Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Did you make it to the Rewind Festival last weekend? Muddy Stilettos was hanging out with the stars (*cough*), or at the very least, performing aerial rugby-tackles on any Eighties icons close enough to assault.

And look what we have here! Only the brilliant Toyah Willcox, with barely a bruise on her. Anyone who was old enough to take ‘O’ levels, chainsmoke multi-coloured ciggies or borrow their brother’s Chopper bike will remember Toyah – the dyed-to-a-cinder hair, the multi-coloured make up, and the impossibly catchy It’s a Mystery to I Want to Be Free.

She lives in Pershore (just south of Worcester, geography meisters) and these days aside from trilling and actiing for her living, the Eighties pocket rocket also loves to read, make her own jewellery (that masterpiece around her neck in the photo above, she created that) and, well, read on to find out more…

• Continue reading at Muddy Stilettos. Browse all of Dreamscape’s Rewind South 2016 news.

Toyah Willcox and Cockney Rebel to perform at Secret World festival

Punk icon Toyah Willcox and rock legends Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel will perform on stage at a new music festival near Burnham-On-Sea this September.

Somerset’s newest festival, Music in the Meadow, will take place at Secret World Wildlife Rescue in East Huntspill on 10th September. It will also feature Yeovil bands Storm and Daytona, Castle Cary’s A Cunning Plan, the Twerzels (the West Country’s finest Wurzels tribute band) and Luna-C from Wedmore.

Event organiser Keith Weston told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We’re so excited to have these great local bands playing at our first ever music festival. There’s a real buzz in the air about Music in the Meadow, tickets are selling well and we can’t wait to welcome music lovers and families to this all-day event on 10 September”.

• Continue reading at Burnahm-On-Sea.com. See also This is the West Country: Steve Harley headlines new East Huntspill music festival.

The first run through of Crime and Punishment took place last night, with Toyah tweeting how pleased she was with it. Meet the cast of the new musical, featuring classic and new Toyah music, which opens a week tomorrow (31st August) at The Scoop Theatre, London.

Kavanagh Q.C.: ITV Encore: Saturday 3rd September: 1.45pm
Kavanagh Q.C.: ITV Encore: Sunday 4th September: 10.40am
A Family Affair (1995). Kavanagh finds himself caught up in a bitter family feud when he represents a frustrated father who has kidnapped his son in a desperate attempt to win custody. On the home front, Kavanagh’s daughter wants to let her boyfriend stay overnight. Directed by Renny Rye. With John Thaw, Holly Aird, Robert Ashby, Toyah Willcox and Lisa Harrow.

Quadrophenia: Sky Select HD: Friday 24th August: 4.10pm
The Who wrote and produced this energetic story of a young man disillusioned with his life in 1960s London. Phil Daniels excels as the alienated anti-hero Jimmy Cooper. Director: Franc Roddam. Starring: Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox, Philip Davis, Mark Wingett, Sting, and Ray Winstone. (Sky Select HD is on Sky Channel 312)

The extended version of Toyah’s debut solo single, released in 1985, Don’t Fall in Love (I Said), is included on the forthcoming 3CD Twelve Inch Eighties: Digging Your Scene box set.

The 30-song collection will also be available digitally via iTunes and other online music retailers.

Twelve Inch Eighties is the successful 3CD range by Crimson Productions, compiling extended alternate mixes of some of the biggest hit singles of the 80s. Each themed release is housed in a sleek 3CD digipak with abstract imagery representative of early dance label releases. These carefully selected titles across the range bring together the finest eighties pop, dance and disco, amongst other genres, in all their full 12” single glory.

Digging Your Scene is a collection of classic 12” remixes straight from the edge of the 80s. Other artists on the set include Japan, Fiction Factory, Thompson Twins, Adam Ant and Altered Images.

