“We realised during lockdown that classic rock changes people’s lives…”
Toyah and Robert Fripp on the healing powers of music: “We should live every year of our lives as if it’s the best year of our lives”
Robert Fripp and Toyah appeared on BBC Breakfast news this morning, 21 June, to promote their forthcoming appearance at Glastonbury, the first time either of them have played the Worthy Farm festival.
Asked about the Toyah and Robert’s Sunday Lunch videos “which spread such joy” during lockdown, Toyah gave a bit of insight into the thinking behind them.
“We realised during lockdown that classic rock changes people’s lives and it gives people the chance to visit really good memories. For me, it will be David Bowie’s Life On Mars, which I first heard when I was 12. Every time I hear that song, I’m taken back there. And very much the concept of what we are doing is taking people back to classic rock, but also introducing new generations – who’ve just come from the dance tent – to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, or even introducing them to classic Blondie.”
The presenter commented that the age range of people entering Glastonbury for the festival was huge. “Let’s face it,” said Toyah, “we should live every year of our lives as if it’s the best year of our lives and age should not be something that we judge.”
• Continue reading at Classic Rock/Louder/Prog. (Photo © BBC)
If you were wondering what Robert Fripp and Toyah are like on tour, wonder no more
Much to humanity’s delight, pro-shot footage of Robert Fripp and Toyah performing Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell at the Isle Of Wight festival has emerged
Over the last few years, Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox have built a new, enthusiastic and unexpected audience, with the entire internet seemingly in thrall to their long-running-although-currently-dormant series of Sunday Lunch videos.
Could they cut it on the road? That was surely the question on everyone’s lips when the frisky duo announced a series of ‘Rock Party’ dates, during which they’d perform many of the songs that have so enriched our lives.
In late May the first audiences bore witness to the pair’s live antics, as the King Crimson man and his bride played a pair of local shows at Worcester’s Huntingdon Hall. Amongst the songs performed were Metallica’s Enter Sandman, Black Sabbath’s Paranoid, ZZ Top’s Sharp Dressed Man, and, perhaps most remarkably, Kashmir by Led Zeppelin.
• Continue reading at Classic Rock/Louder. See also Metal Sucks, Ultimate Guitar and Ultimate Classic Rock.
YouTube hits Toyah and Fripp at Isle of Wight Festival in Photos
The husband and wife musical partnership of Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp — both from strangely different but equally experimental musical backgrounds — performed their popular Sunday Lunch Live show in the Big Top.
It was enjoyed by the musically nostalgic and those of younger generations perhaps searching for their own musical roots to follow.
Sunday’s afternoon show was, as you would expect with Fripp, musically precise, while Toyah showed infectious, punk-rooted enthusiasm with her performance.
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 standards, such as Bowie’s Heroes and Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell.
• Continue reading at Isle Of Wight County Press. Toyah & Robert were also included on Sky Arts’ Isle Of Wight Festival Highlights 2023, with further airings this week. See videos of Toyah & Robert at the Isle Of Wight at Toyah’s official Instagram.
Swanfest 2023: 73 pictures from Swanmore College with Toyah Willcox, Artful Dodger, Blazin Squad and Ben Haenow
Here are dozens of pictures of families enjoying themselves at Swanmore College’s annual festival Swanfest.
This year the line-up saw 1980s icon Toyah Willcox perform with her husband Robert Fripp, early 2000s hip hop act Blazin Squad, garage act Artful Dodger and X Factor winner Ben Haenow.
Hundreds of people enjoyed a warm day on the school playing fields on Saturday – and photographer Keith Woodland filled his camera’s memory card with plenty of great pictures.
• Continue reading at The News. See photos from Swanfest 2023 at Toyah’s official Facebook.
“We’re thrilled to announce that TOYAH & ROBERT are playing the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury 2023 on Sunday 25 June!” Toyah Willcox
Glastonbury announced the full line up on 24 May:
The Acoustic Stage is a festival within a festival. For the last thirty years or so, people have been trooping up to the hill to the haven of the Acoustic field. The crowds visit the Acoustic Stage to either avoid the rain and, maybe even, the sun – in the sanctuary of super-duper circus tent – or, to hear acoustic, song-based music. Mostly it’s blues, folk, contemporary or country music, but…..it’s not always played on acoustic instruments.
The Acoustic Stage has had the pleasure to welcome Ray Davies, Christy Moore, Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, The Waterboys, Robert Plant, The Moody Blues featuring… Michael Eavis, John Prine, Art Garfunkel, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Keane and The Bootleg Beatles, amongst many others.
• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com.
Becky Hill, Toyah and possibly Harry Styles to perform at Glastonbury
The Glastonbury line-up has been released and several county stars feature.
Some of the most popular artists from Worcestershire will take to the stage at the country’s biggest music festival later this summer.
Bewdley’s Becky Hill and Pershore’s Toyah Willcox are among the names set to appear. But there are rumours that another locally born musician could be joining them.
• Continue reading at Worcester News.
• Saturday Morning Song: Blue Meanings (1980) from The Blue Meaning (Special Edit 2021) – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Radar Love – Watch… This week, see also: • Toyah & Robert’s Rock Party – Sensational A Capella – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Rock Party – Enter Sandman A Cappella – Watch…
Press for Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – This week covering Golden Earring. (Image © Toyah Willcox)
• NME: Watch Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp cover Golden Earring’s ‘Radar Love’: “I’d believe anything from this kitchen” – Continue…
• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp cover Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” – Continue…
• Brave Words: Watch Robert Fripp And Toyah Perform Golden Earring’s Smash Hit “Radar Love” – Continue…
• Far Out: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp cover ‘Radar Love’ by Golden Earring – Continue…
• Turn Up the Volume: Toyah And Robert Have a ‘Radar Love’: On the seventh day – almost 3 years ago – Toyah Willcox and her beloved husband Robert Fripp (King Crimson) started their Sunday Lunch Sessions as a fun pastime while being locked up in their kitchen due to that shit virus – Continue…
• Official Toyah TikTok: Radar Love – Continue…
• DGM Live: T&R’s Rock Party Weekend – Continue…
Stone Valley Festival South: Toyah provides moment of magic with a Fripp down memory lane
But Stone Valley South invariably also serves up a surprise – delivered this year by Toyah.
The former punk pixie-turned-New Romantic warrior queen in a post-apocalyptic chariot took an unenviable early spot, but drew a huge crowd.
As an early adopter of her 1980s make-up brand, available in Woolworths, I made the effort to join them. Frankly, I was curious about exactly what kind of novelty act we would see, but she was pure class.
For the uninitiated, Toyah Willcox has been married since 1986 to musician Robert Fripp, founder and guitarist of prog rockers King Crimson.
• Continue reading at Bishop’s Stortford Independent.
Press for the official announcement of Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch Rock Party 2023 Tour:
• NME: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp confirm ‘Sunday Lunch Rock Party’ tour: The run of shows includes a show at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – Continue…
• Consequence: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp Officially Announce 2023 “Sunday Lunch Rock Party Tour”: The married couple will celebrate their popular YouTube series with a month-long UK outing – Continue…
• Classic Rock/Louder: Robert Fripp and Toyah announce Rock Party tour: Toyah Wilcox promises “an uplifting party of a show” with husband Robert Fripp on September and October live dates – Continue…
• Metal Sucks: Toyah & Fripp to Take Their YouTube Show All Over the U.K. This Fall – Continue…
• Far Out: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp officially announce ‘Sunday Lunch’ tour – Continue…
• At The Barrier: Robert & Toyah’s Rock Party: Tour News: It’s been on the cards – now it’s here! Robert (Fripp) & Toyah’s Rock Party is heading on tour – Continue…
• Ghost Light: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp Announce Toyah and Robert’s Rock Party Tour – Continue…
• Ultimate Guitar: Robert Fripp and Toyah Are Hitting the Road on ‘Rock Party’ Tour: The duo will balance Toyah’s hits with their popular Sunday Lunch covers – Continue…
• DGM Live: Toyah & Robert’s Rock Party Debut: Toyah & Robert’s Rock Party makes its debut next May 26th & 27th at Huntingdon Hall in Worcester! – Continue…
• Official Toyah Tik Tok: This weeks updates including Rock Party – Continue…
Robert Fripp and Toyah’s 10 Best “Sunday Lunch” Performances
The frisky couple have been entertaining millions with their over-the-top cover songs
When the concert industry shut down in 2020, two musical heroes emerged to entertain us each week. The married couple of King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and new wave singer Toyah Willcox blessed us with their “Sunday Lunch” series of cover songs, and the world has never been the same.
While lockdown had us, er, down, the frisky pair kept our spirits up, delivering fun renditions of iconic rock and metal songs (mostly from the kitchen in their UK home), complete with Toyah’s risqué outfits and Robert’s no-nonsense guitar playing (even if he has to appear in a silly get-up himself once in a while).
