This year I’m planning on sporadically looking back at a few of Dreamscape’s past Toyah features – What better way to kick off than with In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, especially as Toyah begins her year-long Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits… Live! Tour later this month. Click below to view our feature all about Toyah’s brilliant 2008 studio album.
• Dreamscape also had a dedicated News & Press page for all things In The Court Of The Crimson Queen – this was updated between September 2007 and May 2010 – View that here.
The Aylesbury club that rocked the music world of the 1970s and 80s is the focus of a major new exhibition at Bucks County Museum in Aylesbury.
Step back to that era and chart-topping names such as Fleetwood Mac, Mott The Hoople, Genesis, David Bowie, Howard Jones, Marillion, Toyah Willcox, The Clash and The Ramones, all took the stage at Friars club.
Many more rock stars of the time would say the club helped make their name.
Peter Gabriel, founder of the band Genesis, said: “I suppose it started for us at the legendary Friars Aylesbury. That’s where people first got to know us.”
• Continue reading at the Advertiser & Review.
TOYAH TO HEADLINE FRIDAY OF THE SPRING 2014 WHITBY GOTH WEEKEND
Whitby Goth Weekend is delighted to welcome Toyah to headline the Friday night of the Spring 2014 event. She will be performing on 25th April supported by Vince Ray & The Boneshakers, Cold in Berlin and Alexa De Strange at Whitby Pavilion in Whitby, North Yorkshire.
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…
• View a larger version of this here. (Thanks to The Official Toyah Facebook). View Toyah’s full 2014 Gig Diary here. Browse all of Dreamscape’s Whitby Goth Weekend 2014 news here.
Splash!, Vintage TV, Kaleidoscope Man, Aaaaaaaah!, WillyFred, guilty pleasures, Derek Jarman, Bill Rieflin, hangover cures… just some of the topics Toyah has tweeted about recently.
Keep up to date with Toyah at Twitter – Regular tweets and photos directly from the Crimson Queen herself here…
• BFI: The Spell of The Tempest: Derek Jarman designs: Beautiful designs and annotations from Derek Jarman’s notebooks, held in the BFI National Archive’s Special Collections, reveal the magical thinking behind his version of The Tempest – Next Wednesday, 12th February 6.15pm at the BFI Southbank – Toyah interviewed onstage about her role in The Tempest. Still a few tickets left! – Further info here…
• Indie Reign: Project of the Week 37, will it be Love Stalk, Kaleidoscope Man, Island Time, or Alice in the Attic?: Show your support for, Kaleidoscope Man, the film Toyah is involved with by voting for it here…
• BFI: Derek Jarman: Five Essential Films: As BFI Southbank mounts a major retrospective of queer pagan punk director Derek Jarman, we choose five of his very best films – Continue reading…
• Edinburgh Filmhouse: Derek Jarman Season: A Jarman celebration February through to April, including screenings for Jubilee and The Tempest – Further info here… (Thanks to Brian Green)
• Jon Kutner: Five Essential Singles: A great article all about Martha & The Muffins’ classic ‘Echo Beach’ single, with a mention for Toyah too – View here…
Celebrity Fantasy Homes: BBC Lifestyle (Sweden)
Tuesday 18th February: 10.35am
Wednesday 19th February: 00.25am/4.30am
Toyah Willcox. Series 2, Episode 2. Toyah Willcox is looking for her fantasy home in a dream location. The original punk girl has set her heart on moving to Richmond.
Wishing a Happy Birthday to the brilliant drummer Simon Phillips. In an extraordinary career in music Simon has played with dozens of singers and bands. Toyah fans remember him best for being drummer in the Toyah band from late 1981 and throughout 1982, playing on a number of singles, The Changeling album and three tours. Visit Simon’s Wikipedia page by clicking below.
Simon Cox is seeking financial backing for ambitious sci-fi thriller ‘The Kaleidoscope Man’
Film-maker Simon Cox is seeking financial backing for an ambitious sci-fi thriller, which he says “is starting to look like a Hollywood blockbuster.” Simon is based at Nuneaton’s Centenary Business centre and already has half of the project in the can, but now needs investors to come on board to help him complete the next phase.
His feature-length movie is called ‘The Kaleidoscope Man’ and last year he transformed his studio into the set of an International Space Station, while another scene had 700 people screaming through the streets of Birmingham from an onslaught of attacking alien spaceships and outdoor shooting has also taken place in Kenilworth.
…Eighties pop star Toyah Willcox and TV drama actess Lucy Drive both have parts in “Kaleidoscope Man” which is being put together through Simon’s Alpha Star Productions company.
• Continue reading at the Coventry Telegraph. View a photo Simon posted at Facebook of himself and Toyah. Become involved by donating to help the film progress at Indiegogo.
Yesterday Toyah visited the Derek Jarman: Pandemonium exhibition by King’s College London, currently taking place at Somerset House, saying it was: Insightful, inspiring & like visiting a well loved friend x (Photo © Toyah Willcox Ltd)
Derek Jarman: Pandemonium is an immersive exhibition that celebrates the life and work of this truly innovative and multi-faceted artist. A student of humanities at King’s from 1960 to 1963, Jarman went on to become one of the most important creative practitioners of his generation and a crucial voice in gay politics in Britain. Painter, filmmaker, set designer, diarist, poet, gardener, activist – Jarman’s work across many areas and media was distinguished for its continual innovation and sense of daring. This exhibition, marking the 20th anniversary of his death from an HIV-related illnesses in February 1994, captures the unruly spirit of his work and his artistic times.
