Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Last week Toyah guested on Tracks Of My Years on Ken Bruce’s BBC Radio Two show – Here’s a catch-up of some extra related newsy bits…

• Official Toyah: Toyah Selects The ‘Tracks Of My Years’: Toyah has selected the Tracks of My Years for BBC Radio 2’s Ken Bruce Show which airs all of this week – Visit toyahwillcox.com…

• The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive: Read a full transcript of Toyah’s Tracks Of My Years week – including all her song choices and chat – at Lärwi’s site…

• Ken Bruce @ Twitter: Ken tweeted: “toyahofficial is choosing the #Tracksofmyyears all week with @realkenbruce starting with T Rex and Kate Bush…“.

• Tasmin Archer @ Twitter: Tasmin tweeted: “Toyah Willcox picks the Tracks of My Years,with songs from David Bowie & Tasmin Archer“.

• BBC Radio 2 Facebook: A listener posted: “Glad I listened to Toyah Willcox yesterday explain the meaning of Nights in White Satin. For the past 30 odd years I’ve been clueless as to its meaning…!”

• Shadow.com: Want to see what people say about Lana Del Rey? – Not sure if this is a Lana Del Rey website but they mentioned Toyah choosing Videogames on Ken’s show.

• Listen Again: The full week of programmes are available at BBC iPlayer until the end of July.

• Tracks Of My Years @ Dreamscape: Browse all of our news here…

• Film4: FrightFest 2015: Thursday 27th August – Monday 31st August: Film4 FrightFest 2015 marks its 16th year with its largest line-up ever. Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the UK’s leading event for genre fans will return to the Vue West End, Leicester Square to present 76 films across five screens, plus a host of special events – Continue reading…

• End of The Road: Cinema: We’re delighted to announce that Will Hodgkinson will be taking over the film tent at this year’s End of The Road Festival – As well as presenting a “Country Life” themed Friday, a “Rock ‘n’ Roll” Saturday and a Sunday of “Glamour”, he’ll be bringing actor Steve Oram along to discuss and screen his directorial debut Aaaaaaaah! with actors Alice Lowe and Julian Barratt – Continue reading…

• Hollywood Reporter: U.K.’s FrightFest Genre Festival Unveils Biggest Ever Lineup: FrightFest is set to screen the world premiere of comedy shocker Aaaaaaaah! by Steve Oram, star and co-writer of Ben Wheatley’s 2012 comedy Sightseers – Continue reading…

• IGN: Howl, The Hallow and More Play at FrightFest 2015: We’re looking forward to Deathgasm, Turbo Kid and AAAAAAAAH!, which looks weird, wonderful and deeply disturbing – Continue reading…

• British Horror Revival: Baker’s dozen British features at Frightfest: Frightfest have announced their line-up for 2015 and as usual it includes a good selection of British features. Thirteen in total – Continue reading…

• Games Radar: Film4 FrightFest 2015 reveals full line-up of films: Film4 FrightFest 2015 has unveiled its largest line-up ever, with the festival set to present seventy-six films across five screens, plus a host of special events… Home-grown highlights include Steve Oram’s darkly comic Aaaaaaaah! – Continue reading…

• Aaaaaaaah! @ Dreamscape: Browse all of our Aaaaaaaah! news here…

Following the recent news that the 1979 series of Quatermass is to be reissued on DVD… It will also be available, for the first time, on Blu-ray too – With a Limited Edition first run to be available in four different coloured sleeves, based on the title colour scheme of each episode.

• Visit the Blu-ray info/product page at the Network DVD website. The Blu-ray is also available to pre-order at Amazon. (Thanks to Stephen Bennett Troake for the update, and thanks again to Giddy Gavin for the original info)

Toyah tweeted a photo from yesterday’s One Voice concert – This is the third year running she has guested at the event at Rotherham’s New York Stadium. Click below to visit Toyah at Twitter. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)

• This photo reminded me of that fantastic National Trust shot from Autumn 2012.

Steve Oram’s directorial debut comedy horror, about a world inhabited by apes in human form

Starring: Steve Oram, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Noel Fielding, Alice Lowe, Julian Barratt, Tony Way, Toyah Willcox, Lucy Honigman, Shelley Longworth, Tom Meeten, Waen Shepherd.

