A big Thank You to, former Toyah band member Phil Spalding, for sending this festive photo to Dreamscape over Christmas, along with the message: “Happy Christmas and New Year to all Toyah followers and fans !!! PSxXxx” – All the best Phil, hope you had a great Christmas.
Also great to hear that another former band member, Nigel Glockler, is recuperating well after his recent health scare. Best Wishes to Nigel and Gina for 2015.
Toyah tweeted a tribute to Billie Whitelaw this morning: “R.I.P & GOD BLESS BILLIE WHITELAW! thank you Billie for being a role model and an inspiration.“. BBC News and the Coventry Telegraph have included Toyah’s message in their news reports on Billie’s death.
The legendary Billie Whitelaw died today. Toyah often cited Billie as her favourite actress in interviews over the years. Billie’s Aunt delivered me into the world in 1967… Rest in Peace to a wonderfully feisty and intelligent woman.
Best wishes to Nigel Glockler who is currently in hospital. Get well soon Nigel.
Great recent photos of, Toyah’s legendary warehouse, Mayhem, near Battersea in London. Please click below to view larger versions of these and more. (Thanks to Dan Greensmith for sharing these photos with Dreamscape’s readers)
Longtime Toyah fan David Morgan, also known as Digital Ghost, has just released his excellent debut five-song EP Supernova, via Reverbnation. Better still it’s available completely free.
Digital Ghost, a collaboration between David and Johnny Icon, draw inspiration from Toyah’s career and songwriting and fans will no doubt notice the references: Digital Ghost loves music. His songs stay with you. Uplifting, dark anthems that aim straight for the heart but move to the beat of the dancefloor; songs of love and loss, where vocal and melody are sovereign.
EP Tracklist: 1. Supernova; 2. Tattoo; 3. Nightmares; 4. This Universe; 5. In 2
• Further info can be found at the Digitial Ghost website and Facebook page. For specific details on Supernova please visit here, where you can also download the EP.
An interesting new interview with Robert Fripp was published in The Telegraph today. The article includes a couple of references to Toyah.
Robert Fripp, interview: ‘I’m a very difficult person to work with’
Guitarist Robert Fripp influenced David Bowie and Peter Gabriel but it’s only the latest revival of his band King Crimson that has brought out his happy side
… He’s explaining the finer details of this protracted wrangle when he suddenly catches sight of his other half, emerging from the driveway of their home. Toyah waves over, he waves back and even digs out his camera to take a picture.
“There’s my lovely wife, driving off in my car,” he muses, almost to himself. “I must’ve done something right to have Toyah as my wife. She’s a lot sharper than me, she has a very fine critical intelligence.”
• Continue reading at The Telegraph.
Former Toyah member, and all round legendary drummer, Simon Phillips is the cover star of two monthly magazines, Drummer and Rhythm, both dated October 2014. (Thanks to Lärwi)
I have been coming to Evesham Dental Health Team (EDHT) for at least ten years. The team is friendly and helpful, and more importantly local and available. I am horrified at the prices that London charge for treatment and I disagree that you have to pay a premium just for being in London. Also I know people that have to book six months ahead and for me that would be a nightmare.
I think it is really important to have good teeth. I don’t think people realise how often your teeth are looked at. I realised during photo shoots that my teeth no longer translated the way I felt about them. I had lost a lot of enamel from natural wear and tear, as well as through a very healthy lifestyle of lots of fruit and vegetables – which I found ironic as you wouldn’t expect that to happen. As a result of this loss of enamel, my teeth felt very rough and I hated food sticking to them.
• Continue reading at EDHT.
Phil Spalding has a new “Bass Night with…” show taking place on Saturday 11th October at The Picturedrome, Northampton. View a larger version of the promo flyer, which includes further info on the appearance, by clicking below. Or visit www.thepicturedrome.com.
A great venue, one that Toyah played at during the Love Is The Law & More tour last year, The Fleece in Bristol is under threat of closure. Please click below to view further info, from Chris Sharp, owner of The Fleece, and consider signing their petition (at change.org).
Phil Spalding is playing Another Bass Night at Absolute Music’s superstore in Bournemouth on Wednesday 4th June. Phil says: “I’ll be sharing lots more juicy stories from my crazy life on the road…”. Buy tickets by clicking below.
