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A chance to dance as Party In The Park returns to Himley Hall – in pictures

It was a double Party in the Park at Himley Hall over the weekend with the clock turned back to the 1970s and 80s.

Saturday’s event saw the likes of Toyah Willcox and Neville Staple take to the stage as hundreds of people donned their best retro gear and danced the day and night away.

Then yesterday it was the turn of the mods with a Quadrophenia-themed party, attended by Toyah and other stars of the 1979 cult classic including Phil Daniels and Leslie Ash, who are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the movie.

There were hundreds of tents and camper-vans set-up at the historic South Staffordshire estate, that sits on the border of Dudley and Wolverhampton, as people gathered for a jam-packed weekend of fun organised by the Dubs Collective.

• Continue reading at the Express & Star. (Photo © Express & Star)

Tonight sees Sky Arts celebrate the 40th Anniversary of, the mighty and forever enduring, Quadrophenia, with documentaries and an airing of the movie itself. There’s already been a ton of news and comment in the last few weeks and, indeed, over the past year about this significant anniversary. Here’s some more…

• What’s On TV: Happy 40th Quadrophenia! Phil Daniels on scooters, suits and the Sex Pistols…: Forty years ago this month, first-time director Franc Roddam – who would go on to create TV shows Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and MasterChef – presented his eagerly anticipated 1960s-set film Quadrophenia, about an angry young mod, to the world – Continue reading…

• BBC Radio Cornwall: David White Show: Francis Rossi, Mark King, Toyah Willcox, Leslie Ash (20/09/2019) Francis talks Quo, Mark chats Level 42 while Leslie and Toyah talk about Quadrophenia – Listen at BBC Sounds for the next four weeks…

• Radio Times: Quadrophenia Reunited: 40 Years On – Released in 1979 but set in 1964, Quadrophenia is a fascinating period piece within a period piece. And, thanks largely to the incredibly authentic performances of its young actors, it’s aged really well over the past 40 years. Members of that cast – including Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox and, of course, Phil Daniels – reassemble at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire tonight for a good-natured chinwag about the making of the film, including some readings from the script – Continue reading…

• Belfast Telegraph: Stars reunite to celebrate 40 years of Quadrophenia: To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of cult British film Quadrophenia, there’s a brand new documentary – Continue reading…

• Financial Times: Quadrophenia: Our Generation — Phil Daniels and Sting reflect – Continue reading (registration required)…

• ATV Today: One to Watch: Quadrophenia: Our Generation and Quadrophenia Reunited: 40 Years On, Sky Arts: At 9pm the celebration kicks off with Quadrophenia: Our Generation. Sky Arts celebrates the 40th anniversary of the 1979 cult classic Quadrophenia with a series of special films – Continue reading…

• Pirate FM: Quadrophenia at 40: Stars reminisce about the film for ‘every generation’: Released in 1979 and loosely based on The Who’s album of the same name, Quadrophenia’s coming-of-age tale of a young mod is very much a cult classic – Continue reading…

• Sunday Post: Quadrophenia, 40 years on: Roy’s generation and his priceless scooter brought a bit extra to film: The year 1964 was a noisy one, especially if you were in the seaside towns of Brighton or Hastings caught up in fights that famously broke out between Mods and Rockers – Continue reading…

• Gigwise: Quadrophenia 40 Years On: The cast on Blur, Oasis and representation in music: In celebration of the Sky Arts documentary being released to mark its 40th anniversary, we speak to the cast to investigate the legacy and impact Quadrophenia holds – Continue reading…

• BT: Johnny Rotten ‘nearly brawled’ with Phil Daniels after Quadrophenia snub: Sex Pistols singer Johnny Rotten came close to brawling with Quadrophenia star Phil Daniels after the actor beat him to the role of Jimmy in the cult film. However, the role went to Daniels, who earned plaudits for his depiction of a scooter-riding mod in the 1960s escaping his humdrum life through a heady mix of parties, amphetamines and fights – Continue reading…

• Official Toyah: Qquadrophenia 40th Anniversary Evening: On 21 September, a special evening on Sky Arts celebrates the 40th anniversary of iconic Brit flick Quadrophenia. Several new programmes will be broadcast including the premiere of Quadrophenia Reunited – 40 Years On and Quadrophenia – Our Generation – Continue reading…

Mods, rockers and teenage dreams – The making of Quadrophenia

Forty years after Quadrophenia, the cast have reunited for a documentary

“I don’t think any of us have changed, we are still very much the same people, but obviously time has affected us, and to watch the documentaries and the work we have done in the last 12 months, I find it profoundly moving,” confides Toyah Willcox, 61, who plays Monkey.

