Vote for your top albums of 1985 in the sixth Slicing Up Eyeballs poll. Toyah’s first solo, and post-Safari, album ‘Minx’ is included as an option. Voting closes on 26th July and the results will be announced at the beginning of August. Click below to participate in the poll. (Thanks to Paul Johnson) 
A new show at the V&A celebrates the creativity of the 80s clubbing and fashion scenes in London. We find out what inspired the decade’s cool kids. We asked those who were there about dressing up, making images and dancing till dawn.
Toyah Willcox on the pop wardrobe: “Melissa Caplan made my costumes from the 70s to the mid-80s. I was very influenced by futurism and reading a lot of Marge Piercy. Look and image were very important – there was already incredible pressure to look feminine and sexy but I wanted to look individual and strong. I didn’t have any role models except Little Nell from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I remember stepping out on to the stage in 1981 at Hammersmith Odeon and seeing row after row of people looking identical. Every image I created was like setting a fire off in someone’s mind.”
Toyah Willcox is a singer and actor
• Continue reading at The Guardian.
• London Evening Standard: They were there: partying along to the decade that fashion forgot: From Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 1980s is the story of how the club scene influenced fashion in the decade that some consider one giant fashion faux-pas. Toyah Willcox was there, along with the likes of Zandra Rhodes, Andrew Logan, Steve Strange and milliner Stephen Jones (Photo © Evening Standard) – Continue reading…
• Now. Here. This.: The Time Out London Blog: Last night, we went down to the V&A’s glitzy private view for the their new exhibition ’From Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 1980s’ which opens to the public tomorrow, July 10. The cream of the 1980s club culture crop were out in full force (and make up); the show was officially opened by Spandau Ballet guitarist and Blitz club regular Gary Kemp. He was joined by other key music and fashion figures including Duran Duran’s John Taylor and Nick Rhodes, Toyah Willcox, Zandra Rhodes, Stephen Jones, Lulu Kennedy, Pam Hogg, Patrick Cox, Betty Jackson and Steve Strange – Continue reading…
• Toyah tweeted a photo taken at the V&A today and said: “Absolutely thrilled/surprised by presence of my Melissa Kaplan outfit at brilliant #Clubtocatwalk Exhibition @ V&A“.
• Tatler: Club to Catwalk private view: Talk about Culture Club. The V&A has curated an exhibition of clubbing fashion from the Eighties and all the scenesters were at the private view – Continue reading…
Music legends help bring back days of the students’ union
Aberdeen University Union’s former glory days as one of the Granite City’s magnets for music-lovers will be recreated in The Lemon Tree next month.
A line-up including iconic punk princess Toyah Willcox, Ultravox’s Midge Ure and Union favourites Blues ‘n’ Trouble has been assembled for one of the hottest gigs of the year at The Lemon Tree on Saturday, August 17.
Christened “Re:Union”, all profits from the night will be going to the Aberdeen Student Charities Campaign, and one of the organisers, Karen Grayburn, is promising concert-goers a memorable and evocative night. “It’s going to be a nostalgic night for anybody who has ever eaten a pie in the Dungeon or bought a ticket from Union Travel,” she said.
• Continue reading at the Inverness Courier.
More great photos from last night’s Club to Catwalk: London Fashion In The 1980s press launch at the V&A in South Kensington. Toyah, Giddy Gavin and Steve Strange all looking fabulous. See another of Gavin’s photos of Toyah at our Gallery. (Thanks to Gavin | Photos © Giddy Gavin & V&A)
Toyah attended this evening’s launch of Club to Catwalk at the V&A Museum in London. The other photo is of the Melissa Caplan outfit, included in the exhibition, that Toyah only wore once and subsequently donated to Sheffield Rock Museum in 1987. Toyah also tweeted a photo of herself and Helen David at the launch, and the Official Toyah Facebook posted another photo of Toyah with the outfit. (Thanks to Andi)
BA High Life has ten pairs of tickets to give away for Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 1980s at the Victoria and Albert Museum, 10 July—16 February 2014. Featuring more than 85 outfits, it showcases new looks from the decade’s most experimental designers.
Club to Catwalk explores the creative explosion of London fashion in the 1980s, how the impact of underground club culture was felt far beyond the club doors and reinvented fashion worldwide. More than 85 outfits by designers such as John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood and Katherine Hamnett will be on display together with accessories by designers including Stephen Jones and Patrick Cox.
• Enter the competition at BA High Life. (Closing date: 31/07/13)
The V&A Club To Catwalk: London Fashion In The 1980s exhibition opens on Wednesday, and runs for the next six months. Time for some related newsy bits:
• The Guardian: 1980s Throwback: Clubland’s charming impact on fashion examined at V&A: Curator of Club to Catwalk says Dynasty shoulder pads kept to a minimum in show that includes Adam Ant’s pirate outfit… The subcultures explored include familiar ones like New Romantic (see that pirate shirt and stagewear worn by Toyah Willcox), Goth and Rave.
