Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Following Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (May 2022, #72) and Anthem (September 2022, #33), Toyah secures a third Top 100 album in 2022 on The Official Charts today, with Live At The Rainbow entering at #100. Not only that, though, Live At The Rainbow places very well in various other Official Chart album countdowns today.

Album Chart #100
Independent Chart #7
Sales Chart #24
Physical Chart #22
Scottish Chart #34

Live At The Rainbow also charted at #36 in the Official Chart Album Update (aka Midweeks) earlier this week.

• Chart Stats: Toyah has now had seven albums on the Official Charts in the past four consecutive years: In The Court Of The Crimson Queen (2019) #74, Sheep Farming In Barnet (2020) #99, The Blue Meaning (2021) #59, Posh Pop (2021) #22, Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (2022) #72, Anthem (2022) #33, Live At The Rainbow (2022) #100.

NB. As well as those album stats, the two box sets, Toyah Solo (March 2020), and The Humans: Noise In Your Head (July 2020), both entered a number of the Official Charts, including Sales and Independent.

• More Toyah Chart News: Browse Dreamscape’s Official Charts archive…  Download/Stream or buy the vinyl or CD/DVD of Live At The Rainbow.

The new compilation: Rare, Remixed and Revisited, released as part of the Toyah Solo box set, is now available as a digital download and to stream via Spotify.

The album includes previously unreleased songs, a number of demos, remixes and re-recordings (Revisited) and features 16 tracks:

1. Tears For Ellie (Demo), 2. God Ceases To Dream (Remix), 3. Poland (One Day On Earth) (Demo), 4. Now I’m Running (Remix), 5. It’s a Mystery (Whispered Elixir Mix), 6. Lust For Love (Demo), 7. Angel (Demo), 8. Rebel Run (Revisited), 9. Good Morning Universe (Revisited), 10. Be Proud, Be Loud (Be Heard) (Revisited), 11. Desire (Revisited), 12. Obsolete (Revisited), 13. Danced (Revisited), 14. We Are (Revisited), 15. Angel & Me (Revisited), 16. Believe In You (Demo)

As previously posted, Desire, Take The Leap! and Velvet Lined Shell are also now available in standalone digital Deluxe Editions – all featuring bonus songs. These albums are also available to stream via Spotify (click the links above for official links to streaming and more).

Three of the albums included on the, recently released, retrospective box set, Toyah Solo – Desire, Take The Leap!, Velvet Lined Shell – are also now available in standalone digital Deluxe Editions – all featuring bonus songs.

Desire includes the previously unavailable Mesmerised, as well as Plenty, Sun Up and Re-Entry Into Dance. Take The Leap! bonus songs are the demos of Requite Me and Invisible Love, an alternate mix of Waiting and the incredible It’s A Mystery (Weybridge Mix). While Velvet Lined Shell has Experience as an extra song.

Desire | Deluxe Edition, Edsel/Demon Music: February 2020
Tracklist: Echo Beach, Moonlight Dancing, Revive The World, The View, Moon Migration, Love’s Unkind, Dear Diary, Deadly As A Woman, Goodbye Baby, When A Woman Cries, Desire, Echo Beach (Surf Mix), Plenty, Sun Up, Re-Entry Into Dance, Mesmerised.

Take The Leap! | Deluxe Edition, Edsel/Demon Music: February 2020
Tracklist: Now I’m Running, Lust For Love, Invisible Love, Name Of Love, Winter in Wonderland, God Ceases To Dream, Ieya (Revisited), Waiting (Revisited), Neon Womb (Revisited), Elusive Stranger (Revisited), Our Movie (Revisited), Thunder In The Mountains (Revisited), I Wanna Be Free (Revisited), It’s A Mystery (Revisited), Requite Me (Demo), Invisible Love (Demo), Waiting (Alternate Mix), It’s A Mystery (Weybridge Mix)

Velvet Lined Shell | Deluxe Edition, Edsel/Demon Music: February 2020
Tracklist: Every Scar Has A Silver Lining, Velvet Lined Shell, Little Tears Of Love, You’re A Miracle, Mother, Troublesome Thing, Experience

Toyah guested on Alex Dyke’s Wall of Sound on BBC Radio Solent yesterday, talking about the Electric Ladies Of The 80s Tour, Toyah Solo, career longevity and more. It’s A Mystery and Thunder In The Mountains were also played at either end of the chat.

