Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

• Toyah Live 2022: Toyah will play the Isle Of Wight Festival in June next year – See her tweet about it…

• Isle Of Wight County Press: Isle of Wight Festival 2022: New acts announced including The Kooks: The Isle of Wight Festival has announced a new raft of acts, including The Kooks closing the Big Top on the Sunday night. Isle of Wight band Wet Leg, GRIFF, Freya Ridings, The Snuts, Mae Muller, Mimi Webb, Joel Corry, The Amazons, The Charlatans, The Compozers, Del Amitri, Everyone You Know, The Fratellis, Heather Small, Mark Owen and Toyah also join the line-up… Over the course of her 40 year career, award winning musician Toyah has recorded over 20 albums, had eight Top 40 singles and written two books, and in 2022 she’ll add playing the Festival to her list of achievements – Continue reading…

• Isle Of Wight Radio: Take That Star Among New Isle Of Wight Festival 2022 Acts: Take That’s Mark Owen, Freya Ridings and The Kooks are among the new acts announced for Isle of Wight Festival 2022. The Amazons, Heather Small, Toyah, Joel Corry and the Isle of Wight’s very-own Wet Leg also feature on the line-up. Organisers have confirmed a host of new names today (Friday). The Kooks, celebrating the 15th anniversary of their debut album Inside/Out next year, will close the Big Top on the Sunday (19). Fan favourites and indie music icons The Fratellis and The Charlatans will also perform in Seaclose Park… While, award-winning musician Toyah will add playing the Festival to her list of achievements – Continue reading…

• Isle Of Wight Festival 2022: Will take place at Seaclose Park, Newport on 16th – 19th June 2022 – Visit the official festival website…

Pop icon Toyah Willcox has welcomed the Brit Awards going gender neutral.

Toyah, who was nominated for four Brits in the Eighties, thinks the move is a positive step towards inclusivity.

She said: “I think the Brits are ahead of the game and I think it’s an amazing thing to do. We have to protect every individual.

“People must not be pushed into labels, and I think it’s going to empower a whole new generation.”

The It’s A Mystery singer is starring in London’s Proud Embankment Cabaret All Stars show. Despite her 63 years she shows no sign of slowing down.

Toyah said: “My advice to people of all ages is to grab life by the horns and have confidence in yourself.”

We can’t argue with that . . .

• Continue reading at The Sun/Bizarre. See further info on Toyah with Proud Cabaret, here.

• Mirror: Eternals star Richard Madden says he was ‘fat and shy’ as childhood photos unearthed: The outlet reports that the Golden Globe Award winner has shared a photo from his teenage years, with one image from the time showing him with musician Toyah Willcox. The pair are understood to have appeared together in children’s comedy series Barmy Aunt Boomerang, with the show having ran on the BBC between 1999 and 2000 – Continue reading…

• The Sun: Mad Transformation – The Bodyguard star Richard Madden unrecognisable in ‘fat and shy’ pics from his bullied schooldays: Richard, who is famed for being in Game of Thrones, shared a picture from his school days with fans, showing him looking cherubic. He is pictured with musician Toyah Willcox, who he appeared with in Barmy Aunt Boomerang in 1999-2000 – Continue reading…

(Photos © BBC)

Quatermass: Talking Pictures TV: Fri 17th Dec: 8pm
Chapter Four: An Endangered Species. Quatermass showing signs of his recent narrow escape emerges from the car park to find the stadium empty. An estimated 70,000 people died there. So many have now been harvested that the particles of dust in the air have turned the sky green. Kapp attempts to repair his equipment in order to contact the alien presence, but the Planet People destroy his efforts. They try to persuade him to join them but he refuses, convinced now that his family are dead. Quatermass, aided by Gurov, who has travelled to London from Moscow, assembles a team of scientists to find a solution. He deliberately selects old people for the task as they are immune to the call of the alien force. Quatermass decides to set a trap. He plans to fake the presence of a gathering of a million young people at Kapp’s observatory and, when the force comes, to detonate a 35 kiloton nuclear weapon. It is a focused charge where most of the force will go upwards, causing little damage in the area. Quatermass does not believe this will be sufficient to destroy the alien machine but he hopes that it will shock it enough to make it go away. Kapp volunteers to stay behind with Quatermass to help detonate the bomb. The pair set up the trap and wait in darkness. Suddenly, Kickalong appears with a group of Planet People, including Quatermass’ granddaughter, Hettie. Kapp tries to warn them away but is shot and killed by Kickalong.

