Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

• The Tempest @ BFI: Tickets now on sale for this event, which includes a live Q&A by Toyah at the BFI Southbank Cinema on Wednesday 12th February 2014 : Derek Jarman’s terrific third feature is brooding and darkly laden with heavily symbolic imagery – More info here…

• Digital Spy: Splash!: Toyah Willcox makes her way to the board – View here…

• The Fashionatress: My first ladies of Punk!: One of alternative fashions true style chameleons, You just didn’t know what Toyah would be wearing next! Bold and brash she did her own thing with her wardrobe. ‘Outlandish’ was the word Toyah Willcox and her style statement making costumes – View here…

• Classic Rock: Blockheads ask fans for chart help: Last year the band ran a successful crowd-funding campaign to cover the cost of making three videos for Same Horse Different Jockey. They used the money to create a series of spoof soap opera episodes called Dun Punkin, featuring old friends Toyah Willcox and Topper Headon – Continue reading…

• Liverpool Sound & Vision: Hue And Cry, Big Country And Toyah Willcox Amongst The Highlights Of New Season Of Music At Eric’s – Continue reading…

• The Garstang Courier: Some Grand Nights Out: Toyah brings her band to the Grand for the first time on Easter Saturday, April 19 – Continue reading…

• Chilfest 2014: Tickets for this Hertfordshire festival are now on sale. Toyah plays a full-band gig on July 5th – More info here… (Thanks to Kev Tucker)

Various articles have started to appear online on the forthcoming Derek Jarman season at the BFI in 2014. Jubilee and The Tempest play a number of times during the season, and Toyah will participate in Introducing The Tempest.

• The Quietus: BFI Announce Derek Jarman Season: The Quietus are excited to be media partners with the BFI’s major film retrospective of the groundbreaking filmmaker’s work, taking place in February and March 2014: The BFI have announced that they are hosting a major film retrospective of the work of filmmaker Derek Jarman. Titled Queer Pagan Punk, it will take place across February and March 2014, marking the 20th anniversary of his death. The season will draw together key films from his career alongside rarer work, as well as talks and discussions with special guests – Continue reading…

• After Nyne: BFI Announces Two-Month Derek Jarman Retrospective: The BFI is pleased to announce Queer Pagan Punk: Derek Jarman a major two month film retrospective at BFI Southbank (February/March 2014). This will be the largest retrospective of Jarman’s films ever mounted in the UK, celebrating the prolific, iconoclastic and hugely influential film-maker and marking the 20th anniversary of his death… Toyah Willcox, John Maybury, Jenny Runacre, Dexter Fletcher, Isaac Julien, Tariq Ali, James McKay, Keith Collins and Don Boyd and are among the invited guest speakers – Continue reading…

• BFI: A full list of related events, including the showings of Jubilee and The Tempest, can be viewed by clicking here and searching for “Jarman”.

• The Humans Live 2014: Two of the US dates have now been confirmed as taking place at The Triple Door Club, Seattle on 14th/15th April – Visit the Official Gigs page…

• Toyah Live 2014: More tickets now on sale, a new ‘Crimson Queen’ gig in Clitheroe, and another ‘Acoustic’ show being announced soon – Visit the Official Gigs page…

• Introducing The Tempest: Toyah will be introducing The Tempest, in which she played Miranda in 1979, at this event at the BFI Southbank, London on 12th February next year.

• The List: Interview: Gavin Mitchell on Bowie, sandwiches and sleeping in the library: First concert you ever attended Toyah at the Apollo – Read the full Q&A here…

• RBKC Libraries Blog: From Club to Catwalk: 80′s fashion talk at the V&A: An article on the recent V&A event which Toyah participated in (and also mentions in her latest blog) – View here…

• Elves Bells!:A Caboodle of Cool Christmas Songs: Toyah – I Believe In Father Christmas – It took 30 years, but this 1982 television performance was released as a single last year. If you are a Toyah fan, her Winter In Wonderland just became available – View here…

• Santas Working Overtime: Spend the Holidays with Toyah, VTO, Hi-5, Chris Ward, Not Literally, John Rossall – View here…

A trio of Toyah news posts from The Official Toyah Willcox Website:

• TOYAH CONTRIBUTES WRITING TO NEW DEREK JARMAN BOOK: Toyah contributes to a brand new publication Derek Jarman’s Sketchbooks, published by Thames & Hudson this September. Toyah acted in two of Jarman’s features films in the roles of Mad in Jubilee and an Evening Standard Best Newcomer Award-nominated performance of Miranda in the director’s re-imagining of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Toyah wrote the piece for Chapter 3 ‘Jubilee to The Angelic Conversation 1978-1985’ – Continue reading at www.toyahwillcox.com – View further details of the book at Thames & Hudson.

