Listen to The Reunion: Women of Punk at BBC iPlayer.
Sue MacGregor reunites five musicians who embraced the anarchy of punk music and created a unique style of their own.
For many young people, Britain in the late 1970s was a place without hope. Unemployment was high. The value of the pound was low and, despite the feminist activity of the early 1970s, the most many girls aspired to was to marry well and look good. Female role models were hard to fine – especially in music. The only all-girl troupes on Top of the Pops were Legs and Co. Then punk happened.
Women could dress how they liked, behave how they wanted and develop their own sound without being manipulated by the mostly male gatekeepers of the record industry. Young women who didn’t fit the traditional mould of femininity found a new tribe in punk. A place where they could finally be themselves. But the movement attracted fear and aggression from straight society. And few made much money from the short-lived scene.
Sue MacGregor brings together five female punk pioneers: Gaye Advert, bass player in The Adverts, was described as the first female punk star. But the industry focus on her looks caused animosity in the band. Toyah Willcox, an aggressive tomboy, found her emotional rebellion in punk and appeared in Derek Jarman’s cult punk film Jubilee. Gina Birch of The Raincoats played her first gig in November 1977 a few weeks after forming her all-female band. Tessa Pollitt abandoned her A levels to join all girl punk band, The Slits. Vivien Goldman was in the The Flying Lizards and Features Editor on the weekly music paper, Sounds. She is now a Professor of Punk in New York. The guests discuss the impact and legacy of their movement.
Burning Shed are now stocking the first four Toyah studio releases, Sheep Farming In Barnet (1979), The Blue Meaning (1980), Anthem (1981) and The Changeling (1982).
Featuring copious bonus tracks, these editions were pressed in 1999 and 2002 (N.B. These are not new pressings or remasters) and showcase Toyah’s adventurous and sophisticated fusion of Post-Punk and Art Rock at its very best.
The Changeling was produced by Steve Lillywhite and featured Be Bop Deluxe’s Andy Clarke on keyboards plus the formidable rhythm section of Phil Spalding and Simon Phillips (both soon to depart for Mike Oldfield’s band).
• Further info at Burning Shed. Pre-order for 21st April shipping.
The video for Toyah’s power-pop 1983 hit Rebel Run airs on a retro edition of Top Of The Pops later this month… You’ve got to get away…
Top Of The Pops: BBC4: Friday 21st April: 7.30pm 22.09.1983. Simon Bates and Mike Read present the pop chart programme, first broadcast in September 1983. Featuring Toyah Willcox, David Bowie, Nick Heyward, The Alarm, Howard Jones and Hot Chocolate.
The Reunion: BBC Radio 4: Sunday 16th April: 11.15am The Reunion: BBC Radio 4: Friday 21st April: 9am Women of Punk. Sue MacGregor presents the series that reunites a group of people intimately involved in a moment of modern history. Women of Punk: Sue reunites five musicians who embraced the anarchy of punk music and created a unique style of their own.
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Monday 24th April: 5pm Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Tuesday 25th April: 8am Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Tuesday 25th April: 1pm Blue Marigold. Series 5, Episode 1. Dropped by her agency for her diva-like behaviour, supermodel Marigold’s mental health deteriorates. Years later, she plots a comeback. Director: Giles Foster. Starring: Toyah Willcox, Ralph Bates, Sharon Duce, Helen Fraser, Billy Hamon, Edward Jewesbury.
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Wednesday 26th April: 2am New Romantics. Toyah Willcox and Billy Bragg are among those examining the New Romantic movement, from The Human League and Adam Ant, to David Bowie and Ultravox. (Series 1, Episode 16)
Quadrophenia: Sky Greats HD: Sunday 16th April: 00.15am
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.
Kavanagh Q.C.: ITV Encore: Wednesday 19th April: 12.55pm Kavanagh Q.C.: ITV Encore: Thursday 20th April: 7.05am 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.
Who’s Doing The Dishes?: STV: Friday 14th April: 1.45am
Brian McFadden presents the dining challenge. Will it remain a mystery that Toyah Willcox is the celebrity host when she throws a dinner party for four complete strangers?
