Exactly 30 years ago today, 27th May 1982, Toyah’s ‘Brave New World’ visage graced the cover of the biggest music magazine of the 80s, ‘Smash Hits’. If it’s not the it’s certainly one of the greatest magazine covers, and 30 years later it still looks fantastic. Visit the Like Punk Never Happened: Smash Hits Archive to read the full issue online.
‘Smash Hits’ magazine gave Toyah memorable cover issues in November 1980 and September 1981, but little did we realise what May 1982 would bring…
There’s also a great image of Toyah at the Eden Bar website, promoting her forthcoming visit!
Toyah is now included at the official Manchester Pride 2012 website.
Women’s Stage: Sunday sees the stage filled with some amazing female bands, performers and comediennes.
The stage will run from approximately 4pm – 11pm on Sunday 26 Augsut 2012.
Music was very much on the backburner at the time so when Toyah appeared on the National Lottery’s Greatest Hits in 1999 it was an exciting moment. It was a great performance and Toyah even wore a classic Melissa Caplan outfit for the occasion. Show host Angela Griffin introduced Toyah by claiming ‘It’s A Mystery’ was a “number one hit”. Not quite but who cares it was just good to see Toyah singing on TV again. She also released the lottery balls and as she pressed the button exclaimed “may this finger make you rich“! Unfortunately it didn’t. View at You Tube, and see larger caps here. (Thanks to Paul Lomas)
… At Workington Festival
Music stars David Van Day, Toyah Willcox and Ed Tudor-Pole are among the acts performing at new Workington festival Decades this weekend.
The three-day festival of music, from the 1960s to the 1990s, kicks off tonight at 7pm and is based around the town’s popular pub ‘circuit’. Acts will perform at Club Ice, Red House, The Well, Circuit Bar, Dukes, Chasers, Vine Bar, The Royal British Legion, Curwen Arms and Yankees. Van Day will take the stage at Club Ice tonight, followed by local performer Tony Herald and folk musician Edwin Duke.
The club will tomorrow see performances from 80s star Toyah, The Kommitments and local band No Idea. Doors open from 7pm.
• Continue reading at the Times & Star.
Toyah playes ‘Birmingham Pride’ on Sunday 3rd June and she is included in the, just published, Birmingham Pride Guide. There’s a full-page ad on page 18 and a news clipping on 37.
Toyah guests on the newest addition to television cookery shows, Saturday Cookbook, at the beginning of June (Jubilee Day). The programme will be available to watch online at ‘ITV Player’ post broadcast.
In ITV1’s newest food series, food-loving mum Nadia Sawalha and top chef Mark Sargeant present a deliciously entertaining start to the weekend.
Saturday Cookbook: ITV1: Saturday 2nd June: 8.25am
Nadia Sawalha and Mark Sargeant are joined by chef Phil Vickery and Toyah Willcox to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Nadia prepares a raspberry and hazelnut meringue, Toyah cooks baked fish with warm beetroot and new potato salad, and Phil and Mark take part in a street party food recipe challenge – will Mark’s coronation gala pie win over Phil’s spectacular butterfly cakes?
I got a wave of nostalgia for ‘Look-In’ magazine last weekend, and found a great website dedicated to “The Junior TV Times”. Toyah had two full covers of ‘Look-In’ in 1981 and ’82, and was omnipresent in the publication, via a plethora of pin-ups, features, fact files and comic strips, in the early 80’s. The magazine ran for 23 years between 1971 and 1994.
• Blast From The Past, March 2005: The Telegraph: I felt like an Egyptian mummy: In our final extract from her new book, Toyah Willcox reveals what happened when the bandages were removed after her facelift.
• This is Derbyshire: Line-up grows for Rock and Bike Festival: The line up for this summer’s Rock and Bike Festival is taking shape with The Sweet, The Quireboys and Toyah Willcox among the acts booked.
• Toyah Live 0212: Mylor Sessions: All the hits & a lot more!
• Amazon: Toyah Willcox by Ronald Cohn & Jesse Russell: High Quality Content by Wikipedia articles!
Another busy weekend lies ahead for Toyah. Tomorrow night she headlines the second day of the weekend long ‘Decades Festival’ taking place in Workington, Cumbria, with a live PA at Club Ice. On Sunday there’s a full-band headlining gig at the ‘Here and Now 80s Weekender’ in Minehead. Click on each of the below for further details. Visit Toyah’s official Gigs page for info on all the upcoming 2012 live dates. View all of our Decades news.
