Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox: the prog family who proclaimed Sunday All Over the World
One of the brightest collaborations of the late 1980s arose after the wedding of postpunk singer Toyah Willcox and guitar virtuoso Robert Fripp who is by many considered to be the father of the prog rock genre. Formed in 1988 under the name Fripp/fripp, the couple’s band also recruited guitarist Trey Gunn and drummer Paul Beavis.
Having later changed its name to Sunday All Over The World, the band toured extensively in Europe to the delight of a prog audience but their recording career started and ended with one album—Kneeling At The Shrine—released in 1991. Unfortunately, it does not include all compositions performed at their concerts.
Robert Fripp Recalls ‘Missed Opportunity’ With David Bowie
King Crimson leader Robert Fripp recalled the “missed opportunity” of working with David Bowie in 2002, and said his wife, singer Toyah Willcox, had never forgiven him for the incident.
Fripp appeared on Bowie’s celebrated albums Heroes and Scary Monsters during a period in which he had also worked with Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno and others. In 2002, Bowie curated the Meltdown festival in London, England, and invited Fripp to take part.
“[There] wasn’t enough time to do it properly, so I declined,” Fripp told Rolling Stone in a new interview. “My wife has never forgiven me. My wife is a very considerable Bowie fan. That’s an opportunity missed, but I don’t feel I could honorably have engaged with it.”
What’s caused Robert to shake his money maker to Telepathic Lover by Toyah? The news that Four From Toyah (Birthday Edition) is No.1 In Amazon’s Rock Digital Charts pre-order and No.12 in Digital Albums charts as well.
Wishing Mr & Mrs Fripp a Happy 32nd Anniversary, and Happy Birthday to Robert. Here is a selection of photos from over the years. Have a fantastic day.
• Arab Times Online: Humor, gore in Oram’s ‘Aaaaaaaah!’: Though it’s at once too subtle and too extreme to attract a broad audience, those who get something out of gross-out humor, silent film and British comedy will treasure “Aaaaaaaah!” as a rare cult gem – Continue Reading…
• Wet Paint Theatre/Films: Hound: Lots of info on this new film, currently in production, here…
• New York Times: In London, A Celebration Of All Things Punk: Corbin’s “Visible Girls” series is part of a digital presentation during the gallery’s “Punk Weekender”: a three-day event incorporating exhibitions, a screening of Derek Jarman’s film “Jubilee” and a performance by the postpunk all-female band the Raincoats – Continue Reading…
• Warrington Guardian: Eighties Night: Win a VIP Package and a Pair of Tickets to the Eighties Night with Rick Astley, Toyah and Paul Young on the 22nd July – Continue Reading…
• Essex Chronicle: Chelmsford City Racecourse hosts second annual Ladies’ Day extravaganza: Tickets are still on sale for Simply Red’s performance on July 1, while Katherine Jenkins, Paul Young, Rick Astley and Toyah will all take to the stage next month – Continue Reading…
• Radio New Zealand: The World’s Greatest Guitar Solos!: Robert Fripp with Brian Eno: ‘Baby’s on Fire’ from Eno’s Here Come The Warm Jets features an off the wall solo, triple-tracked by Robert Fripp, originally a founding member of King Crimson. Eno and Fripp have collaborated a lot over the years on all manner of records including ‘No Pussyfooting’ and contributions to David Bowies single ‘Heroes’. Robert Fripp is a most unusual man who is married to singer Toyah Willcox – he’s had an amazing creative career – Continue Reading…
This year is the 30th anniversary of the release of the Toyah & Fripp spoken word album collaboration The Lady Or The Tiger. Featuring two stories by Frank R Stockton, read by Toyah, accompanied by Robert Fripp’s guitar soundscapes (some call it “Frippertronics”). Watch Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists on VH-1’s New Visions from 1988, with a mention for The Lady Or The Tiger included, by clicking below.
All Star Mr & Mrs: TV3: Monday 6th June: 12pm Toyah Willcox, Gabby Logan and Jake Wood. TV presenter Gabby Logan and former Scottish rugby international Kenny Logan, singer Toyah Willcox and her husband, guitarist Robert Fripp, and EastEnders star Jake Wood (Max Branning) and his wife Alison find out how much they really know about each other. The couple who give the most correct answers to a series of questions about each other get the chance to win £30,000 for their chosen charity. Hosted by Phillip Schofield.
