Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

The dedication and commitment of the super fan is something we never take for granted at Cherry Red. Their passion and energy for artists is the lifeblood of any musician’s career, and in our latest blog piece we celebrate that with a wonderful piece by writer and designer Chris Limb.

Chris has been a steadfast Toyah fan since the early 80s and wrote I Was A Teenage Toyah Fan; a fascinating example of loyalty and affection that serves as a window into the soul of any ardent music lover.

It is 1981. I am seeing Toyah play live. For the first time I am actually in the same room as her, albeit a very large room. There she is, over there. I can see her with my eyes.

It is 1991. I am putting together the latest issue of the Toyah Fan Club magazine Tellurian, a cut and paste concoction of photocopied articles as well as a handwritten letter to the fans from Toyah herself. I am typing up the lyrics for her new album Ophelia’s Shadow to include in it; once finished I’ll then take it to a print shop in Store Street WC1 to get a few hundred copies run off.

It is 2001. I am in a recording studio in Nuneaton where Toyah is recording guest vocals on a track by the band Chester with whom I currently play bass. The track will eventually be put out under the band name Family of Noise.

It is 2011. I am putting the finishing touches to the manuscript for my memoir I Was A Teenage Toyah Fan which grew out of a series of blog posts I’d written about my experiences some thirty years previously. I am about to self-publish this as both a paperback and an ebook.

It is 2021. I am writing this blog entry about Toyah and the impression she’s made on my life over the past 40 plus years.

• Continue reading at Cherry Red. Browse Dreamscape’s I Was A Teenage Toyah Fan news archive. There’s much more IWATTF content in our vast News Archive (scroll to around 2010 – 2012).

The Posh Pop Tour continues, with a Sold Out gig at Otley Courthouse tonight. See Toyah’s full live gigs schedule, including all the upcoming Posh Pop Tour dates, at toyahwillcox.com.

Read Toyah’s latest blog – for February 2022 – at toyahwillcox.com.

Tomorrow’s Toyah At Home, airing on Toyah’s official You Tube channel and Facebook page, sees Toyah explore the history of, the classic, Ieya. There’s rare archive footage and an unseen performance of probably Toyah’s most iconic song (give or take an It’s A Mystery or Thunder In The Mountains). There’s also an exclusive news announcement from Toyah about a forthcoming release. Toyah At Home airs at 11am (UK time) tomorrow!

No mystery why Princess of Punk gone all Posh Pop

Once known as the Punk Princess, Toyah has proved she has proved she is no one-trick pony.

She is an actor of note, featuring in films such as Jubilee, Quadrophenia and recent The Ghosts Of Borley Rectory, as well as TV shows such as Shoestring, Minder, Kavanagh QC and Maigret.

She has supplied her voice to animated Mr Bean series and Teletubbies and has “done” Shakespeare’s The Tempest, writes Martin Hutchinson.

But to most of us, she is a singer who took the charts by storm when she first erupted on the scene in 1980. After five releases that failed to interest the mainstream chart, despite going top ten in independent charts, Four From Toyah EP –that included the fantastic It’s A Mystery – reached number four in mainstream UK singles’ charts and was the first of four consecutive releases to top UK independent charts.

She followed her breakthrough with I Want To Be Free and another release Thunder In The Mountains, both of which were top ten hits, before follow-up EP Four More From Toyah.

Toyah has also had ten chart albums, including 1981’s Anthem, which got to number two in the charts.

• Continue reading at the The News. See all of Toyah’s upcoming Posh Pop Tour dates at toyahwillcox.com.

Toyah Willcox brings new show to Millom’s Beggar’s Theatre

Millom’s Beggar’s Theatre are set to welcome new wave icon Toyah Willcox this week for a live performance of old classics and new releases.

Toyah’s career has spanned over 40 years, where she has worked as a singer, actress and TV presenter.

She arrives in Cumbria on Thursday (February 3) to perform hits including ‘It’s A Mystery’, ‘Thunder in The Mountains’, ‘I Want To Be Free’ and ‘Good Morning Universe’ alongside numbers from her latest release, ‘Posh Pop’.

The singer and her husband, King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp, have recently been cheering up fans during lockdown with their ‘Sunday Lunch’ video series, where they upload live covers of rock classics online each week.

Some videos have reached over 10 million views.

• Continue reading at the News & Star. See also Yahoo News.

