Great recent photos of, Toyah’s legendary warehouse, Mayhem, near Battersea in London. Please click below to view larger versions of these and more. (Thanks to Dan Greensmith for sharing these photos with Dreamscape’s readers)
Thanks to Andrew McDougall for letting Dreamscape know about his latest radio show, which aired on “Radio Today” in South Africa on Wednesday. Andrew included info on The Humans and a play of the wonderful Amnesia, and it’s available to listen to as a podcast.
Canon Piper responds to listeners requests. The short story “”Willem Prinsloos peach brandy”” by one of South Africa’s greatest writers, Herman Charles Bosman, is read, along with a short bio and a song of the English rock band The Humans. Kensington has Scottish and English roots. We are still blessed to have the Scottish Pipers practice every Sunday right within our midst, and of course we have the Kensington Castle. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485 AM in Johannesburg and nationally on DStv audio channel 869. Radio Today also streams on its website www.1485.org.za and on cell phones on 1485.mobi. Radio Today. Radio that delivers.
• Listen to the show at Podomatic.
100 Greatest Toys with Jonathan Ross: Channel 4: Saturday 13th December: 6pm
100 Greatest Toys with Jonathan Ross: 4Seven: Sunday 14th December: 4pm
A countdown of the nation’s favourite games, gadgets and playthings, as decided by a Channel 4 online poll. Inventors and toymakers tell the inside stories of their creations and successes – including Action Man, Yahtzee, Barbie and Trivial Pursuit – while the children of yesteryear, namely today’s celebrities, authors, actors and journalists, take a nostalgic look back at the toys they loved. Also revealed is the inspiration behind the design of the Raleigh Chopper, the unlikely individual responsible for the creation of one of the world’s toughest action figures, and why the Vietnam War almost brought Britain’s Matchbox car range to an end. (Toyah appears briefly, via 1981 “Rubik Cube” footage)
We like to call it our seasonal selection box – perfect Christmas TV to dip into for those melting musical moments. It’s pure indulgence but these are sweet treats to keep you entertained throughout the festivities. Unwrap and savour shows including Toyah’s Christmas at the Zoo, A Very Vintage Christmas, Christmas in the Studio – with Martine McCutcheon and Michael Ball introducing performing artists Nerina Pallot, Beverley Craven, Paul Carrack and Jive Bunny – Pat Sharp’s Christmas Top 20, Toyah’s Vintage Christmas and a host of Christmassy song selections. There are goodies galore for everyone to share in our programming pic ‘n’ mix!
• Continue reading at Vintage TV. Check out our recent Vintage TV Toyah news.
A new date has been confirmed for The Humans Telling Strange Tales 2015 UK Tour. The band will play Gloucester Guildhall on Tuesday 14th April.
• View more details on the tour and ticket links here.
Christmas Eve 2012, Toyah guested on Marlow FM’s “Musical Milestones” on The Eclectic Light Show. She discussed her life and career and chose six songs along the way.
As this aired on Christmas Eve and the station didn’t have a Listen Again function I recorded it and uploaded to Dreamscape a low quality mp3 of the 30-minute special. Click below to listen/download.
More upcoming air times/dates for Toyah’s Vintage TV festive specials. (Photo © Vintage TV)
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Sunday 7th December: 1am
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Wednesday 10th December: 11pm
Cosy up with family and friends as Toyah Willcox brings you a selection of fine Christmas songs and a sprinkling of festive stories, surrounded by a variety of creatures great and small. (This originally aired as a two-hour special. These are cut-down one hour programmes)
Toyah’s Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Friday 5th December: 1pm
Toyah’s Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Friday 12th December: 7pm
Snuggle down by the fire with the family as punk princess, Toyah Willcox, introduces some of the finest Christmas videos of the 20th Century, sprinkled with a generous handful of fun festive facts.
Toyah is mentioned in a recent Daily Mail article, on the past century of hairstyles being captured in a time lapse video.
1970s: “At the beginning of the 1970’s a dark natural blonde look remained popular, inspired by Farrah Fawcett from the cult series ‘Charlies Angels’. Hair was all about manes of free-falling curls, soft partings and long fringes completed by bronzed skin. However by the end of the era with the ‘Punk’ movement, women like Toyah Willcox started to experiment with hair colour. For the first time we saw vivid primary or fluorescent hair colours emerging.”
• Continue reading at the Daily Mail.
