Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

• As everyone knows Toyah and Robert guested on tonight’s All Star Mr & Mrs on ITV. It’s now available to watch online (for UK residents only) at ITV Player for the next 28 days. It’s also available at UTV Player.

• The programme will also be repeated on ITV this coming Saturday at 12.30pm.

• STV Player are using a great photo of Toyah in their index of episodes of the series. View here.

• All Star Mr & Mrs Facebook: Backstage with singer Toyah Willcox & husband, guitarist Robert Fripp! – Congrats to Toyah & Robert, they won £5,000 for St. Richard’s Hospice, Worcester.

• Overnight viewing figures for tonight’s edition will be announced tomorrow. Last week’s programme was watched by almost four million people, though that will probably be over 5m when the final figures are released.

• Those Twitter folks were agog, tweeting: “Toyah Willcox & hubby are just so adorable!!“, “Awwww.. How sweet are Toyah Wilcox and her hubby Robert Fripp” and someone who doesn’t know that Toyah is only 54!!,  “I want to be like Robert and Toyah when I’m old“… etc.

• The power of a prime time TV appearance. In the couple of hours after All Star Mr & Mrs aired tonight Dreamscape has had FIVE times as many visitors as it usually does.

• The last fortnight has been quite entertaining. Every time I’ve searched for Toyah news online there have been Fripp/King Crimson fans aghast at this programme lol!

• Mayhem: The 2013 reprint of the 2005 CD reissue of Toyah’s 1985 Safari album ‘Mayhem’ is included in the latest Burning Shed newsletter: This fascinating album gives an insight into late 70s/early 80s works in progress by Toyah and comprises finished songs not included on EPs and albums.

• TCM Turner Classic Movies: A Jarman double-bill aired on TCM over the weekend, including another showing of The Tempest, with Toyah as Miranda.

• This is Local London: Scarlett Fever: Rockabilly band launch debut album with free gig at New Wimbledon Studios: Kent trio Scarlett Rae and the Cherry Reds play original tracks from their album Crash Landing and a selection of cover songs at the gig. The band, formed in 2011, is made up of lead vocalist and double bassist Andee Price, drummer Chris Wong and guitarist Ben Green. Wong is also the musical director for 1980s star Toyah Willcox…

• WFMU: Dark Night of the Soul with Julie: Playlist from May 2, 2013: An emotional trainwreck in fluffy bunny slippers… ‘Out Of The Blue’ from Dreamchild was included on Julie’s show playlist on Thursday night.

• WFMU: Toyah Special: Julie’s A Celebration of the Crimson Queen from May 2011 is still available to listen to online. A transcript of the Toyah Special is available here.

• Scunthorpe Telegraph: Toyah Willcox starring at Scunthorpe Baths Hall on Thursday: A new interview with Toyah: Stepping inside the mind of a woman is a scary thought for some men. But if you want to imagine what it is like for us girls, this show will give you an idea.

• Chester Chronicle: Toyah Willcox to star in Hormonal Housewives at Crewe Lyceum: Pop icon Toyah Willcox will be in South Cheshire later this month when the irrepressible Hormonal Housewives head for Crewe’s Lyceum Theatre

• Instagram: Check out the latest photos Toyah has instagrammed!.

• The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive: Read full transcripts of Toyah’s interviews from Keith Middleton’s Late Show from BBC Radio Shropshire in early March and Justin Moorhouse on BBC Radio Manchester from the beginning of April.

• Rock the Stadium: Toyah, Five Star, Altered Images, Midge Ure, Paul Young and many others will “Rock The Stadium” in Falkirk on Saturday 22nd June.

• Dangerous Minds: Films and Filming: Original photo-spread for Derek Jarman’s Jubilee.

• An Occasional Plug: I Was A Teenage Toyah Fan chronicles a slice of adolescent life from late 1979 to late 1986 and recalls the experience of being a pop music fan in the early eighties, evoking the feelings of a very different time before the internet, mobile phones or multi-channel TV put media at our fingertips.

• Strawberry Line Times: Sat 27 Apr. Theatre preview: ex punk Toyah teams up with Julie Coombe for a hormonal moment: The former pink haired punk rocker Toyah Willcox is appearing in Bristol next month in Hormonal Housewives. She stars in the show at the Bristol Hippodrome with Julie Coombe.

