Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah recently tweeted about filming a new horror film, Extremis. Here is a little further info on the film, and a recent press report on the production…

Extremis, a GSP Studios feature production currently shooting in South Yorkshire and starring David O’Hara (The Departed, Braveheart), Isabelle Allen (Lés Miserables), Lisa Gormley (Home and Away) and Toyah Willcox. (Thanks to Paul Stephenson)

Huddersfield Examiner: Film crews back in Huddersfield to shoot thriller Extremis

A film company has returned to Huddersfield to shoot another thriller. Julian and Lionel Hicks worked with North Light Studios in 2012 on their feature film Scintilla and are now back in town for a second time.

They have teamed up with York-based GSP Studios to produce award winning director, Steve Stone’s second feature Extremis, which is shooting partly on location in Huddersfield.

The new psychological thriller, Extremis, centres on a business executive who returns home to his family for the weekend. Within hours of his return a cataclysmic ‘event’ takes place and the world they inhabit becomes deserted and toxic.

• Continue reading at The Huddersfield Examiner.

A comprehensive article on Toyah & The Humans, and the forthcoming Telling Strange Tales UK Tour, at Rock Regeneration.

News: Toyah & The Humans Hit The Road On UK Tour New album, “Strange Tales” available on CD on tour

The Humans is of the transatlantic contemporary three-piece rock band comprising Toyah Willcox, Bill Rieflin and Chris Wong. Toyah & The Humans embark on a UK tour of six intimate concert dates this April taking in Uckfield, Gloucester, London, Southampton, Swansea & Chatham.

The Humans’ third album “Strange Tales”, recorded in Pearl Jam’s studio, is available digitally now and will be available exclusively on CD at the six UK tour dates.

The band is the brainchild of renowned singer, actress and household name Toyah Willcox and brings together three lifetimes of musical experience, experimentation and craftsmanship.

• Continue reading at Rock Regeneration.

Trey Gunn recently played at Trading Boundaries, Uckfield. The venue The Humans open their tour at next month (11th April – three weeks today). He also recently posted about the venue at his website, and also mentioned The Humans, Toyah and Robert…

March 1, 2015 Uckfield, UK – Trading Boundaries

Great venue. Very similar to some of the Swiss shows and the the French show. More like a theater scene where there is a built in, season-ticket-holding audience who comes particularly to this venue to see what they are putting on. At least that what it felt like to me. Could be that this was a really a room full of Eigenharp fanatics who were suffering Gabriel tunes in order to feed their Eigen-Fevers.

The folks running this are super fans. I saw a poster for Toyah and The Humans for upcoming gig (with fresh Crimsonoid, William Rieflin). When I met Tracy, one of the owners, she said that Robert and Toyah had come in for tea before.

• Continue reading at The Official Trey Gunn website.

Toyah was interviewed earlier today on Uckfield FM, discussing the forthcoming Toyah & The Humans UK Tour and much more.

Toyah Willcox needs little introduction having been a household name since the early 80s with platinum selling-albums, a string of top 40 UK hit singles and scores of prestigious screen and stage roles alongside Katharine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier.

The Humans is, of course, the transatlantic contemporary three-piece rock band comprising Toyah Willcox, Bill Rieflin and Chris Wong. Toyah & The Humans embark on a UK tour of six intimate concert dates this April starting in Uckfield on 11th April, 2015 at Trading Boundaries.

• Continue reading/listen to the interview at Uckfield FM.

Win tickets to Toyah at The Talking Heads, Southampton

The 80s legend Toyah Willcox is bringing her latest band The Humans to Southampton for one night only and you could be there, thanks to The Breeze.

Toyah and the Humans will be on at The Talking Heads, Southampton on Thursday the 16th April (starts 7.30pm). And we have 5 pairs of tickets to give away!

To be in with a chance of winning, just enter your details below to enter the draw for the tickets- it’s that simple. The competition closes on 10th April at midnight.

• Continue reading/enter the competition at The Breeze. You can also enter at Jack FM.

We love to see an unexpected mash-up of TVO-connected folk – and yesterday saw one such combo: comedian Joey Page and iconic actress/singer, Toyah Willcox!