50 Wild Women Of The 80s!: NOW 80s: Saturday 5th February: 12pm
Brilliant songs, big voices, blazing hair & bags of attitude – the ladies of the 80s had the lot! From Toyah to Tina & Joan Jett to Janet Jackson.

• Classic Rock/Louder: Toyah and Robert Fripp continue to take everyone’s mind off everything else: The latest cover in Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp’s catalogue of chaos is the Ramones’ classic Blitzkrieg Bop – As sure as Tuesday follows Monday, Toyah Willcox and King Crimson leader Robert Fripp used Sunday as an opportunity to remind everyone that the world isn’t always the miserable place the headlines make it appear. So while North Korea launches its biggest missile test in five years, while tensions mount in Ukraine, while vaccine mandate protests block the streets of Ottawa, and while Jamie Oliver reveals he’s not a fan of Bake Off, the Fripp-Willcoxes are once again lightening humanity’s load. This week it’s a cover of the Ramones’ 1976 classic Blitzkrieg Bop that receives the Willcox-Fripp treatment. Robert fixes the lens with his steely glare and chops out the riff, Toyah leaps around the kitchen with the enthusiasm of an adrenalised puppy, and all is right with the world. Just like last week. And the week before. – Continue reading…

• Guitar.Com: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp Continue Punk Streak with Cover of Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bop: Robert Fripp and Toyah Wilcox have brought their Sunday Lunch covers sessions back to the world of punk, following their Clash cover with a cover of the Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bop – Willcox wrote in the video’s description: “Hey Ho – Let’s go to the most famous kitchen on YouTube!!! The Frippcox household have really outdone themselves this week!!”. The performance features the typical exuberance we’ve come to expect from Wilcox, offset by the iron gaze of the King Crimson guitarist hammering away at his Les Paul – Continue reading…

• Ultimate Guitar: Watch: Here’s King Crimson Mastermind Robert Fripp Covering Ramones With Wife Toyah: The duo continues their traditional “Sunday Lunch” series – When this whole awful thing started in 2020, one of our favorite guitar masters, the almighty Robert Fripp, decided to try out something new. The artist who we all remember for his unique approach to music and guitar teamed up with his wife Toyah Willcox and began covering some of the greatest rock songs of all time. One thing led to another and we saw them covering some of the most unexpected songs, including “Enter Sandman,” “Chop Suey!,” and many others. And all this came with some of the most extravagant intricately choreographed videos, even causing some controversies along the way – Continue reading…

Now here’s a super trouper: Toyah’s voice is glowing with energy as she charms audiences with her snappy and uplifting Posh Pop

The 1980s are having a moment. As several of today’s young stars revive the sound of synth-pop, a decade that was once derided is beginning to resemble a golden age.

Its music scene was a flourishing ecosystem, full of distinctive creatures from Sade to the late lamented Meat Loaf. Every week on Top Of The Pops they brought us all together to gawp or giggle at them. Younger readers may not believe this, but we even had a serious prime minister.

One of the most 1980s things about the 1980s was the annual vote for the Most Fanciable Human Beings, as chosen by readers of Smash Hits. In December 1981 the male winner was Adam Ant. The female one, seeing off Kim Wilde and Debbie Harry, was Toyah Willcox. ‘Oh God,’ she said. ‘I never expected that.’ Forty years on, she takes the stage in the unlikely setting of a Berkshire boarding school. The Whitty Theatre at Luckley House School is small but perfectly formed, and so, at 63, is Toyah.

Looking around at the audience, I find myself wondering if The Oldie magazine has a readers’ poll. As a singer, actress and TV presenter, Toyah is a super trouper: you could get exhausted just from reading her Wikipedia page.

Undaunted by lockdown, she formed a bubble at home in Worcestershire with her husband Robert Fripp, the legendary King Crimson guitarist, and her co-writer Simon Darlow. The resulting album, Posh Pop, put Toyah back in the Top 30 for the first time since 1984.

On the side, she entertained herself and her fans with Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch, a series of YouTube videos. Each one is a jokey cover version of a classic, from The Who’s My Generation to The Undertones’ Teenage Kicks.

• Continue reading at the Daily Mail.