Toyah Willcox: Alex chats to Toyah about her upcoming show in Wimborne

• Toyah’s interview begins around 39m into the show and is available for the next four weeks at BBC Sounds.

Toyah Solo also entered The Official Charts Independent Albums Top 50 at number 7.

Toyah Willcox confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up

The news was announced on Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show.

Toyah Willcox has been confirmed to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up.

Willcox was the fourth contestant to be announced for Strictly Come Dancing 2024, following news that opera singer Wynne Evans, comedian Chris McCausland and JLS singer JB Gill would be competing in this year’s edition.

She rose to the fame as the frontwoman of new wave band Toyah, where her most popular singles included It’s a Mystery, Thunder in the Mountains and I Want to Be Free.

Willcox has performed as a solo artist since her 1985 album Minx, with her latest release being 2021’s Posh Pop, which was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic and reached number one on the UK’s Independent Albums Chart.

After Toyah and Wynne were announced on Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show this morning, Dr Punam Krishnan was also revealed to be joining the line-up, making the TV doctor the fifth celebrity to be confirmed.

• Continue reading at Radio Times.

Isle of Wight Festival return for Toyah and Robert Fripp

Making a return to the Isle of Wight Festival following their successful show at last year’s event, husband and wife musical partnership of Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp entertained again in the Big Top.

The musical partnership of singer Toyah and King Crimson’s legendary guitarist Fripp — both from strangely different, but equally experimental musical backgrounds — reinvented themselves in the industry with their popular Sunday Lunch performances on YouTube.

Sunday’s afternoon show was a blend of Fripp’s musical precision and Toyah’s charismatic, spellbinding pop/punk-influenced enthusiasm.

She performed a set which included some of her solo classics, It’s a Mystery and I Want to Be Free, together with some great pop throwbacks, such as Echo Beach, a 70s hit for Martha and the Muffins.

• Continue reading at the Isle Of Wight County Press. (Photo © Isle Of Wight County Press)

Another festival date has just been added to Toyah’s already busy Summer 2024 of festival dates, gigs and tour, mostly with Robert but also some solo appearances. She will play the Torchlight Festival on Sunday 18th August.

“I can’t wait to perform live at the Torchlight Festival of Camping on Sunday 18 August. Hope you’ll be coming to see us there. Tickets incl 3 nights camping, entertainment + children go free. Roll on the summer of live music! Toyah xx”

• Further details and ticket links available here.

Toyah’s first solo album ”Minx” was released in July 1985 on CBS’s label Portrait Records (home at the time to Cyndi Lauper), presenting a sophisticated sound and image for Toyah Willcox who to date had enjoyed eight top 75 singles and five studio albums with the band “Toyah”.

Originally recorded in 1984, this very special 40th Anniversary set expands the album into a deluxe 2CD edition for the first time. Pre-order now

CD1 features the original album with two bonus tracks originally available on the 1985 cassette & CD formats only plus two non-album B-Sides, two extended 12” versions, and a 12” remix.

CD2 contains 16 rarities of which 14 are previously unreleased, including:

• The unheard album session demo “The Fight” and previously unreleased 7” Remix of third single “World In Action”.
• Two previously unreleased home demos of Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” and Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out”, recorded by Toyah and Joel Bogen in the spring 1984.
• Two previously unreleased instrumental demos of “All In A Rage” and “Snow Covers The Kiss” recorded by Joel Bogen.
• Eight previously unreleased Backing Tracks of “Minx” songs, retaining their distinctive backing vocals by Toyah.
• The two CDs are presented in brand new seven-inch deluxe gatefold packaging. An 8-page booklet features rare photos by Terence Donovan and Curator’s Notes by Toyah archivist Craig Astley detailing the origins of the bonus tracks and rarities.

”Minx” was produced by Christopher Neil, with a musician line-up featuring Peter Van Hooke, Ian Wherry and Adrian Lee who made up the majority of Mike Rutherford’s Mike + The Mechanics. The rhythm section of Killing Joke guested on a cover of “School’s Out”. Toyah collaborator Simon Darlow played keyboards and co-wrote several tracks including lead single “Don’t Fall In Love (I Said)”. The album also features unique readings of Latin Quarter’s “America For Beginners” and Rare Bird’s “Sympathy”, the latter being the first time Toyah would be heard accompanied by an orchestra.

• Visit toyahwillcox.com for the full release info, images and tracklist. Pre-order Minx from your favourite online music store now. The 2020 translucent red vinyl reissue of Minx is also available from Amazon. See Toyah announce the release on Toyah At Home.

