Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

New from the NME! One of the most interesting Toyah interviews/features for a long time…

In Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?!, we quiz an artist on their own career to see how much they can remember – and find out if the booze, loud music and/or tour sweeties has knocked the knowledge out of them

1 You starred in Derek Jarman’s 1978 punk film Jubilee. Upon its release, who created a protest T-shirt deeming it “the most boring and therefore disgusting film”?
“Vivienne Westwood!”

CORRECT.

“I got one right! I’m so happy! Derek Jarman, the director, was thrilled by that (Laughs). When we started pre-production, people were behind the film, but then the punk world felt it was going to be exploitative. Derek Jarman was special and had no compromise. He saw talent in everyone and everything. Working with him on Jubilee, I quickly became aware that I was being catapulted from nowhere into the glitterati of this new movement and I immediately knew it was special.”

Ever run into Vivienne Westwood?

“I actually did some modelling for Vivienne. She probably wouldn’t have known it was me, but I did some modelling for TV at her shop [Sex] which was great fun. I got John Lydon through the screen test for Quadrophenia. Franc Roddam, its director, asked me to go over to Johnny Rotten’s apartment, learn two scenes with him, and accompany him to the studio to do the screen test for the role of Jimmy. He was an absolute gentleman and a brilliant actor, but nobody would touch Johnny because they felt he was unpredictable.”

You’ve acted with some big names including Katharine Hepburn and Laurence Oliver…

“Laurence Olivier was quite old when I worked with him [on the 1984 TV movie The Ebony Tower] and not terribly well so we could only shoot with him three hours a day, but he burnt brighter than anyone I’d ever met. He was a rebel and wonderfully naughty. I used to have supper with him in the evenings and was told not to let him drink – and we’d get through six bottles of champagne and he could still keep going! My first professional job was at the National Theatre so to be acting with him in a movie was thrilling.”

• Continue reading at the NME.

Toyah live 29 July 2021 – The Factory Live

Toyah Is a four times Brit Award nominated English musician, singer, songwriter, actress, producer and author. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Willcox has had 8 Top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays and 10 feature films, and voiced and presented numerous television shows.

Toyah: The Band.
Toyah Willcox (vocals), Chris Wong (guitar), Andy Doble (keyboards), Mike Nichols (bass) and John Humphrey (drums).

Toyah had only recently announced that she was to put on a concert back on the South Coast with her full live electric band. The venue was announced as The Factory Live, located at Unit 9A, Ivy Arch Road in Worthing. The date was set for Thursday 29th July 2021. Toyah last made a visit to Brighton in November 2019 when she played chalk to promote her 2019 charting album ‘In The Court Of The Crimson Queen‘.

• Continue reading at Scene Sussex.

Watchet Music Festival will take place as planned this August Bank Holiday – and virtually the entire 2020 line-up has been rolled over to this year.

Major acts including Gabrielle, Shed Seven, Toyah and Sister Sledge all plan to be there as do The Bar-Stewards Sons of Val Doonican, Leylines, The Hawkmen, Future Dub Orchestra and Hands Off Gretel.

On top of that, The Feeling, Hue & Cry, and Desmond Decker’s band The Aces have been added to the bill.

They will also be joining Exeter-based acoustic singing-songwriting duo Sound of the Sirens, Tex Mex band Los Pacaminos featuring Paul Young, surf garage band Palooka 5 and the party-starting Oh My God! It’s the Church.

And, of course, the festival’s house band The Wurzels will be on stage, too.

• Continue reading at the West Somerset Free Press.

TOYAH + PHUN CITY – THE FACTORY LIVE, WORTHING 29.7.21

Toyah had only recently announced that she was to put on a concert back on the South Coast with her full live electric band. The venue was announced as The Factory Live, located at Unit 9A, Ivy Arch Road in Worthing. The date was set for Thursday 29th July 2021. Toyah last made a visit to Brighton in November 2019 when she played CHALK to promote her 2019 charting album ‘In The Court Of The Crimson Queen‘.

Toyah Is a four times Brit Award nominated English musician, singer, songwriter, actress, producer and author. In a career spanning more than 40 years, she has had 8 Top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays and 10 feature films, and voiced and presented numerous television shows.

• Continue reading at Brighton & Hove News.

