Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Who Won Wot? 1980 – 1989: NOW 80s: Friday 26th November: 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“).

• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah and Robert Fripp Get in the Holiday Spirit with “Silent Night”: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp’s Sunday Lunch video series has hit the holiday season and it looks like they’re going to be offering Sing Alongs through the end of the year. Dressed in their Christmas best — Robert has “Grinch” written across his forehead — they lead us through a rendition of classic hymn “Silent Night.” Robert starts it off, Toyah can barely keep a straight face – Continue reading…

• Guitar.Com: Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox Kickstart the Holidays with Singalong Series: The holidays are upon us once again, and Robert Fripp and Toyah are getting in the festive spirit. The latest episode of the couple’s Sunday Lunch series is the first in what appears to be an upcoming series of Christmas singalongs. For yesterday’s (21 November) upload, Fripp and Toyah invited viewers to sing with them to Silent Night – Continue reading…

• Metal Sucks: King Crimson’s Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox Sing “Silent Night”: 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. The duo’s new video finds them shifting into holiday mode with a cover of the Christmas classic “Silent Night.” – Continue reading…

• Sunday Lunch Singalong: Sing Along week 1: Its that crazy time of year, and its no exception in the FrippCox household, are we ready for a singalong? – Continue watching… (Images © Toyah Willcox)

• Toyah At Home & On The Road – Thunder In The Mountains: Toyah delves into the story behind Thunder In The Mountains, with an exclusive look at a live version recorded last month. You will also get a sneak peek in the ITV dressing rooms! – Watch here…

• Toyah & Robert’s Burning Question – 20th 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 – Sing Along week 1: Its that crazy time of year, and its no exception in the FrippCox household, are we ready for a singalong? – Watch here… (Images © Toyah Willcox)

Toyah Willcox pulls out of Stratford Music Festival concert with Orchestra of the Swan after coming down with Covid-19

Toyah Willcox has pulled out of her appearance in Stratford tomorrow (Sunday) after coming down with Covid-19. The pop star and TV personality was due to narrate the Orchestra of the Swan’s performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf as part of the Stratford Music Festival at the Play House.

The concert is still going ahead with the narrator being taken on by much-respected RSC actor David Troughton, who is also well known for playing Tony Archer in The Archers on Radio 4.

Toyah announced she had Covid-19 in a video on her Facebook page. She explained that she realised during a soundcheck at another gig in Wolverhampton on Thursday that she had lost her sense of smell and taste, and following a positive test has had to pull out of several engagements, including Sunday’s concert in Stratford.

She offered her apologies, and said that she had few symptoms expect those mentioned.

• Continue reading at Stratford-Upon-Avon Herald. Watch Toyah’s video at Facebook.

Toyah Willcox talks about narrating Peter and the Wolf performance with Orchestra of the Swan at the Stratford Music Festival this Sunday

It’s probably the most powerful way to introduce young people to the delights of classical music – and fresh life will be breathed into Peter and the Wolf in a special production as part of Stratford Music Festival.

The concert on Sunday, 21st November, features the Orchestra of the Swan, with Toyah Willcox as narrator.

Since Prokofiev was commissioned to write a piece specifically for children in the 1930s, it has worked its magic on the generations that have followed. The marriage of the tale of Peter defying his grandfather’s advice with orchestral representations of the various characters, remains a brilliant device to open people’s eyes to the personality and potential of classical music.

And the role of narrator is one that has attracted some extraordinary names – Toyah joins a list that includes the likes of David Tennant, Alice Cooper, Sir John Gielgud, Dame Edna Everage and Patrick Stewart among many others.

• Continue reading at Stratford-Upon-Avon Herald. NB. Toyah has been replaced by David Troughton – See above!

Quatermass: Talking Pictures TV: Fri 3rd Dec: 8pm
Chapter Two: Lovely Lightning. The Planet People’s leader, Kickalong (Ralph Arliss), believes that the Planet People gathered at Ringstone Round have been transported—as promised—to “the planet”, but it is clear to Quatermass and Kapp that they have been reduced to ashes. One badly burnt survivor – a girl called Isabel (Annabelle Lanyon) who deliriously talks about “lovely lightning” – is found and is brought back to the Kapps’ cottage. Making contact with NASA scientist Chuck Marshall (Tony Sibbald), they learn that thousands of young people have disappeared in similar incidents at similar sites all around the world. Quatermass, aided by District Commissioner Annie Morgan (Margaret Tyzack), decides to bring Isabel to London for tests. As they make their journey, Quatermass speculates as to whether there is any connection between recent events and the decline in society.