• The Official Phil Spalding Website: Phil’s website, “Music + Mayhem”, has some great content to browse through, including “the inside stories” on recording ‘Anthem’ and ‘The Changeling’, with more Toyah memories to follow. Visit the website…
Stevie Bray’s band Jelly are hoping to play EssexFest 2014, and you can help them! Simply click below and like their video at You Tube. Jelly are a great band, it’s a great song (‘Say Hello’), and the animated video is pretty cool too. I’m sure many would agree it’s the least we can do to support someone who helped give us Toyah’s first three albums (and ‘Bird in Flight’).
• Browse all of Dreamscape’s Jelly news here. Visit their Official Website.
Wishing a Happy Birthday to the brilliant drummer Simon Phillips. In an extraordinary career in music Simon has played with dozens of singers and bands. Toyah fans remember him best for being drummer in the Toyah band from late 1981 and throughout 1982, playing on a number of singles, The Changeling album and three tours. Visit Simon’s Wikipedia page by clicking below.
Toyah paid tribute to Maximilian Schell last night: Just heard Maximillian Schell has died. A lovely, kind soul to work with. Directed me @ National Theatre in 1976! God bless. Here is a photo of Toyah as Emma in Tales From The Vienna Woods. View the full version at Instagram.
Legendary actor, writer, director and producer Maximilian Schell passed away today at the age of 83. He had an illustrious and varied career, including winning an Oscar in 1961. He also directed Tales From The Vienna Woods at The National Theatre in 1977, the play in which Toyah made her stage debut, playing Emma. View his Wikipedia entry by clicking below.
Phil Spalding has a new “Bass Evening with…” show taking place on Wednesday 5th March at The Regent Hotel, Doncaster. Further info and book tickets by clicking below.
“Join me for an evening of punchy basslines, behind-the-scenes secrets from my colourful career and tips on how to record your bass parts in one take… no drop-ins and no edits!”
A sweet reminsence about Toyah in “Brief Encounters With Famous People” at Vloggerheads.
My Mum’s hobby was knitting. She was an absolute EXPERT at hand-knitting Arran sweaters.
One day in the late 80’s, I got a call on my carphone (yeah – I had one of those – I thought I was the Dog’s Bollocks) telling me I should come over for tea – there was someone famous that was coming over she wanted me to meet.
Turns out that one of Mum’s friends worked in the music business and she was having sweaters knitted to give as special gifts to her clients. One of her clients was Toyah Willcox (yeah – I know – lots of you won’t even know who she was!) – and Toyah was so impressed, she wanted to meet the knitter and order some special sweaters.
That was a surreal evening – Toyah was at the house for about 2 hours chatting with Mum about patterns and wool. I just sat transfixed. She was absolutely beautiful in real life – nothing like her stage persona at all.
Mum knitted special-order Arran sweaters for Toyah Willcox and her friends from 1987 right up until her death in 2003. I always told her that they were rich and famous and she wasn’t charging them enough! :-)
• Visit the blog at Vloggerheads.
Not strictly Toyah news but she is mentioned in the article, as is fellow Human Bill Rieflin.
King Crimson unveil new-line up and 2014 tour plans
Robert Fripp has unveiled a new incarnation of King Crimson.
Speaking to Uncut, Fripp said: “King Crimson is returning to active service. We are on-call to be ready for a live performance on September 1, 2014. Seven members. Four English, three American. Three drummers. It’s a different configuration of King Crimson than before. Some are familiar names, maybe more than others.”
This line-up – the 8th in the band’s history – will be Fripp, Gavin Harrison, Bill Rieflin, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, Mel Collins and Jakko Jakszyk.
• Continue reading at Uncut.
Phil Spalding is playing a Bass Night at Absolute Music’s new superstore in Bournemouth on Wednesday 4th September. Phil says: “Join me for an evening of punchy basslines, behind-the-scenes secrets from my colourful career and tips on how to record your bass parts in one take… no drop-ins and no edits!”
Toyah has lent her support to CRB Midlands – The Campaign for Regional Broadcasting Midlands – Promoting the Midlands as a place to make TV, radio and film!
They say: “As a publicly funded organisation the BBC is obligated to reflect the importance of our region. The Midlands needs the support of the BBC but it should also be recognised that the BBC needs the support of the 10 million people who live in this region.”
Toyah said: “Birmingham has incredible talent and culture. We need the BBC to be able to express this to the world. As a city Birmingham is the friendliest place I know and it deserves to be a media centre of excellence.”
• View the CRB Midlands petition page at Change.org.
