Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Yipee! It’s our first Christmas Countdown post – A great way to start, download some festive Toyah music to get you through the month.

1. Re-Joyce (In The Bleak Midwinter) by The Hazel O’Connor Collective, which included Toyah, was released three years ago at Christmas 2010. A charity single, raising funds for the hospice Hazel’s mum was looked after before her death. A great cause and a really good song. Download at iTunes. 2. I Believe In Father Christmas, Toyah’s version of the Greg Lake 70s festive classic (which was voted one of the greatest ever Christmas songs last year) has gathered quite a history over the years: It was originally recorded for ITV’s Pop Goes Christmas in 1982, Safari then included it on the ‘Mayhem’ compilation album in 1985, and later it was also made available on the CD ‘Live & More’. Last year it was released as a standalone digital single. Download at iTunes. 3. Winter In Wonderland, One year on and there’s a new digital single, no make that an EP, for Christmas – Winter in Wonderland… Download at iTunes.

The trailer for the forthcoming and anticipated series, Dun Punkin, was released last week. Starring Toyah Willcox, Jud Charlton, Anabel Barnston, Topper Headon, Miss Baby Sol, The Three Belles, Lee Thompson, Barrie Masters and The Blockheads. View at ‘You Tube’ by clicking below.

A Very Vintage Christmas… Toyah’s Vintage Christmas… Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo… All the confirmed upcoming airdates & times.

Toyah has released a new EP for Christmas/Winter, Winter in Wonderland, features four songs recorded 20 years ago and all making their digital debut. This is Toyah’s 27th single release.

Toyah’s atmospheric ballad Winter In Wonderland is released digitally this December

Marking twenty years since the track was recorded, the release is also the first ever digital issue of any material from the fan-favourite album Take The Leap!. The track is released just in time for the winter holidays and also also includes three same era-demos as digital b-sides, previously available only on CDs.

Tracklist: 01. Winter in Wonderland, 02. Angel (Demo), 03. Requite Me (Demo), 04. Invisible Love (Demo).

• View further info, including links to download at iTunes & Amazon, at toyahwillcox.com.

This is Dreamscape’s 14th Christmas and in years gone by the site has celebrated the festive season by bringing you the “Toyah Advent Calendar”, “Toyah @ Christmas” and “Toyah’s Christmas Pasts”. Starting tomorrow I’m entering into the spirit of the season again by adding Toyah related Christmas posts but as these probably won’t be every day I’m not going to call it an Advent Calendar, and yes, I liked the site’s little “idents” from last year so much I’m using them again :)

Revisit regularly for Christmassy updates counting down to the 25th. Aside from the Double Issue ‘Radio Times’ and Doctor Who special, another of the best things about Christmas is I, and you, get to listen to December Will Be Magic Again by Kate Bush, one of my favourite songs, for the next few weeks…

Toyah’s Official Website celebrates Christmas with another Advent Calendar this year, and if it is anything like last year’s we have lots of goodies to look forward to!

Howabout Happy Christmas From The Stars to start us off? A flexi given away by Smash Hits at Christmas 1982 and still manages to make me smile after 30+ years. Click below to listen – Toyah arrives at 4.46, inbetween Martin Fry of ABC and Steve Strange of Visage. Too-de-loo!!

The Official Toyah Willcox Website has been completely revamped: New look, new format, new images… There’s lots to explore – Pay a visit by clicking below.

The latest issue, number eight, of ‘Classic Pop’, is available to buy from today. The magazine counts down “The Top 100 Singles Of The 1980s – The Definitive Pop Playlist”, and Toyah’s classic 1981 single, the unforgettable ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ is included at number 51 in the list.

Classic Pop say: “Toyah had a run of eight UK chart hits from 1981 – 1985 and, joint with It’s a Mystery, this was the biggest, reaching number four in 1981. Toyah’s since become a mainstay of daytime TV and panel shows, but a quick Youtube look at Godley & Creme’s video for this song is a reminder of just how freaky and powerful she was in those days, appearing as a flash forward to the era of Florence, Marina and Paloma”.

