Another Toyah article from the 80s. This one is from ‘New Chartbusters’ magazine, published in late 1980: Toyah Willcox is a very talented young lady who has achieved a much deserved reputation in both the theatre, and in such movies as Derek Jarman’s ‘Jubilee’ and ‘The Tempest’ as well as having just finished appearing in ‘Sugar and Spice’ at The Royal Court Theatre, London. Click below to read. (Thanks to Andi)
I’d always thought the photo below right, from the ‘From Sheep Farming To Anthem’ 2011 tour at Leicester Square Theatre in London, reminded me of another photo. It wasn’t until Andi recently sent me the above ‘New Chartbusters’ article that I realised which one… Toyah 1980 & 2011! Click to zoom. (Thanks to Andi & Damon King)
This fanzine, the first issue of ‘Shout!’ from 1981, recently listed on eBay appears to include two rare photos of Toyah. Difficult to tell with the smaller one but I can’t remember ever seeing the main photo. Toyah is interviewed about the break up of the band and the ATV docu!
Wayne’s Asylum Toyah Special on ‘Switch Radio’ this Friday evening…
There’s now just one week until Toyah is inducted into the King’s Heath Walk of Fame, and plays the homecoming gig at the Hare & Hounds in the town. Toyah tweeted today: “Only a week till Hare & Hound Walk OF Fame gig! I’m actually really nervous BUT V excited“.
There’s lots happening to make this a really special event for Toyah and the fans attending: Paul from PAC Photography will be taking photos of everyone at the gig (see news post below); there’s also still time to vote for your favourite song to be included in the set list(s) too.
This Friday Wayne’s Asylum on ‘Switch Radio’ will be a Toyah Special, and includes an interview with the Homecoming Queen herself! More info on that here.
• View all of our Walk of Fame/Hare & Hounds news.
To help celebrate Toyah’s unique one-off Walk Of Fame Show at The Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath, Birmingham on Monday 16 July, Paul at PAC Photography will be taking photos of everyone that attends.
These will be made into a very special mosaic which will be presented to Toyah. It will be a wonderful momento of what promises to be a very special night. Please try to arrive as close to door opening time as possible (19.30) and be a part of this wonderful evening.
Amazing, and rare, photos of Toyah from one of the band’s European gigs (most probably the Theatre Le Palace, Paris) on the ‘Good Morning Universe’ 18-date tour in December 1981. Click below to view larger versions. (Thanks again to Andi)
Rare photos of Toyah live at Torrington in 1987. This was a charity concert where Toyah performed songs from her, recently released, ‘Desire’ album and Cabaret, with Robert Fripp on guitar. Please click below to view larger versions. (Thanks to Andi)
A rare three-page interview with Toyah, plus a review of The Tempest upon receiving its first video release, from a 1982 issue of ‘Video Times’ magazine: Multi-talented singer and actress Toyah talks video, pop, films, cosmetics and big business with John Kercher. Click below to read. (Thanks to Andi for this great article)
The full, rarely seen, four-page Smirnoff advertising feature from ‘Company’ magazine in 1980.
To a gifted jewellery designer, we dedicate the Mint Gem. To a rising star, who played Miranda in The Tempest, we present the Stormy Weather cocktail…
Toyah Willcox: Star of Derek Jarman’s The Tempest, subject of an ITV documentary, founder of her own band and leading lady in a new Royal Court play, is the phenomenon of 1980. Can she continue to succeed as both a rock singer and serious actress? ‘I have the energy, so of course I can’. Of the future, the fiery redhead says quite simply: ‘I’d like to be an astronaut.’ – Dress, Bruce Oldfield; jewellery, Butler & Wilson.
NB: Valerie Robertson, also included in this feature, was the designer of the famous gold & black bangle Toyah wore in numerous photos in the early 80s. Gill Smith, also in the feature, is wearing Toyah’s famous bronze bangles!
• Click below to view a larger version of the feauture. (A huge thanks to Andi for this rarity)
• The 8 – 21 July 1982 issue of Smash Hits has been added to Like Punk Never Happened. No major Toyah content but there is a Bitz! news article on the release of the Maneaters’ ‘Nine to Five’ 7″ single (something Toyah or Adam Ant weren’t very happy about at the time).
• A couple of interesting tv related Toyah tweets this week: “Meeting head of Vintage TV 2 discuss poss series.” and “I’ve had the most bizarre tv offer of my life. If it happens it will make headlines!“.
• Lärwi, of ‘The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive’, has started a new You Tube channel dedicated to All Toyah, and following on from the recent ‘Radio Chorley’ addition to the Archive, Lärwi has also added the full transcript of the ‘BBC Radio Leicester’ Tony Wadsworth Show interview.
• The SAS Band (Spike’s All Star) have launched a re-designed website. Toyah has guested with the band in concert a number of times and is included on the “Artists” page.
• Return later today for some Toyah goodies: I’ll be adding the four-page Smirnoff feature from 1980, a couple more rare Toyah photos plus another very rare interview, this one from 1982!
A rare photo of Toyah from 1980! Plus a great shot from 1983 when she was starring in Trafford Tanzi at the Mermaid Theatre, London, and at the same time recording the ‘Love Is The Law’ album. Please click on each to zoom. View another picture from the 1980 photo session. These are the only two I know of from it! (Thanks to Michael Tyler & Andi)
Our Classic Toyah collection is growing by the week. Celebrating Toyah’s unique past with rare pictures, memorable photo sessions, retro press and more! Take a look…
Boating enthusiasts from across the country will head to Evesham this weekend for the annual river festival.
