Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

A great new interview with Toyah & Robert, from The Inverness Courier, talking about their visit to Scotland, more specifically the Highlands, happening later today to play Belladrum’s Tartan Heart Festival…

Belladrum: Toyah & Robert on keeping the love alive and why they adore the Highlands

We caught up with music legends Toyah & Robert before they take the stage at Belladrum this weekend.

What is your favourite love song?
Toyah: For me it’s The Twelfth of Never by Johnny Mathis! But I’ve got a whole list…The Moody Blues, Nights In White Satin, Tasmin Archer’s Sleeping Satellite and Shakespeares Sister, Stay! They all make me really experience love!

Robert: I have no singing voice but there have been occasions I’ve sung Twelfth of Never to my wife! For me, it’s I Will Always Love You by Whitney Housten, the Dolly Parton song! Also, any early Elvis is when your heart aches!

Have you been to the Highlands before? What do you think of it?
Toyah: I’ve been there many times and I played there just before lockdown. I absolutely adore it. Inverness is just so different to Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. I’ve done plays there, toured there in theatre and done music shows there. People are very connected to the land, and it’s a very different feel. I’m looking forward to that grounded-ness and connection.

The sky feels so much lower than anywhere else in the UK. It does feel like a ceiling there and I’m just looking forward to being outside in that experience.

• Continue reading at The Inverness Courier. See all of Toyah & Robert’s upcoming live dates at toyahwillcox.com.

Toyah & Robert’s Rock Party will take over the Coro on Saturday

Ulverston will welcome an ‘iconic duo’ for an evening of rock classics this weekend.

The Coronation Hall is hosting Toyah and Robert, who are both renowned for their ‘legendary artistic twists’.

In a career spanning more than 40 years, Toyah Willcox has had eight Top 40 singles, released 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays and ten feature films, and voiced and presented numerous television shows.

Composer, record producer and author Robert Fripp is best known as the guitarist, founder and continuing member of rock band King Crimson. He has worked as a studio player and collaborator with Brian Eno, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Daryl Hall, David Sylvian, Blondie and The Damned among others.

• Continue reading at The Mail. See also The Westmorland Gazette.

Stars give music fans ‘blast from the past’ at festival

Hundreds of music fans have enjoyed a “blast from the past” at a one-day festival celebrating some of the stars of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

Pop acts such as Toyah, Haircut 100, Damage and Liberty X took to the stage at Hits On The Pitch at Stockport Rugby Club in Greater Manchester on Saturday.

The event saw many memorable moments, including singer Chesney Hawkes leading the crowd in a rendition of The Beatles’ Hey Jude, in tribute to England footballer Jude Bellingham before the nation’s appearance in the Euros 2024 final.

Organiser Paul Taylor said it had been a chance to go “back to the good old glory days” and enjoy “guilty pleasures and forgotten treasures spanning across three unforgettable decades”.

• Continue reading at BBC News.

A short Toyah press clip from Yours magazine, issue dated 9th July 2024.

If asked who you’d consider to be the ‘original punk rocker’ it’s unlikely that Princess Margaret would spring to mind. But after meeting Her Royal Highness and the Queen Mother at St James’ Palace many years ago, singer Toyah Willcox believes she was just that.

“We talked about the philosophy of punk rock and how it was opening doors for women and she was fascinated,” says Toyah. “I met her many times after that and she was a wicked and very sharp woman. I realised later that Princess Margaret was probably the original punk rocker as she just rebelled and rebelled and rebelled.”

• Yours magazine is on sale now. (Photo taken from Yours magazine).

Sign of the Times music festival is a wet wet wet weekend saved by great music

The Waterboys were an apt first-night headline act for the Sign of the Times festival at Church End, Little Hadham.

If you add in a set by Toyah, complete with a guest appearance by husband and King Crimson guitar hero Robert Fripp, what more could you want?

• Continue reading at Bishop’s Stortford Independent.

These Are All The Celebrities Who’ve Been Rumoured For Strictly Come Dancing 2024 So Far

Stars from across the world of TV, sport, music and beyond have already been tipped to be taking part this year.

With the summer only just starting to get underway, it might seem like the new series of Strictly Come Dancing is still aaaaages away – but we’re actually only just over a month away from the first of this year’s celebrities being revealed. In the past few weeks, rumours have been coming in thick and fast about which stars will be getting their dancing shoes on for a very special series of Strictly, commemorating 20 years since the show first began airing on BBC One.

Celebrities from across the world of TV, sport, music and beyond have already being tipped to be in the pipeline, ahead of the first announcements in August. So, to get you in the Strictly spirit, here are all the rumours about the 2024 line-up that have been reported so far…

Toyah Willcox: In June, The Sun reported that British music legend Toyah Wilcox had signed up for Strictly, after being impressed by her friend and colleague Angela Rippon’s performance a year earlier.