We’ve been showcasing Joey’s comedic output on these pages for some time, but if you’re wondering what links Toyah to TVO, for those of you not currently in the know she features in Steve Oram‘s new film, Aaaaaaaah! alongside a bevy of ‘our lot’ (Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding, Shelley Longworth, Alice Lowe, Tom Meeten, Sean Reynard, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Waen Shepherd, Tony Way and Steve himself ).

Joey and Toyah joined 6 Music presenter, Steve Lamacq and fellow guest, Gideon Coe, for this week’s Roundtable, where they reviewed new releases by Mumford and Sons, Mini Mansions featuring Alex Turner, Sharon Van Etten, Streets of Leredo, Johnny Marr, Pins and Gang Of Four.

• Continue reading at The Velvet Onion. Listen to last Thursday’s Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable at BBC iPlayer.

Singer Toyah Willcox with be coming to Kent next month with band The Humans.

The Humans’ third album ‘Strange Tales, recorded in Pearl Jam’s studio, is available digitally now and will be available exclusively on CD at the six UK tour dates. The band is the brainchild of Toyah Willcox and brings together three lifetimes of musical experience, experimentation and craftsmanship.

Ms Willcox is best-known for being a household name since the early 80s with platinum selling-albums, a string of top 40 UK hit singles and screen and stage roles alongside Katharine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier.

Bill Rieflin is a respected figure from the us music scene and was the live drummer for rem for over ten years. Most recently he played drums on the Robbie Williams album Take the Crown and the no1 hit single Candy.

Chris Wong is a Cambridge-born musician and a professional guitarist, bass guitarist, arranger, orchestrator, composer and musical director. Alongside band work Chris musically directs extensively in musical theatre. His debut solo album The Edible Suite reflects his interest in jazz/funk/rock.

The Telling Strange Tales tour comes to Chatham On April 19, at the Britannia Theatre. For tickets call 0844 858 6656 or visit www.thebritanniakent.com. Tickets cost £20 on the door, or £15 in advance (plus a booking fee).

• Continue reading at Kent News.

She will be Up Close and Personal this month

The Musician in Leicester will welcome Toyah to the stage on March 26.

A spokesman said: “A colourful character, part of the ’80s post-punk New Wave scene, Toyah had considerable chart success with hits such as It’s A Mystery, I Want To Be Free and Brave New World. Alongside her ongoing recording career and role as a TV presenter, Toyah has also trod the boards with the lead role in the musical Anne Get Your Gun. (Dreamscape: Nope, it was Calamity Jane)

“Tonight Toyah will perform songs in acoustic form and take us on a journey through her life history.”

• Continue reading at the Hinckley Times.

TOYAH AND BELINDA CARLISLE AMONG STARS HEADING TO CITY FOR CONCERT

The very best of the 1980s will be relived during the ever-popular ladies’ night at Carlisle Racecourse this summer.

Stars such as Kid Creole and The Coconuts, Belinda Carlisle, Altered Images, Toyah and Sonia will be appearing on August 3 as part of the annual Ultimate Ladies’ Night celebration.

The five different music acts have amassed 17 UK top 10 hits during the very best of the 1980s, including number ones for Belinda Carlisle (Heaven Is A Place On Earth) and Sonia (You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You).

The event is one of the highlights of the county’s social calendar, combining an evening of flat racing with musical performances.

• Continue reading at the News & Star.

Belinda Carlisle, Toyah and Sonia amongst five acts to play Carlisle Racecourse

Carlisle Racecourse will have FIVE headline acts performing live at Ultimate Ladies’ Night this year, it was announced today (Mon Mar 9).

The appropriately named Belinda Carlisle will appear along with fellow 80s stars Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Toyah, Altered Images and Sonia at the Cumbrian track’s annual music and racing extravaganza on Monday August 3.

All five acts – appearing as the Here and Now tour – will perform consecutively on a giant trackside stage after the final race at the evening’s race meeting. Ultimate Ladies’ Night is a unique event as it is the only racing fixture in the world at which every horse in every race is ridden by a woman.

Toyah said: “I cannot wait for Here and Now to come to Carlisle.” As a keen historian, she added: “I will make time to visit the castle and the magnificent cathedral and then I can’t wait to perform. Here and Now is always an uplifting party of a concert. Every song from every artist is a winner and we always make sure the audience have the time of their lives. See you soon!”

• Continue reading at Cumbria Crack. See also ‘Carlisle is coming to Carlisle’: Ladies’ Night line up announced @ ITV News.