The light appears, indicating that the alien force beam has arrived, but the shock of seeing his granddaughter among the Planet People causes Quatermass to suffer a heart attack. She has recognised him too and struggling to reach the detonator button, Quatermass is aided by Hettie and together they detonate the bomb. Later in a world that is recovering from the recent fall of civilization, Gurov tells us: “The message was taken. It has not come again. We pray it will never come again”.

This episode originally aired on 14th November 1979 on the ITV network and was watched by 11.2m viewers in the UK. The 1979, four-part, mini series Quatermass (also known as The Quatermass Conclusion or Quatermass IV) is airing weekly from Tuesday 19th May. Stars John Mills, Simon McCorkindale, Barbara Kellerman, Ralph Arliss, Rebecca Saire, Toyah Willcox, David Yip, Alison Dowling.

• Talking Pictures TV is An Archive Film & TV Channel. Available on the following platforms/channels: Freeview 81, YouView 81, Freesat 306, Sky 328 and Virgin 445.

Favourite Singers With Nick Heyward: NOW 80s: Friday 10th December: 0.00am
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.

Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s: Monday 6th December: 1am
T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of Heart and Soul to a countdown of ’80s ladies who like to rock! With Joan Jett, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. (as well as Toyah via the Thunder In The Mountains video)

80s Stars – Then & Now!: NOW 80s: Monday 6th December: 1pm
Where are they now? Classic hits, followed by some recent songs – Including Pet Shop Boys, Kylie, Toyah, The Stones, Gary Numan, The Pretenders, New Order, Rick Astley & T’Pau!

• Rolling Stone: Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox Share High-Spirited ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ Cover: The couple gets into character for the 90-second performance: As December nears, the husband and wife duo of King Crimson’s Robert Fripp and singer/actress Toyah Willcox are getting in the holiday spirit with a cover of “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer,” the latest installation from their series Sunday Lunch – Continue reading… See also Rolling Stone Australia…

• Guitar.Com: Fripp and Toyah Keep the Festive Spirits High with Cover Of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer: Can you hear the sleigh bells?: Continuing the trend of singalong Christmas classics they started last week, Sunday Lunch purveyors Robert Fripp and Toyah have gifted fans a cover of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer – Continue reading…

• NME: Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox spread some Christmas cheer with ‘Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer’ cover: Following on from last week’s festive rendition of ‘Silent Night’: King Crimson‘s Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox have continued their eccentric covers, getting into the festive spirit with a rendition of a classic Christmas carol – Continue reading… 

• Metal Sucks: King Crimson’s Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox Sing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”: King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and his wife, the actress and singer Toyah Willcox, have unveiled the latest entry in their “Sunday Lunch” series of cover videos that have captured the Internet’s attention in recent months – Continue reading…

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp Sing “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”: Toyah and Robert Fripp are in Holiday Sing-A-Long mode on their Sunday Lunch series. “Christmas is almost upon us, and the Frippcox household are ready to teach the nation another festive fave,” they write, “perhaps somebody should teach it to them first!!” The problem doesn’t seem to be no knowing this one, but in-ear monitors might help as they fall behind the music just a touch as it goes on.” As sweetly innocent as these holiday clips are, the Sunday Lunch series continues to be wild to see prog rock icon Robert Fripp delight in pure silliness. – Continue reading…

• Sunday Lunch Singalong: Singalong Week 2: Christmas is almost upon us, and the Frippcox household are ready to teach the nation another festive fave, perhaps somebody should teach it to them first!! – Watch the video… (Images © Toyah Willcox)

Favourite Singers With Nick Heyward: NOW 80s: Friday 3rd December: 0.00am
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 At Home – in Isolation – November 27th: Join Toyah at Home as she is in Covid isolaton, and catch an exclusive live performance of Rhythm In My House – Watch here…

• Toyah & Robert’s Burning Question – 27th November: More of your social, emotional and music tuning predicaments are addressed with care and attention by the deeply unqualified Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp in this Saturday’s Burning Questions – Watch here…

• Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Singalong “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeeeeeeer”: Christmas is almost upon us, and the Frippcox household are ready to teach the nation another festive fave, perhaps somebody should teach it to them first!! – Watch here…  (Images © Toyah Willcox)