She previously joked to The Mirror: “I’d have to do it sooner rather than later, because I’m not gonna be able to move. I do understand how hard they work. I’m friends with Angela Rippon and she was extraordinary,” she continued. “But they’re rehearsing 10 hours a day every day. And then on Saturday, they do two shows.”

She added: “If I’m going to do it, it’s gonna have to happen within the next few years because I don’t think I’ll be able to move like that in two years’ time. But, you know, the whole world wants to do Strictly, I wouldn’t say no.”

• Continue reading at the Huff Post. See also Yahoo! News.

Isle of Wight Festival return for Toyah and Robert Fripp

Making a return to the Isle of Wight Festival following their successful show at last year’s event, husband and wife musical partnership of Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp entertained again in the Big Top.

The musical partnership of singer Toyah and King Crimson’s legendary guitarist Fripp — both from strangely different, but equally experimental musical backgrounds — reinvented themselves in the industry with their popular Sunday Lunch performances on YouTube.

Sunday’s afternoon show was a blend of Fripp’s musical precision and Toyah’s charismatic, spellbinding pop/punk-influenced enthusiasm.

She performed a set which included some of her solo classics, It’s a Mystery and I Want to Be Free, together with some great pop throwbacks, such as Echo Beach, a 70s hit for Martha and the Muffins.

• Continue reading at the Isle Of Wight County Press. (Photo © Isle Of Wight County Press)

EdFringe | Trafford Tanzi starring Toyah Willcox! The play that changed my life – Kevin Maguire

Having given Andrew Pierce the opportunity to share the story of the musical that changed his life – it was Mamma Mia! you may recall – it seemed only fair to offer Kevin Maguire the same courtesy, especially as the pair’s Edinburgh Fringe show, Andrew Pierce vs Kevin Maguire (Assembly Rooms, 8-10 August), pits them against each other. So, in the interest of maintaining an even playing field, here, Maguire shares the piece of theatre that ‘changed his life’… Toyah Willcox in Trafford Tanzi.

‘Time erased exactly why I went to see punk princess Toyah Willcox hitting a wrestling ring’s canvass during 10 rounds over three hours, yet the exhilaration – mine, not hers, just to be clear – is as fresh today as that evening 41 years ago and counting. You never forget the magical impact of your first play, the memory sticking like first day at school, first day at work, first football game, first kiss.
I was a late debutant to the theatre, growing up in a Tyneside working class home where money was tight and the stage a social world away from our life. There’s no need to get out an unfeasibly small violin. Childhood is recalled happily even if now I recognise it could’ve been enriched culturally.

Never going to the York Theatre Royal during three years at the city’s university is explained blushingly by hanging with a group, at least one of whom subsequently came to see Willcox in her cartoonish outfit, who, like me, preferred football, playing the fool and doing nothing.

• Continue reading at Must See Theatre.

Born with club feet, a twisted spine and a lisp, all too often Toyah Willcox found herself the butt of the joke. But having exploited this outsider status to find fame as an actress and singer, she had the last laugh. And she’s still chuckling…

In a remarkably eclectic career spanning almost 50 years, peroxide princess Toyah Willcox has topped the pop charts, illuminated the silver screen with movie legend Katharine Hepburn and even dressed up as a giant vegetable with members of the Royal Family. And today, as she celebrates her newfound status as an unexpected social media sensation, with more than 120 million views of her YouTube channel, the 66-year-old is in a characteristically defiant mood.

“My rebellion has always been that I just don’t fit into the norm,” she says from the once-haunted Dorset home she shares with her online partner in crime, King Crimson guitarist and husband of 38 years, Robert Fripp. “And I never will. I don’t think like other people. I don’t move like other people. I’m unique.”

And for Toyah, who first came to public attention in 1979 as the party-loving Monkey in the iconic British mod film Quadrophenia, before launching a hugely successful pop career in the early 1980s, the roots of her distinctive, often-confrontational creativity lie firmly in her challenging childhood.

“Growing up in Birmingham I was disabled and I was treated as disabled, even though I was physically very, very strong,” she explains. “I had a twisted spine, my legs were twisted, I had club feet, and my family referred to me as ‘Hopalong’. I also had a very bad lisp and dyslexia, but even though people would laugh at me, I had grand ambitions and grand ideas from day one.”

Toyah recalls always being the butt of the joke to the people around her. “And that made me grow into a monster – and that monster grew daily,” she states with the ghost of a smile. “My ambitions grew daily because I was being set up for failure from the moment I could speak, but people didn’t see the person I knew.

• The full interview is available to read online here.

