Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah’s recent interview with Tammy Gooding, which aired on BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester, is now available as a standalone clip.

Pershore’s Toyah in conversation
The queen of punk tells tales of pranking Margaret Thatcher and her love of her home town with Tammy Gooding, as we preview the new album ‘In The Court Of The Crimson Queen’. Tammy also finds out just how much Toyah and her husband enjoy (or not!) singing together in their home in Pershore, and how their house has a touch of the supernatural about it!

Release date: 17 April 2019 | Duration: 17 minutes

• Listen at BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester.

One of our sporadic looks at which countries are visiting this website, and thus interested in the latest news on Toyah and, currently, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen…

As always the majority of our hits are from within the UK, but there are numerous other countries checking in, including a significant total from the USA.

The last 500 visitors to www.toyah.net are from: United Kingdom (371), United States (51), South Africa (11), Finland (8), Canada (6), Netherlands (5), Italy (5), Ireland (5), Germany (5), Denmark (4), Australia (4), Estonia (3), Russian Federation (2), Korea (2), Spain (2), Luxembourg (1), France (1) and China (1).

Interest is truly global and not strictly limited to the digital world. The latest fanzines were posted out to the UK, US, Australia, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Estonia, Switzerland, Spain and France.

Great News… In The Court Of The Crimson Queen is doing well in The Official Charts Album Midweeks. The album was at no. 72 on Monday, after just a couple of days of CD, download and vinyl sales. As of today it’s now at no. 34 (according to Music Week). The definitive Top 100 Albums of the week is published this Friday by The Official UK Charts Company.

This chart entry is significant because In The Court Of The Crimson Queen is Toyah’s first album to place in the official UK album chart since Minx in August 1985. Below is a screenshot of Monday’s chart placing.

Toyah tweeted yesterday: “This means so much to me. Thank u thank u thank u” in response to HMV’s In The Court Of The Crimson Queen tweet. (Photo © HMV)

In The Court Of The Crimson Queen is BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Album Of The Week.

A track will be played each day this week by Amy Claridge (sitting in for Melvyn in the Morning) at 10.30am. There’s also the chance to win a signed copy of the CD on Friday.

• Listen online at BBC Radio Lincolnshire. The morning show begins at 9.30am and airs for 3hrs and 30mins. (Photo © BBC Radio Lincolnshire)

Toyah guests on Richard Green’s show on BBC Radio Devon this weekend. Richard’s show airs for two hours on Saturday from Midday.

Richard Green Show: BBC Radio Devon: Saturday 20th April: 12pm
Bananarama and Toyah. Bananarama’s Keren Woodward drops by to talk about the groups’ latest album, and in the second hour, Legendary Punk Queen, Toyah , reveals some of her latest music too.

• Listen live at the BBC Radio Devon website, and post-airing at BBC Sounds.

As previously mentioned last year, Toyah will play Belgium’s W-Fest this Summer. The four day festival – with Toyah playing on 16th August on the Synth Scene stage – has moved venue.

The festival runs from Thursday 15th – Sunday 18th August (with a tribute band gig on 14th August for those with five-night camping tickets) and boasts an incredible line-up of bands.

The festival includes a significant number of great bands. These include: The Primitives, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Stranglers,  The Blow Monkeys, Toyah, Johnny Hates Jazz, Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones, Tony Hadley, Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic, Inertia, Lene Lovich, The Human League, Peter Hook & The Light, Killing Joke, Desperate Journalist, Nitzer Ebb, China Crisis, New Model Army, Jimmy Somerville and many others.

• Visit the W-Fest 2019 website for further details and links to book tickets.

Punk, rebel, icon. This week we are absolutely bloody delighted to be able to bring you an interview with a true legend. We will not lie to you readers, we are starstruck. Fangirl-ing all over the shop. She is an era-defining songstress, star of stage and screen and – pardon my millennial-ness – #hairgoals extraordinaire. She is, of course, the incomparable Toyah Willcox, and we chatted to her (ever-so-coolly) this week about rebellion, creativity, and her most recent album In The Court of the Crimson Queen.

Your career began in acting but many know you better as a musician. If that’s not enough, you have also presented and produced – what’s it like to have so many ‘hats’ you can wear, and do you prefer one to the others?

I think my career is purely accidental.  If I had superstar status, I would not be able to be diverse. My career is such that I am able to kickstart everything I do, and I think that’s what makes my career so unique. I do love being asked to do projects but most of the time I have to create my own.

So much of your work is based around – or an expression of – nonconformism, of rebelling. What do you think we should all be rebelling against nowadays, and what do you think the best form of rebellion is?

I am going to answer the latter first. The best form of rebellion is non commitment to what you don’t believe in and don’t want to support. The internet has proven that hatred is a too easy and convenient instrument to block all creativity. And, answering the first part of the question, the best rebellion we can have as exceptionally creative unique creatures is not to accept the mundane. For me the mundane is when you are encouraged to imitate others. None of us needs to imitate – we are all unique.