Another opportunity today to catch Toyah’s 1982 episode of Tales Of The Unexpected.
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts 2: Friday 25th May: 3.30pm
Blue Marigold. Series 5, Episode 1. Dropped by her agency for her diva-like behaviour, supermodel Marigold’s mental health deteriorates. Years later, she plots a comeback. Director: Giles Foster. Starring: Toyah Willcox, Ralph Bates, Sharon Duce, Helen Fraser, Billy Hamon, Edward Jewesbury.
The fantastic Brian Aris photo shoot from mid-1981. This featured on magazine covers and a variety of press articles on Toyah through late 1981 and into ’82. Amazing photos that look current in 2012! Click below to view more at Dreamscape’s 1981 gallery.
• Something to look forward to: It looks likely that Toyah’s 1987 album ‘Desire’ will be reissued, on download, later this year. Toyah’s Official Facebook said on Sunday: “There are no plans for a CD reissue of Desire. Plans for a digital release later in 2012 however.”
• Thanks for the feedback on Stevie Bray’s interview, and to everyone who has visited the feature so far.
• ‘I Was A Teenage Toyah Fan’ has now been available for over six months. The Kindle version, from Amazon, can be bought for the very bargainesque 80p. You don’t even need a Kindle to read it! View all of our IWATTF news here.
• Stylish Elegance: Toyah Willcox is 54 today…
Dirty Sexy Funny: Olivia Lee: Comedy Central Extra: Saturday 2nd June: 03.35am
Dirty Sexy Funny: Olivia Lee: Comedy Central Extra: Monday 4th June: 03.00am
Olivia Lee stars in this hidden camera sketch show. Deaf Bubba makes a mess of things at the marina, Door Bitch takes a punt and Elaine Caine meets Toyah Willcox.
Original member of TOYAH, drummer on the iconic albums ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’ and ‘The Blue Meaning’… Stevie Bray. Check out FTE’s interview with him…
The complete four-part radio version of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, with Toyah in the title role, is re-airing on ‘BBC Radio 4 Extra’ this month. This was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1995.
A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of J. M. Barrie’s tale of childhood adventure starring Toyah Willcox as Peter Pan and Ron Moody as Captain Hook. These audio editions, especially dramatised for BBC Radio, are of timeless stories that have enchanted generations of readers both young and old.
Also starring Roy Hudd as Smee and June Whitfield as Mrs Darling, this sparkling production is directed by award-winning producer Dirk Maggs, with an original music score and stunning sound effects.
J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Sunday 27th May: 9.00am/4.30pm
J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Monday 28th May: 5.00am
Spring Cleaning Time Again.Wendy longs for home, but first she and the brothers must be rescued from Captain Hook. Stars Toyah Willcox and Ron Moody. Episode 4 of 4.
• Episode Two (In The Mermaid’s Lagoon) is still available to listen to at BBC iPlayer, until early AM this Monday. Episode Three (An Awfully Big Adventure) airs on ‘BBC Radio 4 Extra’ tomorrow and Monday. Full details here.
Hole In The Wall: CBBC: Monday 28th May: 5.45pm
Anton Du Beke hosts the madcap gameshow where celebrities dress in tight silver suits and try to avoid getting pushed into a pool of cold water by a fast-moving wall. The celebrity contestants are TV chef Simon Rimmer, singer Toyah Willcox, actress Zaraah Abrahams and presenter Barney Harwood, captained by rugby legend Austin Healey and EastEnders’ Joe Swash. Joe gets to play a special wall with a mystery guest.
Toyah co-presented Look! Hear! for ‘BBC Midlands’ for three series between 1979 and 1981. The programme covered music and the arts in The Midlands and was made at BBC Pebble Mill studios. This programme, from the 1981 series, includes two live performances from Duran Duran. Click below to watch the full edition (in six parts). (Thanks to Andi)
Screen caps from Look! Hear! Click below to view larger versions.
Toyah appeared in, what was billed as a “younger version of Not The Nine O’Clock News“, Dear Heart in Spring 1982. There was only one series, which aired on BBC2. The best known of the numerous characters Toyah played was probably “Super Advice Person”, who appeared every week. Click below to view a full edition (in five parts). (Thanks to Andi)