Reaching London, they are attacked by a gang. Quatermass is yanked from the car but Annie and Isabel manage to escape. Meanwhile, a large number of Planet People arrive at the radio telescope, congregating at the stone circle on its grounds. Working some distance away, Kapp is horrified to see the light strike the area where his home is and rushing home, he finds his family gone as it was caught in the radius of the deadly light. His two friends and dog died too.

This episode originally aired on 31st October 1979 on the ITV network and was watched by 10.8m 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)

Just want to say …

Great shots of Toyah at Proud Cabaret on Wednesday night. These were taken during performances of These Boots Are Made For Walkin’, I Want To Be Free, and Sweet Child O’ Mine. Hoping to add a new Proud Cabaret Gallery to this website soon with more great photos. Click below to zoom! (Thanks to Ian | Photos © Ian Davis)

Toyah is interviewed in this week’s OK! magazine (Issue 1315, 22nd November 2021). Talking about Proud Cabaret, her career, the Sunday Lunch/You Tube videos and more.

• Read the interview at The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive. (Thanks to Minna and Kelly)

Classic Casualty: Drama
Tuesday 30th November: 10.55am
Comfort Zone. Series 24, Episode 6. Ruth’s pregnancy fears are confirmed, leaving her torn between her ambition to be a surgeon and strengthening feelings for Jay. Jeff takes an instant dislike to his new paramedic partner, who spends the shift making inappropriate comments about Polly, while Zoe abandons work after agreeing that Jordan can be discharged into her care. Toyah Willcox guest stars as a woman who accidentally injures her baby son. (Photo © BBC)

Quatermass: Talking Pictures TV: Fri 26th Nov: 8pm
Chapter One: Ringstone Round. Quatermass (John Mills), now living in retirement in Scotland, travels to London in search of his granddaughter, Hettie Carlson, who has gone missing. He is shocked by the scale of the urban collapse that has struck the city – law and order has broken down and marauding gangs terrorise the litter-strewn, decaying streets. The fall of civilization has been general across the world. Appearing as a guest on a television programme covering the “Hands in Space” project, a joint space mission between the United States and Russia, Quatermass is horrified when the two spacecraft are destroyed by some unknown force.

Astronomer Joe Kapp, another guest on the programme, invites Quatermass to join him at his home in the country where he and two friends have constructed two radio telescopes. At the radio telescope site, Kapp’s colleagues report that they detected a powerful signal at the exact time of the incident in space. Quatermass is intrigued by the behaviour of a group of hippie-like youngsters known as the Planet People, who are travelling to various neolithic sites (about 5,000 years old) from where they believe they will be transported to a better life on another planet.

Quatermass suspects Hettie has joined them. Along with Kapp’s wife, Claire, Quatermass and Kapp follow a group of Planet People to a stone circle of megaliths, Ringstone Round. As they watch, the Planet People assembled inside the circle are bathed in a bright light and disappear, leaving only a residue of white dust behind..

This episode originally aired on 24th October 1979 on the ITV network and was watched by 12.4m 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)

A great shot of Toyah and band onstage at The Astor Community Theatre in Deal, Kent on the Posh Pop Tour last Friday, 12th November. (Thanks to Brian | Photo © Brian Marsh)

80s Stars – Then & Now!: NOW 80s
Thursday 18th November: 5pm
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!

Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s
Sunday 21st November: 3pm
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)

Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox share cover of Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’

Guess we know who’s pulling the strings in this week’s Sunday Lunch performance…

King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, singer Toyah Willcox, have shared a cover of Metallica‘s ‘Master Of Puppets’ – watch it below.

The pair launched their Sunday Lunch video series last year, sharing renditions of songs by Nirvana, David Bowie, Metallica, Billy Idol, The Rolling Stones, Judas Priest, The Prodigy, Guns N’ Roses, Alice Cooper and more through Willcox’s YouTube channel.

• Continue reading at the NME. See also Metal Sucks.

