Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah is releasing coloured vinyl versions of five of her solo studio albums: Minx, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Take The Leap! and Velvet Lined Shell. They are released on Friday 13th March and can be pre-ordered at Amazon. Ophelia’s Shadow is on translucent aqua vinyl, and this release is the first time the album has been available on vinyl since 1991.

Issued on vinyl for the first time since 1991, with a new inner sleeve, the album is pressed on 180 gram translucent AQUA vinyl. Toyah’s personal favourite album of her catalogue, “Ophelia’s Shadow” (1991), features a band line-up including Trey Gunn on stick, Paul Beavis on drums and Tony Geballe on guitar. Two tracks, “Brilliant Day” And “Lords Of The Never Known” Feature Robert Fripp and were originally played live by the band Sunday all over the world (Toyah, Fripp, Beavis, Gunn).

Toyah is releasing coloured vinyl versions of five of her solo studio albums: Minx, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Take The Leap! and Velvet Lined Shell. They are released on Friday 13th March and can be pre-ordered at Amazon. Prostitute is on translucent yellow vinyl, and this release is the first time the album has been available on vinyl since 1988.

Issued on vinyl for the first time since 1988, with a new inner sleeve, the album is pressed on 180 gram translucent yellow vinyl. “Prostitute” (1988) is toyah’s most experimental and bold album, highlighting her oppression once married and outdated expectations long before today’s woke narrative. Sonically it is also a radical departure comprising drums, vocal and guitar meshed with a scrapbook of samples and side two closing on a locked groove. The album was written and played entirely by Toyah and Steve Sidelynk who went on to record and play live with Madonna (Ray of light, music), Seal and Richard Ashcroft, amongst many others.

Toyah is releasing coloured vinyl versions of five of her solo studio albums: Minx, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Take The Leap! and Velvet Lined Shell. They are released on Friday 13th March and can be pre-ordered at Amazon. Minx is on translucent red vinyl, and this release is the first time the album has been available on vinyl since 1985.

Issued on vinyl for the first time since 1985, the album is pressed on 180 gram translucent Red vinyl. In 1985, after five studio albums and two live albums with her band, Toyah decided to go solo, and signed to Sony’s portrait label. Produced by Christopher Neil, “Minx” Is Toyah’s first true solo album and includes writing collaborations with her band members as well as with Simon Darlow (“Slave To The Rhythm”), and two UK hit singles in “Don’t Fall in Love (I Said)” and “Soul Passing Through Soul”, as well as covers of Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” And Rare Bird’s “Sympathy”.

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.

Her latest album’s just become her biggest in almost 25 years and Toyah’s in the mood to celebrate. The former punk marked 40 years in music with a series of anniversary shows last year and is back on the road this week just days after her revamped 15th solo album In The Court Of The Crimson Queen returned her to the charts.

Toyah, 60, admits she’s been pleasantly surprised by the success of the re-recorded set, which also includes a clutch of new songs. “It’s a good album but I don’t think anyone would’ve been as brave to imagine it’d do as well as it’s doing,” she says. “It’s been album of the week in many places so the reception’s just been fabulous.” Crimson Queen, which was originally released in 2009, has been substantially reworked by the It’s A Mystery hit-maker and her co-writer Simon Darlow. “Our record company Demon gave me an opportunity to make the album that I’d originally wanted it to be,” she explains.

“That allowed us to put in live drums and bass, and remaster and retexturize the whole album plus put new material in. We finished this at the end of January and as far as I’m concerned it’s a new release because the majority of the people buying it now never knew it existed in the first place.”

• Continue reading at Music News.

Check out Toyah’s full panto history/career at the new website – The Panto Archive.

All things panto with thousands of handbills, pantomime news, reviews, character galleries and the Panto Hall of Fame and more!

Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958) –  An English singer and actress. In a career spanning more than thirty years, Willcox has had 8 Top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written books, appeared in over forty stage plays and ten 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. Her biggest hits include “It’s a Mystery”, “Thunder in the Mountains” and “I Want to Be Free”.