• Continue reading at Velvet Box Office.

Further In The Court Of The Crimson Queen radio interviews from Toyah over the past few days – all aired by various BBC Radio stations:

BBC Hereford & Worcester: Tammy Gooding: 09.04.2019 – Pershore punk rocker Toyah: Top celebrities, theatre, film and great music – including the ‘Top Ten From When?’. Listen at BBC Sounds for the next month.

BBC Hereford & Worcester: Tammy Gooding: 10.04.2019 – More from Toyah and Malvern’s ‘Octopus Soup’. Top celebrities, theatre, film and great music – including the ‘Top Ten From When?’. Listen at BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio London: Jo Good: 12.04.2019 – Toyah Willcox, Harry Harrington and Pauline Butcher. Singer Toyah Wilcox speaks about the release of her new album, actor Harry Harrington and writer Pauline Butcher chat about ‘Honest Betrayal’ and author Jodie Jackson talks about her new book. Listen at BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio 4: Loose Ends: 13.04.2019 – Emma Bunton, Toyah, Peter Doherty, Alex Rex, YolanDa Brown. Clive Anderson is joined by Emma Bunton and Toyah for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from Peter Doherty and Alex Rex. Listen at BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio Sussex/Surrey: Mark Carter Show: 14.04.2019 -Special Guest: Toyah – Laid Back Sunday – Great music, special guests and local features. Listen at BBC Sounds.

• Catch up on previous In The Court Of The Crimson Queen radio, and video, interviews here and here.

Another new In The Court Of The Crimson Queen cover for Toyah – Your Weekend, the Press & Journal supplement, published in Northern and Highland Scotland, including Aberdeen, Inverness and Moray. The print feature included in Your Weekend is previewed below.

• The Press & Journal: Return Of The Crimson Queen – It’s no mystery as to why Toyah Willcox, who recently celebrated her 60th birthday, looks and sounds amazing. “I don’t drink, I don’t overeat, I drink lots of water and en route to shows I travel alone so I don’t have to speak to anyone,” said Toyah — This feature was previously published online earlier this week. See here.

Toyah was also interviewed in Friday’s Express, which only appears to have been available in the newspaper’s print edition as it hasn’t been published online, so far.

• The Express: Music: My Six Best Albums – Toyah Willcox, 60, is a pop star and actress whose eight Top 40 hits include It’s A Mystery and I Want To Be Free. Her latest album, a new version of In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, is released today…

Toyah: “There’s a common theme on my new album: how grief makes us better people. It makes our hearts stronger.”

Celebrating over four decades in music, Toyah this week releases a new studio reworking of her 2008 album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen.

Written and arranged by Toyah Willcox and Simon Darlow, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen has been newly recorded and mastered with the added bonus of extra tracks. The album’s 15 tracks explore life, love, empowerment and wonderment.  

In 1977, whilst playing the part of Emma in Tales From The Vienna Woods at The National Theatre, 18-year old Willcox formed a band. After several line-up changes, they spent a brief period under the name Ninth Illusion, without recording any music. The following year, the band – comprising of Joel Bogen (lead guitar), Pete Bush (keyboards), Dave Robin (drums), and Windy Miller (bass) – decided on naming the group Toyah.

• Continue reading at philmarriott.net.

Toyah Willcox: ‘Relax? I have no idea what the word means’

The musician on her white rabbit, giving advice and still holding hands with her husband after 32 years

Born in Birmingham, Toyah Willcox, 60, appeared in Derek Jarman’s 1978 film Jubilee, and Quadrophenia in 1979. Her early hit singles included It’s A Mystery and I Want To Be Free, and by 1982 she had made two platinum-selling albums.

She has just released a new studio reworking of her album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, and is currently on tour in the UK. She is married and lives in Worcestershire.

When were you happiest? Between 2007 and 2016, I had a large white rabbit called WillyFred. I was happiest pressing my ear to his fur and hearing his heart beat.

What is your greatest fear? Living in an environment of banality.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I am disproportionately ambitious.

• Continue reading at The Guardian.

• Record Store Day 2019: The In The Court Of The Crimson Queen translucent coloured vinyl is on sale now, at selected record stores for Record Store Day 2019.

• Record Store Day: Exclusively to Record Store Day 2019, Demon Records proudly present a re-imagining of Toyah’ s 2008 album release. Toyah and producer/co-writer Simon Darlow have remixed and added instrumentation to all the songs. These mixes appear for the first time on vinyl, and this release will also have completely new artwork. Pressed on Translucent Purple 180g Vinyl – Visit the Crimson Queen vinyl page…

• Behind The Scenes: Album release day exclusive photo: A second photo, from the new In The Court Of The Crimson Queen photo shoot, by Tony Levin was made available on the album’s release day – See it at Instagram…

• Super Deluxe Edition TV: The BIG Record Store Day unboxing video preview – Music fans will not have failed to notice that tomorrow is Record Store Day, the day when lots of releases (almost entirely vinyl) are available exclusively from independent record shops around the world. Keeping with SDE tradition, we now present a special video preview of some of the best releases… Including the fantastic In The Court Of The Crimson Queen coloured vinyl (from 22.15 – 23.10)

• Amazon Charts: On its CD release day, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen was high up in the Amazon and iTunes album sales charts. Below is a screenshot (taken yesterday) of the Best Sellers in Pop Rock, with Crimson Queen at no. 3.