• Charlie Porter: Club To Catwalk: London Fashion in the 80s opens soon at the V&A. A tour of its amazingness with curator Claire Wilcox: On Wednesday, an exhibition opens at the V&A titled Club To Catwalk: London Fashion In the 1980s. It’s taking the space previously occupied by the Ballgowns show, in the centre of the fashion room, split over two levels. Lower level is catwalk. Upper level is club. Both levels are amazing… “And then we have an outfit worn by Toyah by Melissa Caplan“.
• V&A: Club to Catwalk: About the Exhibition: Discover the creative explosion of London fashion in the 1980s in a major exhibition at the V&A. Through more than 85 outfits, Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 1980s showcases the bold and exciting new looks by the most experimental young designers of the decade.
• The Wall Street Journal: King’s Of The Wild Frontier: Club Culture and fashion collided head-on in 1980s London. As the city’s new nightclub scene became ever more frenetic and fantastical, young designers such as Rifat Özbek, Betty Jackson and John Galliano sought inspiration for their collections in the basements of West End venues.
• The Telegraph: From Club to Catwalk: Back to the Eighties: It was the ‘weird and wonderful’ clubbers who decided what we wore in the Eighties, says designer Wendy Dagworthy.
• Grazia: Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 1980s – An AMAZE New Exhibition At The V&A: If you enjoyed the V&A’s most recent block-busting exhibition, David Bowie Is, then there’s a strong chance you’ll like the next thing to pop up at the revered West London museum.
• Ultravie: From Club to Catwalk | Spandex and Sparkles at The V&A: Lycra pants, over-sized tees and form-fitting knits are coming out of the closet for the V&A’s fashion exhibition this summer.
Celebrity Fantasy Homes: Home: Sunday 21st July: 8.00pm
Celebrities hunt for a new home. Gaby Roslin helps punk-pop princess Toyah Willcox search for a second home, in Richmond upon Thames, with a budget of £650,000. (Also on Watch HD)
• Upton Music Festival 2013: We’re back for our 4th year and we’re even bigger and better than ever before… Toyah is playing this festival on Saturday 24th August. Check out their promo video at ‘You Tube’.
• Toyah @ Instagram: “John Wain’s popped by for T! Our heroic builder has pieced The Rite Of Spring back 2gether seamlessly.… Thank U“.
• Jack Up The 80s: Win An Original Mini Metro: Yes you can win this original 80′s beauty at Jack Up The 80′s! How to enter: Bring an scarecrow dressed to look like an iconic 80′s personality. From Ronald Regan to Boy George, Madonna, Adam Ant or Toyah… The possibilities are endless!
• Northern Pride 2013: Toyah plays a daytime show on Saturday 20th July at ‘Northern Pride’, Check out their website which currently features Toyah on the Home Page.
• James Endeacott: Songs To Remember: Tonight I’ll be spouting nonsense on BBC 6music roundtable with Toyah. Shes married to Robert Fripp who’s worked with Bowie many times over the years… I’m getting closer my friends.
• I Want To Be Free: (Jason Buchanan’s Free Extended 7″): A fan mix of Toyah’s classic 1981 hit at ‘Soundcloud’.
Cheshire Life has teamed up with Tatton Picnic Concerts to offer 20 lucky people the chance to win a pair of tickets to one of the shows on the 20th and 21st July.
The beautiful lakeside setting of Tatton Park will come alive this summer with The Human League on Saturday 20th and Katherine Jenkins on Sunday 21st July.
Dust off your dancing shoes and join The Human League for an astounding evening of electro classics. The 80s legends will be supported by Howard Jones and Toyah Willcox for the party night of the summer.
• Enter the competition at Cheshire Life. (Closing date: 12/07/13)
Celebrity Ghost Stories UK: Bio: Saturday 20th July: 0.00am
Sue Cook reveals creepy encounters with a malevolent nutcracker and a UFO, Toyah Willcox speaks of a spooky apparation, and Alex Fearns discusses sinister sounds he caught on tape.
A new update to Andrew York’s website, with six more arternative Toyah images added. In The Fairground has now been online for six months and has received constant visitors since launching in February, as well as lots of positive feedback for Andrew’s wonderful Toyah art.
Check out Dreamscape’s Gallery – We have virtually thousands of Toyah photos to browse from every era of her career. If I can find the time at some point I’d like to make it even more comprehensive.
Toyah, James Endeacott & Nadine Shah, guesting on Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable on ‘BBC 6Music’ yesterday. The show is available to listen to at BBC iPlayer for the next week. (Photos © Toyah/BBC 6Music)
• The Crack: We’re Here! We’re Queer! We’re Watching A Nice Bit Of Toyah!: Toyah! Amelia! Katrina! (From the Waves)! Someone pretending to be Steps! It can only mean that Newcastle Pride 2013 is nigh and about to shower you in excitement… And then there is Toyah. She scored huge success in the 80s with hits such as “It’s A Mystery”, “Thunder In The Mountains” and “I Want To Be Free” but here she’ll be showing off her experimental drone-noise (only kidding – she’ll be playing the hits).
