Heckle / FrightFest 2020: Newsy Bits & Pieces!

October 20th, 2020

Heckle. A stand up comedian encounters a seemingly insane heckler, who becomes his stalker. This is a heckle on a whole new level… Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Clark Gable III, Guy Combes, Madison Clare, Dani Dyer, Toyah Willcox. Director: Martyn Pick, Writer: Airell Anthony Hayles.

Masters Of Horror: Arrow Video FrightFest announces bumper line-up for its October 2020 Digital Edition: Two more Brit entries with powerful punchlines are Heckle, which stars Steve Guttenberg, Toyah Willcox, Nicholas Vince and Dani Dyer, and The World We Knew, where gangsters battle demons in a Neo Film Noir with a dark, existentialist twist – Continue reading…

Britflicks: Arrow Video FrightFest 2nd Digital Edition, Feature Film Line-Up, Ticket Links, Images & Some Bloody Great Trailers!: We’re in strange times right now and whilst we can’t do all things we want to, we can still watch films and enjoy a little escapism – Heckle (World Premiere) Friday 23 October – Zavvi Discovery Screen​. 12:00. Director: Martyn Pick. With: Steve Guttenberg, Clark Gable III, Toyah Willcox, Nicholas Vince, Dani Dyer. UK 2020. 81 mins – Continue reading…

Screen Daily: UK’s Frightfest boosts 2020 line-up following shift online: These include UK feature Heckle, directed by Martyn Pick and starring Steve Guttenberg, in which a stand-up comic hosts an 80s-themed Halloween party that attracts a psycho slasher – Continue reading….

Zavvi: Top Five Films To See At Arrow Video’s October FrightFest 2020: Heckle – We only really need to say two words to tell you why this is a FrightFest must see. And those two words of course are ‘Steve Guttenberg’. The Three Men And A Baby and Police Academy actor stars in this new horror which will surely deliver an unforgettable punchline, following a stand-up comedian as he is stalked by a heckler. Receiving its world premiere on the Zavvi Discovery Screen, this is one not to miss! – Continue reading…

Music Week: Retail Joy For National Album Day

October 20th, 2020

Retail joy as National Album Day makes biggest impact yet

National Album Day’s 2020 edition has been celebrated as the most successful yet, with the BPI’s Geoff Taylor leading the celebrations.

Taylor said the team behind the event has “taken it to the next level” as National Album Day releases claimed three places in the albums Top 20 and contributed to a 24% lift in sales for Saturday, October 10.

National Album Day ambassador, Toyah Willcox, said: “It has been a huge privilege to be a NAD ambassador this year. Celebrating the music of the ’80s, a decade that is loved by generation after generation. The art in making an entire album is a journey the artist wants to take the audience on, personally I have treated all my albums as an audio journey. This year’s re-releases encouraged music lovers to buy timeless music. I like to think NAD has also encouraged new up-coming artists to think about making full albums as their right of expression, thus keeping the high street retailers stocked and trading in decades to come. It has been a really lovely experience in a crazy year!”

• Continue reading at Music Week.

BPI: National Album Day Organisers Hail Impact

October 20th, 2020

National Album Day Organisers Hail Impact Of 2020 Event

The third edition of National Album Day, held last Saturday, 10th October, has been hailed the most successful yet by industry figures and by its joint organisers, the BPI and The Entertainment Retailers Association, with the impact reflected in the Official Vinyl Charts, the Official Album Charts and sales overall as well as across media and socials.

Presented in association with broadcast partner BBC Sounds and audio partner Bowers & Wilkins, National Album Day celebrates our love of the album, the continuing importance of the format, and the personal stories artists can share through the artform. This year the day paid tribute to the musically rich decade of the 1980s, supported by a host of artist ambassadors and album platforms such as Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties and Classic Album Sundays.

• Continue reading at bpi.co.uk.

Official Charts: National Album Day – 80s Theme Boosts Sales

October 20th, 2020

National Album Day: 80s theme helps boost sales of classic albums

Several popular titles were reissued to coincide with this year’s 80s-themed National Album Day.

This year’s National Album Day resulted in a boost in album sales last week, new figures have revealed.

The UK-wide event – a celebration of the album format organised by The BPI and the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) – took place on Saturday, October 10 and was themed around the 1980s.

The BPI reports that of all the albums released to coincide with National Album Day, 25,000 copies were sold on vinyl, contributing to a total of just under 112,000 vinyl albums sold that week – a week-on-week uplift of 9.2%.

The Saturday of National Album Day itself (Oct. 10) saw vinyl sales rise by 24% on the previous Saturday (and 19% year-on-year), while the Friday – the day the albums were largely all released – saw a 44% year-on-year spike.

