Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Friday 9th October: 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)
A new interview with Matt Dangerfield, who produced Toyah’s first single of the 1980s, Bird In Flight/Tribal Look.
Early in February 1980, Dangerfield produced labelmate Toyah’s ‘Bird in Flight’ single, just a year before they broke the mainstream with the Four From Toyah E.P. This extended play release featured ‘It’s A Mystery’, which became the breakthrough hit for the band, fronted by singer-songwriter Toyah Willcox.
“The reason I was brought in to produce that single was to get her airplay. She was having lots of publicity and everybody was interested in her, but the music wasn’t very radio-friendly“.
‘Bird in Flight’ wasn’t featured on an album release at the time, although it was added to the 2002 reissue of Toyah’s debut album Sheep Farming In Barnet, and was also included on the 2005 compilation The Safari Singles Collection Part 1: 1979-1981.
• Continue reading/watch the full interview at PhilMarriott.net.
Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Wednesday 16th September: 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)
Song of the week, on Episode Nine of Toyah At Home, was, the mighty, and mightily iconic, Ieya.
This was the first At Home hosted by Toyah outside in the garden. Click below to watch the episode, which ended with an archive acoustic performance of, the sublime, Jungles Of Jupiter.
Rebel Run was song of the week on the seventh episode of Toyah At Home, which aired at Toyah’s official You Tube channel on Saturday.
Toyah performed a rousing live performance of the 1983 hit and discussed the album, Love Is The Law, from which it is taken. She also talked about how much she loved 1983: starring in Trafford Tanzi, recording Love Is The Law and a role in The Ebony Tower alongside Laurence Olivier.
Toyah’s famous Melissa Caplan outfits made a cameo appearance (along with lots of handbags).
Toyah talked about the cover art for The Changeling and Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!, and the artist who painted the cover for that album, Dexter Brown. Episode Seven also saw Toyah discuss: the learning curve of dealing with outside forces which affect creativity; the albums she is most proud of; favourite outfits; Divine/John Waters; Kate Bush; the songs Street Creature and The Packt.
• Click below to watch/re-watch : Toyah At Home: Episode #7, which closes with an archive live performance of, the timeless, Martian Cowboy…
Episode Seven of Toyah At Home airs this Saturday at You Tube and Facebook. Submit your questions at Instagram or any of Toyah’s other social media spaces.
Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard) was song of the week on the sixth episode of Toyah At Home, which aired at Toyah’s official You Tube channel on Saturday.
Toyah performed a live version of the anthemic 1982 song, the third single release of that year by Toyah. She also talked about the song.
There was another cameo appearance from Robert at the beginning of this episode. Toyah also talked about the secret to a happy marriage; does she ever regret not having children (what a personal question!!); does she ever consider giving up her career; being a female icon in the music industry; appearing on This Is Your Life; taking a TARDIS trip to revisit any concert or moment of her life; potentially playing a part in Doctor Who; singing songs by The Beatles; memories of working with Kenny Everett; playing with The Stranglers in 1980 at the Rainbow Theatre; Patti Smith; the story and meanings in the song Bird In Flight.
• Click below to watch/re-watch Toyah At Home: Episode #6, which closes with an archive live performance of, the wonderful, Bird In Flight…
A fired-up live version of Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard) was one of the highlights of, possibly, the best episode yet of Toyah At Home, which aired yesterday morning.
Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Sunday 26th July: 2pm
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)
Brave New World was song of the week on the fifth episode of Toyah At Home, which aired at Toyah’s official You Tube channel yesterday.
Toyah performed a live version of the iconic 1982 single and also discussed the song and the album it is included on, The Changeling.
There was a cameo appearance from Robert at the beginning of the episode. Toyah also talked about what her 1980 self would ask her today; anything she would do differently in her early career; an alternative career; her bucket list; writing new songs; Quadrophenia and what Monkey would have been doing 40 years later; the (non Toyah) song that inspired passion in her; the iconic artwork, make-up and photo shoots; and the TV play Little Girls Don’t.