The festival, which is being held on Saturday and Sunday, has added significance this year as it is the 50th anniversary of the River Avon being opened to the sea.
Famous faces such as Timothy Spall, David Suchet and Toyah Willcox are expected to attend and stalls and entertainment will be on the riverside throughout. One of the highlights comes on Saturday evening with the eye-catching illuminated boat parade and fireworks display.
• Continue reading at the Evesham Journal.
Most, if not all, Toyah fans know that Toyah appeared in a Smirnoff print advert in 1980… But have you ever saw the full four-page magazine feature? If you’d like to… Check back later…
An update, from Toyah’s Official Facebook, on the King’s Heath ‘Walk Of Fame’ set list vote. The, two-set, gig takes place on Monday 16th July at The Hare & Hounds:
BLUE MEANINGS and ELUSIVE STRANGER are in the lead…. but will it stay that way?! … get voting……
Two rare-ish photos of Toyah from 1981. The first is a great shot from the ‘Melody Maker’ cover feature, “Toyah Unmasked”, photo session, and the other is a fantastic live image from the ‘Anthem Tour’. Please click on each to zoom. (Thanks to Lärwi & Andi)
I’ll be adding more rare Toyah photos over the coming weeks so do please make a return visit as there are some great shots to come | View all of our recent Classic Toyah posts.
An interesting, very rare, interview with Toyah from 1981. This was originally published by Finnish music magazine ‘Suosikki’.
FIERCE REDHEAD TOYAH SAYS: “I’M CRAZY ABOUT RABBITS!”
Now I have seen her, today’s hottest rock singer in the world, Toyah (Willcox). Compared to this tiny redheaded whirlwind rest of the female singers- and some men- look like salt statues. Toyah is 145 centimetres of pure sex appeal and energy!
After the concert Suosikki Magazine got an exclusive interview with Toyah, an honour not bestowed on many publications in the world. Markku Fagerlund asked the questions and Toyah answered. At the same time Toyah read the latest issue of Suosikki and liked it so much she sent the readers a special message: “Keep going strong!”
Toyah Willcox is a 23 year old multi-talented artist who has this year finally reached the top. Her latest album “Anthem” has been well received in most European countries (it’s number 2 in the UK at the moment) and her gigs have been massively successful.
As well as being a famous singer Toyah is an actress. We’ve been able to admire her sexy persona in “Quadrophenia”, “Jubilee”, “The Corn Is Green” and various TV series including “Radioetsivä” (Shoestring) which aired also in Finland.
• Read the full interview at Dreamscape’s Press Archive. (Thanks again to Lärwi for this rare interview and for taking the time to translate it for Dreamscape News’ visitors)
Pure speculation, but…
Something that Toyah said in the This is Derbyshire interview (see post below):
Next year I have accepted one of the biggest tours of my career. We are doing 30 dates in the spring and 30 in the autumn.
Could this 60-date tour be marking what will be the 30th anniversary of the fantastic ‘Love Is The Law’ album and the ‘Rebel Run’ UK tour?
I guess we will just have to wait to find out, but interesting all the same.
‘Love Is The Law’ is an album, and Toyah era, that truly deserves to be properly celebrated!
A new interview with Toyah, from This is Derbyshire.
Frustrated biker Toyah here to judge dream machines
The only thing stopping Toyah from hitting the road astride a motorbike is her husband.
“He (musician Robert Fripp) said he would leave me if I ever bought a bike,” she says. “When I was in my 30s I wanted a chopper Harley and he wouldn’t let me have one.
“Then he said that if I bought one he would get one – and he’s as blind as a bat. So there’s no way I would let that happen. It got down to as strong as he would leave me if I bought one. So it’s an unfulfilled ambition.”
But at least the singer and actress gets the chance to get close to some genuine dream machines when the Rock and Bike Fest comes to Elvaston Castle in July.
• Continue reading at This is Derbyshire.
• Jelly, the band which includes Stevie Bray of the original Toyah (Sheep Farming/Blue Meaning) line up, play their very first gig this weekend: The gig is at the The Water Rats, Grays Inn Road, Kings Cross. Visit the events page at Facebook for more info and details on how to be added to the guest list. Check out Jelly’s Facebook page for links to some of their songs.
• A full transcript of Toyah’s recent ‘Radio Chorley’ interview at Blackpool Pride is now available at The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive.
• Kevin Tucker’s brilliant Mermaid Days website, photos and memories of Toyah in Trafford Tanzi at the Mermaid Theatre in 1983, has been resurrected as a Facebook group. The site ran for a number of years through the Noughties and it’s great to see it return.
• A Quadrophenia Club Night, in association with Falkirk Steeple Scooter Club, is taking place at Falkirk Town Hall on Saturday 18th August. You’ll be in for a great night of non-stop entertainment starting with the the screening in magnificent Blu-ray of Quadrophenia (first time on a Falkirk cinema screen for 33 years!!) and then dance the rest of the night away in a re-creation of the legendary Goldhawk Club where Alex Carnaby will be playing all the authentic sounds of the sixties, Truly not to be missed! View further info and ticket details here. (Thanks to Mark Leonard)