Another great review for Children Of The Circus.

Doctor Who
Children Of The Circus
Review

“Children of the Circus,” an audio musical drama from AUK Studios, marks a triumphant reunion for the cast of the Seventh Doctor story, “The Greatest Show in the Galaxy.” This limited edition CD set, released on December 14th, 2023 and available to purchase here, commemorates 35 years since the original episode aired on BBC One. Written by Kenton Hall with songs by Christopher Guard and based on an idea by Barnaby Eaton-Jones, the story resurrects the magic of Stephen Wyatt’s “The Greatest Show in the Galaxy,” while venturing into new, imaginative territories.

The story revolves around the Psychic Circus, once a refuge for universal misfits, which later succumbed to the control of malevolent Gods. Years after these Gods have departed, the scars of the survivors linger. However, the Children of the Circus, equipped with the power of song, are ready to confront their past.

Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred headline the cast, but not in their familiar roles. McCoy, as the High Poet, brings a mix of charm and underlying duplicity, while Aldred delivers two distinct performances as Captain Gren and AJ. Aldred’s dual roles as the captain of a Time Ship and sentient rust showcase her range and versatility. Joining them is 1980s icon Toyah Willcox, who plays The Band of Infinite Harmony, a multi-voiced role that she relishes, culminating in a solo song featured as a bonus track.

• Continue reading at Warped Factor. See more on Children Of The Circus, here.

Christmas 2023, and Toyah is one of four celebrity guests appearing on The Great British Sewing Bee – Celebrity Christmas Special – airing on Thursday 21st December on BBC One at 9pm. It’s sure to be a seriously festive and fun programme, and a great way to spend an hour a few days before Christmas Day.

Former Christmas special sewer Kiell Smith-Bynoe takes over as host as musician Toyah Willcox, comedian Jessica Knappett and actors Kerry Godliman and Hammed Animashaun are put to the test by judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant. The celebrities begin by putting their own twist on a pattern for a stocking then turn the humble puffer jacket into food-themed children’s fancy dress. In the final challenge, the competitors create an outfit perfect for their dream Christmas Day.

Here is a newly released solo shot of Toyah from The Great British Sewing Bee. See a few more (group) photos from the programme, here. Read features on the Christmas special at Prima and TV Zone. (Photo © BBC/Love Productions)

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen party with Toyah Willcox and Jilly Cooper

Rock and roll royalty, authors and artists all congregated at an art gallery in Burford to see the opening night of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s first solo painting exhibition.

The interior designer – who lives in Siddington with his wife Jackie and is best known for appearing on BBC programme Changing Rooms – has recently turned his back on presenting to pursue more creative aspirations.

• Continue reading at the Evesham Journal. See also Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard.

Nice moves, Robert! Watch Fripp and Toyah’s backstage dance-off

Robert Fripp’s a 21st-century dancing man in new footage shared ahead of his autumn live dates with Toyah

We’re used to seeing Toyah Willcox throwing shapes onstage and in Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch series, but now her husband Robert Fripp has been captured getting his groove on backstage.

Filmed by Willcox just moments before the pair were due to perform at Wickham Festival in Hampshire on August 6, the footage shows the King Crimson guitarist getting lost in Rod Argent’s rather splendid extended Mellotron solo in The Zombies’ classic She’s Not There.

• Continue reading at Classic Rock/Prog.

My 80s Playlist: Toyah Willcox picks her favourite 80s tunes from Bowie to Kate Bush

80s icon Toyah Willcox made her name not just on the charts but on the screen too.

She first kicked things off in the band Toyah until 1983, before embarking on an impressive solo career, with top 10 singles including I Want To Be Free and Thunder in the Mountains. Toyah also found fame on the big screen as Monkey in 1979’s Quadrophenia, and worked alongside Katharine Hepburn in The Corn is Green.

While at the Top of the Tower at Virgin Radio 80s Plus Toyah sat down with Steve Denyer for My 80s Playlist, and shared the top 80s tunes that made the era.

• Continue reading at Virgin Radio.

A new super comprehensive Sunday Lunch feature is available to read at Far Out magazine.

Sunday Lunch: the 10 best covers by Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox

The internet is famed for being a kaleidoscopic environment, full of some of the kookiest sights known to man. With regards to the video-sharing giant YouTube, for nearly 20 years, it has been home to some of the most memorable and unorthodox characters ever seen. Two of the most beloved to regularly contribute to the site in recent years with a host of musical covers is the dynamic duo of Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox. English eccentricity incarnate, they soothe their fans with weekly Sunday Lunch instalments.

