Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah’s July blog is now available to read at The Official Toyah Willcox Website. Click below for a great read!

A variety of great Toyah news is included in the latest Breaking Through newsletter, just emailed out to subscribers this evening, including that Love Is The Law is to be released digitally on 15th July.

The track list includes the full 10-track album plus nine bonus tracks: To The Mountains High, Baptised In Fire, Haunted, Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard), Laughing With The Fools, Urban Tribesman, The Furious Futures, Stand Proud, Ieya 1982 [Full Length Version].

A new digital booklet containing Toyah’s intro note, imagery and lyrics accompanies the new release. The cover has also been slightly revised. This also now means that Toyah’s complete Safari discography – every song – is available digitally. Fantastic news!

• Sign up to the ‘Breaking Through’ newsletter at toyahwillcox.com.

A fantastic retro, and quite lengthy, Toyah interview from Finnish magazine SOUNDI.

A huge thanks to Lärwi. of The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive, for the scans and translation.

Interview by Dougie Gordon, published in June 1981.

The door opens. A short, 145 cm tall figure stands in front of me. She’s wearing a blue and grey tunic which has gold embroidery on it. The fiery red hair looks a like a burning bush against the backdrop of the outfit. The figure moves forwards like a Samurai warrior poised for an attack but you can see a smile on her face which you can not resist. She’s Toyah Willcox, England’s Jeanne d’Arc of latter times.

Her moves are a part of her carefully calculated image. She’s has consciously made herself into a mystery which invites the audience to explore her world further. But you can’t fit all of the pieces together – it’s not easy to find the real person behind this made-up facade. Her aggression can turn into warmth in a second – and the other way round. Her mindset changes from a hearty laugh into the deepest despair. Her sentences are deep and meaningful half of the time, the other half you’re left wondering what on earth is she on about? Toyah is like dynamite made out of flesh, the slightest emotional spark will set her off.

She also has a soft sweeter side which the audience rarely gets to see. The aggression she hides behind when dealing with the mass media is of course there on purpose. The media in turn treats her with contempt and suspicion. For this reason she feels misunderstood and defends herself in a way even Lou Reed would be proud of.

• Continue reading at Dreamscape’s Press Archive. Read another rare Finnish interview with Toyah here.

Welcome to July, and to the “new look” Dreamscape.

I thought it was time for a revamp, though I’ve left a few elements from the previous version to, hopefully, retain an air of familiarity.

All the latest Toyah news is still right here on the main page and the links above, as always, take you to the other sections of the site. Happy Browsing!!

A reminder that the classic 1980 episode of Minder, “All Mod Cons”, starring Toyah as Kate airs again today on ITV4 (as well as very early tomorrow at 2am and 7.05am).

Minder: ITV4: Monday 1st July: 5.55pm
Minder: ITV4: Tuesday 2nd July: 2.00am/7.05am
All Mod Cons. Arthur decides to sell Terry’s flat without his permission. Meanwhile, Terry gets a job minding at a local club and ends up getting into more trouble than he had planned for when he realises the club’s manager is on the fiddle. Starring: George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Toyah Willcox, Simon Cadell, James Ottaway, and Tony Osaba. (Series 2, Episode 8, 1980). Also showing on ITV4 +1.

The sixth episode of The Older Woman is now available to listen to at BBC iPlayer.

It will remain online until early next Friday morning.

This is the final epsiode of Series One. A second series was made and aired in 1994 on ‘BBC Radio 4’ but I’m pretty sure that Toyah, or her character, didn’t appear.

• View all of Dreamscape’s recent news on The Older Woman.

Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts 2: Wednesday 10th July: 12.50pm/5.50pm
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts 2: Thursday 11th July: 4.50am
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.

The next edition of Breaking Through: Toyah’s Official Newsletter will be on 20:13 / 01.07.13 – Sign up to the mailing list by clicking below.

It’s “Throwback Thursday” and The End Records are offering everyone a free download of Small Town Psychopath from The Humans album Sugar Rush. Toyah for free via official.fm!

Toyah Willcox says she can’t wait to play Jack Up The 80′s.

When we caught up with her recently Toyah said “I love the IOW it’s such a pretty place. I last played on the Island in the mid 90′s.”

Toyah first hit the charts in 1981 with the Four from Toyah EP. It’s A Mystery was the big hit on the EP and lots more hits followed.

Join Toyah on Sunday afternoon, 11th August as she takes the Island by storm in a not-to-be-missed appearance…

• Continue reading at Jack Up The 80s.

• Rock The Stadium: Another great photo of Toyah onstage in fantastic Falkirk at the weekend. (Photo © Rock The Stadium/Emma Gray Photography)

• Toyah @ Twitter: WHY? – This is sad but it really doesn’t surprise me. There is no respect for anything these days.

• Ekspress.ee: Weekend Guitar Trio/Toyah Willcox/Jan Bang – “Live at King’s Place”: A review of the album (in Estonian, I think!)

• Wave 102: Interviews: Dave chats to Toyah Willcox – Not me, Dave from ‘Wave 102’. A recent audio interview, scroll down the page to listen.

