I mentioned earlier in the year that Kylie seemed to be channeling her inner Toyah with this image. Thanks to Andi for this collection of photos which reinforces this further, and also for inventing “Toylie” – Copyright that name Andi ;)
Great footage of Toyah onstage at Islington Academy, London, last Saturday performing ‘Good Morning Universe’. Click below to view at You Tube. (Thanks to Damon King)
• More TCRII footage: Creepy Room at Glasgow’s Classic Grand (12th Oct – Thanks to Sharon Dickson) and It’s A Mystery at Islington Academy (20th Oct – Thanks again to Damon)
A new Toyah interview from the Dorset Echo.
Three decades after diminutive singer Toyah burst on to the mainstream with her crazy hair, post-punk outfits and strong, often mysterious, songs, she is back. Tonight Toyah is appearing at Bridport’s Electric Palace to perform all of her 1982 album The Changeling as well as songs from the live Warrior Rock album from the same year.
Changeling is credited as the album that gave the Goth movement a kick-start and although Goth music and style of dress is unfortunately much derided these days, Toyah is a staunch defender of the black nail varnish and velvet brigade.
“I won’t hear anything against Goths. A few years ago I toured with a musical called Vampires Rock and it had a massive support from people into Gothic music.”
• Continue reading at the Dorset Echo.
I know everyone is probably thoroughly bored with my mock Toyah adverts and Photoshopping of various other classic Toyah photos… but here’s another two anyway :)
• The Changeling Resurrection II at Islington Academy: ‘Danced’ at You Tube. (Thanks to Damon King)
• This is South Wales: Eighties is inspiration for Swansea DJ: A Swansea DJ is turning the tables to become the pop stars she plays on the radio in her new one woman show. In the show, Helen pays tribute to the rebellious female icons of the 1980s including Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde, Toyah Willcox, Hazel O’Connor, Annie Lennox and Cyndi Lauper.
• Friday Focus: John Stephenson Interview with Toyah Willcox: Toyah’s ‘Radio Verulam’ interview from last December is now available to listen to at Soundcloud.
• Dark Derek’s Deluge: Toyah & Guests 17th December 1981: Toyah on the Good Morning Universe: European Tour.
• The Ebony Tower: Richard Rodney Bennett: Film Music Pt. 11.
There’s a trio of great photos of Toyah at Giving To George’s.
Television presenter, singer and actress Toyah Willcox officially opened a new children’s art exhibition at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, on Friday, 19th October.
The exhibition, which is sponsored by Bedford Hill Gallery in Battersea, is a collection of paintings donated by children in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Continue reading at Giving To George’s.
The Spring 2013 dates for the UK Tour of Hormonal Housewives, starring Toyah, have just been added to the HH website.
There are visits to: Bromley, Brighton, Birmingham, Southport, Woking, Crawley, Swansea, Barnstaple, Wolverhampton, Cardiff, Milton Keynes, Guildford, Liverpool, Wimbledon, Epsom, Manchester, Oxford & Glasgow. (Thanks to Rob Cope)
It looks like Toyah and the Sleeping Beauty cast will be lighting up a lot of lives this Christmas, with not one, not two, but three Christmas Lights switch ons. In Herne Bay (16 Nov/5pm), and Deal (22 Nov/7.30pm) and Dover (24 Nov/5.30pm).
Dover Locals: Christmas starts in Dover the 24th November this year as the Town Council are hosting the annual Christmas Switch-on event: The light switch on will take place at 5.30pm in the Market Square with the Mayor of Dover being supported by the cast of the Marlowe Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty who include amongst others; Gareth Gates, Toyah Willcox and star of the west end, Faye Brookes.
Visit Canterbury: Christmas Lights Switch On at Herne Bay (Fri 16th Nov): Christmas Lights switch on with live music and the stars from the Marlowe Panto Sleeping Beauty. The event starts at 4pm, Christmas light switch on at 5pm.
