Singer Toyah Willcox: “I’m no sociopath” as she chats ahead of a gig in Stroud
Conducting an interview can often feel like an odd form of psychotherapy in which you sit your subject down and probe at their personal life, hoping all the while that they’ll bare their soul and somehow thank you for the privilege.
Invariably in an increasingly media savvy, PR-managed and image conscious world, it doesn’t quite work out like that.
Now and again, however, there comes a breath of fresh air who doesn’t want to engage in a banal cat-and-mouse duel. Instead, in the case of singer and actress Toyah Willcox, they’ll be happy to speak their mind.
• Continue reading at the Gloucestershire Echo and/or the Gloucester Citizen.
To celebrate the special offers happening in hmv stores across the country over the next few weeks, each week we’ll be picking our top 10 films from each decade. Today we’re picking our faves from the 1970s…
7. Quadrophenia (1979)
Anybody taking a day trip to Brighton in recent years may have encountered the strange sight of tourists taking photographs of an empty alleyway in the city’s Lanes area, but for anyone familiar with that scene from Franc Roddam’s 1979 film that should come as no surprise. One of the most iconic British films of the whole decade, Quadrophenia’s legacy can still be seen around the streets of Brighton today. Featuring a cast that includes Phil ‘Parklife’ Daniels, Leslie Ash, Philip Davis and Ray Winstone, not to mention some brilliant cameos from Sting and Toyah Willcox, the film’s tale of counter culture and the frustrations of modern life are epitomised in its climactic final scene at Beachy Head. The scene may have changed, but the film’s message is as relevant as ever.
• Continue reading at hmv.com.
Toyah gets ‘Up Close & Personal’ with an acoustic gig at Stroud Subscription Rooms
There is a unique chance to experience musical legend Toyah up close and personal at Subscription Rooms, Stroud, next week.
Fresh from her diving on the latest series of ITV1’s Splash, pop icon, TV presenter and stage/screen actress Toyah presents this lively unplugged/storytellers-style gig with her full band.
• Continue reading at the Gazette.
Punk princess Toyah has announced a performance in September at Birdwell Venue.
She has had 13 top 40 singles, recorded 20 albums, and written two books. She has also appeared in more than 40 stage plays, made ten feature films and presented such diverse television programmes as The Good Sex Guide Late, Watchdog and Songs Of Praise.
She will be coming to Barnsley on September 26.
• Continue reading at the Barnsley Chronicle.
Thousands of music lovers turned out for this year’s OsFest.
From current acts The Hoosiers and Union J to 80s star Toyah and the 1970s group The Bay City Rollers, all the acts drew praise from the crowds. Thousands of music lovers enjoyed the two-day event, the fifth OsFest to be held at Oswestry Showground, and the audience showed the Dunkirk spirit by partying on despite the remnants of Hurricane Bertha bringing rain and high winds to the showground yesterday.
Toyah was one of the favourites of the Saturday crowd, as was Les McKeown and his new line-up Bay City Rollers.
• Continue reading at Native Monster.
A famous face known to millions across the country joined members of Great Malvern Rock Choir in performing a grand concert at one of the nation’s finest settings.
Singer and actress Toyah Willcox joined the Malvern group and other Rock Choirs across the West Midlands for two very special performances on Saturday, July 19 at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.
Audience members were treated to Toyah’s classic hit ‘Mystery’ as well as Rock Choir’s performance of uplifting songs such as ‘Livin On A Prayer’, ‘Proud’ and ‘True Colours’.
• Continue reading at the Malvern Observer.
Stourbridge choir members join Toyah at fundraising concert
Stourbridge Rock Choir members joined forces with punk legend Toyah Willcox at a concert in Birmingham.
Singers from the town group formed part of the Midlands Rock Choir who took to the stage for a fundraising concert at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on Saturday July 19.
Choir leader, Christa Hugo, who runs weekly Rock Choir sessions in Stourbridge, was thrilled with her choir members’ performance.
• Continue reading at Stourbridge News.
Slideshow: Toyah Willcox at One Voice
Toyah Willcox comperes the One Voice event which saw about 1,500 school pupils join together to sing at Rotherham’s New York Stadium.