Recording of this week’s Loose Ends took place at BBC Radio yesterday. Toyah tweeted a couple of photos while there, including this one below with Emma Bunton. Loose Ends airs this evening at 6.15pm on BBC Radio 4 and is repeated on Monday at 11.30am. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)

Toyah’s message on the day her new reimagined double album In The Court of The Crimson Queen is released – Friday 12 April 2019. Out now as 2-CD, digital download & streaming. Out Saturday 13 April as limited edition coloured vinyl for RSDUK. Watch below or at You Tube.

It’s no mystery as to why Toyah Willcox, who recently celebrated her 60th birthday, looks and sounds amazing.

“I don’t drink, I don’t overeat, I drink lots of water and en route to shows I travel alone so I don’t have to speak to anyone,” said Toyah, who is visiting Inverness later this month. Her show at The Ironworks, Inverness, on Saturday April 27, is one of four Scottish gigs she is undertaking as part of her Thunder In The Highlands Tour.

“It must be at least 10 years since I was in Inverness, that time starring in Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock,” said Toyah, who is celebrating a landmark anniversary this year.

It’s 40 years since her music career took off and she released her first single and studio album. She, and her full electric band, will play tracks from it at the show, which celebrates her hit singles, album classics and fan favourites.

“The show will see me travel through punk, new wave and into the present day which results in a pretty high-energy show,” said Toyah.

• Continue reading at The Press & Journal.

Toyah guests on Mark Carter’s show on Sunday, airing on BBC Radio Sussex and BBC Radio Surrey at 3pm.

Mark Carter Show: BBC Radio Sussex:
Sunday 14th April: 3pm
Special Guest: Toyah – Laid Back Sunday – Great music, special guests and local features.

• Listen live at the BBC Sussex & Surrey website, and post-airing at BBC Sounds.

• A Crimson Weekend: It’s the beginning of In The Court Of The Crimson Queen‘s release weekend. The 2CD, Digital and Streaming are out today and the Vinyl album goes on sale tomorrow via selected record stores.

• Music News: Win 1 of 3 Toyah CDs: Toyah will release a revelatory and accomplished new studio reworking of her album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen on 12 April 2019 – Continue reading/Enter competition…

• Gigantic: Spotlight On: Record Store Day 2019: Returning to her 2008 album ‘In The Court Of The Crimson Queen’, Toyah re-imagines the record with remastered versions of the tracks, added instrumentalism, new artwork and on vinyl for the very first time! Toyah will be appearing at Rock And Bike Fest 2019 plus joining the fantastic roster of acts on the Let’s Rock – The Retro Winter Tour in addition to playing her own headline dates throughout the year – Continue reading…

• Dreamscape News: Browse our recent In The Court Of The Crimson Queen news and related posts here…

• In The Court Of The Crimson Queen 2CD digipak. 15 tracks, 24-page booklet. Out today! A beautifully packaged album and a great addition to that Toyah CD collection.

The Official Toyah Instagram is in full Crimson Queen mode this morning…

Phil Marriott spoke to 80s punk pop icon Toyah Willcox to find out more about her new album ‘In The Court Of The Crimson Queen’: her collaboration with long-time co-wroter Simon Darlow, who worked on her albums ‘Love Is The Law’ and ‘Minx’. Watch below or at You Tube.

1st April 1981: Bucks Fizz, Talking Heads, Kim Wilde, Toyah, Shakin’ Stev…
Who is more than a little miffed about his pet red-kneed tarantula, Doris, who’s gone off her daily diet of locusts and appears terribly ill? Which band are Phil Oakey Human League’s favourite group? Win a Ferguson Videostar 3V22 video cassette recorder in the Smash Hits/Visage video competition! It’s all here in this week’s Chart Trivia on 1st April 1981! Starring Bucks Fizz, Talking Heads, Kim Wilde, Toyah, Shakin’ Stevens, Ultravox and a cast of thousands!

Viewers in the Midlands can catch Toyah every Tuesday throughout March/April as she co/hosts BBC Birmingham’s Look Hear with #ChrisPhipps. Toyah is also filming an episode for Tales of the Unexpected – A story called Blue Marigolds, in which she will play a character called Myra. The Four From Toyah EP, containing It’s A Mystery, is down two places to no.6 and the album Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! is down eight places to no.30! All this and more trivia in this week’s Retro Chart Trivia show – listen below!

• Continue reading/Listen to the Retro Chart Trivia podcast at iTunes.