Alpha Male Smith and his Beta, Keith, move to take over a local community. They hook up with restless Female, Denise, igniting a deadly feud in which emotions run high and deep-seated grudges resurface amongst the tribe. Are we not men? Or are we simply beasts?

Steve Oram, the actor/writer from Sightseers and Kill List stars in his long-awaited debut feature with a host of his friends. Get ready for the most unusual celluloid primal scream – an anarchic, hilarious, disturbing and touching look at the human condition.

• Continue reading at the British Comedy Guide.

Princess of Punk Toyah Willcox to perform in Nantwich

The original Princess of Punk Toyah Willcox will be performing in Nantwich with her Close Up and Personal Tour.

Toyah will be in town for one night only this Friday July 10, from 8pm.

This is a unique chance to experience Toyah up close and personal. A lively unplugged/storytellers style gig, it will include Toyah performing an acoustic set of her loved hit singles and classic songs, alongside recalling stories from her colourful, 35-year career.

Toyah will be performing alongside musicians Chris Wong and Colin Hinds and hits include It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains, I Want To Be Free and Good Morning Universe.

Tickets are £17 available from Nantwich Civic Hall on 01270 628633 or online at www.nantwichtowncouncil.gov.uk

• Continue reading at the Nantwich News. View the complete upcoming Acoustic, Up Close & Personal dates. Browse all of Dreamscape’s Acoustic… related news by clicking below.

It appears the Irish Daily Star have taken a quote from Toyah’s Tracks Of My Years – which aired all last week on BBC Radio Two – and blown it out of proportion to create a news story – Here it is anyway…

Eighties pop star blasts U2 for ‘manipulating fans’

Eighties pop star Toyah Willcox (57) has blasted U2 — claiming the Dublin band are using social media to manipulate fans in a bid to keep their career going.

The singer is married to prog rock legend Robert Fripp, best known for being a member of King Crimson and releasing a series of albums with former U2 producer Brian Eno.

Willcox made the comments on BBC Radio 2 when, ironically, she selected the band’s 1987 hit Where The Streets Have No Name, as one of her all-time favourite songs.

“What fascinates me about U2 is the curve of their career. I love all their early stuff.

“And I worked with Steve Lillywhite, he produced an album I did called Changeling, which has been cited as the beginning of the Goth movement,” said Toyah whose 80s hits include I Want To Be Free, It’s A Mystery and Thunder In The Mountains.

• Continue reading at the Irish Daily Star.

The 16th edition of genre film festival unveils full line-up.

Film4 FrightFest will mark its 16th edition with its largest line-up ever, showcasing 76 films across five screens at the Vue West End in Leicester Square from Aug 27-31.

This year’s line-up features 20 world premieres, a record-breaking 16 European premieres and 26 UK premieres, with 18 countries represented. In addition, there will be a further ‘Discovery’ strand at The Prince Charles Cinema, marking a return to the festival’s original home.

World premieres at this year’s FrightFest include Paul Hyett’s creature feature Howl, anthology A Christmas Horror Story, Steve Oram’s comedy Aaaaaaaah! and Liam Regan’s revenge thriller Banjo, while European premieres include Ben Cresciman’s Sun Choke, Paz Brothers’ Jeruzalem and Adam Mason’s Hangman.

• Continue reading at Screen Daily.

• Great Yarmouth Mercury: New programme for St George’s Theatre, Great Yarmouth: St George’s have released their new brochure for the rest of the year and what an array of shows they have coming up – Going into the autumn, the theatre has two headliners in ‘Toyah Willcox’ and ‘Lesley Garrett’, early booking is advised for these two as tickets are already selling fast – Continue reading…

• Nottingham Post: Pop nostalgia weekend at Clumber Park in August: Stars of the Seventies and Eighties will line up at Clumber Park for a weekend of pop nostalgia – The Flashback Festival, now in its sixth year, will include two separate concerts. Sheffield synthpop pioneers the Human League will headline the Eighties line-up on Saturday, August 22, joined by Marc Almond, Jason Donovan, 5 Star, Toyah and The Doctor of Doctor & The Medics – Continue reading…

