Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

The pieces are coming together! Toyah Solo… is coming soon! (28.02.2020 to be precise)

Expect an official release announcement soon on this very exciting collection – An eight-disc set – Toyah’s first ever box set release. The very limited edition signed version has been spotted. Get it before it sells out!

(Amazon Exclusive Signed Edition): Signed Edition, Limited Edition, Box Set, Extra Tracks.

This Amazon Exclusive comes with a print signed by Toyah and is limited to 500 copies. This 7 CD + DVD box set (the first Toyah box set ever) features six albums (Minx, Desire, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Take The Leap, Velvet Lined Shell) and 44 bonus tracks, including rarities, b-sides, collaborations, and several unreleased tracks, plus a DVD of promo videos and a brand new exclusive interview filmed in December 2019.

Photo © Toyah Willcox/Dean Stockings – Official Toyah have been sharing archive photos from Toyah’s Solo career era (post 1984) over the past few weeks, including this very rare jigsaw.

Toyah Special – talking about her life in music and much much more

Toyah musician, singer, songwriter, actress, producer and author. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Willcox has had 8 Top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays and 10 feature films, and voiced and presented numerous television shows.

Between 1977 and 1983 she fronted the band Toyah, before embarking on a solo career in the mid-1980s. At the 1982 BPI/Brit Awards Toyah was nominated for British Breakthrough Act, which The Human League won and Best Female Solo Artist which Randy Crawford won.

Toyah was nominated a further two times in this category in 1983, which Kim Wilde won and in 1984, which Annie Lennox won. Her biggest hits include “It’s a Mystery”, “Thunder in the Mountains” and “I Want to Be Free”.

Toyah continues to tour both with her full band and also with an acoustic line-up for her “Up Close And Personal” shows. In 2018 Toyah toured her #Toyah60 show, which marked her sixtieth birthday and fortieth year in music. This was accompanied by the release of her Four From Toyah- Birthday Edition EP of new material, which charted highly in the digital charts.

In 2019 Toyah charted at #74 in the UK album charts with a re-issue of her 2008 album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen. It also peaked at #22 on the Official Charts Company’s sales chart and #7 in the independent chart. This was Toyah’s first appearance in the British album charts since ‘Minx’ in 1985.

• Continue reading/Listen to the audio interview at C86 Show.

Great News… In The Court Of The Crimson Queen is doing well in The Official Charts Album Midweeks. The album was at no. 72 on Monday, after just a couple of days of CD, download and vinyl sales. As of today it’s now at no. 34 (according to Music Week). The definitive Top 100 Albums of the week is published this Friday by The Official UK Charts Company.

This chart entry is significant because In The Court Of The Crimson Queen is Toyah’s first album to place in the official UK album chart since Minx in August 1985. Below is a screenshot of Monday’s chart placing.

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.

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.

The Official Toyah 40th Music Anniversary feature on social media continues with entries for Love Is The Law, Toyah Toyah Toyah – All The Hits, Mayhem, Minx, The Lady Or The Tiger, Desire, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Kneeling At The Shrine… with more still to come. See our first post about the countdown here. Click below to visit the Official Toyah Instagram.

Toyah talked, her unique and experimental album, Prostitute, while guesting on Bob Fischer’s BBC Radio Tees show recently.

“I always have to walk away from the job I’ve just done. That’s creatively, idea wise. I just have to walk away. I feel trapped. Which is why my career is so varied. And I think “Prostitute” came after doing “Minx” and “Minx” was a signing to Portrait CBS where I was being told to be everyone but me. I was being told to be like Pat Benatar…

I’ve got nothing against that but I am me – I’m not trying to be another person. I’m not an imitator. So I remember I just got married and the only question I was being asked was when was I going to start a family? Which was never the reason I got married and certainly never the reason I’m here on this planet.

So it was an album that really came out of anger. And it’s a very expressive piece – it’s the most critically acclaimed album I’ve ever done. Billboard gave it five stars and then claimed it was an antidote to Madonna…”

• Read the full transcript at The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive.

Toyah has recorded a new version of the song America For Beginners, which was originally a track on her 1985 album Minx. The song was written by Steve Skaith and Mike Jones of the band Latin Quarter. Toyah has recorded the 2018 version for inclusion in the forthcoming 1985 The Film.

