Bird In Flight, the lead song from Toyah’s Double-A Side single – along with Tribal Look – and very first Toyah release of the 1980’s, is included on an upcoming new 4CD compilation.
Heaven Sent – The Rise Of New Pop 1979 – 1983, will be released on 28th July, with Bird In Flight included on CD1.
The compilation boasts a wealth of great late 70s/early 80s bands and artists, including: Soft Cell, The Cure, The Human League, Tears For Fears, Altered Images, Eurythmics, Grace Jones, The Clash, The Associates, Japan, Teardrop Explodes, Hazel O’Connor, The Jam, Madness, Godley & Creme (who directed two Toyah videos in 1981) and many more.
Sounds Like The 80s: More4: Tuesday 11th June: 10pm
Ken Bruce brings together 1980s icons to create the ultimate mixtape of the era. With song selections from Midge Ure, Jazzie B, Toyah Willcox, Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan.
11 dates – one already sold out – from Toyah & Robert. The six-date Rock Party Tour, and five festivals, including Glastonbury and Isle Of Wight. Have you got your tickets yet? Click below.
Toyah’s Sack The Stylist?! Top 30: NOW 80s: Thursday 30th May: 5pm
Pop legend Toyah brings 30 memorable videos featuring a cavalcade of clothing calamities from superstars including Visage, Five Star, Divine, Cher, The Jam, Bananarama, Dead Or Alive, Bucks Fizz, ABC, Depeche Mode, David Bowie, Madonna, Adam & The Ants, A Flock Of Seagulls, Roxy Music, Kajagoogoo, Duran Duran, Grace Jones, Su Pollard, Toyah herself and more in this crazy countdown!
Over the years – almost 25 years now!! – I’ve occasionally posted here about cover versions of Toyah songs, and here’s the latest… Now some may think this is a little outlandish but there’s no denying this is someone who knows their Toyah songs and the importance of an eye-catching image! A riot of colour for Four From 1981!
• NME: Watch Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox cover Iggy & the Stooges’ ‘Search & Destroy’: Their latest Sunday Lunch instalment sees Willcox licking the face of the King Crimson guitarist – Continue…
• Classic Rock/Louder: Things are hotting up in the Worcestershire kitchen of Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp: Robert Fripp and Toyah’s Sunday Lunch returns with a blast through the Stooges’ Search And Destroy – Continue…
• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert cover The Stooges “Search and Destroy” – Continue…
• Consequence: Robert Fripp and Toyah Lick Their Way Through Iggy & The Stooges “Search and Destroy”: The frisky couple offer a salivating rendition of the proto-punk classic – Continue…
• Turn Up The Volume: Toyah & Robert Search And Destroy The Stooges In Their Kitchen – Continue…
• Yahoo!: Robert Fripp and Toyah Lick Their Way Through Iggy & The Stooges “Search and Destroy” – Continue…
• Brave Words: Robert Fripp & Toyah Perform Iggy & The Stooges “Search & Destroy” In Ongoing Sunday Lunch Series – Continue…
• Y!Entertainment/Louder: Things are hotting up in the Worcestershire kitchen of Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp – Continue…
The first series of The Older Woman, the six-part radio drama which was originally broadcast in 1993, is currently airing again on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Toyah plays Elsa, alongside Martun Clunes and Zoë Wanamaker as Roy and Jane in this excellent, and slightly surreal, drama by Tony Bagley. Toyah also performs the theme song to The Older Woman.
The series, produced by Paul Schlesinger, also features David Troughton, Geoff McGivern, David Holt, Keith Drinkel and Melanie Hudson in a variety of roles.
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Friday 7th June: 7am/12pm/6pm The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 8th June: 2am Episode 4 of 6. Roy tries to impress Jane with some campaigning local journalism. Stars Zoe Wanamaker, Martin Clunes and Toyah Willcox. From February 1993.
Celebrity Fantasy Homes: Really: Saturday 8th June: 6am 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.
There is now less than three weeks until the first date of Toyah & Robert’s Rock Party Summer Tour. See the dates for their Summer and Christmas tours at toyahwillcox.com. Click below for direct links to buy tickets for each of the forthcoming Summer dates.
Toyah’s first solo album ”Minx” was released in July 1985 on CBS’s label Portrait Records (home at the time to Cyndi Lauper), presenting a sophisticated sound and image for Toyah Willcox who to date had enjoyed eight top 75 singles and five studio albums with the band “Toyah”.
Originally recorded in 1984, this very special 40th Anniversary set expands the album into a deluxe 2CD edition for the first time. Pre-order now
CD1 features the original album with two bonus tracks originally available on the 1985 cassette & CD formats only plus two non-album B-Sides, two extended 12” versions, and a 12” remix.
CD2 contains 16 rarities of which 14 are previously unreleased, including:
• The unheard album session demo “The Fight” and previously unreleased 7” Remix of third single “World In Action”.