• The magazine is available in selected stores, visit their Facebook page. (Thanks to Andrew Moore)

A couple of screen caps from last night’s first airing of A Very Vintage Christmas on ‘Vintage TV’, presented by Toyah and Roy Wood. Click below to view larger versions. The programme airs again tomorrow at 10am.

Toyah is omnipresent on Vintage TV again this Christmas with repeats of her two previous festive specials and the latest, A Very Vintage Christmas, debuting tonight.

A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV
Monday 2nd December: 9.00pm
Presenters Toyah Willcox and Wizzard’s Roy Wood are cosying up by the fireplace with two guest artists on our new show as they talk Christmas and sing favourite festive songs.

There are numerous airdates already confirmed, with more to follow. View the full schedule so far here, and don’t forget Vintage TV are now streaming many of their shows online at their website.

A new update to In The Fairground: Andrew York’s Arternative Universe, with nine new fantastic photos added. All the additions are detailed on the Updates page. Click below to visit the site.

The official promotional poster/flyer for Chilfest 2014 has been released. Toyah plays at the festival, in Tring, on 5th July next year. View a larger version by clicking below, and see Toyah’s complete 2014 Gig Diary here.

• Love Is The Law & More: The remaining tour merchandise, t-shirts and posters, is now available to buy at ‘Burning Shed’ – View here… (Thanks to Brian Marsh)

• Official Instagram: Posted today! A great photo of Toyah, Gabrielle and Leddra Chapman – View here…

• Evesham Journal: Mario and Toyah coming to Marilyn’s: VALE nightspot Marilyn’s is bringing Essex and the 80s to Evesham as it hosts two special events. Heart-throb Mario Falcone, who rose to fame in The Only Way Is Essex and Celebrity Big Brother, will be at the club on Friday (Nov 29). The following night 80s legend Toyah Willcox, who currently lives in Pershore, performs live on Saturday (Nov 30) – Continue reading…

• PROG (Issue 41): Prog 41 goes on sale today, featuring the legend that was Frank Zappa on the cover: Toyah and Robert Fripp are included in the Gift Guide that accompanies this issue… Also a Progmas Gift Guide and Robert Fripp and wife Toyah share their King Crimbo Cake recipe! – More info here…

• MCM Comic Con #1: Generous Toyah raised cash at the event on Sunday, with everyone giving her £1 for a phone pic, and  the cash went to St Richard’s Hospice – View the photo at Instagram…

• MCM Comic Con #2: While at the Birmingham event Toyah also bumped into the Terminator. View here…

• Ladies Love The Beatles: According to this Twitter account the long-awaited compilation album of female singer performing covers of Beatles songs, including Toyah, will be released next March.

• St Edmundsbury Council: A host of famous names heading to the Apex next year: In March you can see Julian Lloyd Webber, Fascinating Aida (three Olivier Award nominations and over 10 million YouTube hits!), the charismatic Toyah Willcox – award-winning rock star, much-loved actress and music composer, and Ruby Wax, the comedian, writer and mental health campaigner – Continue reading…

Toyah helped launch the opening of new photography studios on Saturday, as reported today by the Maidenhead Advertiser.

New photography studios launched by pop star Toyah Willcox

Marlow welcomed the launch of a new photography studio on Saturday

The ribbon on the Apollo Photography Studio was cut by special guests Toyah Willcox and the mayor of Marlow, Suzanne Brown, to officially open the business.

The studio in Dean Street offers experts and facilities for contemporary, commercial and environmental photography. Studio manager, Gary Ian, said he was delighted to finally open the doors after a long search for the right premises and offer residents a place to get that perfect portrait.