One of this year’s National Album Day ambassadors, Toyah Willcox said: “This year’s re-releases encouraged music lovers to buy timeless music. I like to think NAD has also encouraged new up-coming artists to think about making full albums as their right of expression, thus keeping the high street retailers stocked and trading in decades to come.”

• Continue reading at Official Charts.

Introducing: Handwritten By Toyah & Robert

October 18th, 2020

Introducing personalised artworks handcrafted by Toyah – especially for you, a friend, partner, family member or the diehard Toyah fan in your life. Order a Personalised Artwork by Toyah or a Personalised Aphorism by Robert Fripp by clicking below.

Toyah Willcox & Robert Fripp present the ultimate personalised gift idea especially for their fans.

Toyah will create a piece of artwork for you including a hand-written snippet from your favourite Toyah song. Robert will hand-write an Aphorism from a set list of his own favourites, and will also include a piece of handmade art to accompany his words. Both of these unique items will be signed and can be personalised.

Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch: The Prog Rock Mating Dance

October 18th, 2020

Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch presents the Prog Rock Mating Dance.

Dear Toyah & Robert: Agony Aunts Episode #13

October 18th, 2020

More of your social, emotional and music tuning predicaments are addressed with care and attention by the deeply unqualified Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp.

Mrs Barbara Nice & Friends: Befriending Toyah Willcox

October 16th, 2020

Befriending Toyah Willcox
The Mrs Barbara Nice & Friends Podcast

SUMMARY
Ahead of her remastered Album Launch “Sheep Farming in Barnet”, Toyah Willcox stops by to chat to Barbara about the importance of the audience, the differing priorities of a band and befriending people on stage.

SHOW NOTES
Mrs Barbara Nice chats to Toyah Willcox about the re-release of her album “Sheep Farming in Barnet” on Cherry Red Records

They become fast, firm friends as they discuss the coincidence in their locations, interacting with individual audience members amid big gigs. the importance of the audience to a performer and somehow, wild swimming in the Avon

• Continue reading/Listen to the interview here.

Toyah At Home: Episode #17

October 16th, 2020

“Remove the thorn from the lion’s paw, hear my words, pain no more…”

Last Saturday’s episode of Toyah At Home , a National Album Day 2020 special, featured two archive performances: The iconic Brave New World, from The Changeling, and Toyah’s 1981 single, I Want To Be Free, from Anthem.

Click below to watch/rewatch episode 17, with lots of album chat from Toyah as well as memories about the “first album cover and back cover” (Sheep Farming In Barnet), and She from The Blue Meaning – “Steve Bray’s drums… Charlie Francis on Bass!”. Episode 18 of Toyah At Home airs tomorrow at 11am at Toyah’s official You Tube channel, and Facebook.

Wakefield Express: That Was Then… This Is Now!

October 15th, 2020

Paul Young, Kim Wilde, Toyah, Steve Harley and Chesney Hawkes back from the 80s for new show ‘That Was Then… This Is Now!’

Some of the biggest British popstars of the 80s will take part in a brand new online weekly series, featuring performances and interviews, with an innovative business model that helps touring artists affected by the current lack of live shows generate income.

That Was Then… This Is Now! will arrive next month in a pay per view format hosted online, allowing for artists to share equally in the revenue.

The series will be broadcast live at 7pm on Thursday evenings (a nod to the classic Top Of The Pops timeslot), and deliver a modern twist on the quintessential living room comfort watch of popular music television that has been missing from screens for generations.

• Continue reading at the Wakefield Express. See also msn.com/entertainment.

The Gazette: That Was Then… This Is Now!

October 15th, 2020

Online music TV show launched to help 1980s stars ‘ignored’ during pandemic

Pop songwriter Mike Stock has launched an online music TV show to give some of the biggest stars of the 1980s financial help during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 68-year-old, who penned many of the decade’s enduring hits as one third of Stock Aitken Waterman, said he hoped the series would help artists who had been “largely ignored” in recent years.

That Was Then… This Is Now! will feature live performances and interviews from touring artists who have lost their livelihoods due to current restrictions on performance and travel.

The five-part series was shot in 5k resolution at a studio in Worthing, West Sussex, and will air online weekly. The first series will feature artists including Paul Young, Kim and Marty Wilde, Toyah, Steve Harley, Chesney Hawkes, The Fizz and more.

• Continue reading at The Gazette. See also Yahoo News.

Reuters: That Was Then… This Is Now!

October 15th, 2020

Bands from 1980s and 90s stream hits to make up for lost live earnings

Worthing, England (Reuters) – Pop acts from the 1980s and 1990s including Right Said Fred, Paul Young and Toyah, whose income from live performances has slumped during the coronavirus pandemic, are recording their hits for a new pay-per-view series being streamed online.