• Two previously unreleased home demos of Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” and Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out”, recorded by Toyah and Joel Bogen in the spring 1984.
• Two previously unreleased instrumental demos of “All In A Rage” and “Snow Covers The Kiss” recorded by Joel Bogen.
• Eight previously unreleased Backing Tracks of “Minx” songs, retaining their distinctive backing vocals by Toyah.
• The two CDs are presented in brand new seven-inch deluxe gatefold packaging. An 8-page booklet features rare photos by Terence Donovan and Curator’s Notes by Toyah archivist Craig Astley detailing the origins of the bonus tracks and rarities.
”Minx” was produced by Christopher Neil, with a musician line-up featuring Peter Van Hooke, Ian Wherry and Adrian Lee who made up the majority of Mike Rutherford’s Mike + The Mechanics. The rhythm section of Killing Joke guested on a cover of “School’s Out”. Toyah collaborator Simon Darlow played keyboards and co-wrote several tracks including lead single “Don’t Fall In Love (I Said)”. The album also features unique readings of Latin Quarter’s “America For Beginners” and Rare Bird’s “Sympathy”, the latter being the first time Toyah would be heard accompanied by an orchestra.
• Visit toyahwillcox.com for the full release info, images and tracklist. Pre-order Minx from your favourite online music store now. The 2020 translucent red vinyl reissue of Minx is also available from Amazon. See Toyah announce the release on Toyah At Home.
Stir it up! Mix it up! Shake it up! Myself and Sharon – both longtime Toyah fans – took the leap to Edinburgh last week for a day of Warrior Rocking. We met up in Scotland’s capital to celebrate the reissue of the magnificent Warrior Rock album and also to mark Toyah’s birthday. It was a brilliant day, a lot of fun, walking, eating and talking Toyah! Toyah! and more Toyah! Watch this space for our next day out!
Pershore’s own Toyah Willcox to perform at Evesham’s Regal Cinema
Pershore’s own Toyah Willcox is set for a return to the area at the Regal Cinema.
The punk rock singer will perform at the Evesham venue on Saturday, June 15 alongside her husband and King Crimson member, Robert Fripp. Willcox and Fripp’s Rock Party will be performing a range of rock classics on the Regal Stage following the viral success of their popular web series ‘Sunday Lunch’. Willcox said: “We can’t wait to rock you out.”
The first series of The Older Woman, the six-part radio drama which was originally broadcast in 1993, is currently airing again on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Toyah plays Elsa, alongside Martin Clunes and Zoë Wanamaker as Roy and Jane in this excellent, and slightly surreal, drama by Tony Bagley. Toyah also performs the theme song to The Older Woman.
The series, produced by Paul Schlesinger, also features David Troughton, Geoff McGivern, David Holt, Keith Drinkel and Melanie Hudson in a variety of roles.
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Friday 31st May: 7am/12pm/6pm The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 1st June: 2am Episode 3 of 6. Roy’s quest to insinuate himself further into Jane’s good books gets a new lease of life when she requests his help to save a tree. Stars Zoe Wanamaker, Martin Clunes and Toyah Willcox. From January 1993.
Guy Garvey – From The Vaults: Sky Arts: Tuesday 4th June: 8pm 1981. Series 3, episode 4. The Elbow frontman introduces clips from the TV archives from 1981, featuring performances by New Order, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Adam and the Ants, Kirsty MacColl, Kim Wilde and Toyah. Also featured are Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Madness, the Belle Stars, Dave Edmunds with the Stray Cats, and Secret Affair, and there are interviews with the Human League’s Philip Oakey, and Simon Le Bon and John Taylor from Duran Duran.
The 1981 POWER Hour!: NOW 80s: Tuesday 28th May: 1am
60 minutes of power pop & rock! Earplugs at the ready as we rewind to 1981 with Toyah, Genesis, Rick Springfield & Meat Loaf.
The Heritage Chart Show: North Wales TV: Friday 24th May: 5pm/11pm The Heritage Chart Show: Teeside TV: Saturday 25th May: 9am/12pm/5pm Special 100th Anniversary Edition. The Heritage Chart show is presented by Mike Read and features the top 40 heritage hits, voted on by people in 80+ countries across the globe. Including messages from many number 1 artists: Limahl, Paul Young, Gary Kemp, Right Said Fred, Kim Wilde, Boy George, Marty Wilde, Toyah, Dean Friedman, Mungo Jerry, Suzi Quatro Tony Hadley, Cliff Richard, Katrina, Nik Kershaw and many more! Visit theheritagechart.co.uk. (Airing on North Wales TV and Teeside TV simultaneously)
Bird In Flight, the lead song from Toyah’s Double-A Side single – along with Tribal Look – and very first Toyah release of the 1980’s, is included on an upcoming new 4CD compilation.