• Bristol Theatre: Toyah – Loud, Proud & Electric!: Don´t miss TOYAH – Loud, Proud & Electric! Shortly showing at the renowned Fleece – With many people in Bristol and from other places hoping to visit Fleece, make sure you purchase a ticket today rather than tomorrow so you can avoid regret. Don’t miss this fantastic show! – Continue reading…

• Official Gig Guide: Browse Toyah’s full concert diary for the remainder of 2015 at toyahwillcox.com…

Huge online reporting of the FrightFest 2015 Line-Up Announcement. Aaaaaaaah! is, of course, mentioned in them all – and some include the still of Toyah from the film.

• Horror Channel: FrightFest 2015 Serves Up A Fearsome Feast With A Record 76 Films, Embracing 20 World And 42 UK And European Premieres: FrightFest always takes great pride in platforming the brightest British and Irish talent and 2015 is an outstanding year. Apart from opening with David Keating’s Cherry Tree, there is the world premiere of Steve Oram’s hilarious and very disturbing AAAAAAAAH! – Continue reading…

• SciFiNow: Film4 FrightFest 2015 line-up is announced! So many horrors!: The massive line-up for Film4 FrightFest 2015 has arrived, and there’s so much to see… Steve Oram’s beserk-looking AAAAAAAAH! makes its world premiere – Continue reading…

• Failed Critics: Film4 FrightFest 2015 Preview: In the discovery screen 1 – Aaaaaaaah! from Steve Oram looks worth a watch, starring Toyah Willcox – Continue reading…

• Entertainment-Focus: Film4 Frightfest returns for 2015: Film4 FrightFest 2015 marks its 16th year with its biggest line-up to date. From Thurs 27th August to Mon 31st August, the UK’s leading event for genre fans will return to the Vue West End, Leicester Square to present 76 films across five screens, plus a host of special events – Continue reading…

• Britflicks: Film4 FrightFest Announces Full 2015 Line-Up: Bigger, bolder, bloodier…Film4 FrightFest 2015 marks its 16th year with its largest line-up ever – Continue reading…

• Scream: Film4 FrightFest Reveals Full 2015 Killer Line-Up: Film4 FrightFest, the UK’s undefeated heavy-weight champion of genre festivals, is all set to serve up its 16th helping of the finest in home-grown and international horror at London’s West End at the Vue, Leicester Square, between August 27th – 31st – Continue reading…

• Dread Central: Film4 FrightFest 2015: Line-up Announced; Image Blow-Out!: One of the best damned film festivals on the planet, Film4 FrightFest, has unveiled its 2015 line-up; and as always, it is absolutely killer. Read on for the details and DOZENS of new stills – Continue reading…

• Aaaaaaaah! @ Dreamscape: Browse all of our Aaaaaaaah! news here…

Bigger, bolder, bloodier… Film4 FrightFest 2015 marks its 16th year with its largest line-up ever. From Thurs 27 August to Mon 31 August, the UK’s leading event for genre fans will return to the Vue West End, Leicester Square, to present seventy-six films across five screens, plus a host of special events. There are eighteen countries representing five continents with a record-breaking sixteen European premieres and twenty-six UK premieres. In addition, there is a further ‘Discovery’ strand at The Prince Charles Cinema, signalling a welcome return to FrightFest’s spiritual home.

This week in 1985 Soul Passing Through Soul – Toyah’s second single as a solo artist, stats fans – was in the lower reaches of the UK Singles Chart. It was written by “Willcox/St James” and taken from the album Minx, which would go on to be released at the end of July. Some (not me) say it was influenced by/is reminiscent of David Bowie’s Heroes.

Soul Passing Through Soul was released on 7″, 12″ and 7″ Picture Disc, and was accompanied by a great video, with fantastic visuals – something Toyah always was, and indeed still is, known for…

A new Region 2, two-disc, DVD of Quatermass has just been released by Network DVD. Retailing at approximately £12.