• Continue reading at The Panto Archive.

Following sparkling reviews and glowing audience feedback from her autumn tour, Toyah has confirmed she will play over thirty live dates in 2019.

The concerts include a 40th anniversary tour of Scotland plus headline solo electric gigs and intimate acoustic shows across the UK. There are also summer festival dates and an appearance with her full band at Belgium’s W-Fest. Further gig dates will be announced and added to the GIGS page in 2019 so stay tuned.

• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com.

Following sparkling reviews and glowing audience feedback from her autumn tour, Toyah has confirmed she will play over thirty live dates in 2019.

The concerts include a 40th anniversary tour of Scotland plus headline solo electric gigs and intimate acoustic shows across the UK. There are also summer festival dates and an appearance with her full band at Belgium’s W-Fest.

Visit the Gigs page at toyahwillcox.com for venue details and links to buy tickets. Further gig dates will be announced and added to the Gigs page in 2019 so stay tuned.

ELECTRIC: 1 Feb: Stockton Arc | 2 Feb: Doncaster Dome | 3 Feb: Cheltenham Tithe Barn | 22 Feb: Leeds Brudnell Social Club | 25 Apr: Edinburgh Liquid Rooms |26 Apr: Dundee Church | 27 Apr: Inverness Ironworks | 28 Apr: Glasgow Ivory Blacks | 26 May: Winchester Theatre Royal | 22 Jun: Newcastle Upon Tyne 02 Academy

ACOUSTIC: 15 Feb: Frome Memorial Theatre | 16 Feb: Halifax Square Chapel Arts Centre (+ Quadrophenia screening/Q&A) | 15 Mar: Aldershot West End Centre | 23 Mar: Otley Courthouse | 29 Mar: Nottingham Ravenshead Village Hall | 5 Apr: Bridgwater McMillian Theatre | 6 Apr: Northampton Roadmender | 10 May: Godalming  St. John’s Church | 24 May: Hornchurch Fairkytes Arts Centre | 27 Jun: Chester Alexander’s Live | 28 Jun: Cardiff Acapela Studio

FESTIVALS / MULTI-ARTIST SHOWS: 8 Mar: Minehead Butlins Alternative Music Festival | 27 May: Darwen Live 2019 | 1 Jun : Let’s Rock Wales Tredegar Park | 2 Jun: Cheltenham Wychwood Festival | 14 Jun: Bali Back To The 80s | 13 Jul: Newark Rock & Bike Fest | 20 Jul: Stockport  Smash Hits On The Pitch RUFC | 26 Jul: Norfolk Holt Festival | 16 Aug: Belgium W-Fest | 21 Sep: Dudley Himley Hall Party In The Park II

• Continue reading, for further info, at toyahwillcox.com. See also Toyah Announces Scottish 40th Anniversary Tour. (Photo © Ian Davis)

Toyah Willcox wows crowds in Wolverhampton with new show – in pictures

Toyah Willcox wowed crowds of fans with a Sensational performance at Wolverhampton’s Slade Rooms.

The singer, songwriter and actress proudly presented her show TOYAH, featuring a full electric band, to celebrate 40 years in the music business. Now aged 60, the solo artist – who is from Birmingham – delighted fans with hit tracks including I Want To Be Free and Be Proud Be Loud.

The event was held in the city on Friday evening.

• Continue reading, and view a gallery of photos, at the Express & Star. (Photo © Dave Cox/Express & Star)

Music: Toyah Returns With New EP ‘Four from Toyah’

Legendary British pop-rocker Toyah Willcox releases brand new EP, Four from Toyah (Birthday Edition) on May 18th. This marks Toyah’s long-awaited return to solo recording – with her last recordings being 2008’s In the Court of the Crimson Queen LP and 2011’s 21st Century Supersister .