• In May of this year the original version of Don’t Fall in Love (I Said) was also included on “100 Hits” 5CD compilation Pure 80s. (Thanks to Michael Cooney for the Twelve Inch Eighties info)

• Quadrophenia: Zavvi recently announced an exclusive slipcase Steelbook release of, iconic, classic, legendary etc, Quadrophenia for October 2016. A fantastic collectable limited to just 2000 copies. With a couple of months until it is available Zavvi is saying it has already sold out, but steelbookbluray.com say “Pre-orders aren’t live yet, so ignore the ‘sold out’ button for now”.

• Crime and Punishment: Rock music is the perfect medium with which to express the energy, rebellion, and passion of its youthful characters, particularly the restless fury and alienation of the books ant-hero, Raskolnikov. Accordingly this new musical adaptation will feature specially written songs and favourite tracks by British rock legend, Toyah Willcox and her song writing partner Simon Darlow – Continue reading…

• Screen Relish: Screen Relish’s Saturday Screamer: AAAAAAAAH!: Aah, the precarious position of the alpha male. Oh should I say AAAAAAAAH!? Because that is the delightfully appropriate title of Steve Oram’s feature directorial debut – Continue reading…

• Fashion Scout: Typical Freaks: Typical Freaks is a bold, colourful and cenceptual fashion brand from London… Their most recent collection, shown as part of Fashion Scout’s ‘Ones to Watch’, took inspiration from British seasides Derek Jarman’s ‘Jubilee’ and Nigerian basket sellers – Continue reading…

• Evensi: Each month Future Film picks out a number of films that will excite, stimulate and inspire you!: In August, Future Film recommends one of the punk classics Derek Jarman’s apocalyptic fantasy JUBILEE to coincide with BFI Southbank’s celebration of all things punk – Continue reading…

From U.K.-to-L.A. scene rockumentaries to riot-grrl portraits and the Ramones’ fictional alma mater, our favorite portrayals of punk on screen

10. ‘Jubilee’ (1978)

It’s been called “the first punk film,” but Derek Jarman’s 1978 feature turns the subculture’s oppositional stance back on itself: It’s like a guerrilla Shakespeare production staged in a mosh pit. While the Sex Pistols sneered at Queen Elizabeth II, Jarman cast his lot with the original Her Majesty E., who travels through time to a dystopian Britain ruled by roving gangs. Appearances by Adam Ant, the Slits and Siouxsie and the Banshees, along with U.S. trans icon Jayne County, ground it in the moment, but Jarman’s suggestion that even the most vocal nihilists would sell out their ideals — if given enough encouragement, naturally — provided a glimpse of the future. SA

• Continue reading at Rolling Stone. Earlier this year Jubilee also featured in Dazed‘s “The Best Feminist Punk Films Of The Last 50 years”.

A rare interview with Jordan, punk’s enigmatic frontwoman

Working with Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McClaren, performing with the Sex Pistols and acting for Derek Jarman – Jordan Mooney reflects on a life of iconoclasm

With her legacy being celebrated in new tome Fashion + Music (out now, by Laurence King Publishing), punk legend Jordan discusses some of her most significant moments with the book’s author, Katie Baron.

Still one of punk’s most-fetishised poster women, Jordan Mooney’s pivotal role at the nexus of Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren’s riotous (Sex and Seditionaries-era) world was vital to the looks of bands like the Sex Pistols and Adam and the Ants. She’s often immortalised in grainy black-and-white photography, as a severe vision of bleach-blonde-beehived, Cleopatra-eyed, latex-sheathed, fuck-you defiance, yet, there is far more to her influence than straightforward anarchic provocation. Rebellion was actually something of a by-product. Art (“I often described myself as a living work of art”), personal expression and a militant desire to champion the outlier were all at the real crux of her infectious perspective. As punk celebrates turning 40 this year, Jordan revisits her iconoclastic life.

At 14 you changed your name – why?

Jordan Mooney: I truly felt like I’d been labelled the wrong thing, like a kind of name dysmorphia.

