Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah Willcox: ‘Relax? I have no idea what the word means’

The musician on her white rabbit, giving advice and still holding hands with her husband after 32 years

Born in Birmingham, Toyah Willcox, 60, appeared in Derek Jarman’s 1978 film Jubilee, and Quadrophenia in 1979. Her early hit singles included It’s A Mystery and I Want To Be Free, and by 1982 she had made two platinum-selling albums.

She has just released a new studio reworking of her album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, and is currently on tour in the UK. She is married and lives in Worcestershire.

When were you happiest? Between 2007 and 2016, I had a large white rabbit called WillyFred. I was happiest pressing my ear to his fur and hearing his heart beat.

What is your greatest fear? Living in an environment of banality.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I am disproportionately ambitious.

• Continue reading at The Guardian.

• Record Store Day 2019: The In The Court Of The Crimson Queen translucent coloured vinyl is on sale now, at selected record stores for Record Store Day 2019.

• Record Store Day: Exclusively to Record Store Day 2019, Demon Records proudly present a re-imagining of Toyah’ s 2008 album release. Toyah and producer/co-writer Simon Darlow have remixed and added instrumentation to all the songs. These mixes appear for the first time on vinyl, and this release will also have completely new artwork. Pressed on Translucent Purple 180g Vinyl – Visit the Crimson Queen vinyl page…

• Behind The Scenes: Album release day exclusive photo: A second photo, from the new In The Court Of The Crimson Queen photo shoot, by Tony Levin was made available on the album’s release day – See it at Instagram…

• Super Deluxe Edition TV: The BIG Record Store Day unboxing video preview – Music fans will not have failed to notice that tomorrow is Record Store Day, the day when lots of releases (almost entirely vinyl) are available exclusively from independent record shops around the world. Keeping with SDE tradition, we now present a special video preview of some of the best releases… Including the fantastic In The Court Of The Crimson Queen coloured vinyl (from 22.15 – 23.10)

• Amazon Charts: On its CD release day, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen was high up in the Amazon and iTunes album sales charts. Below is a screenshot (taken yesterday) of the Best Sellers in Pop Rock, with Crimson Queen at no. 3.

Recording of this week’s Loose Ends took place at BBC Radio yesterday. Toyah tweeted a couple of photos while there, including this one below with Emma Bunton. Loose Ends airs this evening at 6.15pm on BBC Radio 4 and is repeated on Monday at 11.30am. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)

Toyah’s message on the day her new reimagined double album In The Court of The Crimson Queen is released – Friday 12 April 2019. Out now as 2-CD, digital download & streaming. Out Saturday 13 April as limited edition coloured vinyl for RSDUK. Watch below or at You Tube.

It’s no mystery as to why Toyah Willcox, who recently celebrated her 60th birthday, looks and sounds amazing.

“I don’t drink, I don’t overeat, I drink lots of water and en route to shows I travel alone so I don’t have to speak to anyone,” said Toyah, who is visiting Inverness later this month. Her show at The Ironworks, Inverness, on Saturday April 27, is one of four Scottish gigs she is undertaking as part of her Thunder In The Highlands Tour.

“It must be at least 10 years since I was in Inverness, that time starring in Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock,” said Toyah, who is celebrating a landmark anniversary this year.

It’s 40 years since her music career took off and she released her first single and studio album. She, and her full electric band, will play tracks from it at the show, which celebrates her hit singles, album classics and fan favourites.

“The show will see me travel through punk, new wave and into the present day which results in a pretty high-energy show,” said Toyah.

• Continue reading at The Press & Journal.

Toyah guests on Mark Carter’s show on Sunday, airing on BBC Radio Sussex and BBC Radio Surrey at 3pm.

Mark Carter Show: BBC Radio Sussex:
Sunday 14th April: 3pm
Special Guest: Toyah – Laid Back Sunday – Great music, special guests and local features.

• Listen live at the BBC Sussex & Surrey website, and post-airing at BBC Sounds.

