Who Won Wot? 1980 – 1989: NOW 80s: Saturday 2nd October: 9am
From Smash Hits “Most Unwanted Person of 1980” to the Brits “Best Group” of 1989 – Mark Goodier’s 10 hour marathon of 80s award winners lasts nearly as long as the Oscars. (The first artist played from 1981 is Toyah, with the Thunder In The Mountains video. Mark said: “We begin 1981 with a 4ft 11 pop star who had the biggest hair of the entire decade, here’s the Most Fanciable (as voted by Smash Hits magazine readers) Toyah Willcox with Thunder In The Mountains“).
Toyah performing the 1981 hit Good Morning Universe at Let’s Rock Exeter 2021 at Powderham Castle on Saturday, (11th September). See It’s A Mystery, Echo Beach and Rebel Yell, here.
Toyah said of Let’s Rock Exeter: “We are in the sunshine in Exeter and next to the sea – so what better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than 10000 people singing Echo Beach!!! Exeter you were amazing, I love you!! T x”
Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Saturday 4th September: 6pm
T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of Heart and Soul to a countdown of ’80s ladies who like to rock! With Joan Jett, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. (as well as Toyah via the Thunder In The Mountains video)
Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Saturday 28th August: 6pm
T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of Heart and Soul to a countdown of ’80s ladies who like to rock! With Joan Jett, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. (as well as Toyah via the Thunder In The Mountains video)
Janice Long’s Ladies With Attitude: NOW 80s: Monday 23rd August: 11pm
The 25 greatest women in rock and pop from across the decade, whose attitude and strength were never in doubt! Hosted by Radio 1 legend Janice Long.
Seven Inch Heroes: NOW 80s: Tuesday 24th August: 11.35am/3.30pm
Before the CD, the perfect pop songs were spun by singers & bands on 7 inch vinyl. From 1980-1984 these were the classic UK hits that invaded the world! (NB. This airs sporadically on NOW 80s, sometimes including Toyah!)
It’s A Mystery from Toyah’s gig at Lavenham Air Theatre on Tuesday evening. Click here for I Want To Be Free from the gig. See Toyah’s Official Gig Guide for all of 2021’s live dates.
Who Won Wot? 1980 – 1989: NOW 80s: Monday 9th August: 9am
From Smash Hits “Most Unwanted Person of 1980” to the Brits “Best Group” of 1989 – Mark Goodier’s 10 hour marathon of 80s award winners lasts nearly as long as the Oscars. (The first artist played from 1981 is Toyah, with the Thunder In The Mountains video. Mark said: “We begin 1981 with a 4ft 11 pop star who had the biggest hair of the entire decade, here’s the Most Fanciable (as voted by Smash Hits magazine readers) Toyah Willcox with Thunder In The Mountains“).
The Best 1981 Party Ever: NOW 80s: Wednesday 4th August: 7pm
2 hours of the biggest party tunes – all from 1981. Including Duran Duran, Dollar, Soft Cell & Tenpole Tudor.
Seven Inch Heroes: NOW 80s:
Wednesday 4th August: 11.20pm
Before the CD, the perfect pop songs were spun by singers & bands on 7 inch vinyl. From 1980-1984 these were the classic UK hits that invaded the world!
Janice Long’s Ladies With Attitude: NOW 80s:
Thursday 5th August: 9am
The 25 greatest women in rock and pop from across the decade, whose attitude and strength were never in doubt! Hosted by Radio 1 legend Janice Long.
Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Saturday 24th July: 1am
T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of Heart and Soul to a countdown of ’80s ladies who like to rock! With Joan Jett, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. (as well as Toyah via the Thunder In The Mountains video)
Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Tuesday 6th July: 1pm
T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of Heart and Soul to a countdown of ’80s ladies who like to rock! With Joan Jett, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. (as well as Toyah via the Thunder In The Mountains video)
NB. I’ve been watching NOW 80s sporadically recently and the music channel plays a fair amount of Toyah in a variety of their 80s music programming, including Seven Inch Heroes and The Best 1981 Party. Mostly the I Want To Be Free and Thunder In The Mountains promo videos, but I also spotted Brave New World and Don’t Fall In Love (I Said).
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.”
With Sun and Sephine Lo cover It’s A Mystery in celebration of Cherry Red’s 40th Anniversary release of Four From Toyah for RSD 2021. NB: With Sun’s Dad, Keith Hale, wrote It’s A Mystery.
There’s a repeat airing of the Toyah Special of Video Killed The Radio Star on Sky Arts later this month. This great half hour programme originally premiered in August 2018.
Video Killed The Radio Star: Sky Arts: Tuesday 13th April: 4.30pm Toyah Willcox. (Series 7, Episode 6) An insight into the making of videos by Toyah Willcox, whose hits included It’s A Mystery, Thunder in the Mountains and I Want To Be Free.
Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Friday 6th November: 10pm
T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of Heart and Soul to a countdown of ’80s ladies who like to rock! With Joan Jett, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. (as well as Toyah via the Thunder In The Mountains video)
There’s a repeat airing of the Toyah Special of Video Killed The Radio Star on Sky Arts later this month. This great half hour programme originally premiered in August 2018.
Video Killed The Radio Star: Sky Arts: Monday 16th November: 4.30pm Video Killed The Radio Star: Sky Arts: Tuesday 17th November: 10.30am Toyah Willcox. (Series 7, Episode 6) An insight into the making of videos by Toyah Willcox, whose hits included It’s A Mystery, Thunder in the Mountains and I Want To Be Free.
“I feel its power within me, bells ringing in my head, so often I have heard its cry, but forgotten what it said, it’s a mystery…”
Last Saturday’s episode of Toyah At Home – the 20th!! – had a few ghosts in the machine (well, it was a Halloween Special) and featured two more archive performances: It’s A Mystery, from the 1981 album, Anthem, and Brave New World, from the 1982 album, The Changeling.
Click below to watch/rewatch Episode 20, with talk about ghosts, pink highlights, making jewellery in lockdown, new films Swiperight and Heckle, film scripts and much more! Episode 21 of Toyah At Home airs this Saturday at 11am at Toyah’s official You Tube channel, and Facebook.
“I knock the phone from the table, and the room starts purring, smash the contents from a drawer, and a photo starts twirling…”
Last Saturday’s episode of Toyah At Home featured two more live archive performances: The 1987 single, from the Desire album, Echo Beach – also a single for Martha & The Muffins in 1980 – and the truly amazing Angel & Me, from the 1982 album, The Changeling.
Click below to watch/rewatch episode 19, with a guest appearance by Robert Fripp, and Toyah reminiscing about playing Calamity Jane, currently revisiting albums including The Blue Meaning, not being part of the Band Aid single in 1984, and more. Episode 20 of Toyah At Home airs this Saturday at 11am at Toyah’s official You Tube channel, and Facebook.
Who Won Wot? 1980 – 1989: NOW 80s: Sunday 25th October: 9am
From Smash Hits “Most Unwanted Person of 1980” to the Brits “Best Group” of 1989 – Mark Goodier’s 10 hour marathon of 80s award winners lasts nearly as long as the Oscars. (The first artist played from 1981 is Toyah, with the Thunder In The Mountains video. Mark said: “We begin 1981 with a 4ft 11 pop star who had the biggest hair of the entire decade, here’s the Most Fanciable (as voted by Smash Hits magazine readers) Toyah Willcox with Thunder In The Mountains“). Click on the screen caps to zoom.
Janice Long’s Ladies With Attitude: NOW 80s:
