Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah in Halifax to mark Quadrophenia’s 40th anniversary

Stage, screen and music star Toyah Willcox will be in Halifax on Saturday (February 16) for an exclusive 40th anniversary screening of the mod classic Quadrophenia. Toyah, who plays Monkey in the film version of The Who’s rock opera, will also take part in a Q&A at Square Chapel arts centre, talk about the movie and her career in music – and perform a live acoustic gig with her band.

The cult classic film also starred Sting, Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash and Ray Winstone at the start of their careers with the action set in Brighton during clashes between rival gangs of Mods and Rockers. The film will be shown at 6pm, followed by the live Q&A hosted by radio presenter Alex Cann. Following that will be Toyah’s live set at 9pm. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of her music career as she released her first single and album in 1979.

This acoustic concert will include hit singles, album classics and fan favourites.The Q&A has sold out but there are still a handful of tickets left for Toyah’s live set. Go to www.squarechapel.co.uk for more information and booking.

• Continue reading at the Halifax Courier.

The multi-coloured coiffured actress/songstress.

Punk icon Toyah Willcox has just as much attitude now as she did when she burst on to the music scene in the 1980s with the hit singles ‘It’s A Mystery’, ‘I Wanna Be Free’, ‘IEYA’ and ‘Thunder In The Mountains’.She had previously appeared in the films Quadrophenia and Jubilee.

From punk princess to high priestess of TV, Toyah Willcox is a uniquely gifted performer. Charismatic, outspoken and impossible to categorise, she is one of Britain’s iconic household names – an award-winning rock legend as well as a much-loved actress and music composer.

This is a unique chance to experience Toyah with a full live band performing a set of her hit singles and classic songs.

• Continue reading at Visit Scotland. Tickets for all four of Toyah’s Scottish concert tour dates, Thunder In The Highlands, are available here.

Quadrophenia is being screened at the University of West London on Friday, by Ealing Classic Cinema Club, as part of Ealing Music & Film Festival 2019.

The Festival will take place from 13th–17th February 2019 with both free and paid for events happening across Ealing at venues including the University of West London, St Barnabas Church, The Brentham Club, St Mary’s Church and The Met Film School.

On the evening of 15 February, 7pm at Weston Hall, University of West London, we are delighted to announce a screening in association with Ealing Classic Cinema Club of the iconic 1979 film Quadrophenia from Pete Townshend and Franc Roddam starring Sting, Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash and Toyah Willcox, with music by The Who.

• See further info at Ealing Music & Film Festival 2019.

It’s the 1981 Gallery! It’s Anthem, it’s I Want To Be Free, it’s Thunder In The Mountains, it’s At The Rainbow, it’s Good Morning Universe, it’s the College Tour, it’s The Old Grey Whistle Test, and yes… It’s A Mystery!

From the cardiologist to the baker: how busy people manage sleep

Today presenter Martha Kearney goes to bed at 8pm, while at 4am Toyah Willcox is going through her emails – 10 people with odd work patterns reveal their bedtime routines

Toyah Willcox, Singer and Actor

I have always had disrupted, broken sleep. Over a year, I could count on my fingers the times I have slept through the night. I don’t think my insomnia is fixable: I think it’s in my DNA. I cannot emphasise enough how important exercise is. I have to do at least a three-mile fast walk a day, usually in the afternoon. Movement is incredibly important in helping my body use up my energy. When I’m disciplined enough, detoxing of stimulants and exercising is also a conscious part of my day.

Routine: I take books on learning to bed – music theory, colour theory – and usually my brain thinks, “Um, I think I’d rather turn off,” than learn something. But my natural pattern is to sleep from 11pm-1am, then I’m awake till 7am and I only get into deep sleep at around 7-10am. Instead of lying there praying to go to sleep all night, I get up and work. At 4am you do feel a bit jet-lagged and brain-dead, but it’s a very practical time to go through my emails, pay the bills, get rid of the mundane tasks. And there’s times in the summer when I’m awake as the sun is rising and I think this is the best, this is absolutely wonderful. Of course, if you have a 9-5 job this is a real problem, but as a singer, it can work well for me.

• Continue reading at The Guardian.

There are loads of unmissable events in Yorkshire this weekend – Wondering what’s on in Yorkshire this weekend? We’ve rounded it up, all in one place…

There are plenty of things to get stuck into this weekend in Yorkshire. As legendary mod film Quadrophenia turns 40, Square Chapel in Halifax will not only screen the film but invite singer and actress Toyah Willcox to tell you about her experiences behind the scenes, with a live Q&A and music.

• Continue reading at Leeds List. (NB: Leeds List have the date for this as Friday 15th. The screening and Toyah’s gig take place on Saturday 16th!) Tickets for the gig are available here.

Moreaux’s take on some of Toyah’s most amazing early 1980s make-up looks. View her fantastic Toyah inspired creations via her video upload at You Tube.

Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Tuesday 19th February: 12pm
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Saturday 23rd February: 12.30pm
Punk. Narrated by Noddy Holder, this eye-opening series turns its attention to the origins of punk music. With Toyah Willcox and DJ Annie Nightingale. (Episode, Series 1, Episode 5)

Tomorrow Simon Darlow and I start shooting the video for our soon to be announced project. The publicity for the soon to be announced project starts in two weeks. Mixes done, factories booked… We are ready to GO!

Read Toyah’s February 2019 blog at toyahwillcox.com.

Following The Resurrection Tour (1979), Sheep Farming In Barnet Tour (1979) and Bird In Flight Tour (1980) Toyah again hit the road, for the fourth time in just 18 months, for the Ieya Tour in the Spring and early Summer of 1980. The tour promoted the new album The Blue Meaning.

The band line-up was Toyah (Vocals), Joel Bogen (Guitar), Charlie Francis (Bass Guitar), Steve Bray (Drums), Pete Bush (Keyboards).

The Ieya Tour began at Tiffany’s, Glasgow on 25th May and culminated at Wolverhampton’s Lafayette Club on 17th June. A gig that was filmed and recorded for inclusion in the ATV documentary TOYAH, and the related live album Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!

The tour was an eventful one, with tales of water-pistol fights, Toyah injuring her ankle at Ruffles, Aberdeen, and even fans helping build the stage for the date at Bristol’s Factory. The largest gig of the month-long tour was at The Lyceum, London.

A couple of retro Toyah radio appearances: The New Recruit, from BBC Radio Four (April 1994), and an interview with Toyah (and Sting) from The Annie Nightingale Show, which aired on BBC Radio One (January 1984). Click on each below to listen or download.

Toyah will co-compère at Rewind South 2019 in August.

Michael Bolton, the Four Tops, Lulu and Grandmaster Flash are to perform at this summer’s Rewind South festival for the first time. The event, now in its 11th year, will take place on Temple Island Meadows in Remenham from Friday to Sunday, August 16 to 18 with a line-up described by organisers as the most diverse yet.

… It will be compered by Doctor and the Medics frontman Clive “The Doctor” Jackson and Eighties singer Toyah Willcox.

Other attractions will include comedy performers such as Milton Jones, DJ sets, family sports days, circus skills workshops and giant bubble parties with more to be confirmed over the coming months.

• Continue reading at the Henley Standard.

Toyah’s Q&A at Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax has now Sold Out!

Some tickets for Toyah’s Acoustic, Up Close & Personal gig, taking place after the film screening/Q&A on Saturday 16th February, are still available.

Quadrophenia plus a Q&A and live music with Toyah Willcox

Here’s a brilliant evening’s entertainment with not only an anniversary screening of iconic movie Quadrophenia, but a Q&A with one of its stars, the legendary Toyah Willcox and a live music set with her too. Toyah who went on to be a music, film and TV star and an author played the character Monkey in the 1979 Who album-inspired film which depicts the Mods and Rockers era of the late 1960s and which is celebrating its 40th year. The film will be screened before Toyah takes the stage to talk about the movie and her career at Square Chapel. The film stars Phil Daniels as Jimmy, a young 1960s London-based Mod who escapes from his dead-end job as a mailroom boy by dancing, partying, taking amphetamines, riding his scooter, and brawling with the motorcycle-riding Rockers. After he and his friends participate in a huge brawl with the Rockers by the seaside in Brighton, he is arrested and his life starts to spiral out of control. Toyah has had eight Top 40 singles and released over 20 albums, Her biggest hits were “It’s a Mystery”, “Thunder in the Mountains” and “I Want to Be Free”.  She has written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays and ten feature films.

• Further info, and ticket booking for Toyah’s acoustic gig, available here.

Toyah plays the Rock & Bike Fest 2019 this Summer. She previously played the festival in 2010 as part of the Vampires Rock tour, and again the following year with her own live set and in 2012 she was a Guest Presenter.

2019 sees Toyah return to the Rock & Bike Fest, which takes place at Carnfield Hall in Derbyshire, to play another full band live set.

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Established in 2004 in the grounds of Burton Abbey, Staffordshire the Rock and Bike Fest has gone from strength to strength and is currently held in the historic grounds of Carnfield Hall, South Normanton, Derbyshire.

• Click below – on our collage of past (and current 2019 flyer) R&BF promotion and photos – to visit the festival website for further info and/or to book tickets.

Bird in Flight, Ieya, The Blue Meaning, Sugar & Spice, The Old Grey Whistle Test, The Ieya Tour, Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!, ATV documentary… 1980 was a great Toyah year! Visit the 1980 Gallery by clicking below.

Toyah’s debut studio album, The Blue Meaning, was released in June 1980. There has always been a degree of confusion regarding this as Sheep Farming In Barnet was, obviously, released first but that album is a compilation. Not that these details matter as both albums are incredible, accomplished collections of recordings.

The Blue Meaning was recorded during April 1980 at Parkgate Studios in Battle, East Sussex and mixed at Marquee Studios, London: The band line-up was Toyah Willcox – Verbals & Unusual Sounds, Joel Bogen – Guitar, Pete Bush – Keyboards, Trumpet, Charlie Francis – Bass Guitar, Steve Bray – Drums. All songs were written by the Toyah band, and the album was produced by Steve James and Toyah. James also engineered and mixed the album with Perry Morgan as Assistant Engineer.