Derek Jarman: Pandemonium
Thursday 23 January – Sunday 9 March 2014
Inigo Rooms, Somerset House East Wing
Strand Campus, London WC2R 2LS
Open daily, 12.00 – 18.00 (until 20.00 on Thursdays)
Free Admission
My Vintage: Vintage TV: Sunday 16th February: 5.00pm
My Vintage: Vintage TV: Thursday 20th February: 10.00pm
Toyah and Robert. New! Husband and wife team, punk princess Toyah Willcox and guitarist and record producer Robert Fripp, invite My Vintage viewers into their home for their top record picks. (NB: This is being advertised as “Part 1”, so it looks like there will be a further programme…)
Toyah paid tribute to Maximilian Schell last night: Just heard Maximillian Schell has died. A lovely, kind soul to work with. Directed me @ National Theatre in 1976! God bless. Here is a photo of Toyah as Emma in Tales From The Vienna Woods. View the full version at Instagram.
Legendary actor, writer, director and producer Maximilian Schell passed away today at the age of 83. He had an illustrious and varied career, including winning an Oscar in 1961. He also directed Tales From The Vienna Woods at The National Theatre in 1977, the play in which Toyah made her stage debut, playing Emma. View his Wikipedia entry by clicking below.
Phil Spalding has a new “Bass Evening with…” show taking place on Wednesday 5th March at The Regent Hotel, Doncaster. Further info and book tickets by clicking below.
“Join me for an evening of punchy basslines, behind-the-scenes secrets from my colourful career and tips on how to record your bass parts in one take… no drop-ins and no edits!”
Actress and post-punk legend Toyah Willcox has been confirmed to star in Steve Oram‘s directorial debut, Aaaaaaaah!
We first told you about the film a few weeks ago, after hearing it discussed in hushed tones for some time, but the news of Toyah’s casting came to us twice over yesterday evening – first via Oram himself at Julian Barratt’s live show, then via Toyah’s web-master as the news was revealed on her official website.
Typically oddball, the film will contain no spoken dialogue, with the cast – Oram, Tom Meeten, Julian Barratt, Tony Way, Waen Shepherd, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Hannah Hoeskra and now, Toyah Willcox, will communicate like monkeys.
• Continue reading at The Velvet Onion.
Toyah has been confirmed as playing at Rewind North: The 80s Festival, on Sunday 31st August.
The full line-up for the festival was announced yesterday and tickets go on sale tomorrow. Other bands playing include Heaven 17, Mike & The Mechanics, Holly Johnson, Nick Heyward, Nik Kershaw, The Beat and numerous others.
• View further info and book tickets at the Rewind Festival website. View Toyah’s dedicated page here.
Toyah is currently working on three film projects; 3 Sides Of The Coin, Kaleidoscope Man and Aaaaaaaah! – View more details on all three at The Official Toyah Willcox Website.
Toyah was interviewed on the Andy Potter Show on BBC Radio Derby yesterday, ahead of her Acoustic, Up Close & Personal gig in Buxton next month.
The interview, which runs for seven minutes, is available to listen to online at the BBC Derby website here. View Toyah’s full confirmed Acoustic, Up Close & Personal tour dates here.
Toyah has recorded a two-song acoustic session for a future edition of Vintage Live Sessions. This will air on Vintage TV.
Classic 1981 singles ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ and ‘I Want To Be Free’ were performed. The programme will also feature The Struts, Nik Kerhsaw and Judie Tzuke.
Toyah is accompanied by Chris Wong and Colin Hinds who will be the line-up seen on Toyah’s 2014 Acoustic, Up Close & Personal concert dates.
News Source: Official Toyah (Photo © Roger Goodgroves)
Sounds Of The 80s: BBC Radio 2: Saturday 15th February: 10.00pm
Toyah joins Sara, recalling her success in the 80s. Plus there is a classic 12″ single, three tracks from a vintage eighties album and a look back at the Top 5 this week in 1981.
Toyah Willcox has been confirmed as this year’s headlining act at Crick Boat Show 2014.
Fresh from her positively received diving on ITV1’s Splash, household name, pop icon, TV presenter and stage and screen actress (Calamity Jane, Cabaret Peter Pan, Jubilee, Quadrophenia) Toyah comes to Crick Boat Show this May to perform her Acoustic, Up Close & Personal set. Toyah will be the final act on Saturday, after a day of Crick favourites and talented local musicians.
If you’ve yet to book your tickets to Crick Boat Show 2014, you can do so by clicking here or by calling 01283 742970.
• Continue reading at www.crickboatshow.com.
This looks incredible. Kaleidoscope Man by Director Simon Cox. Take a look and maybe lend your support. Find full details on this exciting new film project at Indiegogo.
Help us complete the most AMBITIOUS, most EXCITING, most ENJOYABLE UK Indie sci-fi movie Ever… Meet some of our cast: Lucy Drive as Mandy Dunn, Toyah Willcox as Clare Dove, Raine McCormack as Freddie Dunn, Ben Shockley as Billy McCoy.
