Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah Willcox is returning to the Roadmender as part of her Acoustic, Up Close & Personal tour.

The singer-songwriter will be playing an unplugged set of her best-known hits and classic songs, alongside recalling stories from her colourful, 35-year career. From filming pop videos on horseback at 5am to acting alongside Katharine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier, Toyah will be lifting the lid on working in the entertainment business.

…Toyah headlines the Roadmender on Saturday, April 6. Doors open at 7.30pm, tickets cost £22 before fees.

• Continue reading at the Northampton Chronicle & Echo. Book tickets for The Roadmender, Saturday 6th April, date here. There’s also An Acoustic, Up Close & Personal date tomorrow night, Friday 5th April, at The McMillan Theatre in Bridgwater. Book tickets for that here.

Fashion icon Mary Quant is the subject of a new V&A exhibition, opening on Saturday. Toyah is quoted on the V&A’s The Story Of Mary Quant make-up page:

In this edited extract from the Mary Quant exhibition book, Beatrice Behlen explores why Quant’s make-up range was as revolutionary as her clothing.

Singer Toyah Willcox was only eight years old and living in Birmingham when Quant’s cosmetics hit the market. Unsurprisingly she was’t allowed to wear make-up, but her older sister:

would bring home beautiful round Mary Quant bottles of nail varnish in amazing colours such as canary yellow, shimmery green and night time black. I could stare at these beautiful bottles for hours, the design was one of the best things I have ever seen. Mary Quant celebrated colour in all its spectrum and this had a huge influence on how I saw make up as an instrument of self-discovery and self-expression. Toyah Willcox, 2018

• Continue reading at the V&A website. See further info on the Mary Quant exhibition here.

Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Monday 15th April: 1.30pm
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Tuesday 16th April: 9.30am
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Saturday 20th April: 10am
Blue Marigold. Series 5, Episode 1. Dropped by her agency for her diva-like behaviour, supermodel Marigold’s mental health deteriorates. Years later, she plots a comeback. Director: Giles Foster. Starring: Toyah Willcox, Ralph Bates, Sharon Duce, Helen Fraser, Billy Hamon, Edward Jewesbury.

This website is now in it’s 20th year – yes I’ve been furiously typing away here for over 19 years now – and before anyone accuses me of moaning about that, I’m not. Yes, I have been known to complain very occasionally :), but not at the moment! I’ve mostly enjoyed posting about Toyah’s amazingly eclectic career over the years. It’s been fascinating, fun, fulfilling, occasionally frustrating and fundamentally a fantastic hobby (lots of f’s from Fleming there!). I’ve been thinking about the future of this site, what with the absolute juggernaut onslaught of social media, one sometimes wonders if websites, particularly fansites, are a resource that is even needed anymore? I’m vaguely proud of keeping this site going as it proves I’m not as fickle as I thought. The only other thing I’ve stuck with for longer is being vegetarian. Almost 35 years of not eating animals. Veggies need to be louder and prouder in these ridiculous vegan-bashing times!!!

So with regards to all that I think Dreamscape is going to change. More streamlined, news-orientated/focused, and possibly a sporadic print version – sort of a back-to-basic newsletter type format – for people who aren’t completely living in a digital world. Watch this space!

Toyah is guesting on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends later this month.

Loose Ends: BBC Radio 4: Sat 13th April: 6.15pm
Loose Ends: BBC Radio 4: Mon 15th April: 11.30am
Emma Bunton, Toyah, Peter Doherty, Alex Rex, YolanDa Brown. Clive Anderson is joined by Emma Bunton and Toyah for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from Peter Doherty and Alex Rex.

• Visit the Loose Ends webpage at bbc.co.uk.

Holiday of My Lifetime: BBC2: Sunday 7th April: 12.50pm
Len Goodman takes celebrities back in time to recreate their childhood holidays. Len takes singer, actress and presenter Toyah Willcox back to the Llangollen Canal in North Wales to reminisce about a wonderful narrow boat holiday she had back in 1968. (Photos © Toyah Willcox/BBC)

Listen online at BBC Sounds to all six of Toyah’s In The Court Of The Crimson Queen radio interviews which aired on various BBC Radio stations last week.

Sensational is currently being played on numerous BBC radio shows.

BBC Radio Ulster: The Arts Show: 26.03.2019 – We look back at the enigmatic genius of Scott Walker, author Ayelet Gundar-Goshen on her new book ‘Liar’, Toyah Willcox is back on tour and Carmel tips her favourite new TV releases. Listen at BBC Sounds for the next month.