• TOYAH REUNITES WITH QUADROPENIA DIRECTOR FOR SCREENING & Q&A: How has Quadrophenia influenced British cinema and pop culture? Why don’t collaborations between musicians and filmmakers always work this well? And why do we insist on referring to one of the most popular films of its era as a ‘cult classic’? Find out on 23 September at this special screening and discussion, the second in the ‘Classic Cinema: The Reunion’ series presented by the London Film School and Ciné Lumière in association with Time Out Live! – Continue reading at www.toyahwillcox.com – Buy tickets online here.

• TOYAH JOINS V&A CLUB TO CATWALK IN CONVERSATION EVENT: The recently opened V&A exhibition Club To Catwalk features an in-depth look through the fashions, looks and iconic styles of the 1980 and includes a 1981 outfit designed by Melissa Kaplan for Toyah. Toyah will join a panel including Caryn Franklin and Brix Start-Smith at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London on Friday 8 November in an exclusive in-conversation event, designed by women for women. Join Caryn, Toyah and Brix as they bring their thoughts, ideas, experiences and memories to a discussion on women who developed, fused and influenced fashion and music in 1980s London – Continue reading at www.toyahwillcox.com – View further details on the ‘In Conversation’ event here.

• Rebel Run: We’re fast approaching the 30th anniversary of the release of Toyah’s first, and penultimate on Safari, single of 1983. Rebel Run was released in mid-September and entered the UK charts on the 24th. Over the years it’s become one of Toyah’s best loved singles. View Rebel Run’s Wikipedia page, Toyah’s charts stats at The Official Charts Company and Dreamscape’s Imaginary Love Is The Law Singles Collection.

• Now and Then: Rare 30 minute Toyah special from Carlton TV in 1997, hosted by the late Jim ‘Bullseye’ Bowen – Watch at You Tube…

• Toyah @ Twitter & Instagram: “In 1978 Derek Jarman gave me Complete Shakespeare when he offered me the film “The Tempest” & I’ve found it after 14yrs packed away” – View here…

• Edinburgh Evening News: Hazel O’Connor talks Beyond Breaking Glass: A namecheck for Toyah in this new interview with Hazel – Continue reading…

• Mirror: Cruise News: P&O Cruises has launched its biggest range of trips featuring stars, including Michael Ball, Paul Young and Toyah. David Essex will sing on a 15-night Caribbean transatlantic cruise on Azura, leaving Southampton on November 1. Prices from £999pp. Call: 0843 373 0111.

• Mayhem: The 2013 reprint of the 2005 CD reissue of Toyah’s 1985 Safari album ‘Mayhem’ is included in the latest Burning Shed newsletter: This fascinating album gives an insight into late 70s/early 80s works in progress by Toyah and comprises finished songs not included on EPs and albums.

• TCM Turner Classic Movies: A Jarman double-bill aired on TCM over the weekend, including another showing of The Tempest, with Toyah as Miranda.

• This is Local London: Scarlett Fever: Rockabilly band launch debut album with free gig at New Wimbledon Studios: Kent trio Scarlett Rae and the Cherry Reds play original tracks from their album Crash Landing and a selection of cover songs at the gig. The band, formed in 2011, is made up of lead vocalist and double bassist Andee Price, drummer Chris Wong and guitarist Ben Green. Wong is also the musical director for 1980s star Toyah Willcox…

• WFMU: Dark Night of the Soul with Julie: Playlist from May 2, 2013: An emotional trainwreck in fluffy bunny slippers… ‘Out Of The Blue’ from Dreamchild was included on Julie’s show playlist on Thursday night.

• WFMU: Toyah Special: Julie’s A Celebration of the Crimson Queen from May 2011 is still available to listen to online. A transcript of the Toyah Special is available here.