A power couple in every sense of the phrase, Fripp and Willcox remain illustrious names of the industry. The former is the creative mastermind of prog-rock pioneers King Crimson and undoubted guitar hero. Aside from his main gig, Fripp has also helped to bring the works of eminent artists such as David Bowie, Brian Eno and David Sylvian to life and enjoy a successful solo career. As for the latter, Wilcox fronted the successful new wave band Toyah between 1977 and 1983 and has since enjoyed a respected solo career of her own. Outside of the musical sphere, she’s also an esteemed actor, having starred in Derek Jarman’s cult 1978 punk film Jubilee and the ultimate mod drama, Quadrophenia.

The pair married in 1986 and have been going strong ever since. Then, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the couple knew that they had to do something for their own sake and those of others. Sunday Lunch was Willcox’s idea, as she wanted to keep her husband busy whilst he and King Crimson were forced off the stage by the lockdown. Since then, the pair have uploaded a host of musical covers to YouTube under the Sunday Lunch tag.

From Black Sabbath to Right Said Fred, their lighthearted yet eccentric takes on classic songs have been a remedy for many a woe on a Sunday afternoon. One part unhinged and one part kinky, they’ve kept fans interested for nearly three years, evidencing their potent formula. With Fripp mostly sat in his chair and Willcox on vocal duties, backed by a host of props and occasionally friends, Sunday Lunch has been a breath of fresh air since its debut.

• Continue reading at Far Out Magazine.

Christmas 2010, and The Hazel O’Connor Collective, which included Toyah as one of the main vocalists, released the charity single – written by Hazel O’Connor – Re-Joyce (In The Bleak Midwinter). Proceeds from the single went to Myton Hospice in Coventry where Hazel’s mum, Joyce, received care and treatment for cancer.

The track was also released on CD, and alongside the main single mix, some special solo versions were also released digitally, including Toyah’s.

Re-Joyce (In The Bleak Midwinter) by The Hazel O’Connor Collective reached the Top 10 of the Amazon UK Music/Singles chart at Christmas 2010.

NB: Sending Best Wishes to Hazel this Christmas. An update to her Go Fund Me page on 15th December said: “Hazel continues to make good progress and is very grateful for everyone’s good wishes, love and support. Merry Christmas to everyone and here’s hoping next year brings good health and happiness.”

Sensational Toyah Brings Her ‘Posh Pop Tour’ to East Sussex

TOYAH + HOLLY DEANNA (CURRLS) – ST MARY IN THE CASTLE, HASTINGS 12.3.22

The music scene in Hastings has steadily been getting back on its feet this year and is starting to thrive once again. Tonight’s show at St Mary In The Castle is a sure sign of a return to normality though you could hardly describe Toyah as ‘normal’.

My first encounter with Toyah may have been as a 16 year old hearing ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’ and being most intrigued by her, or it could have been watching her playing ‘Monkey’ in ‘Quadrophenia’ around the same time, but whichever I was hooked.

I got around to seeing her in the flesh for my one and only time at Drury Lane Theatre Royal on Christmas Eve, 1981, which was actually broadcast on BBC2 as an ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ special. I say seeing her in the flesh but my main recollection of that night is being stuck in the balcony about as far away as you could get. I then lost my return tube ticket home, but luckily the train inspector was full of Christmas cheer and allowed me through the barrier.

Tonight was my opportunity to reconnect having lost touch with her career and was surprised to find out that she has released 16 albums, of which 11 are as a solo artist. Throw in a few compilation albums and a box set, and you have quite an accomplished music career. Of course that isn’t the end of her talents as she has appeared in over 20 films, presented on television, appeared in numerous shows, and done a fair bit of charity fundraising.

• Continue reading at Brighton News. Browse Dreamscape’s Posh Pop Tour News Archive.

The final of the third series of The Masked Singer airs this Saturday on ITV. Following press stories a few weeks ago about the possibility of Toyah being, one of the three finalists, Panda, The Sun and Birmingham Mail both published stories yesterday repeating this. (Photos © ITV)

• The Sun: Unmasked? Masked Singer fans convinced Panda is 80s pop legend after spotting ‘clues’ in her voice

Masked Singer fans are convinced the celebrity identity behind Panda is none other than 80s pop legend Toyah Willcox. The ITV show’s grand finale is set to air this Saturday with Panda, Robobunny and Mushroom all battling out to be crowned the winner of The Masked Singer 2022.

