The poster/advert for the release of Nine to Five by Adam & Toyah (aka Maneaters) in 1982. Both objected to this “cash-in” release at the time but it’s an interesting item of memorabilia all the same, bringing together two of the 80s most interesting and colourful icons. (Thanks to Andy)
Dirty Sexy Funny: Olivia Lee: Comedy Central Extra: Wednesday 14th May: 3.25am
Dirty Sexy Funny: Olivia Lee: Comedy Central Extra: Sunday 18th May: 3.55am
Olivia Lee stars in this hidden camera sketch show. Deaf Bubba makes a mess of things at the marina, Door Bitch takes a punt and Elaine Caine meets Toyah Willcox.
She’s 55 but already this year she’s high dived in Splash and made her point on Pointless – now she’s back on the road – as Tony Dewhurst discovers
Toyah Willcox has never been afraid to speak her mind, and, now she’s a 50-something, the former high priestess of punk doesn’t show any signs of putting the brakes on.
Toyah burst on to the pop scene with smash hits It’s A Mystery and I Want To Be Free, and since then she’s also enjoyed a successful career as a singer, presenter and an actress, appearing in several films, stage plays and in numerous television dramas.
“The punk revolution changed my life, but I’m as busy now as I ever was,” said Toyah, who brings her colourful greatest hits stage show to Clitheroe tonight.
“Slow down? Not a chance. “I love performing and I’m chocka with commitments.
• Continue reading at the Chorley Guardian.
• New Quay Music Festival 2014: The festival, taking place at the beginning of August, has recently updated its website with more artists and bands. Both Toyah and Hazel O’Connor are playing on Saturday 2nd August – which sounds like a fine line-up to me – Visit the site…
• Toyah Live 2014: View all of Toyah’s confirmed live dates for 2014 at The Official Gigs page.
• Hit Fix: 11 Fun Facts About U2, Duran Duran And Tears For Fears From ‘Mad World’: Toyah is namechecked (by Limahl) in this article on the new book “Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists And Songs That Defined The 1980s.”… “I’d go out to nightclubs in London with a spaceman’s outfit on and weird oil paint over my face, which was a bit punk/Toyah/Adam and the Ants,” says lead singer, Limahl – Continue reading…
• Concert News Online: SohoCreate: 50 of the country’s top creatives gather in Soho to make the case for creativity. SohoCreate features some of Britain’s best creatives discussing their art, inspiration and story so far. Creative people talking about what they do and why they do it – Continue reading…
• The Humans US: Toyah and The Humans American adventure is over, for now. She tweeted yesterday: “Portland was AMAZING! Totally won audience over. Even got a round 4 Psychopath vocal……just fab“.
• Take The Leap!: Bid on a black long sleeved t-shirt, size large. It has Take The Leap printed down the left sleeve. The shirt was bought at a 1993 Toyah concert at Lincoln Theatre Royal. It is in excellent condition. All proceeds from this auction will be going towards a Three Peaks mountaineering, charity challenge for The Myton Hospices – View/bid here…
Fripp, Buck, and Others Make Slow Music
Viewed through a wide-angle lens, the line that runs through Bill Rieflin’s projects seems to follow the trend of many musicians who came out of the punk era. There’s the furious, angst-driven beginning that coasts steadily downward into calmer, more middle-of-the-road fare.
In the case of Rieflin, the 53-year-old musician made a name for himself in the late ’80s when he joined forces with industrial-rock carpet bombers Ministry and Revolting Cocks, while also helping form the equally brutal collective Pigface. So his moving into the world of straightforward rock like the Minus 5 and R.E.M. (he was their drummer from 2003 until the band split up in 2011) might seem like he’s gone soft in his later years.
• Continue reading at The Portland Mercury.
• Toyah tweeted post-first gig: “20:30 Seattle time 14/4/14: THE HUMANS have just come off stage! AWESOME! Full house, great audience and we rocked“.
• Toyah instagrammed a photo of The Humans soundchecking for their second gig at The Triple Door in Seattle yesterday.
• View more soundcheck photos from Seattle at the Official Toyah Facebook…
• View the (unconfirmed) set list at the Sugar Rush Facebook page…
• The Humans third gig of the week is tonight at Doug Fir Lounge, Portland…
• The Stranger: 7 Remarkable Robert Fripp Moments (Not With King Crimson): Robert Fripp is performing tonight with Slow Music at the Triple Door (he’s also playing at Washington Hall May 25 with the League of Crafty Guitarists). In honor of this occasion, here are seven of his most memorable moments on record, as recollected by me in the last couple of hours – Continue reading…
The Corn is Green: True Movies 2: Wednesday 30th April: 5.00am
Academy Award winner Katharine Hepburn stars as a schoolteacher determined to help the people of a turn-of-the-century Welsh mining town. With Ian Saynor, Bill Fraser, Patricia Hayes, Anna Massey, Artro Morris, Dorothea Phillips, Toyah Willcox, Huw Richards, Bryn Fon, Dyfan Roberts and Robin John. Directed by: George Cukor (1979).