Chesney Hawkes, Kim Wilde and Steve Harley are also among those performing in five planned shows in the “That Was Then … This is Now!” series hosted by streaming service TicketCo TV.

• Continue reading at Reuters. See also the Daily Mail.

Toyah on TV: Tales Of The Unexpected

October 15th, 2020

Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Thursday 22nd October: 1pm
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Friday 23rd October: 4am/9am
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Sunday 25th October: 9am
Blue Marigold. Series 5, Episode 1. Dropped by her agency for her diva-like behaviour, supermodel Marigold’s mental health deteriorates. Years later, she plots a comeback. Director: Giles Foster. Starring: Toyah Willcox, Ralph Bates, Sharon Duce, Helen Fraser, Billy Hamon, Edward Jewesbury.

Daily Mail: A Bit Of A Brum Do For Pop Star Toyah

October 13th, 2020

BBC’s warning is a bit of a Brum do for pop star Toyah

Singer Toyah Willcox, who had a hit in the Eighties with It’s A Mystery, is baffled as to why the BBC slapped a warning on episodes of Brum, the harmless BBC children’s show she narrated.

A notice on iPlayer repeats told viewers the series may reflect out-of-date ‘language and attitudes of the Nineties’.

The flame-haired singer tells me: ‘I can’t think why they did that. Was it because of the Birmingham accent? Is it sexist in some way? I’m sure we never impersonated a black person.’ Toyah adds: ‘I always refused to do anything if it was offensive. Brum was written by Anne Wood who made Teletubbies and she was on top of all that sort of thing.’

The BBC says the notice was added in ‘error’ and has been removed from Brum episodes. Perhaps it is the BBC, with its determination to censor TV classics, that is out of touch with today’s audiences?

• Continue reading at the Daily Mail. (Photo © Clark Enwell/BackGrid)

Categories: Press Clips Tags: , ,

Sheep Farming In Barnet: Listening Party

October 13th, 2020

Following last weekend’s Anthem listening party, there’s a possibility Sheep Farming In Barnet will follow sometime soon. See Toyah’s tweet regarding this by clicking below,

Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch: You Really Got Me

October 12th, 2020

Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch brings a song with a view….

Dear Toyah & Robert: Agony Aunts Episode #12

October 12th, 2020

More of your social, emotional and music tuning predicaments are addressed with care and attention by the deeply unqualified Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp.

National Album Day 2020: Anthem Listening Party & Much More!

October 10th, 2020

Today is National Album Day 2020 and Toyah is one of this year’s Ambassadors, with the 2020 theme of the event being the 80’s!

In celebration, Toyah is hosting a Listening Party this afternoon for the iconic 1981 album Anthem.

There was also another episode of Toyah At Home this morning, as well as Toyah’s Album Escapes. Read Toyah’s HMV Record Collection interview, and win a Sheep Farming In Barnet reissue rarity.

Keep an eye on Toyah at Twitter for more National Album Day news and updates. Click below for the Anthem Listening Party venue, taking place from 3pm today.

HMV.Com: National Album Day Ambassador Prize Draws

October 10th, 2020

Win a rare Sheep Farming In Barnet reissue rarity, courtesy of HMV…

It’s National Album Day on Saturday 10th October and to celebrate we will be running a new prize draw everyday with prizes from some of the National Album Day Ambassadors who are supporting this exciting day.

Happy National Album Day!! Today, we have a prize from Toyah Willcox where you could win a signed test pressing of remastered Sheep Farming vinyl!

• To enter, all you have to do is enter your details here or by clicking below. (The prize draw ends at 11:59pm Saturday 10th October. Entries received after this time will not be included.)

French & Saunders 1988: Because The Night

October 10th, 2020

It’s the vicious circle... Episode 2 of Series 2 of French and Saunders, which originally aired on 11th March 1988, is currently available to watch online at BBC iPlayer. This episode features Toyah, performing a great version of Patti Smith’s Because The Night and participating in a French and Saunders sketch. Click below to watch (requires a UK TV Licence)

Toyah on TV: Quadrophenia

October 10th, 2020

Quadrophenia: TCM Movies: Friday 16th October: 9pm
Quadrophenia: TCM Movies: Thursday 22nd October: 11.05pm
The Who wrote and produced this energetic story of a young man disillusioned with his life in 1960s London. Phil Daniels excels as the alienated anti-hero Jimmy Cooper. Director: Franc Roddam. Starring: Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox, Philip Davis, Mark Wingett, Sting, and Ray Winstone. (Photo © Sky Arts)