Toyah had a small role, in the production, as Sal. The series was made by Euston Films, filmed in 1978 and aired on ITV in October and November 1979

John Mills brings a stoic intensity to the role of Professor Bernard Quatermass in this key piece of British dystopian fiction from visionary writer Nigel Kneale. Unsettling in its vision of a crumbling society coming under alien attack, Quatermass is directed with characteristic style by BAFTA winner Piers Haggard and features the high production values associated with Euston Films. Shot on 35mm, the original negatives have been used for this stunning, brand-new restoration – a new 5.1 mix from original triple-track audio elements is also presented here alongside the original mono soundtrack.

Bernard Quatermass, former head of the British Rocket Group, lives in seclusion in western Scotland, watching in appalled silence as Britain slowly turns into a vision of violence, gang rule and governmental collapse. A desperate search for his missing granddaughter plunges him into a terrifying situation when he comes to realise that the mass disappearance of thousands of youths is nothing less than the culling of the human species by an unknown alien intelligence…

Special Features:
• Brand-new 5.1 mix for episodic version
• Brand-new HD restoration of The Quatermass Conclusion in its original theatrical aspect ratio
• Music-only tracks for all four episodes
• Episode recaps
• Textless titles
• Image Gallery
• Booklet by archive TV historian Andrew Pixley

Further Info: Catalogue Number: 7954328, Available Since: 22/06/2015, Classification: 15, Number of Discs: 2, Picture: 1.33:1 / Colour [Main Feature], Sound: Dolby 5.1 / Mono / English, Subtitles: English, Region 2 / PAL, Time: 200 mins approx [Main Feature]

• Visit the product page at the Network DVD website. (Thanks to Giddy Gavin)

As our regular readers will be aware, we’ve been getting more than a little over-excited about Aaaaaaah! for some time – and now the details of the World Premiere have been announced.

Steve Oram‘s directorial debut comedy horror, about a world inhabited by apes in human form, will star a cavalcade of comedic TVO-connected talent (and post-punk icon Toyah Willcox), including Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding (or “Noah Fielding” according to this site), Alice Lowe, Tom Meeten, Steve Oram, Sean Reynard, Waen Shepherd, John Hopkins and Tony Way.

The film premieres at Film 4 FrightFest at Leicester Square – and you can be there to experience it on the big screen in person! What’s more, the event will feature a Q&A with some of the cast. Steve and Toyah are confirmed for this, but there’s no news yet as to which other cast members will be there.

• Continue reading at The Velvet Onion.

• Official Toyah: Recent Photos – Chris Wong and Colin Hinds at John Shuttleworth & Friends’ Palladium concert; and Toyah (making music) with Simon Darlow – View these and more at Toyah’s official Website, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. (Photos © Toyah Willcox)

• Mearns Leader: What’s On Where: September: 18-19 Toyah that vivacious singer from the 80s is out on tour and every bit as good as before and looking fantastic. Exclusive to Stonehaven Town Hall for two nights only (only dates north of Edinburgh in 2015), support from our very own Leighann Esslemont and Band. Tickets £25 will be on sale at Ma Simpson’s or online – Continue reading…

• The Irish News: Time for the Bill as Limboland comes to Ireland: An interview with Bill Bailey, including a mention for Toyah – both played at London Palladium last week with John Shuttleworth – Continue reading…

• Bloody Disgusting: Aaaaaaaah!: Toyah, with that frying pan! – Continue…

• The Lee Mack Show: Toyah guests in 2005. It’s available to listen to at BBC iPlayer for the next three weeks.

• A View From The Centre: Nostalgia: Pictured is the first copy of the Vegetarian Society’s bi-monthly membership magazine. Featured within was an article on the then recently launched Ark Trust environmental organisation containing an interview with and photograph of Toyah Willcox; also a photo of Chrissie Hynde, Kevin Godley and others – Continue reading…

Minder: ITV4: Friday 17th July: 6.45am
All Mod Cons. Arthur decides to sell Terry’s flat without his permission. Meanwhile, Terry gets a job minding at a local club and ends up getting into more trouble than he had planned for when he realises the club’s manager is on the fiddle. Starring: George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Toyah Willcox, Simon Cadell, James Ottaway, and Tony Osaba. (Series 2, Episode 8, 1980). Also showing on ITV4 HD and ITV4 +1.

