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)
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…
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)
Three from the 80s: The ‘Anthem Tour’, 1981; Toyah and Hazel O’Connor at The British Rock & Pop Awards, 1982; and Toyah, Maril Wilson and Kim Wilde at the launch of ‘Just Seventeen’ magazine, 1983. Please click on each to zoom. (Thanks to Andi)
This has been one of my favourite Toyah photos ever since I saw it in a magazine exactly 30 years ago in Summer 1982. I tried rescanning it over the weekend and Andrew York has, yet again, worked his magic to restore it. Click to view a larger version.
Seven years apart and very, very different music and imagery, but both “classic” Toyah – The iconic ‘Danced’, the live version from ‘Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!’ released as a single in late 1980, and ‘Desire’ the album released in Summer 1987 that includes some of Toyah’s best lyrics, showcasing what a fine songwriter she is. Please click on each to zoom.
The ‘Desire’ photo is actually from a 1986 shoot but image/time wise it’s close enough to be associated to the 1987 album! (Thanks to Andrew York for working his magic on the photo)
I spent most of yesterday colouring this photo. Crazy I know, but I’ve always wanted to see a non b&w version of it as it’s my favourite band shot from that era… Click to zoom!
Two more Dreamscape creations. Toyah has such a rich history of visuals, it’s good to dip into the photos and try to construct something ‘new’ from the familiar images. I never tire of ‘The Blue Meaning’ and ‘I Want To Be Free’ is an iconic single. Click on each to zoom.
One of the best singles of 1981, excellent production by Nick Tauber and iconic visuals on the single’s sleeve (and 12″ picture disc) and the accompanying video. I’ve always believed that this could be a massive hit again if it was included on the soundtrack of a big movie…
Andrew York continues to add a whole new dimension to well, and not so well, known Toyah photos. Here are just a few of his latest, fantastic, creations. View all of our Andrew posts.
• View more of Andrew’s Toyah art at Dreamscape’s Gallery and The Changeling 30 website.
30 years ago this week ‘The Changeling’, arguably Toyah’s finest album, was released. It entered the UK album charts, at number six, on 19th June 1982 and stayed on the chart till September. Here’s Falling To Earth‘s *wishful thinking* 30th birthday pressie…
An image that was created for the 1982 ‘Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard)’ single release. Not only did the song title become something of an enduring and iconic slogan through Toyah’s career, the image did too. Excellent photos by Robin Saidman. Click below to view larger versions and visit Dreamscape’s 1982 Gallery for more from this session.
Exactly 30 years ago today, 27th May 1982, Toyah’s ‘Brave New World’ visage graced the cover of the biggest music magazine of the 80s, ‘Smash Hits’. If it’s not the it’s certainly one of the greatest magazine covers, and 30 years later it still looks fantastic. Visit the Like Punk Never Happened: Smash Hits Archive to read the full issue online.
‘Smash Hits’ magazine gave Toyah memorable cover issues in November 1980 and September 1981, but little did we realise what May 1982 would bring…
I got a wave of nostalgia for ‘Look-In’ magazine last weekend, and found a great website dedicated to “The Junior TV Times”. Toyah had two full covers of ‘Look-In’ in 1981 and ’82, and was omnipresent in the publication, via a plethora of pin-ups, features, fact files and comic strips, in the early 80’s. The magazine ran for 23 years between 1971 and 1994.
The fantastic Brian Aris photo shoot from mid-1981. This featured on magazine covers and a variety of press articles on Toyah through late 1981 and into ’82. Amazing photos that look current in 2012! Click below to view more at Dreamscape’s 1981 gallery.