More great press for Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – now in its third calendar year! (Images © Toyah Willcox)

• NME: Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox share cover of Ramones’ ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’: King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, singer Toyah Willcox, have shared a cover of ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ by the Ramones – watch it below. The cover is a part of the pair’s ‘Sunday Lunch’ video series which returned earlier this month after a brief break for the holidays. Launched in 2020, the series has so far seen the couple share renditions of songs by Nirvana, David Bowie, Metallica, Billy Idol, The Rolling Stones, Judas Priest, The Prodigy, Guns N’ Roses, Alice Cooper and many more through Willcox’s YouTube channel – Continue reading…

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah and Robert Fripp cover Ramone’s “Blitzkrieg Bop”: Toyah and King Crimson’s Robert Fripp have been on a punk kick this month with their Sunday Lunch covers series. Having recently paid tribute to The Stooges, The Undertones and The Clash, now they’ve taken on the Ramones’ classic “Blitzkrieg Bop.” Shot in their kitchen with a handmade “BOP ME BOBBY FRIPP” signed taped to their cupboard, it’s typically spirited take on the song. Watch that, which was shot as always in their kitchen, below – Continue reading…

• Metal Sucks: King Crimson’s Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox Cover “Blitzkrieg Bop”: King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and his wife, the actress and singer Toyah Willcox, are back with the latest entry in their ongoing “Sunday Lunch” series of cover videos. Robert and Toyah’s latest effort sees the couple tackle the Ramones’ 1976 punk rock anthem “Blitzkrieg Bop.” – Continue reading…

• DGM Live: Toyah & Robert’s Weekend: Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Blitzkrieg Bop… Toyah & Robert’s – Burning Question (January 29th, 2022)… Toyah At Home – Summer Of Love (January 29th, 2022) – Continue reading…

• Sunday Lunch: Hey Ho – Let’s go to the most famous kitchen on You Tube!!! The Frippcox household have really outdone themselves this week!! – Watch the video…

• Toyah At Home – Summer Of Love: This week Toyah is joined By Robert Fripp as they go behind the recording of Summer Of Love, and we see an exclusive live version of the song – Watch here…

• Toyah & Robert -Burning Question: Direct from the Frippcox kitchen, The deeply unqualified Toyah and Robert tackle your Burning Questions! – Watch here…

• Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Blitzkrieg Bop: Hey Ho – Let’s go to the most famous kitchen on You Tube!!! The Frippcox household have really outdone themselves this week!! – Watch here… (Images © Toyah Willcox)

Kavanagh Q.C.: Drama: Friday 11th February: 1.30am
A Family Affair. Kavanagh finds himself caught up in a bitter family feud when he represents a frustrated father who has kidnapped his son in a desperate attempt to win custody. On the home front, Kavanagh’s daughter wants to let her boyfriend stay overnight. Directed by Renny Rye. With John Thaw, Holly Aird, Robert Ashby, Toyah Willcox and Lisa Harrow.

Minder: ITV4: Wednesday 9th February: 4.35pm
Minder: ITV4: Thursday 10th February: 7am
Minder: ITV4: Friday 11th February: 1.15am
All Mod Cons. Series 2, Episode 8. Terry tries to help his friend Kate evict some unwanted tenants, but comes to doubt her motives. Meanwhile, Arthur is desperate to get into the property market and tries to sell Terry’s flat without telling him. Guest starring Toyah Willcox and Simon Cadell. Director: Ian Sharp. Also starring: George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Peter Childs, George Layton, Patrick Malahide, Michael Troughton. Also showing on ITV4 HD. (Photos © ITV)

Masked Singer fans ‘rumble’ celebrity on show – but for more than one character

The Masked Singer UK fans say they’ve got clues and proof that one star is under the mask, but she’s been named as playing multiple characters

The Masked Singer UK viewers have shared their thoughts on Twitter over the latest batch of characters. One name in particular has been shared constantly with fans believing they have proof she is on the show. However, the particular celebrity has in fact been suggested for multiple characters, while one in particular.

Musician, actress, and TV presenter Toyah Willcox is tipped to be unmasked as Panda on the hit ITV series, with fans convinced it is her. That said, she’s also been thrown into the mix for Rockhopper and Mushroom, as well as Firework.

Basically, fans are convinced the vocals and clues match her for all of the characters, but she can’t possibly be playing all of them can she? While we wouldn’t put it past the double-bluffing bosses on the show, the characters have all appeared on stage at the same time at one point, or at least most of them have. It is also very unlikely they have one celebrity performing as more than one character, meaning someone else has to be the other characters.