Herne Bay TP: Panto Stars to Switch On the Herne Bay Lights: The stars for the Marlowe Panto, Sleeping Beauty, including Gareth Gates and Toyah will be switching on Herne Bay Christmas Lights,on Friday 16 November 2012.
• Browse all of our Sleeping Beauty at The Marlowe Theatre 2012 news.
A, low quality, mini-gallery of previously unseen Toyah photos from 1979. Great shots!
Toyah has just been added to schedules as a guest on ‘BBC Radio 6Music’ next Thursday on Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable.
Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable: BBC Radio 6Music
Thursday 1st November: 6.00pm
Toyah is amongst the esteemed musical minds joining Steve to review the latest releases.
Toyah tweeted about this exhibition on Friday.
Toyah Willcox opens Tooting art exhibition created by Nepalese children
Pop legend Toyah Willcox officially opened a new art exhibition showcasing the work of Nepalese children.
Images are being displayed in The Bedford Hill Galley, located in St George’s Hospital Nicholls Ward, with the singer joined by Nepalese ambassador Dr Suresh Chalise to celebrate the opening on Friday. The artwork forms part of the Children’s Art for Children project, a charity which helps schoolchildren create art for disadvantaged children.
• Continue reading at Your Local Guardian.
There are five dates left of The Changeling Resurrection II UK Tour: Bridport, Redhill, Birmingham (Halloween Special), St Albans and, the Rewound & Extended finale in, Brighton. Click below for all the details. (Thanks to Damon King)
More Saturday Show photos. These were taken when Toyah co-presented the programme in 1983. Please click below to zoom. (Thanks again to Ray Sears for the photos)
Fantastic photos of Toyah taken when she guested on The Saturday Show in 1982. Please click below to zoom. (Thanks to Ray Sears for these rare shots)
Great shots of Toyah from last night’s Changeling Resurrection II gig at the Islington Academy, London. A good time was had by all, including Toyah who tweeted: “London was magnificent! Utter joy! One of my favourite concerts of all time! Thank u“. View larger versions of these photos, and more, at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Many thanks to Angus Turner)
On this day, 21st October 1982, exactly 30 years ago Toyah made their final studio appearance on Top Of The Pops – performing Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard).
• The third series of Pointless Celebrities began airing last night on BBC1. There will be nine episodes in the series and Toyah will guest on one of them, having recorded her appearance in early February with Cheryl Baker.
• Kent News: The Marlowe’s Sleeping Beauty panto to be dedicated to late comic Dave Lee: He may no longer be with us, but much-loved comic Dave Lee will be playing as big a part as ever in this year’s Marlowe Theatre pantomime. In fact, the whole production of Sleeping Beauty, which stars Pop Idol singer Gareth Gates and eighties legend Toyah Willcox, will be dedicated to Dave, who died of pancreatic cancer in January aged 64.
• Friends Reunited: Toyah Willcox, 1985: A portrait of actress and singer Toyah Willcox.
• Nigel James Digital: Toyah Willcox plays Sheffield Corporation club: 80′s diva performs to a packed room!
• Turner Classic Movies: The Tempest – Derek Jarman’s Acclaimed 1979 Adaptation of the William Shakespeare Play.
When this album was released in 1991 I bought it immediately of course – it had been three long years since ‘Prostitute’ – but my music tastes had changed radically through the mid-80s to the early-90s: Mudhoney, My Bloody Valentine, Nirvana, Fugazi, Big Black, Ministry, Ride, The Smiths, The Wedding Present were just some of my favourite bands, but I still had a real soft spot for Toyah, being a loyal fan since 1980, and always bought everything she released and still followed her eclectic career… ‘Ophelia’s Shadow’ was an album that took a while to grow on me – something like 10 years! I didn’t really appreciate it’s brilliance immediately, it took until around 2000 for that to happen – Over the last few years it’s become one of my favourite Toyah albums and over the last year I’ve listened to it more than ever. Happy 21st birthday!