Toyah on being a woman in punk in the 1980s, her new album, and the Sunday Lunch sensation

This is Unscripted – a podcast brought to you by ITV News Arts Editor Nina Nannar. In each episode, Nina speaks to a leading name from the world of arts and entertainment.

Her guests talk about their life and work, plus Nina asks them where they see themselves in five years.

On Unscripted this week, Nina is joined by eighties icon Toyah.

Toyah talks life in the music industry as a woman in punk in the 1980s – and challenging the business now 40 years later.

She chats to Nina about her new album Posh Pop.

And, of course, the pair chat about Toyah and Robert’s Sunday Lockdown Lunch – the internet sensation that sprung up in lockdown imagined by the singer and her husband, guitarist Robert Fripp.

• Continue reading/Listen to the interview at ITV News.

Toyah is back with a second slice of ‘Posh Pop’.

The ’80s icon has released Zoom Zoom as the second single from her forthcoming album, due August 27.

It’s the star’s first original collection since 2008’s ‘In The Court Of The Crimson Queen’, and was produced in collaboration with Simon Darlow and her husband, King Crimson’s Robert Fripp.

Zoom Zoom follows lead single Levitate, which was released across digital platforms in June.

• Continue reading at Retro Pop.

Toyah Releases Zoom Zoom, Inspires Bedroom Revolution Ahead Of New Album ‘Posh Pop’

Toyah gives us the next taste of her upcoming studio album Posh Pop (scheduled for August 28th) with new track Zoom Zoom – an anthem that sings of starting a revolution from the comfort of your bedroom. The ode to technology was inspired by Toyah spending hours over Zoom working on the album.

The singer shared: “We’ve explored a lot of pop media on this album. Zoom Zoom was a lightbulb moment in wanting to juxtapose today’s world with 1973. The title was a phrase of my co-writer and producer Simon Darlow’s who was spending eight hours a week on Zoom calls! It also refers to how we can start a revolution in our bedrooms now with smartphone technology.⁣”

The album, Toyah’s 25th album since 1979 and her first studio album since 2008’s In the Court of the Crimson Queen, sees her collaborate with Simon Darlow (guitars, keyboards, cello), Bobby Willcox (guitar) and Jeremy Stacey (drums) on ten tracks.

• Continue reading at Culture Fix.

Who Believes in Psychics? Filmmaker attempts to lift the veil

What’s the story?
Who Believes in Psychics?

Is that a rhetorical question?
It is the title – and subject – of a BBC Scotland documentary that sees filmmaker Conor Reilly delve into the world of psychic mediums. A staunch sceptic, Reilly sets out to understand why some people are firm believers and turn to mediums for guidance or comfort.

Tell me more.
Reilly meets Mary McCarron in Lanarkshire to learn about her self-proclaimed abilities to talk to the dead.

• Continue reading at The Herald. See directly below for the air date and time info for this programme.

Leslie Ash, Toyah and Isle of Wight in new film To Be Someone

Sam Gittins leads a cast, including Leslie Ash and Toyah Willcox, in what’s being billed as a ‘lighthearted adventure movie set in the world of Mods’.

The Isle of Wight has a key role in the film that is released in cinemas today (Friday, July 9).

To Be Someone reunites some of the stars of the cult 1979 movie Quadrophenia, for the first time in over four decades.

Directed by Ray Burdis, it centres on young entrepreneur Danny (Sam Gittins), who co-owns a nightclub and scooter shop.

When he meets the secret financier – a crazy gangster – an illegal drugs run to the Isle of Wight is offered as a swap for shares.

The Island’s annual popular scooter festival, which sees thousands of enthusiasts descend over the August bank holiday weekend, seems to be the perfect cover.

• Continue reading at the Isle Of Wight County Press. To Be Someone opened at select cinemas yesterday.

Toyah and Robert Fripp Cover System of a Down’s “Chop Suey”: Watch

Wake up! The married couple are back at it again with an energetic take on the metal classic

Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp take on one of the great 21st century metal tunes in their latest “Sunday Lunch” performance. The married couple, along with the mysterious Sidney Jake, rock the System of a Down classic “Chop Suey” from their kitchen.