The album was released while the band travelled the UK on the Ieya Tour. Promotion for The Blue Meaning was “multi-media”, an idea that was a fairly new concept in 1980 but something Toyah was interested in and had mentioned previously in interviews.

Aside from the month-long UK tour there were television appearances by Toyah and the band – mostly regional – including Granada Reports in the North West, and Straight Talk in the Midlands. Press ads ran in most of the major music press and Toyah was interviewed by NME, Sounds, Zig Zag, Record Mirror, Time Out, Fab and Smash Hits. Some of these also reviewed the album.

An innovative and interesting aspect of the promotion for The Blue Meaning was a series of in-store appearances at various Woolworth stores, with Toyah meeting fans and signing the album and single(s).

The Blue Meaning was first released on CD in 1990 by the Great Expectations label, along with a cassette and coloured vinyl. There was also a 2CD set in 2002 by Safari Records (with bonus songs and new sleeve notes) which saw the album coupled with Sheep Farming In Barnet.

The Blue Meaning peaked at number 40 on the UK Album chart upon its release and in retrospect is viewed as a crucial part of Toyah’s mighty 40-year discography. A pop-punk-gothy mix of mayhem, magic and magnificent music. A classic!

• See further info on The Blue Meaning at Toyah’s Official Instagram and the album’s Wikipedia page.

Toyah has always been a great interviewee – Click below for a page of classic Toyah interviews!

Ieya, Toyah’s fourth single, was released in June 1980. The song has become one of the cornerstones of Toyah’s music career. Ieya began its extraordinary life as a soundcheck jam:

A lot of my band were Jewish, and we all found it particularly offensive that the NF would recruit at concerts – they’d go around the audience intimidating the youngest, the smallest, the scrawniest boys into joining the NF By the end of this concert in Bath, the NF were chanting ‘Sieg heil’ at the back. Charlie Francis, our bass-player, found this intolerable, and Joel kept taking his guitar off to go and beat them up, which we all had to stop him from doing. Instead we just shouted back ‘Nazi scum’ and got the audience to chant ‘Nazi scum’. For the fourth encore, all we could think of doing was something that had started as a jam in the sound-check that day, which was ‘IEYA’. It was a sequence of chords that grew, so every verse had more chords added to it, and it had a fantastically simple chorus, a chant, ‘IEYA’. ‘IEYA, I am solar, IEYA I’m the beast.’

Ieya was re-recorded and re-released as a single in 1982. The song is almost always played during a Toyah gig, often during the encore. Ieya was written by Willcox/Bogen/Bush. Browse the full history of the song at Wikipedia.

In Case You Missed The News…

If you haven’t already heard, I have some great news. After 7 years in production and nearly 10 years before that in development, our super ambitious sci-fi thriller, Kaleidoscope Man, is at last completed.

The last 3 months have been a true roller-coaster for me. It started back on the 18th Aug 2018, when we finally locked the picture. This had been after a good 6 months of working on the fine cut.

Next we got to work on the sound track. I did the foley recording (footsteps), Keith Tinman track laid the sound effects, Benjamin Symons fine-tuned the music score and Alan Snelling recorded the ADR, mixed the music and then did the full 5.1 surround sound mix.

On the picture side, the edit went to Narduzzo Too at Pinewood Studios, where it was fully colour graded by Harry Conquest and Vince Narduzzo, then it went to Out-Post Post production where the film was on-lined by Nigel Gorley and converted into various formats ready for delivery for cinema, TV, DVD and online.

We were very VERY lucky in that one of our stars, the lovely Toyah Willcox recorded an amazing song for the end titles. It’s a powerful and inspiration song called, Step into the New World, and it really captures the heart and soul of what the film is about. It was written by Alan Snelling and myself and we hope to officially release it soon.

• Continue reading at the Kaleidoscope Man website. Browse Dreamscape’s Kaleidoscope Man news archive. (Photos/Images © kaleidoscopeman.com)

This article, Royal bombshell: Why Prince Charles once asked ‘Shall I go gay?’, at today’s Sunday Express suggests Toyah will be appearing in a new Channel 5 documentary series which begins airing this Tuesday.

Prince Edward may also cringe at the sight of another re-run of his much-maligned It’s A Royal Knockout TV show. The one-off charity extravaganza saw members of the Royal Family compete alongside celebrities from the worlds of sport, music and TV in a series of wacky challenges and events. Toyah Willcox, who took part, reveals that the press took against the show because Edward forced them to stay inside a tent to report on the antics outside.

Paxman On The Queen’s Children: Channel 5: Tuesday 5th February: 9pm
Episode 1. Two part documentary series. Jeremy Paxman explores the lives of Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward, the first generation of royals to grow up as celebrities. Attempts to embrace the modern world instead eroded reputations and spoiled the fairytale, not least in It’s a Royal Knockout.