Lay-oh lay-oh lay-oh layay man tey sa-ra-rai!!! After almost 18 months in the wilderness… this website’s Toyah Gallery is, at last, back online! Browse 1000′s of photos of Toyah, including numerous shots from many of the live concerts, festivals and anniversary tours from the past decade, by clicking below…

There’s also a large collection of photos from the early years of Toyah’s career, right through the Safari Records late 1970s/early 1980s, the Minx/CBS era and into the late Eighties, the Nineties and, yep, the Noughties!! Click below for more photos of Toyah than you can shake a 7″ single at!

NB: No infringement intended. All photos remain the copyright of their respective owners. Photos are mostly average quality scans from my magazine/fanclub collection of Toyah memorabilia and/or live gig photos generously gifted to Dreamscape by Toyah fans. This is a non-profit fansite, celebrating the 40 year career of Toyah Willcox.

Taking a trip through the Dreamscape Archives… a rare interview uploaded to You Tube in 2011 (by sph476) with Toyah, looking utterly Minxtastic, from 1985.

Toyah’s 1985 single Don’t Fall in Love (I Said), from her debut solo album Minx, is included on the latest “100 Hits” 5CD compilation Pure 80s.

The much loved 100 Hits range is back in a brand new sleek slim digipak housing 5 discs of your favourite songs of the 80s to enjoy featuring incredible tracks from the finest pop artists such as Wham!, Cyndi Lauper, Adam Ant and many more in this timeless collection.

Don’t Fall in Love (I Said) is song 14 on CD5. The collection is also available digitally from iTunes, Amazon.

• Further info here. Win all five of the latest “100 Hits” CDs at Classic Pop.

2015 was/is the 30th anniversary of the release of two, starkly different, Toyah albums: The big-budget, major label, studio album Minx, which Dreamscape celebrated/posted about sporadically this year; and the, final 80s release on indie label Safari, compilation album Mayhem (“A Special Collector’s Edition Album Of Rare and Archive Recordings”).

Mayhem was also released on expanded CD in 2005 and digitally in 2013. Somewhat ironically in this 30th anniversary year the “multi-media” warehouse which the album was named after, “Mayhem” in Battersea, London began to be demolished. Visit the album page at The Official Toyah Discography, and download the album/buy the CD by clicking on the Mayhem feature from Issue 17 of Dreamscape’s Toyah Fanzine.

• Smash Hits: July 31 – August 13: Uploaded yesterday to Like Punk Never Happened: Smash Hits Archive – The “latest” issue of Smash Hits, 30 years on from the original day it was published – Read the issue…

• Minx at 30: The issue of Smash Hits includes the full-page advert for Minx. Toyah’s first solo album entered the UK Album Chart this very week (03.08.1985) 30 years ago. Browse all of Dreamscape’s recent Minx related posts here…

• Toyah @ Twitter: Toyah is filming a daytime drama for the BBC: “Up at 5am today filming in Birmingham BBC. daytime drama, lots of dialogue…..great character” – Follow Toyah @ Twitter…

• Derbyshire Times: Flashback fun at Clumber Park: Clumber Park hosts the sixth annual Flashback Festival next month. Saturday sees the return of all things 80s, with a line-up that will take you back to the coolest decade in pop. Sheffield band The Human League are set to headline the festival playing 80s hits such as Don’t you want me, Human and Together in Electric Dreams. Joining The Human League will be Tainted Love singer Marc Almond, Jason Donovan, 5 Star, Toyah and Flashback’s favourite compere The Doctor of Doctor & The Medics – Continue reading…

• Eastbourne Herald: August in Eastbourne: Eastbourne’s iconic Bandstand reaches peak season in August with events taking place every day. Another highlight of Airbourne weekend, ‘Toyah in Concert’ on August 14 promises a dynamic concert from the punk princess, Toyah Willcox – Continue reading…

• Minx at 30: This very weekend in 1985 Minx first entered the UK Album Chart…

Incredible but true. Don’t Fall in Love (I Said), Toyah’s first bona fide solo single, entered the UK singles chart exactly 30 years ago tomorrow! Written by Toyah and Simon Darlow, and backed by, if truth be told, the far superior, Snow Covers The Kiss, it was taken from the album Minx, which would go on to be released in late July of 1985. Don’t Fall in Love (I Said) – A great pop single that brings back memories of happy times.

• Visit the DFIL page at Toyah’s official website, view an iconic appearance by Toyah on Formel Eins, listen to/watch Toyah performing the song live in 2014 at You Tube, view the single’s chart info at The Official Charts Company, browse some of Dreamscape’s previous posts relating to the song, and view photos from that era at our Gallery.