• A Crimson Weekend: It’s the beginning of In The Court Of The Crimson Queen‘s release weekend. The 2CD, Digital and Streaming are out today and the Vinyl album goes on sale tomorrow via selected record stores.

• Music News: Win 1 of 3 Toyah CDs: Toyah will release a revelatory and accomplished new studio reworking of her album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen on 12 April 2019 – Continue reading/Enter competition…

• Gigantic: Spotlight On: Record Store Day 2019: Returning to her 2008 album ‘In The Court Of The Crimson Queen’, Toyah re-imagines the record with remastered versions of the tracks, added instrumentalism, new artwork and on vinyl for the very first time! Toyah will be appearing at Rock And Bike Fest 2019 plus joining the fantastic roster of acts on the Let’s Rock – The Retro Winter Tour in addition to playing her own headline dates throughout the year – Continue reading…

• Dreamscape News: Browse our recent In The Court Of The Crimson Queen news and related posts here…

• In The Court Of The Crimson Queen 2CD digipak. 15 tracks, 24-page booklet. Out today! A beautifully packaged album and a great addition to that Toyah CD collection.

The Official Toyah Instagram is in full Crimson Queen mode this morning…

Phil Marriott spoke to 80s punk pop icon Toyah Willcox to find out more about her new album ‘In The Court Of The Crimson Queen’: her collaboration with long-time co-wroter Simon Darlow, who worked on her albums ‘Love Is The Law’ and ‘Minx’. Watch below or at You Tube.

1st April 1981: Bucks Fizz, Talking Heads, Kim Wilde, Toyah, Shakin’ Stev…
Who is more than a little miffed about his pet red-kneed tarantula, Doris, who’s gone off her daily diet of locusts and appears terribly ill? Which band are Phil Oakey Human League’s favourite group? Win a Ferguson Videostar 3V22 video cassette recorder in the Smash Hits/Visage video competition! It’s all here in this week’s Chart Trivia on 1st April 1981! Starring Bucks Fizz, Talking Heads, Kim Wilde, Toyah, Shakin’ Stevens, Ultravox and a cast of thousands!

Viewers in the Midlands can catch Toyah every Tuesday throughout March/April as she co/hosts BBC Birmingham’s Look Hear with #ChrisPhipps. Toyah is also filming an episode for Tales of the Unexpected – A story called Blue Marigolds, in which she will play a character called Myra. The Four From Toyah EP, containing It’s A Mystery, is down two places to no.6 and the album Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! is down eight places to no.30! All this and more trivia in this week’s Retro Chart Trivia show – listen below!

• Continue reading/Listen to the Retro Chart Trivia podcast at iTunes.

Toyah at Twitter: “So excited that IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON QUEEN is out tomorrow. It’s been a fantastic journey. I hope u love it xxx“.

Toyah’s newly published blog – including another previously unseen In The Court Of The Crimson Queen photo + a behind-the-scenes shot by Tony Levin – is available to read at toyahwillcox.com. (Photo © Official Toyah)

HELLO FROM THE CRIMSON QUEEN! What an extraordinary month it has been. IT’S GONE CRAZY!

THANK YOU to everyone for pre-ordering IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON QUEEN and placing it at NO.1 in most of the Amazon Pre-order charts, that was a fantastic beginning to this albums journey. It has been non-stop ever since.

I have been averaging 15 interviews a day and requests are still coming in, it looks like the promo train will be carrying on for a few months……radio/TV/newspapers…..every spare minute is filled.

Hurricane Toyah makes the cover of The Guide in today’s Edinburgh Evening News. (Thanks to Liam Rudden/Toyah)

The Official Toyah Twitter is ready for the In The Court Of The Crimson Queen releases…

In The Court Of The Crimson Queen is released on 2CD, Download and Streaming tomorrow. Pre-order is available for the stonkingly bargain price of just £4.99 from iTunes. Here is another new photo of Toyah from the Crimson Queen photo shoot.  (Photo © Official Toyah)

Edinburgh fans will be first to hear Toyah’s new songs live

It wouldn’t be wrong to introduce Toyah Willcox as an iconic 80’s pop star but such a tag tells a very small part of her story.