You were suspended from school for your haircut, and famously given your own spot in a first-class carriage on the train to avoid your outfits provoking outrage in fellow commuters – do you think dressing the way you did was an act of bravery?

Jordan Mooney: People often refer to the name and the things that I wore as demonstrating bravery and shaking things up, but while I showed off to the best of my ability it wasn’t about bravery because I didn’t care what people thought. I’ve always been extremely comfortable in my own skin. It’s like being in an art movement – someone has to start it.

• Continue reading at Dazed.

Cleethorpes Rocks: 80s pop star Toyah Willcox performs – pictures

Eighties pop singer Toyah Willcox delighted crowds on the third and final night of Cleethorpes Rocks.

The songstress, best known for hits such as It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains and I Want To Be Free, performed to a receptive crowd at the popular festival.

Returning for a fifth year, the annual festival attracts people from far and wide who have descended on the resort to see the likes of pop band Scouting For Girls and indie act Reverend And The Makers.

Also on show for the crowds to enjoy was The Brew, Mustang, The Brookes and Chariots. And providing a spin on the usual festival act was the Frou Frou Club Burlesque and Cabaret Show, who performed on Friday evening.

• Continue reading at the Grimsby Telegraph. (Photo © Grimsby Telegraph)

Toyah and Hazell Dean at Rewind South 2016 yesterday. (Photo © Hazell Dean)

Toyah at Rewind South 2016 yesterday. View more photos here. (Photo © Get Reading)

Toyah is playing the Rewind South 2016 festival today and tomorrow she headlines the final day of the Cleethorpes Rocks Festival 2016.

From Clee Rocks to a night of illusion: Things to do this weekend

Cleethorpes Rocks Festival 2016
Meridian Showground, tonight and tomorrow

If you missed yesterday’s show, don’t miss what’s in store at Clee Rocks for the remainder of the weekend. Scouting For Girls will be tonight’s headliner while the brilliant Toyah will be finishing off the festival tomorrow evening. Ticket prices start at £25 per person. Call 01472 349222 to book. See www.cleethorpesrocks.co.uk

• Continue reading at the Grimsby Telegraph. Visit the Cleethorpes Rocks festival website here. Browse all of Dreamscape’s Cleethorpes Rocks 2016 news here.

This year’s three-day Cleethorpes Rocks festival gets underway tonight.

Over the weekend, the festival – taking place at the Meridian Show – will feature bands such as Wishbone Ash, Scouting For Girls, Toyah and From The Jam – plus a burlesque show. The event kicked off tonight with headline act Wishbone Ash, who will be joined by Mostly Autumn and Danny Bryant. And this year the Frou Frou Club Burlesque and Cabaret Show will also “Rock Cleethorpes”.

It also stars Kitty Bang Bang – a global burlesque sensation and the “wild child” of British Burlesque. Kitty was voted as number 21 in the world in the Top 50 Burlesque performers of 2015. Add to this home-grown Grimsby gal, Lady Wildflower, who is now taking the world of Burlesque by storm – from the UK, to Europe, to China.

Following the news that Toyah Willcox will take to the stage with her full live electric band, bands Criminal Mind and The Jackobins will showcase their talent too.

• Continue reading at the Grimsby Telegraph. Visit the Cleethorpes Rocks festival website here.

A total of 40,000 people will descend on Temple Island Meadows near Henley for the eighth annual Rewind South festival this weekend. The Eighties pop extravaganza will kick off tonight (Friday) with a welcome party headlined by West Country folk band The Wurzels.

Tomorrow’s performers include Rick Astley, whose latest album, 50, topped the charts this week, Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet, Jimmy Somerville, the Trevor Horn Band, Toyah, Leo Sayer and Andy Bell of Erasure.