There’s a great page at Focus On The Family on the Radio Theatre production of Les Misérables. Toyah plays Fantine in the 2007 full-cast audio drama which is available to buy on CD or download.

A Radio Theatre Classic: It’s one of the world’s masterpieces of storytelling. Against the stirring background of the French Revolution, follow the tale of Jean Valjean as he encounters the savage injustice of the law — and then the gentleness and grace of God. It depicts events like the battle at the barricade and a heroic rescue through the underworld of Paris.

Toyah Willcox as Fantine: Toyah co-starred with Sir Laurence Olivier in the acclaimed British TV production Ebony Tower. Her film roles include Miranda in The Tempest, Jubilee,Quadrophenia and The Corn is Green with Katharine Hepburn.

Return to Dreamscape soon for more rare-ish photos of Toyah from 1979 and ’80, including publicity shots for Quadrophenia and The Tempest. (Thanks to Andi)

In the meantime do take a look at some of our recent Rare Toyah Photos updates.

• How You Feel: Learning To Love British Film: Jubilee: Derek Jarman doesn’t usually pull too many miseryguts Brit flick clichés, and in his punk outing Jubilee – actually one of the only films about punk made in the brief time punk wasn’t dead – he should be even more innovative and outrageous than usual.

• Arran Art: An (Odd) Day in the Dark: The Tempest will be screened at Arran’s free mini-film festival next month (Saturday 2nd February). 3.15-4.45pm – The Tempest: Derek Jarman’s 1979 idiosyncratic adaptation of Shakespeare’s Tempest with Toyah Willcox as Miranda. Forget any notions of worthiness – this film challenges the idea of ‘faithful’ literary adaptation and celebrates the visual magic of cinema as thoroughly as the magical arts of Prospero.

• T-Shirts: Fancy a Toyah-related t-shirt? ‘WeAdmire.net’ have Jubilee and Quadrophenia apparel for sale.

• Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable: The edition of Roundtable from ‘BBC 6Music’ in which Toyah was a guest is available to listen to/download via ‘Castroller’. This originally aired in November 2012.

• Folkestone People: Hormonal Housewives come to Leas Cliff Hall: Eighties pop star Toyah Willcox is to appear in sketch show Hormonal Housewives, showing at Leas Cliff Hall later this year.

• Morning Star: Culture: Heathcote Williams – The Queen of Diamonds: Toyah’s co-star in The Tempest.

• A full transcript of Bev Meets… Toyah Willcox, which aired a couple of times over Christmas on ‘BBC WM’, is now available at the really great ‘Toyah Willcox Interview Archive’.

• Love Me: One of my favourite Toyah songs. From the magnificent ‘The Blue Meaning’. I never thought I’d hear someone covering it but littletroll has done just that. Listen at Soundcloud.

• Toyah is currently featured on the front page of the Vintage TV website, advertising the forthcoming Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo. There are now three showings of the new festive special in the schedules. See the air dates & times here.

• TCM Turner Classic Movies: Tempest, The (1979) — (Movie Ciip) The Goddess On Whom These Airs Attend.

• The Tempest is showing on TCM tonight at 11.15pm – The film reimagines The Tempest as a homoerotic romp with punk overtones (primarily courtesy Toyah Willcox, here cast as Miranda).

• Toyah’s short interview on Radio Verulam which aired at the end of October is now available as a transcript at The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive. Click below to view/read. There’s also a great Changeling Resurrection 2012 Tour Archive. View that here.

• 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.

• Like Punk Never Happened: Smash Hits Archive: October 14-27 1982: Lots of Toyah content in the latest issue uploaded exactly 30 years to the day it was originally published: Toyah back cover pin-up, Songwords: Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard), Singles Review: Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard), Be Proud/Warrior Rock: Full-page advert.

• Brave New World: A brilliant fan made tribute to Toyah’s 1982 video. Filmed in ’82 and completed this year.

• 366 Weird Movies: Capsule: The Tempest (1979): Pop singer Willcox makes for an endearingly sexy Miranda.

• Toyah supports the 2012 Breast Cancer Campaign/Wear it Pink. Visit their website here.