If you’re an avid Twitter user, you can’t help but have noticed the buzz mid-week when the poster for Aaaaaaah! was revealed.

Now that the details are out in the open, we can confirm that Steve Oram‘s directorial debut will star a cavalcade of comedic talent and a post-punk icon for good measure. In alphabeticalorder then, Aaaaaaah! will star: Julian Barratt, Holli Dempsey, Noel Fielding, Lucy Honigman, Shelley Longworth, Alice Lowe, Tom Meeten, Steve Oram, Sean Reynard, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Waen Shepherd, Tony Way and Toyah Willcox.

… Toyah Willcox, of course, has been crossing over between a successive music career and acclaimed roles on stage and screen for over 35 years now, with roles in Jubilee, Quadrophenia, The Tempest, Barmy Aunt Boomerang and Secret Diary of a Call Girl showcasing her range, and a string of classic albums including Anthem, The Changeling, Prostitute, Velvet Lined Shell and In The Court of the Crimson Queen behind her, she still tours the UK regularly with her live band, and records with her side-project The Humans. Like many of the stars of Aaaaaaah!, TVO is a bit of a fan…

• Continue reading at The Velvet Onion.

“I’m so very pleased and proud to be a part of this truly strange and wonderful film!” TOYAH xxx

The film poster for AAAAAAAAH! has been released. A film by Steve Oram (Sightseers), the British film stars Julian Barratt, Steve Oram, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Noel Fielding, Alice Lowe, Toyah Willcox, Sean Reynard, Tom Meeten, Holli Dempsey, Shelly Longworth and Tony Way.

The film is set for release in 2015.

Written and directed by Steve Oram | Produced by Lincoln Studios | Featuring music by King Crimson ProjecKts.

• Continue reading at The Official Toyah Willcox website.

Proudest bloody day of my life. Us here at Lincoln Studios have finished our first ever feature film!!!! It’s called AAAAAAAAH! I almost had to be given the kiss of life when I finished watching it round the director’s place last night. I collapsed to the floor head in hands, I was so overwhelmed. It was better than when I finally opened the salon in Grantham after 16 months of crap with the contractors. It is a fantastic feeling for me but the credit goes to the brilliant actors, crew and production team.

Here’s the poster for AHHHHHHH!!!! Shitting hell it’s brilliant isn’t it! And f-ing creepy. Won’t be putting it on my wall. Don’t fancy seeing that when I get up for a pee in the night, I’d probably wet myself on the landing!!!! Designed by an American feller called Jay Shaw I think, who has relatives in North Hykeham. Yours. Derek Evans

• Continue reading at Lincoln Studios.

AND THE REST… As always, here’s some of the news you may have missed during the last week, via our Twitter feed.

We’ll see you again next Monday, and throughout the week for more news, reviews and interviews. Keep on peeling!

Toyah Willcox @toyahofficial: Just watched AHHHHHH the movie with the cast. WOW. really really naughty, weird and incredibly wonderful. a very modern love story xxx

• Continue reading at The Velvet Onion.

A much expanded/reworked version of the recent ‘Frome Standard’ interview with Toyah, by Lisa Evans, was published yesterday by the Bath Chronicle.

After performing in Frome, former punk princess Toyah Willcox tells us why she loves Bath and why she owes her success to looking strange

Charismatic, outspoken and impossible to categorise, former punk princess Toyah Willcox is one of Britain’s iconic household names. When she visited Frome to perform at the Cheese and Grain this month, she told Lisa Evans why she adores Bath and why she owes her success to looking ‘strange’.

Toyah Willcox has always liked to surprise. She is, she admits, ‘a bit of an attention-seeker’ and was a rebellious extrovert who knew what she had to do to be noticed. During her 20s, with her shock of bright pink hair and unconventional outfits, she was the most outrageous and most successful punk rocker of her age, and she tells me that she thinks her alternative look was the reason she found success.

“I always wanted to be noticed,” says Toyah. “And, for me, dying my hair crazy colours and wearing different clothes from everyone else helped me to break free from the mould which women were put into at the time. I wanted to be different and not judged by the same book as everyone else was.

“And to be honest with you, if I hadn’t have looked a bit strange, I don’t think I would have been noticed in the first place. I owe my career to that colourful hair – I was a punk rocker at a time when no other woman was doing anything like that.”