Toyah’s July blog is available at The Official Toyah Willcox Website. Including news on Aaaaaaaah!, performing at the London Palladium and more. Click below to read the blog and view photos from the last month.

Released today (2nd July) in 1982: Nine To Five

Shameless cash-in of the month for July comes courtesy of this 1982 single from EG records. Nine To Five was recorded in 1977 for the soundtrack album of the following year’s Derek Jarman movie ‘Jubilee’, which featured among its cast members a number of British punk rock artists. The track itself was credited to Maneaters, but was performed by Adam Ant and Toyah Willcox, both of whom had yet to have a hit at the time. Then, after years of trying, they both had their breakthrough hits within months of each other: Adam & The Ants had their first Top 10 hit at the end of 1980 and Toyah had theirs in March 1981, and both acts had several more in the twelve months that followed. Two of Adam’s former labels had already plundered his catalogue recordings for reissues, and now it was EG’s turn.

For the single, EG billed the song as being by ‘Adam and Toyah’ and advertised it as being available in a “special picture bag”. Both artists objected to the release and the way in which it was marketed.

• Continue reading at If You Were There.

Hot – yup it is exceedingly hot at the moment etc. ;) – on the heels of last month’s Breaking Through newsletter, comes another! With juicy Toyah updates on Aaaaaaaah! and more… including:

• Toyah will host a screening of, the Derek Jarman inspired, The Raft of the Medusa at Barbican, London on Thursday 16th July – Further details/tickets here…

• Toyah will appear at the Celebrity Autograph Convention event at Viva Blackpool on 24 October along with other cast members from Quadrophenia – Further details/tickets here…

• A trio of classic Toyah albums – Desire, Prostitute and Ophelia’s Shadow – will be available digitally in August. Full details to follow.

• Subscribe: Sign up to ‘Breaking Through’, to receive regular newsletter updates, here.

It’s the final day of Toyah’s week-long Tracks Of My Years residency with Ken Bruce at BBC Radio Two. The full week of programmes are available at BBC iPlayer until the end of July.

Ken Bruce: BBC Radio Two: Friday 3rd July: 9.30am
Toyah Willcox picks the Tracks of My Years, with songs from Peter Gabriel and U2. Plus PopMaster, the daily Love Song and the Album and Record of the Week. Email ken.bruce@bbc.co.uk.

Things are hotting up – and yes speaking of heat, phew!, it has been ridiculously, over-the-top, warm in the UK this week, hasn’t it – for the forthcoming Aaaaaaaah! with no less than the legendary Variety reporting on the film – and including a great shot of Toyah too.

‘Aaaaaaaah!,’ ‘Scherzo Diabolico,’ ‘Curve’ Among Highlights at FrightFest

Toyah Willcox wields the pan in Steve Oram’s ‘Aaaaaaaah!’

MUNICH — Film4 FrightFest, the U.K.’s leading genre film festival, promises to be “bigger, bolder and bloodier” in its 16th year with its largest ever lineup. The gorefest, which runs Aug. 27-31, will present 76 films across five screens, plus a host of special events. There are 16 European premieres and 26 U.K. premieres.

Among the films from British and Irish talent receiving a showcase are David Keating’s “Cherry Tree”; the world premiere of Steve Oram’s hilarious and disturbing “Aaaaaaaah!,” starring Toyah Willcox; Dominic Brunt’s sharp-edged female revenge saga “Bait”; Ben and Chris Blaine’s sexually charged zom-rom-com “Nina Forever”; Mark Murphy’s tale of twisted minds “Awaiting”; Paul Hyett’s much-anticipated “Howl”; Adam Levins’ sinister family drama “Estranged”; Howard J. Ford’s child-abduction thriller “Never Let Go”; Corin Hardy’s Sundance sensation “The Hallow”; Ruth Platt’s morally challenging chiller “The Lesson”; Liam Regan’s gruesome revenge saga “Banjo”; Eugene McGing’s supernatural haunter “The Unfolding”; and “Afterdeath,” a hellish thriller by new directors Gez Medinger and Robin Schmidt.

• Continue reading at Variety. Browse all of Dreamscape’s Aaaaaaaah! news here.