Did they have a sense at the time that the relationships they formed on set would last four decades?

“We were all very passionate, and protective,” recalls the Birmingham born actress, who’s also a Brit Award-nominated musician, famous for songs such as I Want To Be Free.

She then explains her co-stars Wingett and Shail were like her “bodyguards” when they’d go and watch her gigs. “I was a punk rocker. I was the subject of quite a lot of physical aggression… Punks always got beaten up by teddy boys or whatever. Even as a woman on my own… a gang tried to throw me through a chemist window on King’s Road, when I was 20.

“It was quite interesting back then because fights did break out, but no-one pulled a knife on you, no-one pulled a gun on you. I think there was a pride back then in using your physical strength, using your fists or being able to run quick enough to get away.”

• Browse our Quadrophenia 40th Anniversary archive.

Quadrophenia at 40: Stars reminisce about the film for ‘every generation’

Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox and other stars of Quadrophenia speak to Sky News about the film’s 40th anniversary.

Released in 1979 and loosely based on The Who’s album of the same name, Quadrophenia’s coming-of-age tale of a young mod is very much a cult classic. Forty years on, a new documentary for Sky Arts, Quadrophenia – Our Generation, explores the style of filmmaking and the movie’s themes.

But for the cast, who reunited at a screening for the documentary, the film’s wider impact could never have been predicted.

… Toyah Willcox, who played Monkey in the film, says it was emotional to look back at when it was being made. “You’re just thinking, ‘my God, it was so special’,” she says. “It was such an opportunity and a privilege because we were treated as serious actors at a time when we could have been treated very differently. “So watching the documentary, I just thought, ‘wow, I’m just so pleased that was in my life’.”

• Continue reading at Sky News. (Photo © Sky Arts)

Toyah Willcox didn’t realise feminist aspect of Quadrophenia but now calls movie ‘liberating’

Toyah Willcox didn’t realise the feminist aspect of Quadrophenia while filming the cult classic. The 61-year-old played Monkey in the 1979 hit – a party animal who was in control of her sex life as well as being a constant supplier of drugs to her friends.

When chatting to Metro.co.uk, the star reflected on the character and how liberating it was to play her. She told us: ‘At the time I wasn’t aware of the feminist aspects of it. It was quite a schizophrenic time. I got signed to a record label was working on another movie, then working on Quadrophenia.’ She laughed: ‘Everything was going absolutely ballistic.’

• Continue reading at the Metro.

Quadrophenia: Our Generation – Sky Arts
Airs at 9:00pm on Saturday 21 September 2019

Quadrophenia: Our Generation sees Phil Daniels, Sting, Toyah Willcox, Leslie Ash and the rest of the cast look back at a definitive British film of 40 years ago.

A weekend of programming to mark the 40th anniversary of cult movie Quadrophenia includes Quadrophenia: Our Generation, an excellent documentary in which first-time director Franc Roddam and cast members Sting, Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox and Ray Winstone share memories of making the film.

There are some great anecdotes – including a phone call to Malcolm McLaren about the possibility of the Sex Pistols’ John Lydon starring as Jimmy (the scooter-riding Mod eventually played by Phil Daniels), and The Who’s late drummer Keith Moon asking to co-direct – plus an interesting history of the Mod movement.

• Continue reading at What’s on TV.

Quadrophenia cast threatened strike as Trevor Laird ‘couldn’t be seen with white girl’

The cast of Quadrophenia are currently celebrating the cult film’s 40th anniversary. But while the classic was progressive for its time, it turns out the movie could have been a whole lot more radical. Opening up on what went down behind the scenes, Trevor Laird, who played Ferdy, recalled the moment he was told he couldn’t be seen with a white girl.

Yes, that actually happened.

… Toyah Willcox who was sat next to Trev and played Monkey in the 1979 movie, chirped up: “I don’t know if you know, but we talked about going on strike because of that. All these walls were being knocked down, and here we were having to keep to a really bad tradition.”