And while several names such as Natalia Imbruglia and Alesha Dixon have been bounced around, fans of the series now believe the person behind the costume is none other than Toyah, 63, after hearing her distinctive lisp.

Taking to Twitter to share their guess, one fan penned: “Sorry people, Panda is Toyah Willcox. Panda has a lisp. “Toyah also has done theatre, has been in bands as well as solo and is tiny.”

“Watching masked singer for first time. Panda is def Toyah Willcox,” another remarked. “No idea who most of the suggestions even are but Toyah featured heavily in youth tv watching and convinced!!!”

Continue reading at The Sun…

• Birmingham Mail: Panda’s identity rumbled after viewers spot ‘lisp’ on ITV The Masked Singer

The ITV show is set to return for its grand finale this Saturday with three celebrities left in the competition. The Masked Singer viewers think they’ve worked out who Panda is – after they are convinced they have spotted the star lisping.

The ITV show is set to return for its grand finale this Saturday with three celebrities left in the competition. Panda, Robobunny and Mushroom are still battling out to be crowned the winner of The Masked Singer 2022.

Several names have been put forward over the competition for who could be behind the Panda costume. Popular guesses include Natalie Imbruglia, Cheryl Cole and Alesha Dixon, but another name has emerged after viewers heard a distinctive lisp.

They now think it is 80s pop legend Toyah Willcox behind the mask. Taking to Twitter to share their guess, one fan said: “Sorry people, Panda is Toyah Willcox. Panda has a lisp. Toyah also has done theatre, has been in bands as well as solo and is tiny.”

Continue reading at the Birmingham Mail… See previous “Toyah is Panda” press by The Mirror.

Robert Fripp Reacts To Toyah Willcox’s Cover Of Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith’s Because The Night

“Come home baby, the house misses you, I miss you, the bed misses you.”

In this week’s Sunday Lunch cover, Toyah Willcox went solo with a cover of Because The Night by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith – with Robert Fripp reacting to his wife’s performance.

The cover video was shot in the couple’s familiar kitchen, sans Fripp who is currently on tour in the US with King Crimson. “Transatlantic time differences don’t stop the night belonging to the Sunday Lunch lovers,” Toyah captioned the video.

• Continue reading at Guitar.Com.

Following the release of five of Toyah’s solo albums on amazing colour/clear vinyl on Friday, is the news that the classic 1987 album Desire is to be released/reissued on 180 gram white vinyl next month (24th April 2020).

The album is released by Demon Records.

Featuring the original artwork, along with an inner sleeve (as with the Record Store Day Red Vinyl release of Desire in 2018) which will include the album’s lyrics and Toyah photographs. Click below for more info or to pre-order.

“Desire” was Toyah’s first album for the EG label, and features her hit single cover version of “Echo Beach” as well as a cover of Donna Summer’s “Love’s Unkind”.

Produced by Mike Hedges, the album features Robert Fripp (who co-wrote the title track) and Ronnie Wood. The LP is pressed on 180 gram white vinyl and the inner sleeve features the lyrics.

Look who’s coming to Selby Town Hall’s biggest ever spring season…

Selby Town Hall’s spring season will be its biggest ever with 27 live shows between February and the start of June, plus a trio of Edinburgh Fringe previews in July.

“There’s the usual mix of folk, Americana, stand-up, pop, rock, theatre and more with chart-toppers, cult indie royalty, a Grammy winner, the radio voice who guided my teenage pop dreams, a primetime impersonator tinkling the ivories and even a 13-piece orchestra,” says Selby Town Council arts officer Chris Jones.

“We had a good end to 2019 with a surprise listing in the Guardian as one of the UK’s best tiny venues and that seems to have spilled over into 2020 with strong early sales. It’s full steam ahead.”

The programme’s headline stars include punk princess, actor, television presenter and Top Ten hit maker Toyah with her stripped-back Acoustic, Up Close & Personal show on February 21; Mark Radcliffe: Loser?, a solo show of words and songs from the BBC6 Music and Radio 2 presenter, on April 2, and impersonator Alistair McGowan, in his new-found guise as a classical pianist, in The Piano Show on May 22.

• Continue reading here.

NB: Selby Town Hall at Twitter say: We’ve now sold out for Arabella Weir, Toyah, Paul Sinha, Way Down Wanderer and Lucy Porter – great work people of Selby and environs!