The EP includes four new and previously unreleased songs written by Toyah and Simon Darlow. These include…

1. Telepathic Lover 2. Who Let The Beast Out 3. Fire Escape 4. Our Hearts Still Beat

Of course, true to fashion, Toyah will also delight fans with typically stunning artwork which you can see below.

• Continue reading at Culture Fix.

“Dive in, be rescued” – As previously posted, Toyah’s second solo album, Desire, is being released on limited edition translucent red vinyl as a Record Store Day exclusive on 21 April 2018. See lots more info on the forthcoming release at toyahwillcox.com…

• BeniConnect: Toyah Willcox, one of the UK’s most iconic names will perform June 2nd in Calpe: Toyah Willcox, award winning rock legend will perform in concert with support from Chill Factor and Leah Kankowski and her dancers at the AR Diamante Beach Spa Hotel, Calpe – Continue reading… 

• Native Monster: Dr Who and Secret Diary of a Call Girl star Billie Piper to meet fans at Birmingham Comic Con: Other stars set to appear include Toyah Willcox, John Coppinger, Hugh Fraser and Pauline Moran – Continue reading…

• Staffordshire Newsletter: Musicians go back to the 80s with tour at The Victoria Hall: Lovers of 1980s music will be in for a treat when musicians from the era perform at The Victoria Hall in Stoke as part of the 80s Invasion Tour. The tour features solo artist Paul Young, pop punk princess Toyah, Liverpool guitar duo China Crisis, and – flying in especially from the USA – Martika – Continue reading…

• Belper News: Duffield music festival lines up star names for 2017: The organiser of an Amber Valley music festival is hoping big name acts will bring in even bigger crowds this summer, as he looks to build on the event’s early success. Simon said: “I’m really thrilled to say that we’ve got The Blockheads and Toyah headlining the first two nights – Continue reading…

• Petersfield Messenger: 80s Icons at The Anvil: Due to overwhelming public demand, the 80s Invasion tour is back at The Anvil, Basingstoke – Continue reading…

• Official Toyah: Toyah To be Honoured On The Birmingham Walk Of Stars: Toyah Willcox and Don Maclean are to be honoured with a star on Birmingham’s Walk of Stars in Broad Street. The pair will be awarded their stars during a special show hosted by Walk of Stars’ chairman Jasper Carrott at the Birmingham Rep from 2.30pm on Sunday 11 December (Photo © Official Toyah) – Continue reading…

• The Edinburgh Reporter: Paul Young chats to the Edinburgh Reporter about 80s Invasion Tour: Due to overwhelming public demand after this year’s hugely successful run, the ‘80’s Invasion’ tour is back in 2017 with four iconic artists from the decade performing on the same bill. The new line-up features Paul Young – one of the most popular solo artists from the era, legendary pop punk princess Toyah, Liverpool’s finest guitar duo China Crisis and for the first time performing in the UK in over 25 years, flying in especially from the USA the gorgeous Martika! – Continue reading…

• Live 2016: Toyah @ Twitter: “SpikesSASBand sounded awesome in rehearsals yesterday” – Continue reading…

• Star Magazine: Leslie Ash returning to Quadrophenia ‘follow-up’ – report: Quadrophenia star Leslie Ash is reportedly returning to star in a ‘follow-up’ to the mods and rockers movie classic – Earlier this year it was revealed that To Be Someone, a new film featuring Quadrophenia stars Phil Daniels and Toyah Willcox, would begin filming in 2016 – Continue reading…

With the 80s Invasion tour coming up next year, Toyah will be performing along with other luminaries including Paul Young, Martika and China Crisis in a UK wide tour. At the moment Toyah is playing a solo tour all around the UK and she was gracious enough to spare us some time to talk about what type of holidays she prefers.

The singer’s earliest memories of breaks are spending time on the family boat moored on the river Avon and also at their caravan that was based close to the boat. This meant that from an early age Toyah was accustomed to packing – a task that she has had to carry out throughout her working life.