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Saturday 15th April: 2am 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)
Maigret: ITV Encore: Saturday 15th April: 3.35pm Maigret: ITV Encore: Sunday 16th April: 3.45am Maigret: ITV Encore: Sunday 16th April: 8.50am Maigret and the Hotel Majestic. Crime series featuring Georges Simenon’s celebrated Parisian detective. Maigret is called to the scene when a beautiful woman is found dead in the basement of the Hotel Majestic with a gun in her handbag. The Chief Inspector’s investigations initially centre around the staff at the hotel – until he discovers that the woman’s husband booked a trip to Rome that he never made. Starring: Michael Gambon, Geoffrey Hutchings, Michael Shannon, Toyah Willcox (1993). Also airing on ITV Encore HD and Plus 1.
Browse a great selection of upcoming Toyah tour dates, acoustic gigs and, numerous, festival appearances at The Official Toyah Willcox website.
Tonight is the final date of the 80’s Invasion 2017 UK Tour – at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic – See Toyah’s Twitter for tweets and photographs from many of the tour dates through March.
Toyah’s voice is heard in scripted dialogue in the new freely released Chris Wade film The Apple Picker.
Toyah fans will be familiar with the name Chris Wade as Toyah collaborated with him on the track Drinking From The Gun for the Dodson & Fogg album White House On The Hill.
A darkly comic surreal drama about an old man who, disjointed from the world around him, looks back upon his life, and the darkest corners of his psyche.
Featuring Jack Napier, Chris Wade, Shawn Dimery, Linzi Napier and Andy Wade. Also features voice work by legendary actors Toyah Willcox and Nigel Planer.
Chris Wade is an acclaimed writer, musician and filmmaker. He runs the cult music project Dodson and Fogg, releases comedy audiobooks (Cutey and the Sofaguard, narrated by Rik Mayall), fiction and non fictions books.
The film is free but if you enjoyed it, feel free to donate to the film’s tip jar to support the filmmaker.
The long awaited 80’s Invasion Tour is back and opened at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl on the 2nd of March. YES Mag was lucky enough to be on the guest list and what a night it was!
The show opened with Liverpool’s finest guitar duo China Crisis, who within minutes had everyone on their feet dancing to theor classic beat.
Next up the legendary (and very energetic) pop punk princess Toyah burst on to the stage with hits ‘It’s A Mystery’, ‘I Want Yo be Free’ and many more of her 80’s classics.
‘Let’s make it like an 80s school disco’, said the performers – and the Theatre Severn certainly had a party atmosphere when it came to the 80s Invasion.
Pop stars China Crisis, Toyah, Paul Young and Martika took to the stage in Shrewsbury on Tuesday, performing their nostalgic hits. Most of the shows I go to are chosen by my mum, and this was no exception. The show was opened by China Crisis, who did a great job of getting the mid-week crowd up and dancing.
We both found Toyah a real revelation, she looked absolutely stunning and had energy by the barrel on stage. She also interspersed her hits, including It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains and I Wanna Be Free, with tales of her time during the 80s. But it was her cover of Echo Beach, originally by Martha and the Muffins, that really got the crowd going.
30 celebrities you didn’t know were from Birmingham
We take a look at the stars whose connections to the city are not as well-publicised as the likes of Ozzy Osbourne – how many of these did you know had links to Birmingham?
By now, virtually everyone must be aware that Ozzy Osbourne hails from Birmingham, as are all the other members of Black Sabbath including Tony Iommi.
Other famous faces with widely-documented links to the city include comedians Jasper Carrott and Tony Hancock, actor David Harewood (star of American drama Homeland), plus musicians Jeff Lynne, Bev Bevan, Roy Wood, Rob Halford, Toyah Willcox, Jamelia and reggae singer Pato Banton. And of course Duran Duran and girl group Fuzzbox were founded here too.
Toyah, Paul Young, Martika and China Crisis are currently travelling the UK with the 80’s Invasion 2017 UK Tour.
The foursome have already played dates at Rhyl Pavilion, De Monfort Hall in Leicester, Stoke’s Victoria Hall, Edinburgh Playhouse and Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn. Tonight the tour reaches the Central Theatre, Chatham.
Stay updated on the tour via Twitter. Follow Toyah at Twitter for tour tweets. Browse all of Dreamscape’s 80’s Invasion news, and click below for all of the remaining dates and links to buy tickets, at toyahwillcox.com.
Listen to The Reunion: Women of Punk at BBC iPlayer.