• Robert Fripp’s Diary: Lots of “behind-the-scenes” photos from the ‘At Home’ part of the forthcoming All Star Mr & Mrs programme. Robert says: “A four-hour visit for perhaps two minutes of screentime“. Looks like the adorable Willyfred was ready for his close up!

• Red Funnel: Jack Up The 80s: 10-11 August 2013. Don’t miss this great new 2 day 80’s music event featuring Heaven 17, Bad Manners, Katrina and the Waves, Bootleg Blondie and Toyah to name just a few.

• _Black_Acrylic: Derek Jarman – Jubilee: Jubilee is a 1978 cult film directed by Derek Jarman. It stars Jenny Runacre, Ian Charleson, and a host of punk rockers, including Adam Ant and Toyah. The title refers to the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 1977.

• The Quietus: Adam Ant On Fashion, Back-Carving & MJ: Interesting video interview with Adam in which he also talks about Jubilee.

• BBC America Doctor Who Specials: Three of the documentaries Toyah guested in last year, The Women Of Doctor Who, The Timey Wimey Of Doctor Who, The Destinations Of Doctor Who, have been released on R1 DVD. Although they are on a standalone disc with its own artwork (see photo) they can only be purchased as part of a huge, 41-disc, six-series spanning, box set. View more info on the BBC America DW specials here.

• Birmingham Music Heritage (Untold Stories 1965-1985): Below, Toyah Willcox, Fuzz Townshend of Pop Will Eat Itself, and former Black Sabbath manager Jim Simpson, along with Birmingham band manager and promoter, Barry Tomes talk about Birmingham’s venues of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

• Toyah @ Twitter: A couple of interesting tweets from Toyah recently: “Just driven past Battle. Where Sheep farming In Barnet was recorded ……35yrs ago !!!!!!!” and “…on another subject Toyah Autumn dates will announced soon“. Twitter is also a great way to stay updated on Hormonal Housewives with news direct from Toyah.

• Edinburgh Evening News: City star of The Voice happy for second chance: Toyah is mentioned in this article on former Bilbo Baggins singer Colin Chisholm. Colin appeared in Glitter in 1976, alongside Toyah in her first TV role.

• Tamworth Herald: Laughs and gasps aplenty at Garrick: They have caused “mayhem and mania in theatres across the country” – and now the Hormonal Housewives cast are heading to Lichfield.

• Toyah received a name check on the Snooker World Championships 2013 on Wednesday afternoon: “As Toyah Willcox said, it’s a mystery…” said one of the commentators. The snooker is currently airing on BBC2 and Eurosport.

• M-Magazine: Interview: Simon Darlow: Simon Darlow’s songwriting is synonymous with the eighties. He has penned hits for the likes of Grace Jones, Dollar, The Buggles, Toyah Willcox, while as an arranger and musician he played with iconic acts from the era including Wham!, Bucks Fizz and Musical Youth.

• Steve Randall interviews Toyah: A short audio interview with Toyah by Steve. Toyah talks Hormonal Housewives, her career and more. Listen at Steve’s website or at Audio Boo: Hear my chat with 80s legend & actress TOYAH who’s in Hormonal Housewives @ AnvilArts this Friday.

• Celebrity Plastic Surgery Photos: A recent article which is really just a rehash of an old interview with Toyah, talking about cosmetic surgery and the ‘Diary Of A Facelift’ book.

• Adventures with the Wife in Space: A review (sort of) of More Than 30 Years in the TARDIS. Quite amusing at times ;)

• DAA Management: Great page for Toyah at this agency/casting website.

• Heaven Is An Incubator: Found Vinyl: Toyah – Love Is The Law: Up first is the 1983 album “Love Is the Law,” from English performer Toyah.  Look at that album cover.  Seriously, look at it.  It’s got a bunch of fencers and a girl that looks like an extra from the 80’s movie “Solarbabies.”

• Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury 24: Toyah Willcox causes mayhem in Hormonal Housewives: Toyah Willcox and Julie Coombe are back on stage causing mayhem as the irrepressible Hormonal Housewives.