And even though the world has opened back up, the couple continues to entertain us each week with new “Sunday Lunch” performances. The YouTube series has turned into such a phenomenon that Toyah and Robert are taking the show on the road, booking a UK tour for the fall of 2023.
• Continue reading at Consequence.
Toyah, and Toyah & Robert, are included in the latest issue (#81, May/June 2023) of Classic Pop magazine.
There’s a great, four star, review of the forthcoming Live At Drury Lane CD/DVD and 2LP release, and a mini Sunday Lunch Live – 2023 Rock Party Tour feature. As well as numerous festival appearances this Summer, Sunday Lunch is touring in September and October.
• The latest issue of Classic Pop magazine is available to buy instore and online now. (Thanks to Minna of The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive – sending you a big hug Min, I know it’s been a tough couple of weeks for you!)
Toyah / Live at Drury Lane
First time on CD, LP and DVD
Cherry Red continue their Safari-era Toyah reissues with Live at Drury Lane, a concert performance from December 1981.
This was broadcast live on the BBC for The Old Grey Whistle Test on Christmas Eve in 1981 and was ‘simulcast’ (as they used to call it) in stereo on BBC Radio One. Live at Drury Lane was never issued on vinyl, CD or cassette but was released as an edited VHS (called ‘Good Morning Universe’) in 1982.
This new reissue is available as a CD+DVD combo pack or as a 2LP set on pink vinyl. The CD contains all 13 songs performed on the night plus three bonus audio tracks recorded live in Milan from earlier on that same Winter Tour. The DVD reinstates ‘War Boys’ and ‘Victims of The Riddle’ which were missing from the VHS, but performed on the night.
• Continue reading at Super Deluxe Edition. Pre-Order Live At Drury Lane on CD+DVD or 2LP at Cherry Red.
Film Give Them Wings shot in Darlington and Bishop Auckland
An independent feature film shot in Darlington and Bishop Auckland, and starring Toyah Willcox, has secured international distribution.
Give Them Wings, is written by Paul Hodgson and produced by GTW Productions Ltd and directed by Sean Cronin.
Phoenix Worldwide, the sales agent to the film, has closed deals for Latin America (Distributer Encripta), Scandinavia, Australia/New Zealand (Distributer Bulldog) and North America (Distributer Stadium Media).
The film celebrates the life of disabled Darlington F.C. fan Paul Hodgson based on an adaptation of his 2000 bestselling autobiography Flipper’s Side.
• Continue reading at The Northern Echo.
Isle of Wight Festival to welcome Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp
Toyah Willcox has announced she will be playing the Isle of Wight Festival on Sunday, June 18.
She will join Robbie Williams, Blondie, Mika, Niall Horan, Echo and the Bunnymen and the Manic Street Preachers on the last day of this year’s Seaclose Park event.
Also due to play over the four-day weekend are Pulp, Courteeners, One Republic, Sabrina Carpenter and Lovejoy.
Toyah, who will return for the second year running, is known for her punk hits, including It’s A Mystery, I Want To Be Free and Echo Beach.
• Continue reading at Isle Of Wight County Press. See also Yahoo!
• Toyah At Home: Sea Of Size (in memory of Bill Rieflin) – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Centrefold – Watch… • Sunday Lunch: In The Making – Watch…
Press for Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – This week covering The J. Geils Band. (Image © Toyah Willcox)
• NME: Watch Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp cover The J. Geils Band’s ‘Centerfold’: They also announce plans to perform at this year’s Isle Of Wight Festival – Continue…
• Classic Rock/Louder: Normal service resumes as Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox perform frisky cover of Centerfold: Toyah brandishes a copy of Prog magazine as the Fripp-Willcox kitchen reverberates to the sound of a J. Geils Band classic – Continue…
• Consequence: Robert Fripp and Toyah Nearly Bare All with Cover of J. Geils Band’s “Centerfold”: The King Crimson guitarist even strikes a few sultry poses at the end of the video – Continue…
• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp cover J. Geils Band’s “Centrefold” – Continue…
• Far Out: Toyah and Robert Fripp share cover of J. Geils Band song ‘Centerfold’ – Continue…
• Brave Words: Robert Fripp & Toyah Perform J. Geils Band Classic “Centrefold”, Share Bonus Footage that “You Cannot Unsee” – Continue…
• Yahoo!: Robert Fripp and Toyah Nearly Bare All with Cover of J. Geils Band’s “Centerfold” – Continue…
• DGM Live!: Centrefold – Continue…
Toyah To Bring Out The Audio Of Her Drury Lane Concert
Even though, in the eyes of the uninitiated, Toyah‘s latter-day endeavors may seem to suggest she’s content to be cavorting in the kitchen with her spouse, the singer’s histrionic performances have always been much more than such domestic scenes.