The festival concludes on Sunday with appearances by Adam Ant, Earth, Wind and Fire, M People’s Heather Small, The Beat, The Blockheads and Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory, among others. There will be scores of attractions around the site including an inflatable church where revellers can get “married”, real ale and cocktail bars, food stalls, a roller disco, a funfair and a second stage featuring local performers.

The weather is expected to be warm and overcast with sunny spells and the chance of the odd shower tomorrow. Organiser David Heartfield said: “Everything is looking great for the weekend. We’re looking forward to it. It has been incredibly hot this week so I’d welcome slightly cooler weather.”

• Continue reading at the Henley Standard.

Toyah has a successful go at covering Martha & The Muffins classic. Released in 1987 this was off the album “Desire” and see’s her go for a more mainstream sound. Mike Hedges gives it enough weird synth sound and the vocal delivery is spot on. The track is remixed by English electro-dance duo, The Quick and it polishes up the original really well. B-side, “Plenty,” was written by Toyah even has a Motown feel to it with a horn section and a guitar solo, weird!

• Continue reading at My Vinyl Dreams.

A newly updated and revised version of , Rock and Roll Photography, the book of photographer Gered Mankowitz’s rock photos has just been published. It includes a photo of Toyah on the cover (Thunder In The Mountains) and inside (The Blue Meaning/Ieya).

Gered Mankowitz was the man who created the enduring and defining image of not only Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones but of ‘the rock star.’ Now you can enjoy the best of his 50-year career in this defining tome of photography which chronicles music history, and tells you more about relevant popular culture than any text book could.

Mankowitz has been photographing rock stars for 50 years, helping to create the image of musical legends like Annie Lennox, the Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, Paul McCartney, Duran Duran, Elton John, Oasis, Wham!, and more. Mankowitz’s favourites of his own portraits are included in a new release of his book  Rock and Roll Photography. Here are some of the best, from a flawless Kate Bush to a sun-bronzed George Michael, along with quotes from Mankowitz, both from his book and in conversation with BuzzFeed.

Toyah, 1980: “Toyah is a real performer, she developed these extraordinary visual identities that sort of related to her music was saying at that time. This look of flaming hair, punk-priestess, was a portrait intended to present her confrontational power.”

Yes, we are only midway through August but here’s one to put in your diary for early 2017. Toyah will headline Loving The 80’s in January.

After the resounding success of our January Gig we want to bring the 80’s back to the Parr Hall once again! If you love the music, the makeup, the fashion and the vibe of this fantastic decade, join us for a fantastic night on January 28th 2017.

Headlining our gig is the amazing Toyah – we just know you’ll be ” loving the 80’s ” once again!

• Continue reading at pyramidparrhall.com.

Toyah will take her Acoustic, Up Close & Personal tour into another year, with new dates already being listed online for 2017.

Toyah Willcox – Up Close and Personal
Acapela Studio, Cardiff: Saturday 1st April, 2017

After a sell out concert in June 2016, Acapela welcomes back the incredible Toyah Willcox. If you missed out on her concert at Acapela then here is your chance to catch the pop icon again in what is sure to be another memorable event.

Book early to avoid disappointment as this is sure to be a sell out again.

• Continue reading/Buy tickets at Ticket Source. Browse all of Toyah’s confirmed forthcoming live dates at toyahwillcox.com.

Dodson & Fogg’s new album, White House On The Hill, is now available on iTunes. This includes the track featuring Toyah, Drinking From The Gun, which can be downloaded individually. Click below for iTunes. Toyah talks about the collaboration in her latest blog.

Former punk princess Toyah Willcox will perform an intimate evening of acoustic music at Derby Cathedral. During her 30-year career she has racked up eight top 40 singles, released more than 20 albums, written two books and appeared in 40 stage plays.

Toyah rose to fame on the back of hits such as It’s A Mystery and Thunder in the Mountains. Her concert on Saturday, August 27, will raise money for the upkeep of Derby Cathedral.

• Continue reading at the Derbyshire Times.