Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Dreamscape goes into its 24th year online in March and I’m currently working on revamping the website. Right now the idea is to completely change the look/format, which I find slightly scary/daunting, but I think it really is time for a radical change as I’ve been using this layout since 2012. During the 12 years before that I altered the format every couple of years.

This is, obviously, going to take a while as we have a huge archive that needs to be reformatted, or at least included in the new website in some form, as I’ve always considered the archives to be a really important aspect of any website. I’m also thinking of a way to incorporate the fanzine in some way.

So, the changes aren’t going to happen immediately but just a heads up that the changes will be happening…

Greatest Songs – 1981: Channel 5: Sunday 22nd January: 10.55pm
1981. Series 1, episode 2. Toyah Willcox, Paul Gambaccini, Cheryl Baker and Clare Grogan are among those recalling the music and memories of 1981. It was a year when Bucks Fizz were losing their skirts, Adam and the Ants were re-inventing the pop video, and synthesizer bands were making it big. However, there was still room in the charts for the retro sound of Shakin’ Stevens. Narrated by Tony Blackburn.

Tipping Point – Lucky Stars: ITV: Sunday 22nd January: 4pm
Series 7, Episode 7. Ben Shephard presents a celebrity edition of the quiz, with the Rev Richard Coles, Toyah Willcox and Sharron Davies answering questions to win turns on an arcade-style machine. Dropping tokens down a choice of four chutes, they hope to knock piles of them off a moving shelf – and the more they collect, the better their chances of collecting the £20,000 prize for their selected charity. (Photo © ITV)

A new interview, and photos, with Toyah & Robert published by The Times.

Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp on fidelity and rock’n’roll Sunday lunches

The singer and her guitarist husband on why they’re going on tour at a combined age of 140

The first time I met Robert was in a taxi in 1983 with our managers. I remember being intrigued by this man who was reluctant to talk, which provoked me to ask, “What colour are your underpants?” He brought out the prankster in me.

We didn’t meet again until 1985, when he asked me to make a charity album with him. He proposed within a week and we married on his 40th birthday in May 1986. Robert is an intelligent, deep thinker who’s disciplined in his music, his health routine and how he lives. All of that was perfection for me.

• Continue reading at The Times. (subscription required)

Toyah’s first blog of 2023 is available to read now at toyahwillcox.com.

Iconic movie Jubilee is showing as part of Queer Time, Queer Space at Indiana University Cinema next month.

QUEER TIME, QUEER SPACE: JUBILEE + NEW QUEER SHORTS
Fri, Feb 24, 7 pm; $5

Derek Jarman | 1978 | United Kingdom | Not rated | DCP
Queen Elizabeth I travels 400 years into the future to witness a dystopian London overrun by a vicious gang of punk guerrilla girls led by the new Monarch of Punk. Preceded by three shorts from up-and-coming queer filmmakers.

About Queer Time, Queer Space: Jubilee + New Queer Shorts
Queen Elizabeth I asks her court alchemist to show her England in the future and she’s transported 400 years to a postapocalyptic wasteland of roving girl gangs, an all-powerful media mogul, fascistic police, scattered filth, and twisted sex. Legendary British filmmaker Derek Jarman channels political dissent and creative daring into a revolutionary blend of history, fantasy, cinematic experimentation, satire, anger, fashion, and philosophy. Starring cultural icons Jordan, Toyah Willcox, Little Nell, Jayne County, Adam Ant, and Brian Eno. 100% on Rotten Tomatoes! [106 mins; drama, fantasy; English]

“Ahead of its time and often frighteningly accurate in its predictions, [Jubilee] is a fascinating historical document and a gorgeous work of film art.” — The Criterion Collection

“Jarman’s sophomore film is a Molotov cocktail of celluloid—a film that practically dares you to watch it.” — Film Threat

“One of the most original, bold, and exciting features to have come out of Britain in the 1970s.” — Variety

• Continue reading for further details and ticket link at Indiana University’s website.