• I Was A Teenage Toyah Fan: One Year On: “A year rolls around – this time in 2011 I was editing and finalising the layout in between going to Toyah gigs whilst posting teaser extracts on this page…”

• The Isle Of Everywhere: Toyah – Thunder In The Mountains: Associated with punk, I never really gave Toyah a chance, even when I heard that she was married to Robert Fripp (one of my guitar idols), but it turns out, she’s more like a dyed-hair loud Kate Bush sort. Good songs, bright hair, and quite an alright voice.

• Toyah’s Vintage Christmas: Clips from last year’s mammoth festive special have recently been uploaded to You Tube by Vintage TV. (Thanks to Paul Lomas)

• The Independent: Stars flock to St Paul’s for Sassoon memorial: Sassoon’s widow, Ronnie Holbrook, was joined by a celebrities from the fashion, film, art and design industries, among them Sir Michael Caine, Zandra Rhodes, John Frieda, Nicky Clarke, singer Toyah Willcox and designer Mary Quant.

• The Alan Titchmarsh Show: Toyah guested on Alan’s ITV1 Afternoon chat show on Thursday 4th October, chatting about music from the Sixties. The full programme is still available to view at ITV Player for the next couple of weeks.

• Toyah and Derek Jarman: Toyah has contributed a chapter to a new book on Jubilee/The Tempest director Derek Jarman. She has also been offered a film role by a scriptwriter who worked with Jarman.

• Pick Of The Pops (BBC Radio 2: Saturday 20th October: 1pm): Tony Blackburn plays the biggest hits from this week in the charts of 1962 and 1981, with music from Brian Hyland, Ray Charles, Little Eva, Alvin Stardust, Ottowan and Toyah.

• London Evening Standard: Vanity Fair – or a night at Annabel’s: Toyah and Robert photographed out and about in London at the Nicholas Coleridge book launch last week.

• Do Believe The Hype: W 40th Anniversary Issue: Wasikowska channels full on 80s in snakeskin-print Balenciaga (looking like a cross between David Bowie’s make-up and Toyah Willcox’s hair).

• 80s Remix: Toyah – Echo Beach (Extended Surf Mix): Released in 1987, this cover version of the classic hit by Martha And The Muffins was Toyah Willcox’s last single to chart in the British Singles Chart, peaking at #54. The track was released as the lead single from Toyah’s second album as a solo artist, Desire, which failed to chart. One more single was released from the album entitled Moonlight Dancing.

• A rare Safari Records promo photo from early 1979, which includes the first and very quickly changed Toyah logo, has recently appeared on eBay.

• Blog Critics: DVD Review: Quadrophenia – The Criterion Collection: There is no question that this is the definitive edition of the film, and if you have a 5.1 system, the sound of it is absolutely incredible.

• DPRP News Blog: Robert Fripp quit music: Toyah is mentioned in this news article on Robert: His last live outings were in 2009 when he performed with wife Toyah Willcox’s band the Humans and toured with Theo Travis to support the duo’s Threads album.

• Themusic.com: Toyah is also mentioned in, ‘Going For The One, an article on Australian band Greenthief: An Englishman in Byron Bay, Steve James produced everyone from The Jam to The Rutles, Toyah Willcox to The Sex Pistols, Cold Chisel’s The Last Wave Of Summer to Skunkhour’s The Go.

• Toyah on TV: The Most Fertile Man In Ireland is airing again on Sky Movies Indie (& HD), Sunday 16th September @ 9.45am.

• University of Bristol: O Brave New World: This devised performance by final year students is inspired by Derek Jarman’s 1979 film of The Tempest, shot during the winter of discontent, and Jubilee, the punk musical he made a year earlier. View the trailer.

The Tempest has just been released for the first time on Blu-ray. Here is the Time Out cover feature/interview from 1980 published the week that the film was originally released. View the magazine cover here.

Toyah reflects… stage actress, rock singer, icon of the New Wave, star of ‘Quadrophenia’ and now Derek Jarman’s ‘The Tempest’, Toyah Willcox on creating her own image. Next Thursday Derek Jarman’s film of ‘The Tempest’ opens. Toyah Willcox, late of ‘Jubilee’ and ‘Quadrophenia’ plays Miranda. Chris Auty went in search of Ms Willcox… 

Click here to read at Dreamscape’s Press Archive. View all of our recent retro Classic Toyah press articles & interviews here. (Thanks to Andi)

• Sound + Vision: New Blu-rays for August 7, 2012: The Tempest (1979) is Jarman’s campy adaptation of William Shakespeare’s theatrical masterpiece which includes a full-scale Hollywood production number of Elisabeth Welch singing “Stormy Weather”…

• Indiewire: Playlist: DVDs You Should Know About Including ‘Jaws,’ ‘Quadrophenia,’ and A Pair of Derek Jarman Films.