2015 is the 30th anniversary of Minx. One of the best songs on Toyah’s 1985 album was America For Beginners. Steve Skaith of Latin Quarter, who wrote and originally recorded the song, is just about to release a new version of the song on the album Bare Bones. More info by clicking below.

Toyah’s autumn tour, Songs From The Intergalactic Ranchouse kicked off in Birmingham on 18 October and so far has wowed Leeds, Glasgow and Manchester.

The tour is treating fans to a reworked set list which spans Toyah’s whole career from Sheep Farming In Barnet through to Crimson Queen. For the first time ever, selections from Minx are included with a fantastic rendition of Soul Passing Through Soul which can you hear a special audio preview of on this page or at Toyah’s official Soundcloud.

• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com.

“The acoustic gigs have been so successful that I really need to consider doing another acoustic album.” said Toyah in a recent interview with The Argus. I would love to hear songs from Minx and In The Court Of The Crimson Queen recorded acoustically. In the meantime The Acoustic Album is available at iTunes.

Things are hotting up for Toyah’s Songs From The Intergalactic Ranch House Tour… Over the last few days Toyah tweeted: “The minx is sounding sensational. It is going to b the best set in decades. Real suprises. Real Power“, and “War machines, fascist regimes / Laser beams, futurist dreams #‎IntergalacticRanchHouseTour‬ Sneak Preview coming 01.10.14 to ‪#‎ToyahTV“, along with a great photo at Instagram. Click below for details on all the dates. (Photo © Official Toyah)

• New ToyahTV webisodes have also been uploaded – Including one for Andy Doble’s birthday – Happy Birthday Andy!!

There’s now less than a month until the autumn Songs From the Intergalactic Ranch House tour kicks off on 18th October at The Institute Birmingham.

Taking in selections from Minx, Crimson Queen and a supersonic selection of Safari classics. Tickets for Birmingham opening night on sale at See Tickets. For details on all of the dates visit The Official Toyah Willcox Website.

SAT 18 OCT: BIRMINGHAM HMV INSTITUTE
THU 23 OCT: LEEDS UNIVERSITY UNION
FRI 24 OCT: GLASGOW CLASSIC GRAND
SAT 25 OCT: MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3
FRI 7 NOV: BRIGHTON HAUNT
FRI 14 NOV: SOUTHAMPTON BROOK
SAT 15 NOV: BRISTOL FLEECE
SAT 22 NOV: LONDON O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON

• Browse all of Dreamscape news on Songs From the Intergalactic Ranch House… here.

• Re:Union: Toyah played the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen last night. She tweeted: “Thank U Aberdeen Students Union 1981, great nite” – View a photo from the gig here…

• Daily Echo: Top Talent on Board: Southampton-based P&O Cruises is launching its biggest ever line-up of star-studded voyages this autumn with famous faces from the stage and screen. Michael Ball, David Essex, The West End Men featuring Lee Mead, and Here And Now – with live performances from six 80s legends including Paul Young, Toyah and many more – Continue reading…

• County Press Online: Charity Parties 80s Style: Around 2,000 people dug out the shoulder pads and shell suits and headed to the Garlic Festival site in Newchurch to enjoy the festivities with live music from 80s legends including Bad Manners, Katrina and the Waves, Toyah and Heaven 17 among many others – Continue reading…

• Official Instagram: Great live photo of Toyah, from ‘Jack Up The 80s’, with the latest confirmed live dates info: gigs confirmed: Manchester Pride: 25 Aug / P&O Here & Now Cruise: 29 Oct – View here… (Thanks to Michael Cooney)

• Jack Up The 80s: A few more photos of Toyah from last weekend’s concert in the Isle of Wight at the ‘Talk Photography’ forum – View here…

• Lady Gaga – Applause: Gaga’s new single sounding “inspired” by Eighties Toyah, Hazel O’Connor and Nina Hagen – The beginning has a “Minx” vibe, with a smidge of ‘I Want To Be Free’, if you ask me ;) – Listen here…

Vote for your top albums of 1985 in the sixth Slicing Up Eyeballs poll. Toyah’s first solo, and post-Safari, album ‘Minx’ is included as an option. Voting closes on 26th July and the results will be announced at the beginning of August. Click below to participate in the poll. (Thanks to Paul Johnson)