Looking like characters in a Mad Max movie, Toyah and Robert go full throttle in covering “Chop Suey,” the lead single from System of a Down’s Toxicity (which celebrates its 20th anniversary in September).

King Crimson founder Fripp has completed a full transformation from the conservative suit vest and tie he would wear at the beginning of the “Sunday Lunch” series, now donning a mohawk and theatrical eye makeup, as well as body art similar to what SOAD guitarist Daron Malakian sported in the official “Chop Suey” music video.

• Continue reading at Consequence.Net.

80s’ icon Toyah to perform her classic hits at the arts centre

Get ready to re-live some of Toyah’s much-loved greatest hits when the iconic 80s pop star plays live at Pocklington Arts Centre (PAC) in March next year.

Toyah’s live show, on Thursday, March 3, will follow hot on the heels of the release of her brand new album ‘Posh Pop’ this Autumn.

The show will feature Toyah performing her hit singles and classic songs, alongside recalling stories from her career.

PAC director Janet Farmer said: “What better way to spend a night than by experiencing an 80s’ icon like Toyah live on stage. We’re expecting toe tapping, shoulder shuffling, singing and a lot of reminiscing when Toyah takes to our stage to take us on a journey through her 40-year career. What a fabulous and unique event this will be for everyone.”

• Continue reading at the Pocklington Post.

Toyah rises up with ‘Levitate’ from first album in 13 years

Toyah is back with Levitate, the lead single from her first studio album in 13 years.

The ‘80s icon will release her 16th LP ‘Posh Pop’ on August 27, featuring 10 brand new tunes produced by the star, alongside Simon Darlow and her husband, King Crimson’s Robert Fripp.

Of the track, available now on digital platform, she tells NME: “It was the second song Simon and I wrote for the album. I went into the studio with a few chords and started singing a song which was very thrashy and punky and that slowly evolved over two weeks. Levitate was something I wanted to connect to people who are educating their children at home in a two-bedroom flat.”

• Continue reading at Retro Pop.

• Official Toyah: Pre-Order “Posh Pop” New Studio Album – Following the acclaim of the recent reissues of her early, groundbreaking albums, on Friday 27 August 2021 Demon Music Group will release the new album Posh Pop by British female music icon, Toyah.

Available on CD, 180g ‘Space Grey’-coloured vinyl, digital download and deluxe CD+DVD featuring a video album. LP and CD Editions including an exclusive signed print by Toyah are also available – Continue reading…

• Super Deluxe Edition: Toyah / New studio album, Posh Pop – New studio album. Signed vinyl and CD: Toyah Willcox will release a new studio album, Posh Pop, in August and fans can secure signed editions of both vinyl and CD formats.

Written and recorded with her longterm writing partner Simon Darlow (he co-wrote Grace Jones’ Slave to the Rhythm!), the album is described as being “a strong collection of infectious and affirmative pop songs”. Tracks include ‘Summer of Love’, ‘Space Dance’, ‘Levitate’ and ‘Take Me Home’ – Continue reading…

• Retro Pop: Toyah is back with 16th album ‘Posh Pop’ – The ’80s icon will release her first album of original material since 2008 on August 27 – Continue reading…

• Posh Pop: More News – Lots more new album news coming soon!

Toyah Willcox shares new single ‘Levitate’ – and talks “magical” new album ‘Posh Pop’

Get the lowdown on her Sunday Lunch session-inspired new record

Toyah Willcox has shared a new single ‘Levitate’, the first taster of her forthcoming solo album, ‘Posh Pop’. Check out the video below along with our exclusive interview with the singer.

Her first album of new material since 2008’s ‘In The Court Of The Crimson Queen’, ‘Posh Pop’ was made with Simon Darlow, following on from his work as co-writer and a producer of her aforementioned previous album, and features guitar lines from her husband, King Crimson’s Robert Fripp – with whom Willcox has become known for Sunday Lunch video series, sharing renditions of songs by Nirvana, David Bowie, Metallica, Billy Idol, The Rolling Stones, Judas Priest, The Prodigy, Guns N’ Roses, Alice Cooper and many more.

• Continue reading at the NME.

Toyah takes to Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre stage live to recreate her biggest hit singles and showcase her latest album songs in a socially distanced performance on Friday, July 2.