• Toyah At Home: Heal Ourselves – Watch… • Robert At Home: January 2023 – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: Upbeat Moments Of The Week (7 January 2023) – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – The Kid’s Aren’t Alright – Watch…

Press for Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – This week covering The Offspring. (Image © Toyah Willcox)

• Guitar.Com: Toyah and Robert Fripp take on The Kids Aren’t Alright by The Offspring for Sunday Lunch: “It’s a proper loud one this week as [we] take on this true anthem!!” – Continue…

• NME: Watch Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp cover The Offspring’s ‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’: “It’s a proper loud one this week as [we] take on this true anthem” – Continue…

• Classic Rock/Louder: Toyah and Robert Fripp show no sign of letting up as Sunday Lunch series enters another year: Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox carry on as they mean to carry on with a cover of The Offspring’s The Kids Aren’t Alright – Continue…

• Consequence: Robert Fripp and Toyah Take on The Offspring’s “The Kids Aren’t Alright”: The couple’s “Sunday Lunch” series continues with a rendition of the punk-rock anthem – Continue…

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp cover The Offspring’s “The Kid’s Aren’t Alright” – Continue…

• Far Out: Watch Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp cover The Offspring’s ‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’ – Continue…

• Brave Words: Robert Fripp & Toyah Perform The Offspring Hit “The Kids Aren’t Alright” In New Kitchen Video – Continue…

• Ultimate Guitar: Robert Fripp and Toyah Cover The Offspring’s ‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’: The couple’s comedic series continues in 2023 with a special rendition of a classic – Continue…

• Yahoo! Entertainment: Robert Fripp and Toyah Take on The Offspring’s “The Kids Aren’t Alright” – Continue…

• DGM Live: Toyah & Robert’s Weekend – Continue…

During last year’s series of The Masked Singer, there were some, including the national press, who thought the character/masked singer Panda was Toyah. It was eventually revealed that Panda was in fact Natalie Imbruglia.

The new series of The Masked Singer for 2023 started on New Year’s Day and almost immediately fans of the show were speculating the character Otter could be Toyah – though some are also saying it may possibly be Kate Bush, Dawn French or Emma Thompson. Great company to be in!

Time will tell! In the meantime, here’s a photo of Otter. Read press reports mentioning Toyah as Otter: Mirror, Daily Star, and Cornwall Live. (Photo © ITV)

Live at the Rainbow
(Cherry Red CD/DVD)

Originally released as a VHS video in 1981, capturing Toyah at the very peak of her early ’80s triumphs, fans have been calling out for a digital equivalent for years now… and finally it’s here.

Spread across two discs, with the full VHS performance on DVD, and the entire concert (four songs longer, plus three further bonus tracks) on CD, Live at the Rainbow is both a captivating performance and a curious time capsule – a reminder of a time, to begin with, when Toyah was considered a weird looking lady, and a weird sounding one as well. These days, you see more dramatic costumes working in banks, and hear stranger voices reading the news.

Shove such thoughts aside, however, and the DVD, in particular, illustrates just what a dynamic performer Toyah was, with a repertoire that danced closer to the edge than many far more feted left fielders, and a stage presence that pushed her leagues ahead, again, of the competition. Indeed, enjoyable though the audio disc is, it’s the DVD to which you will continually return, simply to bask in the sheer delight of the show.

• Continue reading at Goldmine. Browse our recent posts for Live At The Rainbow.

There are two helpings of Toyah in the latest issue (#79, January/February 2023) of Classic Pop magazine: A review of the forthcoming ‘Rhythm Deluxe Edition’ of studio album In The Court of The Crimson Queen, and Four From Toyah, in a Top 20 EPs feature, with the 1981 release included at #15.

• Click below to view larger versions of both articles. The latest issue of Classic Pop magazine is available to buy in store and online. (Thanks to Minna of The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive for both scans)

Phil Marriott spoke with Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler about his time with Toyah in 1981, a hugely successful time for Toyah and her band, during which they released the No.2 album Anthem and hits such as ‘It’s A Mystery’ and ‘Thunder In The Mountains’.