• Bring The Noise: Film Feature: Top 5 Motorbike Movies: Quadrophenia: Perhaps more of a moped, rather than motorbike film but this 1979 film by Franc Roddam remains an iconic moment in British cinema. Starring Phil Daniels, Mark Wingett, Philip Davies, Lesley Ash, Toyah Willcox and, er… Sting…
• BBC Radio Solent: Read a full transcript of Toyah’s recent interview on Alex Dyke’s show at The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive.
• Tomorrow Calling: The 1993 short film Toyah starred in, Tomorrow Calling, played at the ‘Love Architecture Festival’ in Marget-On-Sea last Sunday: A short film adaptation of William Gibson’s The Gernsback Continuum. Bill is shooting architectural photographs of ‘futuristic’ buildings of the 1930s for a coffee table book, but as he frames up a deco bingo hall, a vast airship looms overhead… starring Colin Salmon, Don Henderson and Toyah Wilcox. 12 minutes duration, certificate 15.
• Midlands Today: A short interview with Toyah, on Midlands Today, at Melissa Mailer-Yates’ exhibition in 2008 just uploaded to ‘You Tube’.
A reminder that Toyah guests on Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable on BBC Radio 6Music this evening. The programme will be available at BBC iPlayer shortly after it airs.
Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable: BBC Radio 6Music
Thursday 4th July: 6.00pm
Nadine Shah, A&R man James Endeacott and Toyah join Steve to discuss some new releases.
As previously mentioned, Toyah’s Thunder In The Mountains image will be included in the forthcoming Victoria & Albert exhibition Club To Catwalk: London Fashion In The 80s, Toyah will also participate in a special accompanying event in November. Tickets will be available soon but Breaking Through has released further details:
CARYN FRANKLIN, TOYAH WILLCOX & BRIX START-SMITH: IN CONVERSATION
Friday 8 November / 18.30-19.30
Designed by women for women. Join Caryn, Toyah and Brix as they bring their thoughts, ideas, experiences and memories to a discussion on women who developed, fused and influenced fashion and music in 1980s London. An exclusive look at some of Toyah’s 80s performance costumes will also be part of the evening.
• Toyah also talks about the ‘Club To Catwalk’ exhibition and taking part in the ‘In Conversation’ event in her latest blog.
The third issue of Breaking Through, Toyah’s Official Newsletter, was mailed out to subscribers at the beginning of the week. It included exclusive news, a previously unseen photo, and a competition. There were also hints about the forthcoming LITL&M tour outfit and mention of “even more exciting plans afoot behind the scenes“.
News included details on the ‘Club to Catwalk’ exhibition, Love Is The Law being digitally released (including a preview of the digital booklet), info on Toyah’s full Safari catalogue also now being available digitally, Toyah’s Gig Diary for 2013, the competition to win signed CDs from Toyah, The Humans and Weekend Guitar Trio, plus other news on The Humans third album, Fallen and Ladies Love The Beatles.
• For full info on all of the above, and to receive future issues of the newsletter, sign up to ‘Breaking Through: The Official Toyah Mailing List’ here.
Singer and actress Toyah Willcox will be in South Yorkshire this Friday to compere Rotherham’s One Voice singing celebration.
Toyah will lead the choir – 1,800 Rotherham schoolchildren – at the New York football stadium.
Rotherham MBC: Toyah’s In Town: Singer and Actress Toyah Willcox is coming to Rotherham on Friday to compere Rotherham’s One Voice singing celebration.
Toyah Willcox will be in town on Friday July 5 to host and compere the Rotherham Children’s Festival singing celebration, “One Voice”. Toyah, who has had a career as a singer and actress for over 30 years’ is delighted to be part of such a magical event.
• Continue reading at The Star, and Rotherham MBC.
The 2011 single, Fallen, the song Toyah wrote with Yomanda (Paul Masterson) will shortly receive its hard copy CD debut when the Extended Mix appears on the compilation album GayFest 2013.
The album will be released by Rumour Records with an exact release date still to be confirmed. This is the 14th album in the Gayfest series of compilations.
The single, which made the higher reaches of the Electronic Chart at iTunes in September 2011, is available to download.
I Must Confess… This is a great pop song. Fusing together a brilliant production with Toyah’s unique and distinctive vocals.
• Visit the ‘Fallen’ page at toyahwillcox.com. Watch the video at You Tube. See Toyah perform the single at Wig Out back in 2011. News courtesy of Toyah’s Official Newsletter. Sign up to Breaking Through.