It’s rather surprising, then, that, for all the years she spent on-stage, there’s not a lot of records which captured the chanteuse live, but there are concert videos to allow Ms. Willcox to remedy this situation. Last year saw the reissue of her 1981’s “At The Rainbow” album on CD and DVD, and now it’s time for 1982’s “Good Morning Universe” to follow suit.
Slated to be out as “Live At Drury Lane” on May 12th in CD/DVD and 2LP formats, the remastered video version of this classic Christmas show, where the artist’s band included the great Simon Phillips on drums and the recently departed Phil Spalding on bass, reinstates two pieces that were cut from the original VHS release, while audio variant – issued for the first time ever – is augmented with three numbers Toyah delivered to Milan audience earlier on the same tour. Here’s a chance to experience her magic in all its glory.
• Continue reading at Let It Rock. Pre-order Live At Drury Lane, on CD/DVD and double vinyl, at Cherry Red.
• Toyah At Home: Dawn Chorus – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moment Of The Week – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – The one with all the Bollo%ks Part 2 – Watch…
Press for Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – This week sharing some previously unaired bloopers. (Image © Toyah Willcox)
• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp’s Sunday Lunch “Bollocks Part 2” bloopers – Continue…
• Brave Words: Robert Fripp & Toyah Release “Bloopers & Bollock$”, Part 2 – Continue…
• DGM Live: All Boll#cks! – Continue…
• Toyah At Home: World In Action – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments Of The Week – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – The One With The Body Paint – Watch…
Press for Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – This week re-airing their cover of Foo Fighters All My Life, originally broadcast in June 2022. (Image © Toyah Willcox)
• Far Out: Watch Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox cover Foo Fighters’ song ‘All My Life’ – Continue…
• DGM Live: The One With The Body Paint – Continue…
Special edition of sci-fi cult classic to be screened in Nuneaton
It is the handiwork of a movie maker who has his eyes on his next blockbuster
A Nuneaton movie maker is to host the first screening of a special edition of his sci-fi cult classic to help fund his next blockbuster. Simon Cox has turned to innovative ways to help raise funds for his next film – ‘Of Infinite Worlds’ – including trying to sell 20,000 mugs.
Now he is hosting a number of local screenings of his previous hit, ‘Invasion Planet Earth’, and this Thursday (March 9) there will be a special screening in his hometown.
It is being held at Nuneaton Christian Fellowship and will give people the chance to see a special version of the feature film, which was sold across the world.
“This sci-fi movie was shot in Nuneaton, Coventry and Birmingham and was a true passion project that took nearly 10 years to make,” he said. “It was inspired by classic 1970’s science fiction and features 80’s pop icon, Toyah Willcox. It has sold all around the world and is becoming a bit of a cult classic.”
• Continue reading at Coventry Live.
• Toyah At Home: Live At Drury Lane – Watch… • Robert At Home: March 2023 – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments Of The Week – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Most Wanted Of The Year – Watch…
Press for Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – This week revisiting one of the Most Wanted lunches of 2022. (Images © Toyah Willcox)
• Brave Words: Robert Fripp & Toyah Reveal Their Most Viewed “Sunday Lunch” Video Of 2022 – Continue…
• DGM Live: Sunday Lunch ’22 Faves – Continue…
Toyah to headline Sittingbourne’s Party In The Park
It’s no longer a mystery. Eighties punk queen Toyah Willcox has been confirmed as the headline act for Sittingbourne’s top music festival.
The musician, actress and TV presenter has agreed to perform at the annual Party in the Park organised by the Appleyard.
Mike Farrow, managing director of the Appleyard, said: “I’ve just signed the contract. She will be great.”
The singer, now 64, had a top five hit with It’s A Mystery in 1981 and has since had eight top 40 singles, released more than 20 albums, written two books, appeared in more than 40 stage plays and featured in 10 films.
• Continue reading at Kent Online. Browse all of Toyah’s, confirmed, upcoming 2023 gigs at toyahwillcox.com.