Spokeswoman Sharon Thompson said: “If you don’t remember Toyah from the 80s music chart you’ll likely to know her from her varied acting career, as Monkey in cult film Quadrophenia or more recently in the Lies We Tell or Extremis. If you are a YouTube follower you may even be keeping track of her Lockdown video series, still being broadcast weekly.

For 42 years Toyah has taken to the stage like no other. Her numerous awards and nominations for singing, writing and acting include an honorary doctorate from the University of Central England in Birmingham (2001), a star on the King’s Heath Walk of Fame and a star on Birmingham’s Broad Street Walk of Stars. In 2018 Paul McCartney awarded Toyah a LIPA Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Companionship for outstanding achievement in music, drama, performance and media.

• Continue reading at the Eastbourne Herald.

Press coverage for this week’s Sunday Lunch with Toyah and Robert (and Sidney Jake)!! (Image © Toyah Willcox)

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp cover Eurythmic’s “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” – Continue reading…

• NME: Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox share cover of Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams’ – Things get a little blurry for this week’s kitchen cover – Continue reading…

• Guitar.com: Robert Fripp and Toyah share video cover of Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by Eurythmics – The Kitchen Trio take on the 1983 synth-pop classic with electric guitars – Continue reading…

• Metal Sucks: King Crimson’s Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox Cover “Sweet Dreams” – Continue reading…

• Metal Injection: Toyah Willcox & King Crimson’s Robert Fripp Cover “Sweet Dreams” – Continue reading…

• Consequence: Robert Fripp and a Pixelated Toyah Cover Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams”: Watch – The latest “Sunday Lunch” performance from the rock couple is apparently a bit risqué — by YouTube’s standards – Continue reading…

• Republic World: Robert Fripp & Toyah Surprise Fans With The Cover Of Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams’; Watch – Robert Fripp and Toyah have returned with the latest episode of their Sunday Lunch series, this time covering Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams – Continue reading…

• The Brag Media: Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox cover Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams’ – Robert Fripp and Toyah Wilcox have continued their Sunday Lunch series with a cover of Eurythmics’ signature hit ‘Sweet Dreams’ – Continue reading…

• JamBase: Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox Cover Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)’ – Continue reading…

• DGM Live: Toyah & Robert’s Weekend!: Toyah At Home, Agony Aunts, Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch with Sidney Shake – Sweet Dreams… – Continue reading…

• Sidney Jake: In case you missed it – this was a LOT of fun!!! – Click the link for an “alternative” view of this week’s episode – Continue watching…

The Ghosts Of Borley Rectory will haunt you this Halloween

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution will release Director Steven M. Smith’s The Ghosts Of Borley Rectory this Halloween.

The Ghosts Of Borley Rectory is a supernatural horror based on terrifying true events: a hopeful paranormal investigator attempts to illuminate the truth behind Britain’s most haunted house, with chilling consequences.

Starring Julian Sands (A Room with a View, Arachnophobia), Colin Baker (Doctor Who), Toyah Willcox (Invasion Planet Earth), Christopher Ellison (We Still Kill the Old Way, Ransom), Toby Wynn-Davies (Nefarious), Leila Kotori (Human), and Reece Alexander-Putinas.

Directed by Steven M. Smith (The Haunting of Borley Rectory). Produced by Paul G. Andrews (Juliana & the Medicine Fish, Boogie Man), Steven M. Smith (The Haunting of Borley Rectory, Doll House), Louisa Warren (Vengeance of the Leprechaun, Virtual Death Match).

• Continue reading at Horror Screams Video Vault. Browse Dreamscape’s The Ghosts Of Borley Rectory news archive.

Press coverage for this week’s Sunday Lunch with Toyah and Robert (and Sidney Jake)!! (Image © Toyah Willcox)

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp cover ZZ Top’s ” Sharp Dressed Man” – Continue reading…

• Rolling Stone: Toyah Willcox Dumbfounds Robert Fripp While Covering ZZ Top’s ‘Sharp Dressed Man’
Even a bare chest can’t keep the King Crimson guitarist from missing a note – Continue reading…

• NME: Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox share cover of ZZ Top’s ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ – The kitchen crew get all dressed up for this week’s Sunday Lunch performance – Continue reading…

• Jam Base: Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox Cover ZZ Top’s ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ – Continue reading…