• Continue reading at the Maidenhead Advertiser. Toyah also tweeted a photo from this on Saturday. View that at the Official Toyah Instagram. (Photo © Maidenhead Advertiser)

Toyah is appearing at the ‘MCM Comic Con and Memorabilia Show’ today in Birmingham, and has already posted a few photos to the Official Toyah Instagram. Click below to view larger versions of Toyah with her Jubilee co-star, the sensational Little Nell, those legendary Star Wars characters and a Pinhead lookeylikey from Hellraiser. Toyah has also met up with Nintendo characters (okay, it’s two blokes dressed as them but anyway…) Mario and Luigi. (Photos © Toyah Willcox Ltd)

• Birmingham Mail: Dr Who and Star Wars pull the crowds to Birmingham Comic Con and Memorabilia Show: Birmingham-born pop star and actress Toyah Willcox, who played Monkey in Quadrophenia, was joined by fellow cast members Phil Daniels, who played Jimmy, and Daniel Peacock, who took the role of Danny, to celebrate the ultimate mod movie, based on The Who’s 1973 rock opera – Continue reading…

Uploaded to the Smash Hits Archive exactly 30 years since originally being published, the latest issue of ‘Smash Hits’. This one includes full-page songwords for ‘The Vow’. Click below to view.

Celebrity fans of the Time Lord hop into the Tardis to revisit their favourite memories.

Toyah Willcox, singer and actress

When Doctor Who was made into a cinema film in 1965 as Dr Who and the Daleks with Peter Cushing as the Doctor, I insisted on going. The problem with seeing a horror film in public when you are only seven years old is that it’s unforgivable to show fear.

Even the opening sequences of mist-covered marshlands surrounding the Daleks’ city had me frozen to the spot. I remember wanting to slide down the seat and hide but I was flanked by my parents who were all too ready to laugh at my fear. So I sat, wide-eyed and as petrified as those on-screen forests, for two tortuous and exhilarating hours… which kept me in full supply of nightmares for a good month.

• Continue reading at bt.com.

The date of the first showing of A Very Vintage Christmas, a newly filmed special for 2013’s festive season, and the third consecutive year of Toyah celebrating Christmas at ‘Vintage TV’, has just been confirmed, as well as repeats for Toyah’s Vintage Christmas and Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo.

This year there is the added bonus that ‘Vintage TV’ now stream their music channel at their website, so viewers who previously couldn’t watch the Toyah special because they don’t get the channel as part of their subscriptions package will be able to do so online this Christmas!

Toyah’s Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Saturday 30th November: 11.00am
Toyah’s Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Sunday 15th December: 7.00pm
Toyah’s Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Tuesday 17th December: 4.00pm
Toyah’s Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Monday 23rd December: 9.00pm
Snuggle down by the fire with the family as punk princess, Toyah Willcox, introduces some of the finest Christmas videos of the 20th Century, sprinkled with a generous handful of fun festive facts.

A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Monday 2nd December: 9.00pm
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Wednesday 4th December: 10.00am
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Friday 6th December: 12.00pm
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Saturday 7th December: 3.00pm
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Monday 9th December: 9.00pm
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Wednesday 11th December: 2.00pm (Pt 2)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Friday 13th December: 11.00pm (Pt 2)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Saturday 14th December: 11.00am (Pt 1)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Sunday 15th December: 9.00am (Pt 1)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Monday 16th December: 1.00pm (Pt 1)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Wednesday 18th December: 5.00pm (Pt 1)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Wednesday 18th December: 8.00pm (Pt 2)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Friday 20th December: 11.00pm (Pt 1)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Saturday 21st December: 4.00pm (Pt 2)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Sunday 22nd December: 11.00pm (Pt 1)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Monday 23rd December: 4.00pm (Pt 2)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Christmas Eve: 8.00pm (Pt 1)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Christmas Day: 9.00am (Pt 2)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Christmas Day: 5.00pm (Pt 1)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Christmas Day: 11.00pm (Pt 1)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Friday 27th December: 8.00pm (Pt 2)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Saturday 28th December: 3.00pm (Pt 1)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Sunday 29th December: 2.00pm (Pt 2)
Presenters Toyah Willcox and Wizzard’s Roy Wood are cosying up by the fireplace with two guest artists on our new show as they talk Christmas and sing favourite festive songs.

Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Thursday 5th December: 7.00pm
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Sunday 8th December: 9.00am
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Sunday 8th December: 7.00pm
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Thursday 12th December: 5.00pm
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Thursday 19th December: 8.00pm
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Saturday 21st December: 11.00am
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Monday 23rd December: 9.00am
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Boxing Day: 5.00pm
Cosy up with family and friends as Toyah Willcox brings you 30 of the finest Christmas songs and a sprinkling of festive stories, surrounded by an extraordinary variety of creatures great and small.