• Click below to watch/re-watch Toyah At Home: Episode #5, which closes with an archive live performance of I Explode…
A great live version of Brave New World opened this morning’s Toyah At Home.
This week’s edition of Fairkytes Live Presents (Ep. 4) features a trip down memory lane to enjoy many of the fantastic artists we have seen play at the venue in the last six years. Toyah is included, performing It’s A Mystery. Click below to watch at You Tube.
Echo Beach was song of the week on the fourth episode of Toyah At Home, which aired at Toyah’s official You Tube channel yesterday.
Toyah and the band performed the 1987 single and Toyah discussed the song and the album it is included on, Desire.
Toyah also talked about the acting roles she rejected and others she has screen-tested for; the film she wished she had starred in; who would play her in a drama of her life; all things Sunday All Over The World; visiting America in 1985; duetting with other singers; Slave To The Rhythm; and the song that is closest to her heart.
• Click below to watch/re-watch Toyah At Home: Episode #4, which closes with an archive live performance of, the awesome, Little Tears Of Love…
The entire, almost 8hr, Virtual Woo Fest 2020 is now available online to watch again, or watch for the first time if you missed it on Saturday. Toyah contributed a performance of It’s A Mystery to the festival, which raised £13,000 for St. Richard’s Hospice. Donations are still welcome, with details of how to do so at the website. Click on the screen shots of Toyah below to go to the festival page. Toyah’s performance is at approximately 4hrs 16m in! (Screenshots from a video that is © Toyah Willcox)
Toyah’s performance of It’s A Mystery from Lechlade Festival 2014 is included in their new classic moments playlist.
Inspired by this weekend’s Glasthomebury we’ve put together classic live moments from previous years at Lechlade.
Including Status Quo, That 80s Rock Show, Scouting For Girls, The Proclaimers, Toyah, Doctor and the Medics, Tasha Leaper as Madonna, Light Zeppelin, The Inflatables, Frankenstein’s Lobster, Sam Draisey, Genevieve Miles Music, Hellsinki v, Benji & Hibbz, Voodoo Vegas…
We can’t wait to create more momentous moments in 2021! Early Bird Tickets are on sale now for a limited time only.
• See the full playlist at You Tube. Browse our Lechlade Festival 2014 news.
Info from Saturday’s third instalment of Toyah At Home, which aired at Toyah’s official You Tube channel.
• It’s A Mystery: from Toyah’s second EP was the song of the morning. She talked about her reaction when first hearing the song, written by Keith Hale of Blood Donor, and how it ultimately changed her life.
• The Humans: “It’s Humans day!!” said Toyah, and a very quick look at all of the Toyah & The Humans releases – Four vinyls and a great box set. Toyah mentioned Bill Rieflin wanted to call it “The Humans’ Greatest Hits”.
• Derek Jarman: Toyah talked about her experiences working with the late writer/director on the films from her early career; Jubilee and The Tempest.
• The Tempest: Detailed discussion on working on this film. Lots of memories from Toyah, including two wonderful keepsakes Derek Jarman gave her at the end of filming, and playing Miranda as a wild child. Toyah said: “The Tempest for me was one of the most important films of my career“, and her introduction to Shakespeare.
• Making Movies in Los Angeles: Toyah talked about relocating, or more to the point not relocating, to the USA for acting work, and whether her younger self would have done so now if she had the opportunity.
• Glastonbury: The experience of playing the legendary festival (in 2016) but never attending it as a festival-goer!
• Most Haunted: Toyah chatted about the various haunted homes she has stayed in, and the activity generated within them.
• In The Fairground: Interesting chat about the song from the 1981 EP Four More From Toyah; its origins, what the lyric is about, and how it relates to today.