• The Humans in America #1: The Humans’ first West Coast USA live date is tonight!! At the Triple Door Club, Seattle – Wishing the band a great, sold out, gig!
• The Humans in America #2: Toyah has been tweeting over the last few days about The Humans: “THE HUMANS r sounding awesome….really excited as TRIPLE DOOR is a sell out“… “THE HUMANS are sounding fab. it’s a five piece presently….sax added“… “I love THE HUMANS so much! STRANGE TALES material is rocking“.
• Willamette Week: Slow Music, the Humans: It’s In The Name – Over four-plus decades, visionary prog-rock legend Robert Fripp has founded and maintained King Crimson, performed in other ensembles like the League of Crafty Guitarists and appeared on literally hundreds of releases, including celebrated albums with Brian Eno, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, David Byrne, David Sylvian and many others – Continue reading…
• Seattle KEXP 90.3FM: Track #7 was included in Larry Mizell Jr’s show playlist: The Slow Music Project is directed by Bill Rieflin and features Peter Buck, Fred Chalenor, Matt Chamberlain, and Robert Fripp. You can catch them at the Triple Door on April 14 and 15 – View here…
• Official Toyah: Toyah Joins Rock Choir This July…: Toyah will be joining Caroline Redman Lusher and 1,000 Midlands Rock Choir members for a very special performance this July at Birmingham Symphony Hall which include a new song written by Toyah, Simon Darlow and Caroline – Continue reading…
• Chester Chronicle: Spend this summer travelling back to the Eighties: Rewind The 80s Music Festival cwill take place in the beautiful surroundings of Capethorne Hall, situated between Maccesfield and Wilmslow, on Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 31 – Continue reading…
• Somer Valley 97.5FM: Read a full transcript of Toyah’s recent interview at The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive…
• Rainbow Hair Colour: Pink Hair – It’s A Love Affair: In the past the music industry has had it’s share of pink haired divas, Cyndi Lauper and Toyah Willcox are some of the earliest… 1980′s Toyah Willcox trend-setter with her paintbox pink locks – Continue reading…
Holy shit, Robert Fripp’s going to be playing two dates in Seattle! But don’t expect selections from Evening Star or Exposure or a medley of greatest non-hits by King Crimson (who are reunited, by the way). The British guitar innovator’s here as part of the ensemble Slow Music, an odd conglomeration of rock vets including R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, percussionist Bill Rieflin (Swans, R.E.M.), drummer Matt Chamberlain (Critters Buggin, Pearl Jam), and bassist Fred Chalenor (Hughscore). As Slow Music, they create a kind of intimate ambient sound that hints at ECM-ish chamber jazz abstraction. It’s super-refined and minimal, demanding utmost focus to appreciate the minute, elegant contours and subtle gestures.
• Continue reading at The Stranger.
Top Of The Pops: The Story of 1976: Yesterday: Sunday 20th April: 10pm
Top Of The Pops: The Story of 1976: Yesterday: Monday 21st April: 9pm
Documentary examining how the BBC’s flagship pop show reflected changes in British music and culture during 1976. As the popularity of glam rock faded, no dominant musical scene emerged to replace it, leading to chart success for bands including Abba, Showaddywaddy, the Brotherhood of Man and the Wurzels – while outside the mainstream, punk rock was rapidly growing in popularity. Featuring contributions by Tony Blackburn, Paul Morley, Toyah Willcox and David Hamilton.
A great new interview with Bill Rieflin, by The Seattle Times, ahead of next week’s The Humans/Slow Music US live dates in Seattle and Portland.
It’s Bill Rieflin times two at Slow Music and Humans show next week | Concert preview
Bill Rieflin will be on double duty next week when he appears at the Triple Door on April 14 and 15. The multi-instrumentalist, who boasts a wide-ranging resume (Ministry, R.E.M., Nine Inch Nails, Robyn Hitchcock), will headline both shows with his improvisational group Slow Music, which also includes legendary English guitarist Robert Fripp, as well as playing in the evening’s opening act, the Humans, which features Fripp’s wife, English singer/actress Toyah Willcox.
“Believe me, it’s not my idea,” Rieflin said of the double billing. It all began when Rieflin was recently out dining in London with Fripp, Willcox, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck (another Slow Music member), and Young Fresh Fellows/R.E.M. guitarist Scott McCaughey.
• Continue reading at The Seattle Times.
Toyah was never a shrinking violet when it came to rummaging through the dressing up box, and she’ll no doubt be done up like Fenwick’s Christmas window when she gets out her greatest hits at Blyth’s lovely Phoenix Theatre this May.