• Continue reading/view the slideshow (just one photo of Toyah) at The Star. (Photo © The Star)
Hundreds of Rotherham youngsters were joined by eighties pop star Toyah Willcox to bring a massive summer celebration to a tuneful close.
The singer led a huge choir of voices at New York Stadium on Friday at the One Voice concert.
• Continue reading. and view another photo of Toyah, at the Rotherham Advertiser. (Photo © Rotherham Advertiser)
Stourbridge Rock Choir set to rub shoulders with singing star Toyah Willcox
Members of Stourbridge Rock Choir will be rubbing shoulders with singing star Toyah Willcox this Saturday (July 19) at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.
They will be forming part of the Midlands Rock Choir who will be giving a concert at the Birmingham venue starting at 8pm.
• Continue reading at Stourbridge News.
Last Thursday Toyah attended the Press Night of Wicked at The Birmingham Hippodrome. View a selection of photos from the evening by clicking below. (Photo © Birmingham Hippodrome)
Eighties icon Toyah and boy band East 17 to headline at Falmouth
Eighties’ icon Toyah Willcox and nineties’ boy-band East 17 will be headlining the evening entertainment during Falmouth Week this summer.
It is the 25th anniversary of shoreside activity during the regatta week and organisers have pulled out all the stops to make it an event to remember. East 17 will be top of the bill for the 80s/90s night and joining them will be Toyah and Livin’ Joy, the Italian dance duo who had hits in the late 90s.
Toyah said: “I am looking forward to being in Falmouth on August 15 to celebrate Falmouth Week with everyone. I will be singing my hits and more with the crowd. As it will be August we will all be in holiday mood. It’s been a while since I have visited Cornwall and Falmouth but I intend to explore as much |as I can.”
• Continue reading at This Is The West Country.
Musical moment of the week comes in John Shuttleworth’s Lounge Music (Sunday, 7.15pm, Radio 4) in which he welcomes guests to his lovely home, offers them a cup of tea, demonstrates his less-than-complete mastery of his electronic keyboard, and tries to stop them being bothered by his manager Ken in the conservatory. In a regular feature called Under The Covers, guests are invited to perform one of their host’s tunes. This week, cockney songsmith Chas Hodges chooses Shopkeepers In The North, John’s poignant meditation on the relative merits of the retail experience above and below the Wash, and he plays and sings it with the delicacy and accomplishment you would expect from somebody who’s been in bands since before the Beatles. Future guests being warned to watch the sharp edges on the wicker furniture will include Toyah Willcox and Leee John. They’ll have to go some to better Chas.
• Continue reading at The Guardian.
Toyah Willcox is joining the Midland members of Rock Choir for two performances at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.
Toyah Willcox is taking to the stage in her home city – along with a 1,000-strong choir.
The actress and singer, who grew up in Kings Heath, is joining the Midland members of Rock Choir for two performances at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. She is taking on the gig after making friends with Caroline Redman Lusher, the founder of Rock Choir which featured on the ITV series The Choir That Rocks.
The pair were introduced by Simon Darlow, chairman of BASCA – the British Association of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. All three of them have written a new song which will be unveiled at the Symphony Hall gigs.
• Continue reading at the Birmingham Mail.
Festival season is well and truly here with live outdoor music events taking place all over the country and right here on our doorstep too.
One of the biggest in our area is Chilfest and this second year sees the best ever line up of sounds from the 80s and contemporary pop playing over the three days. The gig at Pendley Meadow in Tring kicks off on Friday with the Boomtown Rats, Heaven 17, From The Jam, Big Country, China Crisis and Dr and The Medics.
On Saturday Jason Donovan tops a bill that includes Toyah, Leee John (Imagination), Boney M featuring Maizie Williams, Go West and Bad Manners.
• Continue reading at The Bucks Herald.
A city choir has hit the right note after recruiting an 80s music icon ahead of one of its biggest ever shows.
Toyah Willcox will get on stage with Worcester Rock Choir at a roof-raising concert on Saturday, July 19 in the spectacular surroundings of Birmingham Symphony Hall.