• Continue reading at the Metro.

Quadrophenia cast speak of ‘no star treatment’ received on set 40 years ago

They endured freezing weather while shooting on location in Brighton and didn’t even get dressing rooms

There was no star treatment for the cast of classic Mod movie Quadrophenia 40 years ago. They endured freezing weather while shooting on location in Brighton and didn’t even get dressing rooms.

Ahead of the anniversary, Leslie Ash, 59, said of filming: “There were no Winnebagos or anything fancy like that. We had to huddle together to keep warm. We’d sit in people’s cars or in shop doorways between scenes. No-one could say, ‘I’m going off to my trailer’. I think that’s why we all got on so well.”

Toyah Willcox, 61, added: “We were wet the whole time. It was freezing. Half the time we were stood on street corners.”

The cast didn’t even get a hefty pay packet despite the film’s big budget. Director Franc Roddam, 73, said: “I wasn’t being paid very much and nor were the cast.” Phil Davis, 66, added: “It wasn’t about the money. There was such a buzz about this film.”

• Continue reading at the Daily Star.

This New York City Playwright’s Music Video Puts a Fantastical Spin on the Tutu

When New York artist Leah Hennessey starts describing some of the influences of her band’s first official video, “Sleeping Beauty,” you can tell straight away that she’s a pop culture fanatic.

She references comic books like Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles, old fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty—unsurprising, given the song’s title—and deeper cuts like cult director Derek Jarman’s 1979 film The Tempest.

…The ballet look, on the other hand, was loosely based on Toyah Willcox’s costumes in Jarman’s The Tempest. “I was going for a feral balletic ethereality to evoke the fairy-tale aspect of the song,” she describes. Plus, she never before had an excuse to wear a tutu.

• Continue reading at Vogue.com. Browse our archive dedicated to The Tempest.

A great mini article on the Thunder In The Mountains single, just published by From The Stacks.

From The Stacks: Toyah, “Thunder In the Mountains” (Picture Disc)

Toyah never made a dent in the American charts, but lead singer Toyah Willcox left a big impression on the new wave kids. Willcox had it all: Big hair, beauty, and that “new wave diva” vocal style shared by so many early ’80s Brit artists. She was an art school kid’s dream.

And speaking of art school dreams, the video for “Thunder in the Mountains” is a Mad Max meets Spartacus fever dream:

Willcox is still getting things done, both as an actress and a musician. Her latest release is an extended version of In the Court of the Crimson Queen, featuring a guest appearance by her husband, King Crimson’s Robert Fripp.

As for this beautiful “Thunder in the Mountains” 7-inch: Expect to pay about three bucks, and just imagine how cool it will look hanging behind your turntable. Happy hunting.

• Continue reading at From The Stacks by clicking below on the Thunder In The Mountains collage I created circa 2012 (which, much like a lot of the other Toyah imagery I’ve created over the past 20 years, has been posted all over the internet/Facebook/Pinterest etc but never with any sort of link back to this website or design credit).

Toyah and Fuzzbox among the stars at this weekend’s Whitwell Festival of Music

Whitwell Festival of Music is a not-for-profit, volunteer- run event that is now in its 11th year.

Well- respected on the festival circuit, this year will see British music icon Toyah as the headline act on Saturday. Friday night’s headliner is Tony Wright of Terrorvision fame.

• Continue reading at the Derbyshire Times. A limited number (50) of tickets will be available on the gate on Saturday from 1pm – get there early!

The Independent recently interviewed Robert Fripp and The Express have published an article of cherry-picked quotes from the piece:

Toyah Willcox husband: The secret to 30 year marriage is separate HOUSES – and naughty sex

TOYAH WILLCOX has revealed the secret to her happy marriage is separate houses – as well as plenty of naughty sex.

Toyah Willcox is a four time Brit Award nominated singer who has had eight Top 40 singles and released more than 20 albums. The 61-year-old musician from Birimingham is also an author and actress, having written two books and appeared in more than 40 stage plays and 10 films – and now she will compete on BBC’s Pointless Celebrities. She married guitarist Robert Fripp, known for position in progressive rock band King Crimson, in 1986 – but why has Toyah said the secret to marital bliss is separate houses, and ‘very naughty’ sex?