• Louder: Toyah and Robert Fripp cover ZZ Top’s Sharp Dressed Man and Fripp is “finally broken” – Another Sunday lunch at Willcox-Fripp Manor ends in chaos, as ZZ Top’s Sharp Dressed Man is performed and Robert Fripp gets more than he bargained for – Continue reading…

• Consequence: Toyah Flashes Robert Fripp in Couple’s Cover of ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man”: Watch – Plus, the mysterious Sidney Jake finally speaks: “Do your parents behave like this?” – Continue reading…

• Metal Sucks: King Crimson’s Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox Cover ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man” – Continue reading…

• Metal Injection: Toyah Willcox Offers A Flash For Cover Of “Sharp Dressed Man” With King Crimson’s Robert Fripp – Continue reading…

• DGM Live: T&R’S Weekend At Home (And Back On The Road!) – Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch, with Sidney Jake: Sharp Dressed Man – Agony Aunts… (with Burning Guitars!) – Toyah At Home… (and back on the road!) – Continue reading…

• Sidney Jake: Sunday Lunch – Behind The Scenes – And this is the angle you don’t see!!! – Click the link for an “alternative” view of this week’s episode – Continue watching…

Press coverage for this week’s Sunday Lunch with Toyah and Robert (and Sidney Jake)!! (Image © Toyah Willcox)

• Rolling Stone: Watch Toyah and Robert Fripp Cover Black Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid’ – Continue reading…

• NME: Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox share cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid’ – Continue reading…

• Louder: Toyah and Robert Fripp cover Black Sabbath’s Paranoid and there are feathers everywhere – Continue reading…

• Metal Sucks: King Crimson’s Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox Cover Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” – Continue reading…

• Metal Injection: King Crimson’s Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox Cover Black Sabbath Classic “Paranoid” – Continue reading…

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp cover Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” – Continue reading…

• DGM Live: Toyah & Robert’s Weekend!: Toyah At Home, Agony Aunts, Sunday Lunch with Sidney Jake – Continue reading…

• Sidney Jake: Right after Toyah and Robert’s Sunday Lunch this week – Click the link for an “alternative” view of this week’s episode – Continue watching…

Toyah – The Blue Meaning (Expanded Deluxe Edition): Album Review

Dark, intense and disturbingly graphic – an early masterpiece by Toyah revisited

Release Date: 28th May 2021
Label: Cherry Red Records
Formats: 2CD + 1DVD, Limited Edition Coloured Vinyl

Cherry Red Records have done it yet again! This week’s lucky recipient of their deluxe reissue treatment is Toyah and the band’s second album, 1980’s The Blue Meaning. In fact, Cherry Red are working their way through Toyah’s Safari Records catalogue – the band’s debut album, Sheep Farming In Barnet, has already received the deluxe repackaging and the rest of the bunch, Anthem (1981) The Changeling (1982) and Love Is The Law (1983) will be along soon – a veritable treasure trove from the happiest, most productive and most creative period of Toyah’s career. Oh – and for clarity – at this stage in the career of Toyah Willcox, Toyah was the collective name for the band in which she featured – Joel Bogen on guitar, Charlie Francis on bass, Steve Bray on drums, Peter Bush on keyboards and Toyah herself on vocals (or verbals and unusual sounds, as the album’s excellent sleeve notes put it.)

• Continue reading at At The Barrier.

The Rolling Stones, Kate Bush, The Cure: Great albums’ cover stories revealed

From hiding film in Toyah’s knickers to combining Mondrian and The Rolling Stones, designer Bill Smith tells the cover stories of great albums.

The Rolling Stones, The Jam, Kate Bush, The Cure, Led Zeppelin – they’re not only among the most important musical artists of our time, they’re also some of the most visually striking. Bill Smith has designed album covers for all of them.

Bill Smith and his studio have been designing album covers since 1976. Across five decades they’ve worked with more than 200 bands and artists. They were even there at the start of the Now That’s What I Call Music juggernaut, designing the very first cover of the world-beating compilation album series.

Now Bill’s work has been collected into a suitably glossy, album-sized, 12-inch book, which also features the stories behind some of his classic album covers. He gave us a glimpse into the creative process behind some of his most famous works…

• Continue reading at bigissue.com.