• Justin Moorhouse: Toyah’s recent interview, which aired on BBC Radio Manchester, is now available to listen to at Audio Boo.

• Staffs Live: Hormonal Housewives returning to Lichfield: The Hormonal Housewives are returning to the Lichfield Garrick. Their new show, starring Toyah Willcox alongside Julie Coombe, will take a look at what really makes the modern housewife tick.

• Metro: From Absolute Beginners to Quadrophenia: Mod culture on page and screen: Mod culture in books and on the silver screen include Absolute Beginners and Quadrophenia. Here’s our guide: Quadrophenia (1979) – Against the soundtrack of The Who’s 1973 concept album, this mod classic features Phil Daniels as Jimmy – a mod who hates his job and is misunderstood by his parents.

• You’re Standing In It: Australian comedy series that looks very similar to the UK’s Three Of A Kind and Not The Nine O’Clock News. Tim & Debbie pay tribute to Toyah Willcox. (This “Toyah” clip has just been added to You Tube. I’m not sure I’d call this a “tribute” or a “homage” but worth a look anyway). More info on the series here.

• One + One Filmmakers Journal: Out Of The (Blog) Archive: On Derek Jarman’s Jubilee.

• All Star Mr & Mrs: Toyah Instagrammed a photo of herself and Robert while they were being filmed at home for a forthcoming edition of the ITV show. View here.

• The 45 minute video of Toyah’s speech from the recent FSB Conference in Leicester has now been deleted from You Tube but there is an edited, eight minute, version available at the FSB website. View here.

Toyah and Robert have recorded an appearance and will guest on a forthcoming edition of ITV’s All Star Mr & Mrs.

Phillip Schofield hosts and each week three celebrities with their partners compete against each other to try and win money for a charity of their choice. Each couple receives a carriage clock whether they reach the final or not. (Thanks to Paul Lomas)

• Fade 2 Grey: It Should Have been A Hit: Toyah, Soul Passing Through Soul, 1985: Very much in the vein of Bowie´s Heroes but still a great underrated single from Toyah. It should have been a bigger hit for her. It only reached a UK no 57. Minx fared better peaking at no 24. This was from her album Minx. I also love her cover of Sympathy which I have also included, and from the same album. Great sleeve too.

• Toyah Instagrammed a great photo of Easter bunny Willyfred yesterday. He even now has his own Appreciation Page at Facebook.

• Robert Fripp’s Diary: A huge thank you to Robert for linking to Dreamscape’s reports on Toyah’s traffic woes in his great online diary, sending the site numerous new visitors over the last week.

• Bexhill-On-Sea Observer: Sketch comedy show starring UK pop icon: Following 2012’s celebrated reception as they caused mayhem and mania in theatres across the land, the irrepressible Hormonal Housewives are back at the White Rock Theatre on Saturday, April 20.

• The (Sydney) Telegraph: The return of the mullet and the girl who got the chop: It seems this long-buried monster, last spotted upon the heads of footballers like Chris Waddle and Kevin Keegan, DJ Pat Sharp and rock chicks Kim Wilde, Toyah Willcox and Suzi Quatro, seems to have been disinterred, and is now uber-cool.

Further news reports and articles on the fire, and aftermath in King’s Heath earlier this week. To summarise; the building was detroyed beyond repair and will be demolished. The Civic Society Musical Heritage Plate and Toyah’s star both have survived the blaze, seem to be in reasonable condition and will be removed from the site today and tomorrow. (Thanks to Bob Prew)

• BBC News: Kings Heath remembers Ritz Ballroom following fire.

• Birmingham Mail: Kings Heath Walk of Stars to go ahead despite savage fire at famous former music venue: Kings Heath resident Trevor Burton, a founding member of 1960s rock band The Move, is due to be the second celebrity inducted onto the Walk in June, following Toyah Willcox.

• Leicester Bangs: Legendary gig venue destroyed in Birmingham Kings Heath fire: A Kings Heath Walk of Fame, honouring the area’s musical and comedy heritage, had also been planned to start outside the building with a star marking singer Toyah Willcox.

• King’s Heath Walk Of Fame: “Fire at Kings Heath Venue where The Beatles one played”.

• Learning To Say Nothing: Burning down the house…: It would seem that living in this part of Birmingham is rapidly becoming a hazardous business.