Quatermass: Talking Pictures TV: Fri 10th Dec: 8pm
Chapter Three: What Lies Beneath. Quatermass is rescued by a group of elderly people living in a scrap yard who doctor his injuries. At the hospital, the doctors are shocked when Isabel levitates off her bed and explodes in a cloud of dust. Elsewhere, the devastated Kapp is left alone in the ruins of his cottage and observatory. More and more young people are joining the Planet People, including the gangs that have been terrorising the cities and the soldiers assigned to keep them away from the Megalithic sites. Contact is restored with Chuck Marshall and with the Russians in the form of Gurov (Brewster Mason). Quatermass theorises that this is not the first time this has happened; megalithic sites such as prehistoric stone circles are in fact markers where beacons have been left by the people living then as a sign that something terrible happened there, and that there are some kind of alien markers buried underground at these sites. Quatermass believes there is a sphere of energy surrounding the Earth. The Russians and the Americans send a space shuttle, commanded by Marshall, to make contact with the force. Quatermass is sceptical; he believes they are dealing not with an intelligence but with a machine constructed to harvest human protein. The space shuttle reports a giant beam of light stretching from somewhere in deep space to the Earth, just missing them. A second beam just afterwards destroys them.

Meanwhile, the Planet People are gathering at Wembley Stadium in the tens of thousands. Annie and Quatermass travel to the stadium but are powerless to prevent the Planet People from gathering. When they are attacked, Annie drives their car into the underground car park beneath the stadium where she crashes the vehicle and is killed. The lightning strikes the stadium and Quatermass underground, huddles against the wall to try and survive.

This episode originally aired on 7th November 1979 on the ITV network and was watched by 10.5m viewers in the UK. The 1979, four-part, mini series Quatermass (also known as The Quatermass Conclusion or Quatermass IV) is airing weekly from Tuesday 19th May. Stars John Mills, Simon McCorkindale, Barbara Kellerman, Ralph Arliss, Rebecca Saire, Toyah Willcox, David Yip, Alison Dowling.

• Talking Pictures TV is An Archive Film & TV Channel. Available on the following platforms/channels: Freeview 81, YouView 81, Freesat 306, Sky 328 and Virgin 445. (Photos © ITV)

Quadrophenia – Our Generation: Sky Arts: Thursday 2nd December: 9pm
Quadrophenia – Our Generation: Sky Arts: Sunday 5th December: 4am
Quadrophenia – Our Generation: Sky Arts: Thursday 9th December: 2.45am
Celebrity fans and cast members come together to shed light on the making of Quadrophenia and explore the legacy that the cult film has left behind, 40 years after its release. (Photo © Sky Arts)

80s Stars – Then & Now!: NOW 80s: Sunday 28th November: 4pm
80s Stars – Then & Now!: NOW 80s: Wednesday 1st December: 9am
Where are they now? Classic hits, followed by some recent songs – Including Pet Shop Boys, Kylie, Toyah, The Stones, Gary Numan, The Pretenders, New Order, Rick Astley & T’Pau!

Toyah’s Sack The Stylist?! Top 30: NOW 80s: Tuesday 30th November: 4pm
Pop legend Toyah brings 30 memorable videos featuring a cavalcade of clothing calamities from superstars including Visage, Five Star, Divine, Cher, The Jam, Bananarama, Dead Or Alive, Bucks Fizz, ABC, Depeche Mode, David Bowie, Madonna, Adam & The Ants, A Flock Of Seagulls, Roxy Music, Kajagoogoo, Duran Duran, Grace Jones, Su Pollard, Toyah herself and more in this crazy countdown!

Who Won Wot? 1980 – 1989: NOW 80s: Friday 3rd December: 9am
From Smash Hits “Most Unwanted Person of 1980” to the Brits “Best Group” of 1989 – Mark Goodier’s 10 hour marathon of 80s award winners lasts nearly as long as the Oscars. (The first artist played from 1981 is Toyah, with the Thunder In The Mountains video. Mark said: “We begin 1981 with a 4ft 11 pop star who had the biggest hair of the entire decade, here’s the Most Fanciable (as voted by Smash Hits magazine readers) Toyah Willcox with Thunder In The Mountains“).

Rebel Run – Toyah Willcox proves she is still a musical powerhouse at 63 in Cabaret All Stars

Toyah Willcox might be 63 years old but she is still a musical powerhouse who doesn’t drop the ball for a second.

The original punk rocker has started her stint at Proud Cabaret as one of their resident celebs for the All Star shows.

She comperes in between the burlesque, circus and magic acts and takes the time to share some of her favourite moments in her career spanning more than 40 decades.