“I was summoned to have tea with the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. We talked about the philosophy of punk.” In 1980, when Britain’s royal family wanted “to see what a punk rocker looks like” they invited Toyah Willcox to St James’s Palace

Toyah recalls the day she talked punk rock with royalty

In the summer of 1977, punk rock gatecrashed into the mainstream consciousness in Britain when the Sex Pistols’ second single, God Save The Queen, entered the UK charts at number 2 during the week of the official observation of Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee: it’s widely believed that the single was actually the UK’s highest-selling single that week, but the official chart stats were deliberately ‘adjusted’ to ensure that the nation’s most infamous punk band were kept from reaching number one.

As controversial as the song was, however, it seems that it didn’t necessarily alarm the monarchy, for three years later, punk starlet Toyah Willcox was summoned to one of London’s royal palaces so that Queen Elizabeth’s mother and sister could see at close quarters “what a punk rocker looks like,” according to a new [paywalled] interview the singer has given to The Telegraph.

• Continue reading at Louder.

Toyah Willcox: ‘I had tea with Princess Margaret – she wanted to see what a punk rocker looked like’

The singer, actress and presenter talks royal encounters, Judi Dench playing pranks, and an £80,000 bank forgery

Best and worst is a regular interview in which a celebrity reflects on the highs and lows of their life

Born in Birmingham in 1958, Toyah Willcox’s breakthrough role was in Quadrophenia in 1979. From there, she juggled acting with a pop career, selling millions of records. She has continued to sing and act throughout her career with roles in Casualty and Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and she also narrated the children’s TV series Teletubbies. She lives in Dorset with her husband, the King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp, with whom she presents the popular YouTube show Sunday Lunch…

• Continue reading at The Telegraph. (Registration required)

Secret Diary of a Call Girl cast – where are they now?

What happened to Billie Piper’s co-stars?

ITV2 drama Secret Diary of a Call Girl is enjoying a second wind, courtesy of Netflix.

The series, which was created by Lucy Prebble (Succession, I Hate Suzie) and ran for four seasons between 2007 and 2011, starred Billie Piper as a high-end escort working in London who kept her lucrative double life hidden from her family.

A number of recognisable faces also appeared alongside Piper.

Toyah Willcox played Gail, Hannah’s mother. She didn’t know what her daughter did for a living.

Willcox was an established singer before Secret Diary and continues to perform.

• Continue reading at Radio Times. As well as Netflix, all four series of Secret Diary Of A Call Girl recently aired on That’s TV.

This news hasn’t been officially confirmed, by Toyah or any source related to Strictly or even the BBC, but it’s being reported by numerous tabloids…

• The Sun: Super Signing – Huge 80s star signs up for Strictly – Read on to find out which other stars are in the frame for next season – Continue…

• Daily Mail: 80’s icon Toyah Willcox ‘signs up for Strictly Come Dancing’ after being inspired by pal Angela Rippon – Continue…

• Daily Express: 80s legend ‘signs up for Strictly Come Dancing’ after being inspired by Angela Rippon – Continue…

• Female First: Toyah Willcox set for Strictly Come Dancing – Toyah Willcox, 66, is reportedly set to take part in the next series of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ – Continue…

• Yahoo!: Toyah Willcox set for Strictly Come Dancing – Continue…

• Mirror: Toyah Willcox looks set for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 thanks to famous pal – Continue…

• Time will tell, as these rumours have circulated in previous years, but not quite as widespread as the current reports. Keep an eye on Toyah’s official website and social media, as well as the BBC and Strictly Come Dancing cast announcements!

Toyah & Robert played the first two dates of their Summer Rock Party Tour over the weekend – in Frome and Evesham. Next Sunday brings their first 2024 festival date at the Isle Of Wight Festival…

• The Westmorland Gazette: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp will perform at The Coro – Continue…

• The Mail: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp to perform in Ulverston – Continue…

• Warrington Worldwide: Toyah and Robert set to rock Parr Hall – Continue…

• Evesham Journal: Pershore’s Toyah Willcox returns to Evesham for rock concert – Continue…

Pershore’s own Toyah Willcox to perform at Evesham’s Regal Cinema

Pershore’s own Toyah Willcox is set for a return to the area at the Regal Cinema.

The punk rock singer will perform at the Evesham venue on Saturday, June 15 alongside her husband and King Crimson member, Robert Fripp. Willcox and Fripp’s Rock Party will be performing a range of rock classics on the Regal Stage following the viral success of their popular web series ‘Sunday Lunch’. Willcox said: “We can’t wait to rock you out.”

• Continue reading at the Evesham Journal.