Has Toyah released an autobiography yet? If not she needs to get scribbling as she’s got a tale to tell. From playing ‘Mad’ in Derek Jarman’s punk film Jubilee (and ‘Monkey’ in mod epic Quadrophenia) to colourful pop star, to stage performer, to a whole range of TV presenting jobs (she’s ran the full gamut on the small screen from The Good Sex Guide to Songs Of Praise), she’s a woman who’s been constantly on the move. And her pop career, which has yielded thirteen top 40 singles and twenty albums, has won her an enormous army of fans who will no doubt be in force on her Crimson Queen tour in which she’ll be playing all her greatest hits. X-Factor? Toyah’s still got the Max-Factor.
Toyah Willcox, Saturday 10 May, Phoenix Theatre, Blyth, 7pm, £20/£23. thephoenixtheatre.org.uk
• Read the article at The Crack website.
Toyah and Robert left the UK yesterday, flying to the US for some adventures of The Humans (and Slow Music) variety.
To mark The Humans making their West Coast appearances to promote Strange Tales the band’s live cover of the Hendrix classic Purple Haze is available to stream over at Soundcloud. This final track from the Scala live recordings means the entire 2010 gig is available across the various digital live releases or website exclusives.
THE HUMANS with guest human ROBERT FRIPP
Purple Haze [Live at Scala, London 2010]
Audio recorded/mixed by Paul Nicholson
——————————-
THE HUMANS are Toyah Willcox, Bill Rieflin & Chris Wong
www.thehumansofficial.com
More fantastic photos from the Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits…Live! UK Tour. These are from Saturday night’s gig at St Mary In The Castle, Hastings. Click below to view the full versions of these photos, and more, at Dreamscape Gallery. (Thanks to Angus (1&5), Brian (2&4) and Paul and Merx (3&6) | Photos © Angus Turner, Brian Marsh & Paul Stephens)
Toyah’s April blog is now available at The Official Toyah Willcox Website. Click below to read.
Official Toyah Gigs: More concerts for 2014 are sporadically being added to Toyah’s live schedule – View all of the confirmed live dates for 2014 at The Official Gigs page.
Toyah played the sixth date of her, nine-month-spanning, Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits…Live! tour last night at St Mary In The Castle, Hastings. Meanwhile, here are more great photos from last weekend’s CQ/GH… Live! gig at the Jazz Cafe, Camden. The next live date for Toyah is another CQ concert, at The Grand, Clitheroe on Saturday 19th April, though there are live dates for The Humans in the US next week. Click below to view the full versions of these photos, and more, at Dreamscape Gallery. (Thanks to Damon | All photos © Damon King)
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts 2: Friday 18th April: 1.30pm
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts 2: Saturday 19th April: 6.30am
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.
A new website for the forthcoming SohoCreate festival is now online. Toyah will be participating and is included in the website’s “All Speakers” section. Click below to visit.
A new article on Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, in which Toyah appeared as Janet in 1980, at Memorable TV. They use a great screen cap of Toyah’s character too.
Period horror. In 1980 the BBC broadcast a feature length period adaptation of Stevenson’s proto horror classic, pulling out all the stops and persuading David Hemmings to take the lead in a rare TV role and very good he is too as the doctor who unleashes his dark side on Victorian society – with murderous and bloody consequences…
Hemmings is marvelously decadent as Hyde and the production design is sumptuous. There are some great supporting performaces too, not least from the excellent Ian Bannen who is not as well remembered these days as he should be) and also a young Toyah Willcox who at the time was trying to make more of a mark as an actress than as the punk singer she was best known for. There’s also a cameo from the gorgeous Diana Dors.
• Read the full article, including cast list and production details, at Memorable TV.
• Kate O’Mara: I was very sad to hear of the death of Kate on Sunday. Fantastic in Doctor Who, Absolutely Fabulous and countless other TV, theatre and film roles. Toyah tweeted a tribute to Kate: “Darling Kate O’Mara! God bless you and thank u for ur friendship and inspiring spirit.”
• Telegraph: Kate O’Mara: In Pictures: Includes a publicity photo featuring Joan Sims as Mrs White, Kate O’Mara as Mrs Peacock and Toyah Willcox as Miss Scarlet from the 1990 TV series Cluedo – View the photo tribute here…
• Jubilee in New York: The legendary film is showing at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music May 30 — Jun 1, as part of their Punk Rock Girls festival: “It’s almost an understatement to say that Jubilee has a lot going for it.” – Time Out, London – View more details here…
• Great British Alternative Music Festival: Watch/listen to Toyah perform ‘It’s A Mystery’ at the festival, on Sunday, at You Tube…
• Toyah’s Tattoo: Toyah instagrammed a photo of her new tattoo yesterday, 1st April…
• Happy Birthday Chris: Sending Best Wishes to Chris Wong, who is celebrating his birthday today.