Favourite Singers With Nick Heyward: NOW 80s: Sunday 8th January: 9pm
Mr Favourite Shirts is back on NOW 80s – this time he selects his Favourite Singers! Including some who influenced him the most such as David Byrne & XTC’s Andy Partridge.

Toyah and Robert Fripp are ‘Ready To Go’ on their first ‘Sunday Lunch’ cover of 2023

The couple covered the Republica anthem with balloons and laughs.

Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox have rung in the new year with their first ‘Sunday Lunch’ session of 2023, with a fiery rendition of Republica’s ‘Ready To Go’.

Brandishing a sign proclaiming ‘Frippy 2023’, the video features a shades-wearing Willcox delivering the 1996 dance-rock hit with gusto, while Fripp holds down the original’s hard-hitting groove with chugging guitar lines. Wrapping up the track, Toyah indulges in some balloon-popping action, before the laughing couple wishes a happy new year.

• Continue reading at the NME.

Darlington’s Give Them Wings to be screened at Theatre Hullabaloo

A feature film filmed in Darlington and County Durham is to be screened at a local theatre in the new year. Give Them Wings is the story of a young man from Darlington who overcame unimaginable hurdles in life, all while becoming a huge fan of Darlington FC.

• Continue reading at The Northern Echo. See our Give Them Wings news archive.

• Toyah At Home: Happy New Year – Watch… • Robert At Home: Episode 22 – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: Upbeat Moments Of The Week! – Watch… • Toyah & Robert – Happy New Year!! – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Ready To Go – Watch…

Press for Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – This week covering Republica. (Image © Toyah Willcox)

• NME: Toyah and Robert Fripp are ‘Ready To Go’ on their first ‘Sunday Lunch’ cover of 2023: The couple covered the Republica anthem with balloons and laughs – Continue…

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp ring in 2023 by covering Republica’s “Ready To Go” – Continue…

• DGM Live: Toyah & Robert’s New Year Weekend – Continue…

It’s only a few hours away, and has already happened in Australia and New Zealand, so Happy 2023. Click below to see Toyah & Robert’s, just premiered, New Year message.

7 celebrities who have been spotted in Suffolk in 2022

We already knew Suffolk is a wonderful place to spend time, but it appears a number of celebrities agree.

From TV presenters to soap actors and singers, the county has welcomed plenty of famous faces this year.

Here are seven celebrities who have been spotted out and about in our county in 2022.

Toyah Willcox: It’s a Mystery and Thunder in the Mountains singer Toyah Willcox, who had eight top 40 singles, was spotted at Sudbury’s Strawberry Teapot in February.

• Continue reading at the East Anglian Daily Times. See the original press coverage, from February this year while Toyah was on the Posh Pop Tour, for Toyah at the Strawberry Teapot, here.

Toyah wishes everyone a Happy New Year on today’s Toyah At Home, plus two retro performances, Don’t Stop Me Now from ITV’s Queenmania in 2005, and We Are from, German music show, Rockpop in 1981.

Lots coming from Toyah & Robert on New Year’s Eve and the first day of 2023!

• Toyah At Home: Christmas Eve 2022 – Watch… • Robert At Home: Episode 21 – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: Upbeat Moments Of The Week! – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Jingle Those Bells!! – Watch… • Toyah & Robert – Merry Christmas – Watch…

Press for Toyah & Robert’s Christmas Sunday Lunch – This week covering Bobby Helms’ enduring, and classic, 1957 Christmas song Jingle Bell Rock.  (Image © Toyah Willcox) Click here to watch Sunday Lunch, and on the image above for Toyah & Robert’s Christmas message.

• Guitar.Com: Toyah and Robert Fripp perform ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ for Christmas edition of Sunday Lunch: “Happy Christmas!” – Continue…

• NME: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp cover ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ for Christmas edition of ‘Sunday Lunch’: The last ‘Sunday Lunch’ for the year is another holiday classic – Continue…

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp cover “Jingle Bell Rock” on Christmas Day – Continue…

• DGM Live: Toyah & Robert’s Christmas Weekend – Continue…

One more sleep till Christmas! Wishing everyone who has visited this website over the last 12 months a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.