• Aural Sculptors: Toyah The Rainbow London 21st February 1981: Toyah did not support The Stranglers, but Toyah Willcox did lend a helping hand at the early April Rainbow gigs as a guest vocalist. Here is a soundboard recording of the band Toyah playing in their own right at the Rainbow. This is, I think, an audio rip of the long deleted BBC Video of the band’s appearance at the North London venue – Continue reading…
• British Horror Revival: Eight pop stars who wrote soundtracks for British horror films: Robert Fripp – Steve Oram’s bonkers 2015 humans-act-like-apes feature Aaaaaaaah! includes among its cast former 1980s pop star Toyah Willcox. When her husband, King Crimson rocker Fripp, heard about the movie he offered Oram a collection of unreleased tracks from which to collate a soundtrack – Continue reading…
• Radio Times: The Great British Sewing Bee is back with a new judge: Clients at Swanky Modes included Cher, Grace Jones, Toyah Willcox and Julie Christie – Continue reading…
• Loughborough Echo: Tribute acts galore set their sights on Glastonbudget: Top tribute acts and local artists took to the stage at Glastonbudget last year which marked its 10th anniversary with a record attendance. The real-life Toyah Willcox headlined as special guest on Saturday – Continue reading…
• Sunday Post: Spandau Ballet star Tony Hadley admits he had to hold back in the I’m A Celebrity jungle: Tony, who had hits with True and Gold while in Spandau Ballet, lost 10kg in the jungle and he’ll be showing off his still-slimmer shape as one of the big names at this year’s Rewind Scotland festival, which runs from July 22 to 24. It takes place at Scone Palace Perth and also features Adam Ant, Midge Ure, Toyah, Rick Astley, ABC, and more – Continue reading…
Today Toyah retweeted Ultimate Classic Rock’s tweet about the 46th anniversary of the release of In The Court Of The Crimson King. Read an article on the album at Ultimate Classic Rock.
My Vintage with The Fripps airs again at the beginning of next month on Vintage TV. A great hour of chat and classic music choices from Robert and Toyah. Here’s the full Fripp Playlist from My Vintage:
Salisbury Hill – Peter Gabriel, Rapture – Blondie, Heroes – David Bowie, Fashion – David Bowie, Imagine – John Lennon, Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Simon & Garfunkel, Angels – Robbie Williams, I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston.
My Vintage: Vintage TV: Monday 1st June: 10.30pm Toyah and Robert. Husband and wife team, punk princess Toyah and guitarist and record producer Robert Fripp, invite My Vintage viewers into their home for their top record picks.
Wishing Toyah and Robert a Happy Anniversary, their 29th!, and Happy Birthday too to Mr Fripp. View Toyah’s Instagram post by clicking below, and the Official Toyah Twitter for more photos.
• BRFM: Bill Rieflin Interview: Monday at 10am we chat to Bill Rieflin in advance of Toyah and The Humans show in Swansea, The Garage Blues Club April 17th – Visit their website…
• ‘Dear Mr. Le Bon’ – A Pensioner Writes: Letters to pop stars regarding their work from a retired member of the public with genuine replies from the artists themselves – There’s a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to publish a book related to “The Letters of Wilf Turnbull and Derek Philpott” – View the campaign…
• The Letters of Wilf Turnbull and Derek Philpott: Dear Toyah, Re: I Want To Be Free – Read their letter to Toyah…
• This Is Not Retro: Toyah To Tour With The Humans in April: Toyah has announced a short UK tour with her project The Humans starting at Uckfield’s Trading Boundaries on April 11th – Continue reading…
• DGM Live: Robert Fripp has updated his online diary today and reveals the titles of three new tracks currently under construction at this week’s King Crimson rehearsals – Continue reading…
• Western Gazette: Your Stage Round Up: Toyah Willcox, Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne, 7.30pm: Toyah will be performing a full set with her band, featuring songs from In The Court Of The Crimson Queen along with classic hits and fan favourites. There is a special local link as Toyah has been married to local musician, founding member of King Crimson and highly acclaimed guitarist and musician Robert Fripp, for the past 28 years – Continue reading… (this gig took place last night)
The Joy Of The Guitar Riff: BBC4: Saturday 15th November: 10.30pm
Lauren Laverne narrates a documentary tracing the ebb and flow of the guitar riff over the last 60 years of popular music, from Chuck Berry through to the White Stripes. The guitar riff is the DNA of rock ‘n’ roll, a double helix of repetitive simplicity and fiendish complexity on which its history has been built. With riffs and stories from an all-star cast including Brian May, Dave Davies, Hank Marvin, Joan Jett, Nile Rodgers, Tony Iommi, Robert Fripp, Johnny Marr, Nancy Wilson, Kevin Shields, Ryan Jarman, Tom Morello and many more.