Toyah Willcox, 61, has had a very lengthy career, since fronting band Toyah in 1983, before embarking on a solo career.

As a singer, songwriter, and actor, she has achieved many accolades, but one of her happiest achievements was meeting her husband Robert Fripp. The couple met at a charity lunch, first in 1983 and then in 1985.

Speaking to the Independent, he said: “My life really began when I met this little creature and she became my wife. It was like an arranged marriage. We didn’t know each other, but it was perfectly clear to me within a week of knowing Toyah that she was the woman I wanted to be my wife – just as I knew within a fairly short time of having a guitar in my hands at the age of 11 that this was going to be my life. We got to know each other within the commitments and vows of marriage.”

• Continue reading at The Express.

Toyah Willcox and Hazel O’Connor will perform in Birmingham next year.

The duo will join forces for the Electric Ladies of the 80s tour, coming to the city’s Town Hall.

Born in Kings Heath, Birmingham, 61-year-old Toyah has amassed 10 hit singles and eight hit albums including the gold selling Anthem and her 2019 chart success, In The Court of the Crimson Queen.

The singer/songwriter is best known for songs such as I Want to Be Free, Thunder in the Mountains, Ieya, Danced, Rebel Run, Victims of the Riddle, The Vow and more.

Also an acclaimed actress, Toyah has performed on film and stages the world over including a role in The Who film, Quadrophenia.

Hazel O’Connor has released a number of hits, including Will You?, Eighth Day, D-Days, Give Me and Inch, Hanging Around, Big Brother and more.

The 64-year-old starred in British film Breaking Glass, for which she won the Variety Club Award and it’s accompanying soundtrack which saw her nominated for a BAFTA.

• Continue reading at the Express & Star.

Where Were You When: Ziggy Stardust made his TV debut

David Bowie’s performance of ‘Starman’ was out of this world, recalls singer Toyah Willcox.

I was born in Birmingham in 1958. My life was quite conventional by today’s standards: I went to an all-girls school, ate with my family twice a day at a dining table and wasn’t allowed to speak unless spoken to. Men led the households and were affectionately known as ‘blokes’.

Then the singer Marc Bolan came along with T Rex in 1970, strutting his stuff to ‘Ride a White Swan’. He was clearly in touch with his feminine side but was very palatable to look at. While my brother scoffed at Bolan’s satin trousers, I sneaked off from school to see him on stage – and fell in love with rock ’n’ roll.

My adolescence was completely normal until an afternoon in June 1972, when I was 14. After coming back from school, I turned on the TV to see who was singing on Lift Off With Ayshea, a music show on ITV. I was expecting Slade, Bolan, Dana, maybe Val Doonican – but instead, there was David Bowie singing ‘Starman’, in his television debut as Ziggy Stardust. It derailed me completely.

• Continue reading at You Magazine.

Quadrophenia cast spill BTS antics as they reunite to celebrate 40 years of cult film

The cast of Quadrophenia have reunited to celebrate 40 years since the cult movie was released. And what an evening it was.

Returning to Shepherds Bush, where the much-loved classic was filmed, the likes of Leslie Ash (Steph), Garry Cooper (Peter), Phil Daniels (Jimmy) and Toyah Willcox (Monkey) joined Lauren Laverne to talk all things mod. Phil Davis (Chalky), Trevor Laird (Ferdy), Gary Shail (Spider) and Mark Winget (Dave) were also in attendance to discuss the key themes of the plot, as well as spilling a number of backstage antics.

• Continue reading at the Metro. (Photo © Metro/Joe Newman/PinPep)

Toyah Special – talking about her life in music and much much more

Toyah 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.

Between 1977 and 1983 she fronted the band Toyah, before embarking on a solo career in the mid-1980s. At the 1982 BPI/Brit Awards Toyah was nominated for British Breakthrough Act, which The Human League won and Best Female Solo Artist which Randy Crawford won.

Toyah was nominated a further two times in this category in 1983, which Kim Wilde won and in 1984, which Annie Lennox won. Her biggest hits include “It’s a Mystery”, “Thunder in the Mountains” and “I Want to Be Free”.

Toyah continues to tour both with her full band and also with an acoustic line-up for her “Up Close And Personal” shows. In 2018 Toyah toured her #Toyah60 show, which marked her sixtieth birthday and fortieth year in music. This was accompanied by the release of her Four From Toyah- Birthday Edition EP of new material, which charted highly in the digital charts.