Cities are important places to Toyah, “I have written four albums in Seattle. I absolutely love that city – it’s a very green forest orientated city and its quite a harmonised hub of high rises but they kind of peter out into wooden shacks quite quickly and there is water everywhere.”

• Continue reading at Holiday Hypermarket.

Just announced! Toyah will be one of the artists on next Spring’s 80s Invasion Tour 2017. Playing 15 dates around the UK during March. Tickets go on general sale on Friday, with a pre-sale on Wednesday.

80s Invasion Tour 2017: Paul Young + Martika + Toyah Willcox + China Crisis

Due to overwhelming public demand after this year’s hugely successful run, the ‘80’s Invasion’ tour is back in 2017 with four iconic artists from the decade performing on the same bill.

The new line-up features Paul Young – one of the most popular solo artists from the era, legendary pop punk princess Toyah, Liverpool’s finest guitar duo China Crisis and for the first time performing in the UK in over 25 years, flying in especially from the USA the gorgeous Martika!

The tour will take in 15 dates and starts on 2nd March at Rhyl’s Pavillion, culminating on 19th March at Liverpool’s Philharmonic, with London’s Indigo2 on 16th March.

• Further information at Tony Denton Promotions.

Toyah has a successful go at covering Martha & The Muffins classic. Released in 1987 this was off the album “Desire” and see’s her go for a more mainstream sound. Mike Hedges gives it enough weird synth sound and the vocal delivery is spot on. The track is remixed by English electro-dance duo, The Quick and it polishes up the original really well. B-side, “Plenty,” was written by Toyah even has a Motown feel to it with a horn section and a guitar solo, weird!

• Continue reading at My Vinyl Dreams.

• Arab Times Online: Humor, gore in Oram’s ‘Aaaaaaaah!’: Though it’s at once too subtle and too extreme to attract a broad audience, those who get something out of gross-out humor, silent film and British comedy will treasure “Aaaaaaaah!” as a rare cult gem – Continue Reading…

• Wet Paint Theatre/Films: Hound: Lots of info on this new film, currently in production, here…

• New York Times: In London, A Celebration Of All Things Punk: Corbin’s “Visible Girls” series is part of a digital presentation during the gallery’s “Punk Weekender”: a three-day event incorporating exhibitions, a screening of Derek Jarman’s film “Jubilee” and a performance by the postpunk all-female band the Raincoats – Continue Reading…

• Warrington Guardian: Eighties Night: Win a VIP Package and a Pair of Tickets to the Eighties Night with Rick Astley, Toyah and Paul Young on the 22nd July – Continue Reading…

• Essex Chronicle: Chelmsford City Racecourse hosts second annual Ladies’ Day extravaganza: Tickets are still on sale for Simply Red’s performance on July 1, while Katherine Jenkins, Paul Young, Rick Astley and Toyah will all take to the stage next month – Continue Reading…

• Radio New Zealand: The World’s Greatest Guitar Solos!: Robert Fripp with Brian Eno: ‘Baby’s on Fire’ from Eno’s Here Come The Warm Jets features an off the wall solo, triple-tracked by Robert Fripp, originally a founding member of King Crimson. Eno and Fripp have collaborated a lot over the years on all manner of records including ‘No Pussyfooting’ and contributions to David Bowies single ‘Heroes’. Robert Fripp is a most unusual man who is married to singer Toyah Willcox – he’s had an amazing creative career – Continue Reading…

• Southern Daily Echo: All Star Line-Up Confirmed For Wickham Festival: Spike’s All Stars Band with a line-up which will include Queen drummer Roger Taylor, Marillion lead singer Fish, Madeleine Bell and solo artist/actress Toyah Willcox with a chance of other top names also making a guest appearance – Continue reading…