An interesting new interview with Robert Fripp was published in The Telegraph today. The article includes a couple of references to Toyah.
Robert Fripp, interview: ‘I’m a very difficult person to work with’
Guitarist Robert Fripp influenced David Bowie and Peter Gabriel but it’s only the latest revival of his band King Crimson that has brought out his happy side
… He’s explaining the finer details of this protracted wrangle when he suddenly catches sight of his other half, emerging from the driveway of their home. Toyah waves over, he waves back and even digs out his camera to take a picture.
“There’s my lovely wife, driving off in my car,” he muses, almost to himself. “I must’ve done something right to have Toyah as my wife. She’s a lot sharper than me, she has a very fine critical intelligence.”
In his fortnightly column, Shineback/Tinyfsh man Simon Godfrey reflects on his new life in the States.
September wasn’t just any old month boys and girls. It was the month King Crimson came to town.
Being located right next to the sound desk, I dutifully leaned over to a woman sat behind it and said ‘That guy is bootlegging the show I think.’ pointing in the direction of the bloke in front of me. It was only then that I realized the lady in question was Robert Fripp’s wife, Toyah Willcox. I’m not entirely sure what I expected Toyah to do with this information but the 14 year old boy in me who had fancied her madly back in the 1980s, probably hoped she would fell the guy with a well aimed flying kick and then thank me with a snog.
Well a boy can dream can’t he?
The reality was a little different. Toyah looked at me with a look of utter confusion on her face. In my haste to explain what I had seen over the thunderous sound of the band, I had taken to using hand gestures in an attempt to clarify what I had witnessed. To my horror, I realized that what had been an attempt to mimic the duel microphones using my index fingers either side of my head, actually looked like I was pretending to be a cow.
My Vintage with The Fripps airs again next month on Vintage TV. A great hour of chat and classic music choices from Robert and Toyah. Here’s the full Fripp Playlist from My Vintage:
Salisbury Hill – Peter Gabriel, Rapture – Blondie, Heroes – David Bowie, Fashion – David Bowie, Imagine – John Lennon, Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Simon & Garfunkel, Angels – Robbie Williams, I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston.
My Vintage: Vintage TV: Monday 13th October: 10.30pm Toyah and Robert. New! Husband and wife team, punk princess Toyah and guitarist and record producer Robert Fripp, invite My Vintage viewers into their home for their top record picks.
My Vintage with The Fripps airs again at the end of the month on Vintage TV. A great hour of chat and classic music choices from Robert and Toyah. Here’s the full Fripp Playlist from My Vintage:
Salisbury Hill – Peter Gabriel, Rapture – Blondie, Heroes – David Bowie, Fashion – David Bowie, Imagine – John Lennon, Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Simon & Garfunkel, Angels – Robbie Williams, I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston.
My Vintage: Vintage TV: Sunday 29th June: 5pm My Vintage: Vintage TV: Thursday 3rd July: 10.30pm Toyah and Robert. New! Husband and wife team, punk princess Toyah and guitarist and record producer Robert Fripp, invite My Vintage viewers into their home for their top record picks.
The edition of All Star Mr & Mrs which featured Toyah and Robert is airing on TV3 (Ireland) in mid-June.
All Star Mr & Mrs: TV3: Sunday 15th June: 8pm All Star Mr & Mrs: TV3: Saturday 21st June: 5pm Toyah Willcox, Gabby Logan and Jake Wood. TV presenter Gabby Logan and former Scottish rugby international Kenny Logan, singer Toyah Willcox and her husband, guitarist Robert Fripp, and EastEnders star Jake Wood (Max Branning) and his wife Alison find out how much they really know about each other. The couple who give the most correct answers to a series of questions about each other get the chance to win £30,000 for their chosen charity. Hosted by Phillip Schofield.
• Browse all of Dreamscape’s All Star Mr & Mrs news here.
Robert Fripp & Toyah Willcox: the prog family who proclaimed Sunday All Over the World
My Vintage with The Fripps airs again at the beginning of next month on Vintage TV. A great hour of chat and classic music choices from Robert and Toyah. Here’s the full Fripp Playlist from My Vintage:
