Sugar Rush: The Humans Fansite. The site is one-year-old today – All the best to Paul, and congratulations. Here’s to future Humans days!

Here is the print version of Toyah’s interview with the ‘Mirror’ from Tuesday. It is, of course, the same interview that was published on their website.  This edition also includes the great photo of Toyah from 1981.

‘For 40 years I’ve survived on three hours’ sleep a night’: Toyah Willcox on her battle with insomnia

Born with a twisted spine, a clubbed right foot and one leg shorter than the other, singer and actress Toyah Willcox has also suffered from chronic insomnia for 40 years.

Now the 54-year-old, who lives with her husband, musician Robert Fripp, 66, has finally found relief through having acupuncture.

I’ve suffered from ­chronic insomnia for 40 years. It started when I was a 14-year-old ­dyslexic schoolgirl revising for my exams in ­Birmingham. I experienced the typical ­teenage stress that the pressure of cramming for exams, and then sitting there for hours on end doing them brings.

• Continue reading at the Mirror. Read Dreamscape’s news post on this here. (Thanks to Richard Smith for the scan)

• The Changeling Resurrection II: Anyone For a T? If you didn’t manage to get a t-shirt from the autumn tour, there are now some limited stock for sale online. All T-shirts are signed too! Get in quick if you would like one.

• Slightly late for the panto season that has just gone, but Toyah’s panto-themed guest appearance on Gloria Hunniford’s Open House has just been uploaded to You Tube. This originally aired on Channel 5 in December 2002.

• Cumbria Crack: Hormonal Houswives: With previous Hormonal Housewives including Margi Clark and Carol Smillie, this year the ladies are led by British pop icon Toyah Willcox and writer Julie Coombe, with further casting to be announced.

• Toyah paid tribute to Reg Presley of The Troggs, who died on Monday: “Dear Reg Presley God Bless You. A true wonderful legend. U will b missed“.

• Birmingham Mail: Birmingham Cluedo inventor to be honoured on Kings Heath Walk of Fame: Another mention for Toyah and more news on plans for the KH WOF.

This new Dreamscape feature isn’t imaginary, but everything included in it is!!

I guess it’s just another way of creating something new and different with Toyah imagery, song titles and logos – all of which we are incredibly familiar with. I hope to add to this occasionally so it’s yet another work in progress, and if anyone has any suggestions for a song that they’d like included let me know.

Click below to view the new page, and here or to the left to view an imaginary advert for one of the imaginary singles; “I’ll Serve You Well”. 

Toyah’s February blog is available to read at toyahwillcox.com: Toyah talks Clare Balding, future plans, being glad to see the back of January and much more. Click below to read.