• Coming Soon to BBC4: Love & Marriage: A new three-part BBC series on the story of love and marriage in Britain from the 1930s up to the present day, based on the personal memories of those who have the strongest tales to tell.  This will include Toyah & Robert (no transmission date available yet).

• Lytham Proms 2012: More than 25,000 people attended the three Lytham Proms concerts to see Olly Murs, Alfie Boe and the “Here and Now” stars of the 1980s. The three-day extravaganza was hailed by Fylde Council’s tourism chief as a “great success” in attracting crowds – and tourism cash – to the area. (News Source: Fylde Borough Council)

• The Acoustic Pineapple: The Concert: In 1980, I become aware of a diminutive, flame-haired singer called Toyah Willcox. Imaginative lyrics, containing elements of mysticism and science-fiction, were often backed by thumping, tribal rhythms. From the outset I am intrigued by Toyah.

Another retro Toyah interview, this one from ‘Zig Zag’ magazine in mid-1980. Alan Anger follows Toyah on the first few dates of the, now legendary, ‘Ieya Tour’. It’s a really interesting read: Last time I did a feature on Toyah was in March. It was based on an interview with Miss Willcox just as she and her band began to take off outside London. Since then, Toyah have been regular chart toppers of the alternative charts, her appearance in Derek Jarman’s film of ‘The Tempest’ has received much acclaim and the band have, by now, completed a UK tour to coincide with the release of the new album, “The Blue Meaning”. Click below to read. (Thanks again to Andi)

Another Toyah article from the 80s. This one is from ‘New Chartbusters’ magazine, published in late 1980: Toyah Willcox is a very talented young lady who has achieved a much deserved reputation in both the theatre, and in such movies as Derek Jarman’s ‘Jubilee’ and ‘The Tempest’ as well as having just finished appearing in ‘Sugar and Spice’ at The Royal Court Theatre, London. Click below to read. (Thanks to Andi)

A rare three-page interview with Toyah, plus a review of The Tempest upon receiving its first video release, from a 1982 issue of ‘Video Times’ magazine: Multi-talented singer and actress Toyah talks video, pop, films, cosmetics and big business with John Kercher. Click below to read. (Thanks to Andi for this great article)

The full, rarely seen, four-page Smirnoff advertising feature from ‘Company’ magazine in 1980.

To a gifted jewellery designer, we dedicate the Mint Gem. To a rising star, who played Miranda in The Tempest, we present the Stormy Weather cocktail…

Toyah Willcox: Star of Derek Jarman’s The Tempest, subject of an ITV documentary, founder of her own band and leading lady in a new Royal Court play, is the phenomenon of 1980. Can she continue to succeed as both a rock singer and serious actress? ‘I have the energy, so of course I can’. Of the future, the fiery redhead says quite simply: ‘I’d like to be an astronaut.’ – Dress, Bruce Oldfield; jewellery, Butler & Wilson.

NB: Valerie Robertson, also included in this feature, was the designer of the famous gold & black bangle Toyah wore in numerous photos in the early 80s. Gill Smith, also in the feature, is wearing Toyah’s famous bronze bangles!

• Click below to view a larger version of the feauture. (A huge thanks to Andi for this rarity)

• A print of a painting of ‘Ieya/The Blue Meaning’ Toyah, by artist Julie L Harwood, is currently up for auction at eBay.

• View a nice selection of photos from this week’s Sleeping Beauty panto launch in Canterbury over at Tim Stubbings Photography.

• Another press article on the panto at This is Kent.

• The Guardian: Your next box set: Shoestring: A new review of a box set that’s been available for almost a year? Toyah/Toola receives a namecheck. (Thanks to Stephen Bennett Troake)

• The Tempest on Blu-ray: More info on the forthcoming release at Kino. Still no artwork though!

• Psychics Network: Toyah’s full appearance on Bio’s Our Psychic Family, which originally aired in December 2008. View screen caps from this here.