The choir will be performing a number of Toyah’s hits at the event, which will include a collection for the Teenage Cancer Trust as members were inspired by teenager Stephen Sutton who died last month after raising millions for the cause.
• Continue reading at the Worcester Observer.
Toyah Willcox joins Lorraine on the sofa to talk about the 35th anniversary of the film Quadrophenia, in which she starred alongside Sting, Ray Winstone, Leslie Ash and Phil Daniels.
The book marking the 35th anniversary of the release of the film, Quadrophenia: A Way Of Life – Inside The Making Of Britain’s Greatest Youth Film, by Simon Wells is out now.
Catch up on Lorraine with ITV Player
• Continue reading at itv.com.
If you’re never quite sure whether you preferred the music of the 70s, 80s or 90s, you will be in for a treat if you plan a short break in Blackpool next month.
On Saturday July 12th the city will host Rocking Through the Decades, a free show that will see a range of musical acts from various decades perform to the crowds. Representing the 70s, for instance, will be the three Dynamos from Mamma Mia, while Toyah Willcox – who is best known for songs like It’s a Mystery and Thunder in the Mountains – will be there to showcase the sounds of the 1980s.
• Continue reading at Superbreak.
For a superstar who writes songs about the universe, Toyah Willcox is surprisingly down-to-earth. Performing for the first time in the Peel Centenary Centre, and for the second time in the island, she sung her lungs out to a nearly sold out theatre.
The pyramid seating of the theatre gave everyone a wonderful view as the white backstage turned to neon green and coral pink. The lights then shifted the hue farther as the band members walked out.
They took their positions, all wearing predominantly black clothing so our star could shine: Toyah. She emerged wearing her iconic eccentricities of a kaleidoscopic T-shirt and space invader accessories. Although her outfit certainly won the prize for uniqueness, her hair no longer wins the prize of weirdest style as ‘Mr Mohican’ (as Toyah named him when he shouted out) was far more exciting.
Toyah didn’t just perform a concert, she was also a personality on the stage; she stopped in-between tracks and spoke to the crowd about what she felt when she wrote the song, or what she felt when she performed it. This was fantastic for the audience as we gained so much insight into the mind of star.
• Continue reading at the Isle Of Man Today.
Punk icon Toyah Willcox will become an honorary member of the UK’s largest contemporary choir next week.
The actress and singer will visit a Rock Choir session at Pitmaston Primary School, Malvern Road, Worcester, on Tuesday, June 24 at 8pm ahead of joining the choir for a special performance at the Birmingham Symphony Hall on Saturday, July 19.
The Birmingham show will be used to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust after the choir was inspired by the multi-million charity efforts of Stephen Sutton.
• Continue reading at Worcester News. Toyah also tweeted earlier: “Learning Rock Choir arrangement of Sensational 4 B’ham Symphony Hall 19th july. pure joy. Had Wild nite @ Pinewood Studios“.
A new interview with Toyah, ahead of her Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits…Live! gig at The Astor Theatre in Kent on Saturday, published yesterday by Kent Online.
Former ‘high priestess of punk’ Toyah Willcox may have mellowed with age but she still loves donning the dramatic costumes to become her on-stage musical alter-ego, as she tells Jo Roberts
“In my youth, I was happy standing out but I love that now I can be anonymous in the street. I’d rather just turn it on for the stage,” says Toyah, whose current conventionally blonde tresses and subtle chic contrast with the flame-haired punk appearance she sported in the 1980s.
The prolific singer has released more than 20 albums in the past 35 years. Her biggest chart hits came in 1981 with the EP Four from Toyah and the single Thunder in the Mountains. Toyah forged a three-pronged career as an actress and media personality too but she will be returning to her first love when she hits the stage at Deal’s Astor Theatre this weekend with her Crimson Queen Greatest Hits show.
“It’s definitely a different part of me,” she says of her musical alter ego, known for a signature dramatic look which manages to combine a futuristic vibe with retro 1980s stylings. “The majority of the time I’m a businesswoman, but I can’t wait to get out of the office and become my on-stage persona, I love that freedom”.
• Continue reading at Kent Online.