• In The Fairground: Toyah said: “I listened to that and thought, wow this track, it’s really nice. I could probably sing it a lot better now than I did back then. Back then we were on tour, we had to deliver for Christmas. It was 1981 and was pretty much made in between live shows, and I think I could develop that now much better for the acoustic show“.
• New Studio Album: by the Toyah band of now? There are a number of obstacles, including geography, finances, the ongoing pandemic, but “It’s a possibility” Toyah said.
• Telepathic Lover: Live archive footage of this great song from Four From Toyah: Birthday Edition EP and 2019’s In The Court Of The Crimson Queen album. Toyah said: “One of my favourite songs live. I just love the groove and when we’re on stage, this is the Toyah band at their best. It’s absolutely fabulous“.
• Ask Toyah: Toyah said “Please keep those questions rolling in. It’s really good to do this. I love, I love It, I love it! They are wonderful!“.
• Toyah at Home: This week’s show was promoted on Toyah’s official Instagram with a rare Four From Toyah era photo (directly above).
• See you next week for Toyah At Home #4.
A number of people have asked what would it sound like if Toyah and King Crimson’s music came together. In this week’s sunday lunch, it’s no longer a mystery.
NOW 80s’ mammoth 10-hour Who Won Wot? 1980 – 1989 aired yesterday, hosted by Mark Goodier. The first artist played from 1981 was 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.
Info from Saturday’s second Toyah At Home, which aired at Toyah’s official You Tube channel.
• Good Morning Universe: was the song of the morning, with Toyah explaining how it got its title. Joel Bogen wrote the music and as soon as Toyah heard the joyous track she wanted to call it Good Morning Universe.
• Good Morning Universe: Toyah performed a live version of the title song from Toyah’s third EP, and ninth single, released in November 1981. I’ve always loved this song, and all the others on the Four More From Toyah EP.
• Shirley Manson: Toyah mentioned the Garbage lead singer’s recent comments about Toyah being one of her early influences.
• Early Influences: Toyah talked about her own early influences, Dusty Springfield and Sandie Shaw in the 1960s, as well as Curved Air, Grace Slick, Roxy Music, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed and David Bowie in the 70s.
• Movies: To Be Someone will hopefully be showing later this year, with press and publicity happening soon. Toyah also mentioned Give Them Wings.
• Take The Leap!: Jolyon Dixon, the guitarist from Friday Forever and Toyah’s Take The Leap! band asked Toyah if she would be interested in a Leap! anniversary tour.
• Steve Strange: Toyah talked about the Visage frontman back in the days of her Mayhem warehouse and the Blitz Club and the last time she met him, at the V&A Club To Catwalk exhibition in 2013.
• Favourite Venues/Tours: Toyah reminisced about playing (the legendary) Glasgow Apollo. Her favourite venue is Wembley Arena, and she loves playing in churches because of their great acoustics. Toyah loved all of The Humans tours, and also the recent Thunder In The Highlands tour.
• Computer: Will this ever be played live? There are plans for some of the Safari album songs to be played live during Toyah At Home to coincide with the Cherry Red release of Toyah’s Safari back catalogue.
• Ophelia’s Shadow: Some of the songs are too studio layered to perform live but Lords Of The Never Known and Brilliant Day will be (Toyah mentioned the late Keith Tippett).
• Prostitute: Toyah talked about the possibility of the album being performed live as an art project with visuals. She also talked about performing the album during the FrippFripp tour in 1988, and about the legacy of the album and its meanings now as the world changes and evolves.
• Toyah also chatted about which song took the longest to write (Slow Descent by The Humans was mentioned), and the show ended with live footage of She’s Fast by The Humans from Trading Boundaries in East Sussex.
The Serbian Council of Great Britain held an online fundraising concert on Sunday 3rd May 2020 as a call to action during the COVID Crisis. Toyah supported the cause by performing It’s A Mystery.
• Click on the screen shots below to see/hear Toyah’s full performance (begins 11m into the clip). Visit the crowdfunding page here.
Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Friday 8th May: 9pm
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)