• Birmingham Post: Arson suspected as fire hits Birmingham venue where The Beatles played: Kings-Heath-born Toyah Willcox was the first person to be honoured on the Kings Heath Walk of Fame which was unveiled along York Road last July. Bob Prew, who helped organise the initiative, said the plaque now lies under the building’s smouldering rubble. He said: “It’s devastating because the Ritz Ballroom was one of the major venues in the 1960s.”

• Birmingham Mail: Fire at Kings Heath venue where The Beatles once played: “The roof is totally collapsed. It’s the old Ritz Ballroom . It’s sad for Kings Heath as on Cash Converters – which has collapsed – there was a plaque for Toyah Willcox.”

• BBC News: Ex-Beatles gig venue destroyed in Kings Heath fire: A Kings Heath Walk of Fame, honouring the area’s musical and comedy heritage, had also been planned to start outside the building with a star marking singer Toyah Willcox.

• Buzzfeed: 23 Amazing Smash Hits Covers From The ’80s: Quite clearly the greatest magazine of our time – 7. Toyah, May 1982.

• Telford & Wrekin Council: Hormonal Housewives on tour!: Hormonal Housewives are in Telford as part of their Spring Tour 2013 and you are in for a treat with this hilarious show presented by British pop icon Toyah Willcox.

• An Actor Pantos: Let’s get Critical – The Sequel: SLEEPING BEAUTY, Marlowe Theatre Canterbury: Toyah Willcox and Gareth Gates were the stars and really worked hard for their billing.  Willcox especially proved particularly eager to take part and was a very good baddy!

• Dorset Echo: Hormonal Toyah: Following 2012’s celebrated reception as they caused mayhem and mania in theatres across the land, the irrepressible Hormonal Housewives are back in action and visiting Lighthouse in Poole on Thursday. Starring British pop icon Toyah Willcox, writer Julie Coombe, and former Hollyoaks actress Sarah Jane Buckley, these housewives are certainly a force to be reckoned with…

• Henley Standard: Teacher leads all-woman crew in row across Pacific: To cope with boredom, the team will bring an iPod loaded with audio books and their favourite tunes. The playlist will include Sarah’s favourites the B52s, Toyah Willcox and Pink Martini.

• Pink News: Amelia Lily to headline Northern Pride: Former X Factor singer Amelia Lily has been announced as the headline act for this year’s Northern Pride in Newcastle, along with 80s artist Toyah.

• FSB 2013: The video of Toyah’s full 45 minute appearance in Leicester on Saturday is also now available to watch at the FSB website.

• Take a listen to some of Tom Leon’s Toyah remixes. He has added his magic touch to a variety of Toyah’s greatest songs. These tracks are not available for download but you can listen to them online here. Tom also has a Toyah fan page. (Please note that most of the previous links I’ve posted to Tom’s tracks over the last year or so are now out of date)

• Toyah was one of the Guest Speakers at yesterday’s FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) Conference 2013 in Leicester. In the past Toyah’s “speaker” gigs have mostly gone by without fanfare but yesterday a variety of photos were tweeted, Instagrammed and Facebook-ed!

• Photos of Toyah at FSB 2013 here, here and here. There’s also a short article and photo at Peter Scargill’s blog. Apparently a video of Toyah’s speech will be available online at some point too.

• Federation of Small Businesses: View Toyah’s bio at the website.

• Burning Shed: View their latest newsletter, which includes details on ‘In The Court Of The Crimson Queen’.

• It’s Slade: The documentary Toyah contributed opinions to in 1999 was repeated again on BBC Four last night. It’s now available to watch online for the next week at BBC iPlayer.

• Northern Pride 2013: Toyah plays this one day event on Saturday 20th July. View the official flyer and visit their Facebook page for regular updates.

• Daily Cruise: Stars battle with snow: Toyah’s weather/travel woes even made it to the ‘Daily Cruise’ magazine, available onboard the QM2. Toyah Instagrammed this photo – View the full version here.

• The Hormonal Housewives sketch, mentioned yesterday, by Swindon Wyvern Theatre is also available at iTunes.