There’s also an article on Toyah at the ‘Vintage TV’ website, with all the confirmed live dates for 2014, and Toyah is also mentioned a couple of times in their November Podcast/Blog update. View here.

NB: All the screen caps included in this post are taken from Toyah’s first Vintage Christmas from 2011.

• Toyah Live 2013: Toyah is rounding off yet another busy year of live tours, concerts, festivals and PAs with two appearances at Marilyns Nightclub in Evesham, Worcestershire. The first PA is on Saturday 30th November, and the other, which just might possibly be Christmas related, takes place on Thursday 19th December – View a larger version of their Toyah promo at their website…

• The Great British Alternative Music Festival: Toyah plays this festival twice next year, in March and October. Also playing in March are Bad Manners, The Damned, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Gene Loves Jezebel and many more – View further info here…

• Toyah Live 2014: Tickets for next year’s gigs are already being received. Here’s kenbob’s for the Holmfirth Picturedome, where Toyah plays a Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits… Live! gig in February – View here…

• Official Gigs: View Toyah’s, already very full, live diary for 2014 at The Official Toyah Willcox Website…

• All Messed Up: Featuring Phil Spalding on guitar (yup guitar, not bass) All Messed Up play a charity concert at Mr Kyps, Poole on Tuesday 10th December – View further info here and get your tickets here…

• The Changeling (Import): A random photo at Twitter – But a pretty magnificent one nonetheless – View here…

• Here & Now Cruise: Toyah performing ‘Echo Beach’ on the Oceana during a 12 day cruise to the Mediterranean in late October. Toyah was only onboard for two days between Barcelona and Gibraltar, playing two shows – View the clip here…

Toyah talks Doctor Who, in a new article by the Birmingham Mail/Sunday Mercury, ahead of its 50th Anniversary episode this weekend. (Text originally published in Behind The Sofa)

Brummie chart star turned stage singer Toyah Willcox admits that she can’t wait for Saturday’s big Doctor Who special.

Brummie chart star turned stage singer Toyah Willcox admits that she can’t wait for Saturday’s big Doctor Who special. Because she’s TURNED ON by the telly Time Lord, who’ll be played in the 50th anniversary adventure by no fewer than three actors.

Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt will all appear as incarnations of Britain’s best-loved sci-fi star – and viewers may also be treated to fleeting glimpses of all the other Doctors who have graced the Tardis over the years.

And that’s great news for Toyah, 55, who was born in Kings Heath. “When I was a ratty pubescent teen I started to find the whole concept of Doctor Who highly erotic,” she admits. “And I still do!” The singer says that the show played a big part in her Second City childhood. “Haven’t we all hidden behind the sofa when Doctor Who was on the telly?” she asks.

• Continue reading at the Birmingham Mail/Sunday Mercury.

As mentioned in updates last week, Toyah headlines the opening night of Whitby Goth Weekend next year. The festival takes place over 25th – 27th April 2014 and also includes New Model Army, Alexa De Strange, Cold in Berlin, The Last Cry and many others. Tickets are now on sale from their website. There will also be regular updates over the coming months at the Facebook page.

There has been speculation and rumours a-plenty since Toyah first mentioned the possibility in her blog earlier this year. Breaking Through has now confirmed Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits… Live!

The news which many Toyah diehards have been waiting for. The 2014 gigs will focus on Toyah’s most recent solo album alongside the newly introduced Love Is The Law material plus a smattering of well-loved and known classics. CRIMSON QUEEN/GREATEST HITS…..LIVE! will run across the whole of 2014 as a long series of gigs rather than concentrated month tour. There will be more dates added throughout 2014 but there are already so many dates for your diary.

The Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits… Live! first gig is on 21st February in Holmfirth, and over the following five months will play Nuneaton, Bury St. Edmunds, Wimborne, London, Hastings, Wakefield, Blyth, Isle of Man, Kent and Norwich. More dates are expected to be added to this over the coming months.

• Full details on all of these dates at the Official Gigs page. Tickets are already on sale for some of the dates.