BBC Radio Guernsey: Jenny Kendall-Tobias Show: 27.03.2019 – John Randall is in conversation with celebrity guest Toyah Willcox. She talks about her album “In the Court of the Crimson Queen” and remembers the time she visited Sark. Listen at BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio Kent: The Dominic King Show: 27.03.2019 – Toyah, Paul Hendy and The Kent Sessions with L. Norton – Join Dom for The Arts, Life in Kent, Live Music and Conversation. Listen at BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio Cornwall: David White Show: 28.03.2019 – Toyah discusses her new album and looks back on her classic hits from the early 80s. Listen at BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio Derby: Steve Jordan Show: 28.03.2019 – Join Steve for showbiz and TV conversation, as well as a round-up of the day’s news. Listen at BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio Wales: Eleri Sion Show: 29.03.2019 – Punk legend Toyah talks about her latest release, film guru Gary Slaymaker reviews the new “Dumbo” and baker Nick McLeod is in the Foodie Friday kitchen. Listen at BBC Sounds.

Toyah Willcox: The things that have remained constant are originality and energy

Almost 40 years after Toyah Willcox first appeared on Top Of The Pops, the ever-busy Birmingham-born performer is set to join other stars of the 80s at the Forever Young festival in Co Kildare this summer. Lorraine Wylie caught up with her

Toyah Willcox is a woman of many talents, proving her skill as an actress, producer, author, singer and songwriter in the past four decades. But for diehard music fans, she is best known as the ‘princess of punk’.

Between 1979 and 1981 her band Toyah released their first three studio albums, Sheep Farming in Barnet, The Blue Meaning and Anthem; it was the latter that truly launched Willcox into the spotlight and, as well as spawning hits such as I Want To Be Free and It’s A Mystery, earned her a gold disc.

This summer, fans will have an opportunity to hear material from Willcox’s most recent album, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, when she joins a host of other stars of her era at the Forever Young Festival in Co Kildare. With that Irish visit in the pipeline and a British tour about to kick off, I caught up with the star who told me why, at 60, she still loves performing and what inspires her music today.

“I love doing live festivals,” she said. “The summer has arrived, the weather is great and you’re performing outside. It’s a fabulous way to communicate your music. I’m very much looking forward to coming to Ireland. There’s such a strong cultural identity there and I get such a warm welcome. My music is very much for my audiences who have travelled with me for the past 42 years.

“Although, I say that but when I look out at my audiences, they’re all under the age of 25. Today, I’m writing from the perspective of my age. I’m not interested in a historic perspective. My lyrics are a nod to things I experience at this age.”

• Continue reading at The Irish News. (Photo © Official Toyah)

In The Court Of The Crimson Queen is reviewed in the latest issue of Classic Pop magazine (Issue 51, April 2019)

Issue 51 of Classic Pop is on sale now!

Available from WHSmith, Tesco, independent newsagents, Tesco Ireland and Easons, the new issue of Classic Pop is on sale now!

This month, we have an exclusive interview with Bananarama‘s Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward as they return with their first new studio album in a decade. We also meet iconic duo Hall & Oates before their UK arena tour and talk to Gary Numan as part of our look into the superfan phenomenon.

Our packed new album reviews section includes Bananarama, Edwyn Collins, Toyah, Andy Bell and The Chemical Brothers. On the reissues front, we revisit New Order‘s debut Movement plus re-releases from Prince, Kate Bush, R.E.M, David Bowie and more.

Celebrity Fantasy Homes: Home: Thursday 11th April: 1.50am
Toyah (Series 2, Episode 2). Celebrities hunt for a new home. Gaby Roslin helps the original punk-pop princess Toyah Willcox search for a second home, in Richmond upon Thames, with a budget of £650,000.

Toyah will be joining Jeremy Vine on his panel on Tuesday 2nd April in front of a live studio audience for the recording of his show on Channel 5. To be a part of the audience for free, you can email: jvaudience@itn.co.uk – Or text “AUDIENCE TUE2” to 85525.

The show is in Farringdon in Central London starting at 8am and finishing at 10:30am.

Jeremy Vine: Channel 5: Tuesday 2nd April: 9.15am
Jeremy Vine discusses and dissects the latest news, views and opinions, with co-host Storm Huntley helping on the live phone-ins. Today’s panel guests include Toyah Willcox.

Toyah will guest on David White’s show on BBC Radio Cornwall tomorrow morning.

Toyah Willcox (28/03/2019) Toyah discusses her new album and looks back on her classic hits from the early 80s.

• The three-hour show begins airing at 9am tomorrow morning and can be listened to online here.

Toyah will guest on The Dominic King Show on BBC Radio Kent this evening.