• Continue reading at the Bath Chronicle.

Punk legend Toyah to tour UK with King Crimson drummer Bill Rieflin

Toyah & The Humans embark on a UK Tour of six intimate concert dates this April in Uckfield, Gloucester, London, Southampton, Swansea and Chatham.

The Humans’ third album ‘Strange Tales, recorded in Pearl Jam’s studio, is available digitally now and will be available exclusively on CD at the six UK tour dates. The band is the brainchild of renowned singer, actress and household name Toyah Willcox and brings together three lifetimes of musical experience, experimentation and craftsmanship.

• Continue reading at Metal Express Radio.

Dexter Brown is the world’s foremost painter of motor sports. He explains to Matthew Wilcox what drives him – and how a charity exhibition to be held at Bonhams has kept him on track.

… It was in this spirit that he launched himself in a new direction in 1978, when he found himself captivated by the energy of performers such as Toyah Willcox, Debbie Harry and Suzi Quatro at the fabled Electric Ballroom in Camden. As Willcox reminisced in a recent interview, “He used to come to the live shows and paint, he’d be on the side of the stage and quickly sketching away in pastels. The drawings were astonishing. The energy that comes out of his work…”

The collaboration proved so fruitful that Willcox asked Brown to design her album covers and even her stage costume for her tour in the winter of 1981. A subsequent exhibition of Brown’s pop portraits made an impression on the executives of London’s Capital Radio, who owned the Duke of York theatre. For five years he was the artist-in-residence at the theatre, sitting in on plays and in dressing rooms, and given the task of portraying actors such as Al Pacino, Glenda Jackson and Billy Connolly.

• Continue reading at Bonhams.

Toyah Willcox and The Humans Hit The Road on 2015 UK Tour

Toyah Willcox & The Humans is a transatlantic contemporary three piece rock band, which comprises Toyah Willcox, Bill Rieflin of REM fame and Chris Wong. They are embarking upon a UK tour of six intimate concert dates to promote their album, Strange Tales.

The band is the brainchild of renowned singer, actress and household name Toyah Wilcox and brings together three lifetimes of musical experience, experimentation and craftsmanship. She needs very little introduction having been a household name since the early 80s.

… They will be aided and abetted in these live concerts by returning guest Igor Abuladze and for this tour by Tim Rose. Alongside Wong, Tim Rose has played in Toyah’s live touring band since 2005. The tour will see the first UK live performances of material from 2014’s Strange Tales album which was met with much praise from fans old and new. Get In Your Car and Amnesia have already become firm favourites.

• Continue reading at UK Music Reviews.

It’s a mystery solved: Singer Toyah’s swing-ing time in Shropshire

It’s a mystery – why was Toyah Willcox sitting on a swing in Shropshire?

The diminutive pop star from the 1980s, still packing out concert venues today, sprang a very special surprise for guests at a wedding in the county by performing for the bride and groom.

But no-one was more surprised than Toyah herself when she came across the swing in a hotel bedroom.

She was so taken aback she tweeted a photo of the red padded swing to her 8,000 followers on Twitter.

She sent fans a cryptic message asking them to guess where she was. Toyah had travelled to the region from Cardiff where she had performed to thousands of fans on Saturday night.

And despite a lifetime in the music industry, the “pocket rocket” admitted to being surprised herself when she walked into her hotel room – to find a swing hanging from the ceiling.

• Continue reading at the Shropshire Star.

A slightly strange, but interesting, article about Steve Strange: The day I met Steve Strange – after he invited me to his birthday party, has been published by the Mirror. The article includes a selection of photos of Steve, including this one of Toyah and Steve at the British Rock & Pop Awards in 1982. (NB. The post title isn’t a quote by Toyah, they just include a photo of her!)

Steve Strange, lead singer of 1980s pop band Visage, has died aged 55 following a heart attack, his record label says. The Welsh New Romantic icon – best known for the hit Fade To Grey – died in hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Ex-Visage bandmates Midge Ure and Rusty Egan said they were “devastated” to hear of his “untimely passing”, adding: “Steve was a major face of the 80s.”

In this archive footage from 1980, Toyah Willcox interviewed Strange, from Newbridge, Caerphilly, about his band and clubs.

• Continue reading/watch the clip at BBC News Wales.