• This is Dorset: Preview: Toyah Goes Hormonal: Toyah Willcox, actress, former punk star and wife of Robert Fripp, is one of the stars of the Hormonal Housewives UK tour, coming to Poole’s Lighthouse on Thursday 28th March.

• This is Somerset/Western Gazette: Now if you fancy a giggle and a night out with the girls then you won’t want to miss the Hormonal Housewives who are back on tour and visiting The Octagon on Wednesday, March 27. The show is almost sold out so you will need to be quick to snap up those last few tickets. This year the show will star Toyah Willcox and promises a very funny evening.

• It’s A Mystery: Another cover of Toyah’s 1981 hit. This was recorded 10 years ago by Chris & Graham but has just been uploaded to You Tube.

• A full transcript of Toyah’s interview on Steve Wright’s ‘BBC Radio 2’ show is also now available to read at The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive.

• A rare contact sheet of photos, taken at the Nordoff-Robins Musical Therapy lunch in 1983, is currently up for auction at ebay. Toyah is included in some of the photos.

• The Wrath Of Blog: Review #595: ‘Jubilee’ (1978): One particular group, consisting of, amongst others, Amyl Nitrate (Jordan), Mad (Toyah Willcox), Bod (Runacre in a dual role), Crabs (Nell Campbell) and Chaos (Hermine Demoriane), tend to spend their time smashing cars, having sex, participating in the odd murder, and generally giving the two-finger salute to anything resembling conformity.

• This Blackmore Vale: Have a girls’ night out with Toyah Willcox at Poole Lighthouse: Rock star and actress Toyah Willcox heads the cast of Hormonal Housewives at Poole Lighthouse next Thursday, 28th March.

• Noel’s House Party: A clip from the 1990’s of Toyah guesting, and being gunged, on Noel’s House Party, alongside John Stapleton and Nick Owen.

• Jelly: Troubador, Wizard, Queen and Machine – The band launch their debut album on 11th May at the “Punk ‘N’ Roll Rendez Vous” at The Unicorn in Camden.

• Toyah makes her first live music appearance of 2013 today, at the ‘Here and Now: The Very Best Of The 80s’ Weekender in Bognor Regis. Also playing over the weekend are Midge Ure, Hazel O’Connor, Paul Young, Curiosity Killed The Cat and many others. Stay updated by following ‘Here and Now’ at Twitter.

• BBC Radio Three Counties: Toyah’s interview from Roberto Perrone’s show yesterday is now available to listen to at BBC iPlayer. This is a mammoth four-hour show. Toyah’s interview begins at approximately 3hrs 7m into the programme and runs for around six minutes. She talks movies, Hormonal Housewives and more. Listen here.

• Toyah was played on Alex Lester’s ‘BBC Radio 2’ show, early Friday morning. ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ was included on his programme playlist in the “Listener’s Library” strand, requested by Sam Spam from Birmingham. Sam said ” There’s not enough Toyah on the radio. Eat your heart out Lady Gaga, Toyah did it all first”. The full show is available to listen to here. Alex also posted the TITM single cover on his Facebook page.

• Theatre in Wales: Hormonal Housewives at the New Theatre, Cardiff: Following their hugely successful 2012 tour, the irrepressible Hormonal Housewives are back at the New Theatre, Cardiff from Thursday 4 – Friday 5 April. Having caused mayhem and mania on their last visit, Toyah Willcox leads the girls in this side-splitting evening.

• Gloucestershire County Council: Council Staff Climb Mountain for Comic Relief: All council employees have been asked to release their inner Adam Ant, Boy George or Toyah Willcox and dress in 80s fancy dress on Thursday 14th March.

• Toyah’s travel woes from Monday were even reported on by the RAC.

• Unless there’s something we aren’t privvy to yet it looks like yesterday’s Evening Standard got a little confused. I think we can categorically confirm that Rizzle Kicks are not, and never have been, Toyah’s band :) Click on the clipping to zoom. (Thanks to Larwi)

• This did cause much merriment last night on Twitter. One tweet in particular I did find slightly amusing: “Whilst stuck on the m’way all night, Cheryl Baker, Toyah and Rizzlekicks have formed a 2 girl 2 boy band. Bucks Fizzlekicks“.