Toyah doesn’t hold anything back, cracking jokes including “These are the feet that ran away from Jimmy Saville” and did her best imitation of Princess Margaret and the Queen mother. The singer also shared that she wrote an early draft of her song I Want To Be Free when she was nine and had jailers telling her lags were singing it behind bars.

When she sang it live, it was hard to tell that it had been decades since she first sang it on record. She was accompanied by the dazzling Katrina Louise who was doing aerial work suspended by chains – her first time back with this prop since giving birth.

Each time Toyah came on stage she had a new getup from a different coloured breast plate to her hair in a new style – the singer certainly got into the spirit of cabaret.

• Continue reading at The Sun.

How I Spend It: Toyah Willcox on rocks, hag stones and meteorites

The musician reveals what lies behind her lifelong fascination with crystals

I collect crystals, and I’m not talking about crystals you keep in your pocket. These are museum-quality collectors’ pieces. My fascination is that these are timeless things. They have been there since the Big Bang. All around the house we have crystals, along the skirting boards, in cupboards, in the cutlery drawers. My computer sits on a piece of rose quartz that is at least 10kg in weight. It’s the size of a Bible you’d see in a church.

Meteorites are full of potential. They’re what’s put us here

I remember clearly the first stone that meant something to me. I was about seven years old. I was on a sandbank on the River Avon and picked up a pebble with a hole in it. My father said it was a “hag stone”, one with a naturally formed hole in it. I could not put it down. I was instantly in love with it, the smoothness of it, the history of it, what it’s been through, what it’s survived, that it’s outlived all of us and will outlive all of us. I’ve had this particular hag stone since I was seven – I’m now 63, and it’s been a point of conversation with virtually everyone I’ve known. A lot of musicians feel the same way about stones; we collect pebbles and send them to each other.

• Continue reading at ft.com. (Thanks to Kelly and Michael)

Toyah resumes the Posh Pop Tour on 2nd December at St Mary Magdalene Church, Cobham, Kent. Book tickets by clicking below. See Toyah’s full tour schedule, including the few rescheduled dates, at toyahwillcox.com.

Singer Toyah Willcox has had to postpone tour dates including Worcester because she is unwell.

The 63-year-old It’s a Mystery singer revealed to fans that she had tested positive for covid so would have to reschedule four dates to 2022.

Pershore’s Toyah was due to perform at Huntingdon Hall on Saturday (November 20) but has not rescheduled for Saturday, January 15 next year.

In a video, she said: “Firstly, I want to let you know I’m okay I’ve tested positive for covid.

“Last night during soundcheck at the Robin in Wolverhampton. I realised I’d lost my sense of taste and my sense of smell. I took three tests on the spot and two were positive and one was negative which led to a lot of discussions about whether the show could go on.”

• Continue reading at Worcester News. See Toyah’s full tour schedule, including the few rescheduled dates, at toyahwillcox.com.

Toyah axes live shows after testing positive for Covid

The punk icon has moved four shows to 2022 so she can isolate for 10 days following the positive test result.

Toyah has been forced to delay a bunch of live shows after testing positive for coronavirus. The singer has moved a handful of dates to 2022 after being struck with Covid during a soundcheck this week.

“I’ve tested positive for Covid. Last night during soundcheck at The Robin in Wolverhampton,” she explained in a video shared to social media.

• Continue reading at Retro Pop. See Toyah’s full tour schedule, including the few rescheduled dates, at toyahwillcox.com.

Backstage Tales : BBC Radio Four Extra
Mon 6th/Tues 7th December : 2.30pm/2.30am

Midge Ure reveals the bizarre world of musicians on tour

He spills the beans on ‘the rider’, tour catering, tricky artists and overprotective managers and the most eye-watering examples of rock ‘n’ roll excess, and frugality, backstage. Getting a rock tour on the road is a massive undertaking, particularly if the star has a large entourage. Just feeding the crew is a military operation.

Having spent nearly 30 years on the road, Midge is perfectly placed to reveal the reality of musicians on tour. Fascinated by this bizarre backstage world, Midge goes on a mission to track down music promoters, tour managers, caterers, roadies, record company employees and the stars themselves to gather together the most intriguing and amusing backstage tales. The programme also hears from Jason Donovan, Boy George, Kim Wilde, Toyah Willcox and Martin Kemp.

• Listen at the BBC Radio 4 Extra website. (This originally aired in November 2011)