Toyah, Paul Hendy and The Kent Sessions with L. Norton The Dominic King Show – Join Dom for The Arts, Life in Kent, Live Music and Conversation.

• The three-hour show begins airing at 6pm this evening and can be listened to online here.

Toyah guested on BBC Radio Ulster’s The Arts Show yesterday.

26/03/2019 – We look back at the enigmatic genius of Scott Walker, author Ayelet Gundar-Goshen on her new book ‘Liar’, Toyah Willcox is back on tour and Carmel tips her favourite new TV releases.

Toyah talks punk/rebellion, her audience at gigs, imagery, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, plus short plays of Sensational and Dance In The Hurricane. There’s also a tribute to the legendary Scott Walker, who died on Friday.

• The interview begins at approximately 6m 45s into the show, after a burst of It’s A Mystery. Listen at BBC Sounds for the next month.

• Crimson Queen Interviews: Toyah has given numerous press and radio interviews for In The Court Of The Crimson Queen‘s release. I’ve linked to a few of the radio interviews which have aired yesterday and today. Keep an eye and ear out for further soon…

• Sparkling Songs Fit For A Queen: Edinburgh Evening News/Scotsman journalist Liam Rudden recently reviewed In The Court Of The Crimson Queen and has also just interviewed Toyah. He tweeted a photo of the album press pack, as well as a new ITCOTCQ photo of Toyah. See both below. (Photos © Liam Rudden & Official Toyah)

• London Celebrity Sighting: Toyah was “papped” arriving at BBC Radio’s studios in London yesterday – See a selection of photos…

• Action Medical Las Vegas Night: Toyah was Special Guest at this charity event in Peterborough last Friday night. The audience took numerous “selfies” with Toyah – See a selection of photos…

Telepathic Lover, the second track from Toyah’s forthcoming album In The Court of the Crimson Queen is available now! Re-imagined, remixed and remastered.

If you pre-order the album via the iTunes store (for a special pre-order price of £4.99), the new track is available as an instant download. Or it’s available to stream now via Spotify. Click below for In The Court Of The Crimson Queen at iTunes.

Toyah at Twitter yesterday: “It’s gone crazy! 30 interviews in 2 days…. OMG SENSATIONAL is on BBC RADIO NORTHAMPTON“.

Toyah hits the road in autumn 2019 to celebrate and perform material from her newly re-imagined double album ‘In The Court Of The Crimson Queen’, released 12 April 2019. The album, written and arranged by Toyah Wilcox and Simon Darlow, presents a collection of finely honed songcraft, killer hooks and brings together two lifetimes of performing, writing and producing music.

The live dates will see the accomplished live performer present songs from the album including lead single ‘Sensational’ and epic album opener ‘Dance In The Hurricane’ alongside instantly recognisable classics from her revered catalogue of hit singles including ‘It’s A Mystery’, ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ ‘Good Morning Universe’ and ‘Brave New World’,  live favourites and renowned album tracks. Simon Darlow will also join Toyah on stage at some of the tour dates.

• Continue reading at Brighton & Hove News.

Toyah tweeted yesterday: “In The Court Of The Crimson Queen RSD19 vinyl looks SENSATIONAL“. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)

Liam Rudden: Dancing in the hurricane with the Crimson Queen

When Toyah Willcox sings that she danced in the hurricane, drums driving a hypnotic rhythm in the background, you can just picture the scene.

So opens In The Court of The Crimson Queen, her new studio album, reimagined from an earlier release of the same name with five brand new tracks added, including the opener of Act I, Dance In The Hurricane. And what an opener it is. Raw, emotional and with an entrancing narrative, this old-school floor filler finds the singer still on the top of her game. With an irresistible beat and simple but effective hook, Toyah’s message remains as simple and clear as it has always been Be Loud, Be Heard, Be Proud.

Split into two acts – Act I has eight tracks, Act II another seven – In The Court of The Crimson Queen is the result of a collaboration with co-writer and producer Simon Darlow, he also plays all the instruments. The title, a nod to her husband, King Crimson’s Robert Fripp.

Willcox and Darlow first wrote together as far back as 1978 and influences of their previous hits Rebel Run and Don’t Fall In Love hover like ghosts throughout this release. The second track of Act I, Sensational, is a punchy uplifting bundle of joy that, like Dance In The Hurricane, is sure to become an anthem in its own right, if it hasn’t already.

• Continue reading at the Edinburgh Evening News.

Photos from last Friday night’s Acoustic, Up Close & Personal Toyah date at the West End Centre, Aldershot. Please click below to view larger versions of the photos at Dreamscape’s Toyah Gallery. (Thanks to Angus | Photos © Angus Turner)