• You are probably all very bored with hearing/reading about the weather/traffic by now, but here are just a few more reports anyway (when did Dreamscape ever subscribe to the “less is more” notion?): Celebrity Hollywood Gossip: Toyah Willcox Among Stars Caught Up In Snow Hell, another article from the Mirror: Going Snowhere: Pop stars Rizzle Kicks, Cheryl Baker and Toyah Willcox among hundreds stranded in cars overnight, Scotsman: Cold Snap To Last Most Of Week: Toyah Willcox and hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks also posted details of their battles through snow-covered roads.

Toyah’s involvement in yesterday’s huge traffic-jam in Sussex has been reported just about EVERYWHERE today, from Sky News to ITV’s Daybreak, from BBC Breakfast to many local tv and radio stations. Both Daybreak and Breakfast even tweeted Toyah directly, requesting interviews. Online it’s essentially the same story being reported by countless websites. Here are just a few:

• OK! Magazine: Toyah Willcox among stars caught up in snow hell: Singers Toyah Willcox and Cheryl Baker, and hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks, were left stranded on a snowbound road for up to 10 hours as blizzards blanketed parts of the U.K. this week

• The Express and Star magazine running exactly the same report – they are all owned by the same publisher so that makes sense. Contact Music also ran this story.

• Orange News: Toyah Willcox & Rizzle Kicks caught up in snow hell: 1980s star Willcox took to Twitter.com to reveal her six-hour misery in the snow.

• Birmingham Mail: Birmingham born actress Toyah Willcox among hundreds forced to spend the night in their car: Brummie actress Toyah Willcox was marooned for more than 14 hours as roads in the south of England were blocked by snow and stranded vehicles. The Kings Heath-born star posted on Twitter how she finally got off the M23 in Sussex at 6.30am following a freezing night trapped in her car.

• ITN News: Rizzle Kicks and Toyah Willcox get caught up in the snow: Half the nation was battling with snow-covered roads on Monday evening and so were Rizzle Kicks and Toyah Willcox.

• View more coverage at Digital Spy, The Epoch Times, The Argus, Yahoo News, Heart…

• Toyah’s appearance on BBC Radio 2’s Steve Wright in the Afternoon show goes out on Wednesday 20th March. Steve’s show airs each week day between 2 and 5pm and can be listened to online at the BBC Radio 2 website. (News Source: The Official Toyah Facebook)

• “Just recording Steve Wright In The Afternoon, then Brighton. Its Snowing in london!!!!!” tweeted Toyah today.

• Those Hormonal Housewives begin the second week of their mammoth UK tour at the Theatre Royal, Brighton this evening. Visit the website for details. Tomorrow they play Peterborough’s Cresset Theatre.

• West Sussex Gazette: Some Hormonal Housewives: Following 2012’s incredibly popular show at The Hawth, the irrepressible Hormonal Housewives are back and return to Crawley this spring… This year, the ladies are led by British pop icon Toyah Willcox and writer Julie Coombe.

• Daily Star: A Double Mystery For Toyah: A retro tabloid photo article from the ‘Daily Star’ is included in KajaFax’s look back at 1983. (be warned, there is a “mini pop” in the article!!)

• Woman’s Own: Toyah is interviewed in the first issue of the new Woman’s Own magazine “Get Healthy”: In our first Get Healthy magazine we aim to help you feel your best.  We share with you the stars’ go-to remedies for staying well. Toyah Willcox tells us what made her sleep after 40 years of insomnia.

• Primitive Screwheads: Friday Night Movies 415: Jubilee is a 1978 film by Derek Jarman… With its uninhibited punk petulance and sloganeering, Jubilee, brings together many cultural and musical icons of the time, including Jordan, Toyah Willcox, Little Nell, Wayne County, Adam Ant, and Brian Eno (with his first original film score), to create a genuinely unique, unforgettable vision.

• Retro Brit: Quadrophenia: Great Retro Brit Flick: I can remember the first time I saw the advert at the Bank Underground station in 1979… There was Sting from the band: The Police and Toyah Willcox who were all rock stars of that time.

• NI Scene: Calamity Jane: Ciara Mackey joins the ranks of Barbara Windsor, Toyah Willcox and the iconic Doris Day herself in playing the disaster-prone Calamity Jane.