Two retro radio interviews with Toyah from the early 1980s have just been transcribed by The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive: Radio Reading (1982) and Piccadilly Radio (1983). (Thanks to Lärwi for making these available)
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip: Yesterday: Wednesday 17th December: 9am
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip: Yesterday: Wednesday 17th December: 4pm
DJ Tony Blackburn and punk rocker Toyah Willcox take to the road, scouring the shops of York and Pickering in the hope of finding some poptastic period pieces to flog at auction. (Also airing on Yesterday +1)
More festive Toyah viewing from the fantastic Vintage TV channel. (Photo © Vintage TV)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Sunday 14th December: 1am
Presenters Toyah Willcox and Wizzard’s Roy Wood are cosying up by the fireplace with two guest artists on our new show as they talk Christmas and sing favourite festive songs. (Part 1)
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Sunday 14th December: 10am
Snuggling up by the fireside with Toyah Willcox and Roy Wood for some Christmas chat and festive songs are pop rock act The Feeling and Imagination’s Leee John. (Part 2)
Toyah didn’t release any new music in 1984 but ‘Smash Hits’ still included her in their special extra issue – The Smash Hits Christmas Party, published in association with Woolworth – in December 1984: Will You Be Watching The Queen’s Speech? When you jump up after the Christmas Top Of The Pops, is it to stand to attention for Her Majesty or a mad dash to switch off the TV? We asked a selection of pop stars if they’d be tuning in to that speech… Click below to view a larger version – Read the full issue here. (Thanks to Like Punk Never Happened – Smash Hits Archive)
The Digital Advent at The Official Toyah Willcox Website has started today. Check every day in the lead up to Christmas – “Surprises in store”.
The Breaking Through newsletter has today confirmed more live dates for Toyah. These are in addition to the Acoustic and Humans tours and includes festivals and multi-artist concerts.
• Subscribe: For full info on all of the above, and to receive future issues of the newsletter, sign up to ‘Breaking Through’ here.
Welcome to December! It’s the first of our build-up/countdown to Christmas posts. There’s no particular theme this year, other than each entry will be Christmas/Toyah related. Beginning with a look back at some of Dreamscape’s previous Christmas “cards” posted on the site on various Christmas Eve’s over the years. Ah the memories. I particularly enjoyed updating Dreamscape at Christmas… December was always a ridiculously busy month and updating each day seemed to add to the excitement of the countdown to the 25th!
More upcoming air times/dates for Toyah’s Vintage TV festive special.
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Wednesday 3rd December: 5pm
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Sunday 7th December: 1am
Cosy up with family and friends as Toyah Willcox brings you a selection of fine Christmas songs and a sprinkling of festive stories, surrounded by a variety of creatures great and small. (This originally aired as a two-hour special. These are cut-down one hour programmes)
FM: 4Music: Thursday 4th December: 10.30pm
System Addict. Jane dares Dom to quit drinking, he challenges her to stop smoking and Lyndsay is set the task of finding a girlfriend. Including guest appearances by the Toyah Willcox and the Wombats, who perform My Circuitboard City. Comedy, starring Chris O’Dowd, Kevin Bishop and Nina Sosanya.
• Toyah Live 2015: As well as the Acoustic, Up Close & Personal and Telling Strange Tales (The Humans) tours in 2015, Toyah already has a number of other live dates in her gig diary – View the full schedule, so far, at toyahwillcox.com…
• Toyah TV: An update, from Toyah, on the awesome WillyFred – View here…
• Longridge & Ribble Valley News: ‘I said: ‘I want a record deal! How do you do it?’: Hazel O’Connor mentions Toyah in another new interview – Hazel was among those guesting for The Stranglers over two nights at London’s Rainbow Theatre, alongside her friend Toyah Willcox. “They asked a few of us to do a couple of Stranglers songs, and I did (Get a) Grip (On Yourself) and Hanging Around, while Toyah did Duchess and something else. Toyah and myself also did backing vocals for Ian Dury, and lots of singers and guitarists played” – Continue reading…
• Get Reading: Bracknell Memories: Christmas lights switch-ons past: 2007: 80s star Toyah Willcox performed to a bustling Charles Square. The highlight was her cover of the Guns N Roses classic ‘Sweet Child O Mine’. At one point, the crowd performed an impressive Mexican wave – Continue reading…
• Never Mind The Buzzcocks: An episode of the, once great, quiz from 1998 – with Toyah guesting – View at You Tube…
• Toyah Live 2012/2013: Watch The Changeling Resurrection at Bush Hall, London and Love Is The Law & More at Concorde 2, Brighton. (Thanks to Lärwi, of The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive, for taking the time to film, compile and upload these).
• Record Collector Mag @ Twitter: “RC starting the day with Toyah’s Anthem. Now there was a band!” – Visit the magazine’s Twitter feed…
It will soon be December, which for me is the start of the Christmas season. This is Dreamscape’s 15th Christmas so look out for (or avoid if Christmas isn’t your thing) lots of Toyah related festive updates throughout the month in the lead up to the 25th. Content from Christmasses past of course but some new additions too…
Wednesday 3rd December, 5.00pm – Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo
Presenter Toyah Willcox wraps up warm for a trip to London Zoo, where she gets up close and personal with the animals, tells Christmas stories and introduces a host of favourite festive songs. Take a wander with our punk princess and bring a little creature comfort to your celebrations.
• Continue reading at Vintage TV. Check out Toyah’s full, so far, Vintage TV schedule.
Choccywoccydoodah: Watch: Thursday 11th December: 8.30pm
Choccywoccydoodah: Watch: Sunday 14th December: 8pm
Show Business. Another morsel from the ultimate chocolate shop. Tom and Christine make their live TV debut on Sunday Brunch, and Dave creates a chocolate replica of Toyah. (Part 6, New Episode) – Thanks to Gina Glockler.