Two Expanded Toyah Platters Shine A Fresh Light On Her Past

Last years have seen a long-overdue reappraisal of Toyah‘s career: unjustifiably perceived by too many a listener as a quintessential ’80s artiste, Ms. Willcox proved again and again that she still is a queen of intelligent quirk-rock – and not only by cavorting with her husband in the acclaimed YouTube series but also by curating a series of her classic albums’ reissues, which are to be prolonged soon by two more titles. Appearing on May 17th is an expanded version of “Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour” from 1982, and on July 26th a deluxe version of “Minx” from 1985.

• Continue reading at Let It Rock.

“Shake my left hand man, it’s closer to my heart!”: Robert Fripp recalls what happened when he met Jimi Hendrix

The pair met at London’s Revolution club in 1969.

King Crimson mastermind Robert Fripp has opened up about a heartwarming moment he once shared with guitar legend Jimi Hendrix.

Appearing on the music reaction channel Rob Squad Reactions alongside his wife Toyah Willcox, Fripp shares how the late rocker had sung praises of King Crimson after watching their set back in the day.

“This is the hand shaken by the hand of Jimi Hendrix,” Fripp delightly reveals, gesturing to his left hand.

• Continue reading at Guitar.Com.

Vive Le Rock Awards 2024 – A Star-Studded Evening Of Sparkling Performances!

Finally in this section, the enthusiastic and hard-working Toyah Willcox was presented with the Icon Award by Saffron Sprackling from 90’s stars Republica – it was wonderful to see the two ladies so enthusiastic and supportive of each other. Toyah’s long career in both acting and music continues to this day, with her popular ‘Sunday Lunch‘ broadcasts with husband Robert Fripp (King Crimson) garnering her many new fans across the globe since 2020’s lockdown, as well as festival appearances performing her hit songs!

• Continue reading at Punktuation! Mag. (Photo © Punktuation Mag)

Toyah’s “Warrior Rock” Double Live Album Gets Expanded Reissue

Toyah‘s 1982 double live album, Warrior Rock, is getting a long overdue remastered and expanded release. Originally released as a double album in October 1982, Warrior Rock was recorded at London’s Hammersmith Odeon across the final two nights of the tour and contained 15 songs centred around material from the band’s Top Ten albums, Anthem and The Changeling.

The album was named after the B-Side of Toyah‘s 1982 single Brave New World and features hit singles It’s A Mystery, I Want To Be Free and Thunder In The Mountains alongside fan favourites Ieya, Danced and War Boys. This expanded reissue now documents The Changeling Tour, Toyah‘s highly successful run of 25 UK concert dates in the Summer of 1982 in a more comprehensive fashion.

• Continue reading at The Punk Site. Pre-order Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour at Cherry Red Records.

Exclusive: Toyah Willcox looks set for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 thanks to famous pal

Punk icon Toyah Willcox has teased she is up for joining this year’s Strictly Come Dancing lineup following her pal Angela Rippon’s success but she has one condition

Toyah Willcox has shared her hopes to take part in Strictly Come Dancing

Toyah Willcox has thrown her name into the mix to take part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The punk icon, 65, declared she’d love to take part in the BBC dance competition following the success of her close friend Angela Rippon. Journalist and presenter Angela, 79, competed in last year’s series as she was partnered with Kai Widdrington and became the series’ oldest contestant.

Toyah exclusively told The Mirror she would like to follow in Angela’s footsteps, but admitted she wants to do it “sooner rather than later”. It comes after rumours are already swirling over who could be taking part in this year’s Strictly. The singer has been facing calls to take part in the show for years, having recently impressed fans with her moves during her social media videos alongside husband Robert Fripp.

When asked by The Mirror if she would be up for taking part, Toyah said: “Oh, God yeah. Well, I’d have to do it sooner rather than later, because I’m not gonna be able to move. I do understand how hard they work. I’m friends with Angela Rippon and she was extraordinary.”

• Continue reading at The Mirror.

Toyah / Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour

1982 live album • 3CD and 2LP coloured vinyl

Warrior Rock: Toyah on Tour was the second live album by the band Toyah. It was originally released in November 1982 by Safari Records and is the next release in Cherry Red’s comprehensive reissue campaign.

The 15-track double album featured material recorded on 17 and 18 July 1982 at Hammersmith Odeon at the end of The Changeling UK tour. A new 3CD set (compiled by Craig Astley and Joel Bogen) sees the album remastered and expanded to 41 tracks featuring 26 previously unreleased bonus tracks, with a total of 19 different songs from 11 gigs, at nine different locations!

These means that for the first time all four sides of the original vinyl live album are included on CD – unabridged and uncut. The first CD offers 12 of the 15 tracks while CD 2 starts with the last three songs from the concert. After that follows ‘Street Creature’ a mixed and mastered outtake from Hammersmith, soundcheck recordings, and rehearsals from Brixton Fair Deal (now known as Brixton Academy).

• Continue reading at Super Deluxe Edition. Pre-order Warrior Rock – Toyah On Tour at Cherry Red.