• Virgin Media: Shakespeare in pop: It’s 400 years since Shakespeare died! Yes, a rum anniversary (23 April 1616), but one which allows us to celebrate his input towards music culture… The Tempest: You would think with something like The Tempest, that the goths would be all over that, but no: only the Deftones and not-that-spooky-just-a-bit-darkish Pendulum have co-opted it for a title. One of Toyah’s pre-pop jobs was a role as Miranda in Derek Jarman’s interesting film version from 1979 – Continue reading…

• Vodzilla: Shakespeare 400: BFI brings the Bard’s films to VOD: With Saturday 23rd April marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the UK is going into overdrive celebrating the Bard, and the British Film Institute is no exception. This month, the BFI presents Shakespeare on Film, a UK-wide series of 300 special screenings and events celebrating the enormous impact the playwright’s life, work and legacy has had on cinema – Continue reading…

• Flickering Myth: Aaaaaaaah! Still: Toyah Willcox as Barbara – Continue reading…

• Lou Reviews: Shakespeare 400 in images: Heathcote Williams as Prospero and Toyah as Miranda in the 1979 film of ‘The Tempest’ – Continue reading…

Last Night Party: Marc Almond + Toyah + DJ
2nd July | 8pm – site opens at 6.30pm | £32.00
Venue: Festival in the Field Marquee

Our Last Night Party will end Grassington 2016 off with pop and a fizz as internationally acclaimed icon Marc Almond headlines – by arrangement with Satellite Agency. Almond has sold over 30 million records Worldwide with a solo career which sprang from his success with Soft Cell and the classic Tainted Love which broke all records and continues to be an iconic hit. Renowned for his high profile collaborations with artists such as Bronski Beat and Jools Holland, Almond also worked with Gene Pitney with a number one hit, Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart in 1989. We are delighted he will be helping us celebrate our last night. So get ready for a night to boogie and let your hair down.

The legendary Toyah is supporting Marc Almond. From punk princess to high priestess of TV, Toyah Willcox is a uniquely gifted performer. Charismatic, outspoken and impossible to categorise, she is one of Britain’s iconic household names, an award winning rock legend as well as a much loved actress and music composer.

• Continue reading at www.grassington-festival.org.uk.

• Classic Hits: Genesis Keyboardist Tony Banks Says New Solo Box Set Features “a Lot of Good Music”: Banks worked with a variety of well-known musicians on his solo albums, including such singers as ex-Marillion frontman Fish, Nik Kershaw and Toyah Willcox, and acclaimed drummers like Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta and longtime Genesis touring member Chester Thompson – Continue reading…

• Nerdly: Frightfest 2015: First look at Steve Oram’s ‘Aaaaaaaah!’: The debut feature of actor Steve Oram (Sightseers, TV’s Glue), Aaaaaaaah! stars Julian Barratt, Toyah Willcox, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Steve Oram, Lucy Honigman, Tom Meeten and Sean Reynard. The supporting cast include Noel Fielding, Holli Dempsey, Shelley Longworth, Alice Lowe, Tony Way and Waen Shepherd. Aaaaaaaah!, written and directed by Steve Oram, produced by Andy Starke and executive produced by Ben Wheatley, will have it’s world premiere at FrightFest on August 28th with many of the cast and crew in attendance. A few tickets are still available www.frightfest.co.uk – Continue reading…

• Get Reading: Famous faces spotted at Rewind Festival over the years: Rewind South: The 80s Festival, which attracts 40,000 fans each year, will return to Temple Island Meadows on Friday, August 21, to Sunday, August 23… Toyah Willcox at Rewind 2011 – Continue reading…

• Eastbourne Herald: Eastbourne gets ready for Vulcan’s swan-song at Airbourne: at the Bandstand, evening concerts include Big Band Night on Thursday and the legendary pop-punk princess Toyah, on Friday. BBC South East Today also broadcast live from the show from 6.30pm on Friday, as their Festival Friday tour hits town – Continue reading…

• The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive: Read full transcripts of Toyah’s recent interviews on BBCR2’s Sounds Of The 80s and BBC Radio Derby – Go read…

• 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…