• DVD Active: Doctor Who: Regeneration (UK – DVD R2): Toyah is mentioned in this, frankly, massive review of the new Doctor Who box set – The last couple of scenes with William Hartnell have a sense of eeriness to them, as you can see that The Doctor really isn’t well and he cryptically says something to Ben and Polly before heading off into the TARDIS and falling over shortly afterward; it’s easy to imagine that young viewers at the time must have been scared when they watched it, as the concept of regeneration hadn’t been mentioned then, let alone stuck in the public consciousness like it is today and Toyah Wilcox said it best in Thirty Years in the TARDIS, when she said  “in my eyes, he was dying“.

A new article on The Power Of Three. The film has its Canadian premiere this weekend.

Getting The Power of Three made into a feature-length film on a shoestring budget was a labour of love for all involved.And according to its Lake Country-based writer/producer, it’s also a case of art imitating life.

“It was basically a decision of three friends to make a movie that people our age would like,” said Ann Cameron, who wrote the screenplay and produced it. “So before we wised up and knew any better, that’s what we did.”

Set for it’s Canadian premiere June 29 at Creekside Theatre, The Power of Three is a feel-good comedy about three 50-something actresses who reunite after many years apart, with the idea of making a film and resurrecting their moribund careers at the same time. Filmed in and around Hampstead, London, England in 2009-10, it stars British actress Toyah Willcox as Michelle, South African native Brumilda Van Rensburg as Olivia and Cameron’s first cousin, Torontonian Robin Craig of Wind at My Back and Degrassi fame as Lizzie.

• Continue reading at The Daily Courier. View Dreamscape’s recent news on the film here.

A screen cap of Toyah guesting on ITV’s early morning breakfast programme Daybreak last Wednesday. She appeared alongside Dr Hilary Jones to discuss palliative care. I’ll add a few more caps from the programme soon. (Thanks to Alec Kelly)

Toyah at Rock The Stadium in Falkirk on Saturday, playing the ‘Here and Now’ concert alongside Paul Young, Altered Images, Five Star and many more. View other photos here and here. Click below to view a larger version of the photo. (Thanks to @RockTheStadium)

Toyah guested on Alex Dyke’s show on ‘BBC Radio Solent’ last Wednesday. The show is available to listen to at BBC iPlayer until this coming Wednesday afternoon.

She talks “retro Toyah” on tv (Tales Of The Unexpected, The Corn Is Green, Minder), the festivals she will be playing this Summer, the Love Is The Law & More tour and more. There’s also plays of ‘I Want To Be Free’ and ‘It’s A Mystery’.

• The interview begins at approximately 1hr 37minutes into the show and runs for around 12 minutes. Listen here.

A great photo of Toyah, looking forward to playing the Jack Up The 80s festival later in the Summer. ‘Jack Up The 80s’ say “80’s icon Toyah is gearing up for her performance on Sunday 11th August at Jack Up The 80’s!“. View a larger version of the photo by clicking below, and further info on ‘Jack Up The 80s’ here. (Thanks to @JackUpThe80s)

• Toyah @ Twitter & Instagram: Toyah has been tweeting and Instagramming photos a-plenty over the last few weeks: Love Is The Law & More, WillyFred, fanmail, food, Robert Fripp, Rock The Stadium…

Midge Ure and Toyah Willcox to play Aberdeen gig

Concert in tribute to former university union bar

A former Aberdeen university union is to be marked with a 1980s gig. The University of Aberdeen’s union bar will be remembered at The Lemon Tree on August 17, with Midge Ure and Toyah Willcox joining the line-up.

• Continue reading at the Aberdeen Evening Express.

Readers in with chance of becoming a high-flying VIP

The countdown to one of Worcestershire’s biggest ever music festivals has begun and to celebrate we are offering one lucky reader the chance to win an exclusive prize to ensure they arrive in style.

Upton Music Festival, which takes place over the August Bank Holiday from August 23 to 25, has unveiled its best ever line up including soul legend Alexander O’Neal, 70s rockers Slade, Neville Staple and Pershore’s very own Toyah Willcox.

• Continue reading at the Worcester Standard.

Falkirk prepares to welcome thousands of music fans

Die-hard fans began queueing for tonight’s Ronan Keating concert 12 hours before he was due on stage.

The former Boyzone singer kicks the celebrations off tonight, while tomorrow its the turn of some of the Best of the 80’s, featuring scintillating sets from the likes of Midge Ure, Altered Images, Five Star, T’Pau and Toyah.

• Continue reading at The Falkirk Herald.

Toyah To Help Recreate Student Union Glory Days At Lemon Tree

Aberdeen’s University Union, which once stood at the corner of Gallowgate/Kirkgate, may have disappeared from the city landscape 10 years ago – but its spirit lives on.

And the Union’s glory days will be celebrated at re:Union  in The Lemon Tree on Saturday, August 17, with a fabulous line-up including iconic punk princess Toyah Willcox, Ultravox’s Midge Ure and Union favourites Blues ‘n Trouble.

• Continue reading at What’s On.