Actress, presenter, author, it was in the late-70s that the then ‘punk princess’ first exploded onto the music scene with the EP Sheep Farming In Barnet. The albums Blue Meaning, Anthem, The Changeling, Minx and Love Is The Law all followed, along with many more.

Her latest album, In The Court of the Crimson Queen, released on Friday 12 April, brings the singer/songwriter back to Edinburgh for her first headline gig in the Capital since selling out The Playhouse in 1982.

n the intervening years, of course, Toyah has been no stranger to the city, appearing in numerous ‘Best of the 80s’ tours as well as starring in the play Picasso’s Women at the Festival and in musicals such as Calamity Jane.

Consequently, it’s clear the diminutive powerhouse performer is looking forward to returning on 25 April to play The Liquid Room.

• Continue reading at the Edinburgh Evening News.

There’s more from Toyah today, on Tammy Gooding’s show on BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester.

Tammy Gooding Show: BBC Hereford & Worcester:
Wednesday 10th April: 1pm
More from Toyah and Malvern’s ‘Octopus Soup’. Top celebrities, theatre, film and great music – including the ‘Top Ten From When?’

• Listen live at the BBC Hereford and Worcester website, and post-airing at BBC Sounds. Listen to Toyah guesting on Tammy’s show yesterday, at BBC Sounds, here.

Toyah is the cover star of Issue 47/April 7th 2019, digital magazine Scene Alba, with a one-page interview inside + another new In The Court Of The Crimson Queen photo.

Toyah’s album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen is out 12 April. She plays gigs at Edinburgh Liquid Room (25 April), Dundee Church (26 April), Inverness Ironworks (27 April) & Glasgow Classic Grand (28 April).

We did a quick fire Q&A with her where she had to give us the answer that first came into her head.

What got you into music?
The Sound Of Music. The Movie.

First song you heard that really moved you?
Fly Away Peter Fly Away Paul… Cliff Richard… I was 7 yrs old.

Last lie you told?
My lies usually start with: “That’s really interesting… Thank you”.

• Continue reading Toyah’s interview with Scene Alba online here.

Due to phenomenal demand Toyah’s Thunder In The Highlands Glasgow gig on 28th April has been upgraded to the Classic Grand venue! Original tickets remain valid.

Come early to catch the awesome Joe Bone & The Dark Vibes! If you still need a ticket click here.

Toyah has announced a series of four Scottish gigs in April 2019. Thunder In The Highlands Tour 2019 will play Edinburgh, Dundee, Inverness and Glasgow.

The year 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of her music career as Toyah released her first ever single and studio album in 1979.

This concert –with her full electric band– is one of four exclusive Scottish dates that will be a celebratory retrospective including hit singles, album classics and fan favourites.

25 APRIL – EDINBURGH LIQUID ROOM | 26 APRIL – DUNDEE CHURCH | 27 APRIL – INVERNESS IRONWORKS | 28 APRIL – GLASGOW CLASSIC GRAND

Gary Shail Brings You Quadrophenia 40th Birthday Party

We are delighted to announce that our latest confirmed guest for Quad 40 is the fantastic Toyah Willcox who played the part of Monkey. Toyah joins Gary Shail, Trevor Laird, Leslie Ash and Carol Harrison (so far!) confirmed names – with more to follow!

2019 is the 40th anniversary of the movie Quadrophenia. The 25th August heralds the biggest single collection of cast and crew to celebrate this seminal movie. Gary Shail ( Spider) is proud to present the ultimate “Quadrophenia Experience” at Brighton’s Palace Pier.

• Further info/Book tickets at the Quad 40 website. (Thanks to Layne Patterson)

Enjoy an exclusive Toyah TV Interview filmed in 2019. This is her HD life story interview recorded around the release of her new album. Watch below, at the Celebrity Radio website or You Tube.