It’s Panda that has had the most guesses as being Toyah by viewers, with many convinced the vocals gave the game away.

• Continue reading at The Mirror. NB. The Sun, Express, Independent and others have a similar story but they have Cyndi Lauper as Panda. The Masked Singer continues this Saturday evening on ITV at 7pm. Have a listen…. Definitely not Toyah but it does sound sort of like Cyndi!

Toyah is one of six celebrities appearing in the fourth series of Help! My House Is Haunted, airing soon on Discovery +

Singer, actress and 80s icon Toyah Willcox has experienced persistent paranormal activity in her Worcestershire home ever since she moved in 20 years ago. To lend a helping hand, the team undergo one of their most terrifying investigations to date and uncover a nearby medieval tragedy that could be linked to the hostile entity dwelling in the property. Toyah features in Episode 5 with broadcast details coming soon.

• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com. (Photo © Discovery +)

Click below to watch Toyah introduce The Eyes Of An Angel + The Beast Looks Back… a brand new collectable art series by Toyah. Prints and tees available now in strict limited quantities. (Image © Toyah Willcox)

Quadrophenia Reunited – 40 Years On: Sky Arts: Saturday 5th February: 2.30am
Lauren Laverne hosts a one-off special bringing the stars of Quadrophenia together. Featuring reminiscing, interviews, a table-read of the script and plenty of surprises. (Photo © Sky Arts)

Sunday Lunch video star and Posh Pop queen Toyah to play Pocklington in March

Eighties’ pop star Toyah will play Pocklington Arts Centre on March 3 on her up-close-and-personal Posh Pop Tour.

Her “lively cinematic sound” will combine Toyah’s vocals with keyboards and stand-up bass in her arrangements of such hits as It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains and I Want To Be Free, modern-day works Sensational and Dance In The Hurricane and selections from last autumn’s Posh Pop album.

These will be complemented by stories from her colourful 40-year career that has gained YouTube momentum latterly with Toyah’s Sunday Lunch videos with husband Robert Fripp, drawing ten million views since being started in lockdown. A new season was launched last weekend with their quickfire take on The Undertones’ Teenage Kicks.

Toyah: Posh Pop Tour, Pocklington Arts Centre, Thursday, March 3, 8pm. Box office: 01759 301547 or at pocklkingtonartscentre.co.uk.

Ahead of her Pocklington show, Martin Hutchinson profiles Birmingham-born singer, actor, television presenter and writer Toyah Willcox

Once known as the “Punk Princess”, Toyah has proved that she is no one-trick-pony. She is an actor of note, featuring in films such as Jubilee, Quadrophenia and Ghosts Of Borley Rectory and the TV shows Shoestring, Minder, Kavanagh QC and Maigret.

She supplied her voice to the animated Mr Bean series and Teletubbies and has ‘done’ Shakespeare, playing Miranda in Derek Jarman’s 1979 film version of The Tempest.

To most of us, however, Toyah is a singer, who took the charts by storm when she first erupted on the scene in 1980. After five releases that failed to interest the mainstream Top 40, despite going top ten in the independent charts, Toyah broke through with the Four From Toyah EP, featuring the fantastic It’s A Mystery that propelled it to number four.

• Continue reading at Charles Hutch Press. Browse all of Toyah’s upcoming live gigs and festivals at toyahwillcox.com.

50 Wild Women Of The 80s!: NOW 80s: Saturday 29th January: 12pm
Brilliant songs, big voices, blazing hair & bags of attitude – the ladies of the 80s had the lot! From Toyah to Tina & Joan Jett to Janet Jackson.

Celebrity Catchphrase: ITV2: Monday 7th February: 6pm
Stephen Mulhern hosts a celebrity special of the classic game show, with Nicola Coughlan, Stephen Mangan and Toyah Willcox all trying to say what they see as they guess well-known phrases for the chance to win a £50,000 jackpot for their chosen charity.

Toyah is the latest guest on the My Time Capsule podcast.

Ep. 158 – Toyah Willcox

Toyah Willcox or “Toyah” is a musician, actor, and presenter. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Toyah 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.

Toyah Willcox is guest number 158 on My Time Capsule and chats to Michael Fenton Stevens about the five things she’d like to put in a time capsule; four she’d like to preserve and one she’d like to bury and never have to think about again.

• Listen at My Time Capsule.