• Toyah At Home & On The Road – It’s A Mystery/Proud Cabaret: Toyah delves into the story behind one one of the songs that changed her life, It’s A Mystery. You will also get a sneak peek behind the scenes of Proud Cabaret – Watch here…

• Toyah & Robert’s Burning Question (13th November 2021): 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 – Master Of Puppets: So we finally found out who pulls the strings in the Frippcox household! – Watch here… (Images © Toyah Willcox)

Aesop’s Astronauts, an audio drama/play broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1996, in which Toyah has a main role, has a rare airing on BBC Radio 4 Extra early next month.

Aesop’s Astronauts, by Tony Mulholland, explores what might have happened to the animals used as astronauts in the earliest years of space exploration. In the play the animals develop Accelerated Evolutionary Syndrome and the power of speech.

Toyah plays Mona in The Mona Story ‘episode’. The production was directed and recorded at BBC Pebble Mill.

• Listen to the drama at the BBC Radio 4 Extra website on Saturday 4th December. The audio drama has a running time of 1hr 30m.

Aesop’s Astronauts: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 5th December: 6am
Tony Mulholland’s play answers the question – what did happen to the animals that were sent up to Space in the early days of the Space Race? Produced by Brian Lighthill, with original music written and played by Jeff Mearns. Original first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 17th February 1994 at 2.30pm.

Toyah delves into the story behind one one of the songs that changed her life, It’s A Mystery. in today’s Toyah At Home & On The Road. You will also get a sneak peek behind the scenes of Proud Cabaret. Premieres 11am today. Click here or below to watch at Toyah’s official You Tube channel. Toyah & Robert’s Burning Questions also airs this evening at 6pm.

80s Stars – Then & Now!: NOW 80s: Sunday 14th November: 4pm
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 1979 debut single, Victims Of The Riddle (Part 1), is included on the forthcoming 3CD Box Set, Revolt Into Style 1979. The compilation is released on 21st January 2022.

• Four exceptional hours of music that defines British pop at the end of a tumultuous decade

• Continuing Cherry Red’s yearly overview of the late ‘70s UK “new music” scene

• Housed in a stylish clamshell box, ‘Revolt Into Style’ features the best of a fast-splintering scene, rife with creativity

If 1977 was the year that punk broke, and 1978 saw the UK turn Day-Glo, then 1979 was all about the aftershock of punk, with the redrawn British musical landscape divided between various youth sub-cultures and factions. The release of the film Quadrophenia gave a focal point to the growing mod revival, power pop bands like The Jags similarly sought inspiration from the mid-‘60s, while 2-Tone recalibrated the ska sound of Prince Buster for a new generation of pork pie hat-wearing rude boys.

Running parallel to those developments, a plethora of bands – prominent among whom were Public Image Ltd, Siouxsie And The Banshees, The Fall and Joy Division – were demanding the future now with an uncompromising sound and nonconformist approach that would subsequently be labelled post-punk. They were joined by the likes of The Human League and Tubeway Army, who brought avant-garde electronic influences and dystopian lyrical themes into the pop charts.

With the more mainstream Spirit-of-’77 bands now rebranded by the radio-friendly marketing term New Wave, 1979 turned out to be an epic pot-pourri of sounds and styles. The likes of Madness, Echo And The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, Pretenders and Dexy’s Midnight Runners all made their vinyl debuts, while the singles chart boasted instant three-minute classics from The Jam, The Clash, The Skids, Squeeze, The Ruts, XTC and The Undertones.

• Further info on this release at Cherry Red Records. (Thanks to Michael Murray)

Toyah’s iconic 1981 single, Thunder In The Mountains, is included on the 3CD compilation, Musik Music Musique 2.0 – The Rise Of Synth Pop. This was released in October.

• Sequel to the hugely successful ‘Musik Music Musique’, This time exploring 1981, The year synth pop broke into the mainstream.

• Over 50 tracks showcasing the innovation and exploration that gave rise to what would become the decade’s pre-eminent musical form.

• Featuring Ultravox, Duran Duran, OMD, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Devo, Gina X Performance, Fashion, Spandau Ballet, Soft Cell, Heaven 17, Hazel O’Connor, Yello, A Flock Of Seagulls, Toyah, Kim Wilde, The Passage, Chris and Cosey, Japan, John Foxx and countless other electronic luminaries.

• Packed with familiar classics and lesser known gems.

• Further info on this release at Cherry Red Records. (NB. Toyah was also included on Musik Music Musique – 1980 | The Dawn Of Synth Pop collection in 2020.