In 2019 Toyah charted at #74 in the UK album charts with a re-issue of her 2008 album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen. It also peaked at #22 on the Official Charts Company’s sales chart and #7 in the independent chart. This was Toyah’s first appearance in the British album charts since ‘Minx’ in 1985.

• Continue reading/Listen to the audio interview at C86 Show.

The High Priestess of Punk on 40 years in showbusiness ahead of Irish gig

Always the high priestess of punk Toyah Willcox has achieved a lot in four decades. Now at the age of 60 she still enjoys ‘living out loud’ — and makes no apologies for it, writes Lorraine Wylie

In four decades, she’s released more than 20 albums, written two books, appeared in 10 feature films and over 40 stage plays. She’s also presented a number of TV shows.

But to die-hard music fans, Toyah Willcox will always be ‘The High priestess of punk.’ Between 1979 and 1981, she released three albums, Sheep Farming in Barnet The Blue Meaning and Anthem.

The latter hit the musical jackpot and as well as spawning hits such as ‘I Want to Be Free’ and ‘It’s A Mystery,’ went on to earn her a gold disc. Now, she’s ready to showcase her latest collection, ‘In the Court of the Crimson Queen,’ described as ‘a rally cry to forever living out loud.’ Ahead of her performance at the Forever Young Festival in Naas, I caught up with Toyah who told me why, at 60, she still enjoys ‘living out loud’ “I think 60 is a great age,” she tells me.

• Continue reading at the Irish Examiner.

My life through a lens: Singer and actress Toyah Willcox, 61, reveals the stories behind her favourite snaps

Celebrities share the stories behind their favourite photographs. This week it’s singer and actress Toyah Willcox, 61

1960: I love this picture of me at home in Birmingham. I’m naturally bossy and independent, and even then, aged about two, I had attitude. I never identified with being female and would physically fight my mother, Barbara, if she tried to put dresses on me. I wanted to play war and used to climb mountains and jump off cliffs. I was always hurting myself by doing idiotic things, which upset Mum a lot

1978: When I auditioned for the part of Bessie Watty in the film The Corn Is Green, I hid my bright-pink punk hair under a wig. But when I was cast and returned without it, the director wasn’t best pleased. Katharine Hepburn was the film’s main star. She would run her fingers through my hair and say, ‘I wish I could have done this at your age.’

• Continue reading, and see some great photos, at the Daily Mail.

Toyah Willcox will be performing at Morecambe Carnival along with a line-up of popular bands and singers.

Actor and quirky 80s pop goddess Toyah will be giving an amazing acoustic performance of her huge hits and some tracks from her acclaimed new album.

The main stage on Saturday August 10 is back for its second year once again hosted by Greg Lambert and Darren Milby.

Liverpudlian superstars The Christians will be headlining and performing all their huge hits such as ‘Ideal world’ and many more.

• Continue reading at The Visitor.

One of Britain’s most iconic household names, singer Toyah Willcox, celebrates 40 years in show business with a show at the Theatre Royal Winchester on Sunday 26 May.

The original punk princess, this charismatic and outspoken performer’s show is a retrospective look over a career spanning four decades that saw her amass 13 Top 40 singles, and record 24 albums.

The vibrant production, which features a full electric band, will mark the 40th anniversary of the release of her first single and studio album, and celebrate her hits, album classics and fan favourites.

… Toyah Willcox will be at Theatre Royal Winchester on Sunday 26 May, at 7.30pm.

• Continue reading at Eastleigh News. See further info on this gig at toyahwillcox.com.

Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox: the prog family who proclaimed Sunday All Over the World

One of the brightest collaborations of the late 1980s arose after the wedding of postpunk singer Toyah Willcox and guitar virtuoso Robert Fripp who is by many considered to be the father of the prog rock genre. Formed in 1988 under the name Fripp/fripp, the couple’s band also recruited guitarist Trey Gunn and drummer Paul Beavis.

Having later changed its name to Sunday All Over The World, the band toured extensively in Europe to the delight of a prog audience but their recording career started and ended with one album—Kneeling At The Shrine—released in 1991. Unfortunately, it does not include all compositions performed at their concerts.

• Continue reading at Music Tales.