Toyah’s legendary Live At Drury Lane concert, which aired on Christmas Eve 1981 as The Old Grey Whistle Test‘s annual concert, is now available to watch at BBC iPlayer – after being repeated for the first time by BBC Four last Friday.
Toyah: Old Grey Whistle Test: BBC Four: Saturday 8th July: 00.35am
Annie Nightingale presents a Christmas Eve performance by the punk princess at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, with a band including acclaimed drummer Simon Phillips. Songs include the hits It’s a Mystery and I Want to Be Free.
NB: I could be wrong but is this the first ever full repeat by the BBC? This has a running time of 1hr, 10m.
To the delight of fans old and new, comes the long-awaited ‘Toyah Live At Drury Lane’ – Toyah’s legendary Christmas Eve 1981 concert released on 12 May 2023 by Cherry Red Records.
Toyah the band were invited by the BBC to play a special live concert on 24 December 1981 for broadcast live on BBC2 for The Old Grey Whistle Test Christmas Special. Simultaneously the concert was broadcast in stereo on BBC Radio 1. Previously, the concert footage was only ever available on a BBC VHS video cassette in 1982.
Following a year of top ten hit singles in 1981 plus the Gold-selling album Anthem, the band closed out the year with this fantastically energetic and celebratory concert. The band line-up for this concert saw Toyah Willcox (vocals), Joel Bogen (guitar), the late Phil Spalding (bass) and Adrian Lee (keyboards) joined by acclaimed drummer Simon Phillips. The much-loved Christmas Eve 1981 concert was watched by an astonishing 12 million viewers on BBC 2 television.
The 2LP and CD contains all 13 songs as performed at the momentous concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, as broadcast live on BBC 1 for Toyah In Concert.
The DVD contains all 13 songs as performed at the momentous concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with two songs from the broadcast reinstated following their cut from a 1982 VHS video release Good Morning Universe.
Exclusive to the CD in this package are 3 bonus audio tracks recorded live in Milan on the band’s Winter Tour, which culminated in the Drury Lane concerts on 23/24 December 1981. These three rarely performed tracks are Stand Proud, Urban Tribesmen and Pop Star and come from a previously unreleased sound desk concert recording, courtesy of Joel Bogen.
The 24-page colour booklet includes an introduction by Toyah to the concert and new sleevenotes by Craig Astley, Toyah’s archivist who compiled this release.
Brand new artwork includes photography of Toyah’s iconic stage entrance for the gig, 20ft above the band and audience. Rare and previously unseen photographs of the band’s Drury Lane concert the day before (23 Dec 1981) from the Safari Records archive also illustrate the CD booklet.
• Pre-Order Toyah Live At Drury Lane on CD+DVD, and semi-transparent pink vinyl at Cherry Red (The editions with postcards sold out almost immediately!). Read the news/press release and album page/full tracklist/Release Gallery at toyahwillcox.com. Watch Toyah announce the release on today’s Toyah At Home.
Tomorrow’s Toyah At Home – airing at 11am (UK time) on Toyah’s official You Tube channel and Facebook – is a Live At Drury Lane episode and will will include a special announcement related to Toyah’s legendary 1981 concert at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
Originally aired in 2018 to celebrate The Old Grey Whistle Test‘s 30th anniversary. this mammoth 3hr+ programme is repeated in full this Friday on BBC Four. (Photo © BBC)
The Old Grey Whistle Test Live: BBC Four
Friday 17th September : 9.40pm
For One Night Only. Hosted by Bob Harris, this live studio show features music, special guests and rare archive footage to mark the 30 years since the legendary series was last broadcast. Featuring performances from Peter Frampton, Richard Thompson, Albert Lee and more. Bob also chats to Whistle Test alumni, including Dave Stewart, Joan Armatrading, Ian Anderson, Chris Difford and Kiki Dee, as well as fans Danny Baker and Al Murray.
“It’s going to be a huge reunion”: Bob Harris reveals live line-up for Old Grey Whistle Test
BBC Music is reviving The Old Grey Whistle Test for a one-off live special on BBC Four. The revival marks 30 years since the legendary music TV show ended – it ran from 1971 to 1988 – and former host Bob Harris will be back at the helm.
Harris presented the show with that famous “whispering” delivery from 1972-78 and his spell included UK TV firsts including the performance from Bob Marley & The Wailers. Forty-six years since he first hosted, Harris will be back for the live three-hour special, which has generated huge excitement among music fans of a certain age.
“I know, it feels very exciting at this end too – the interest has been absolutely incredible,” the Radio 2 presenter told Music Week.
Another chance to hear highlights from Toyah’s 1981 Christmas Eve Drury Lane concert, originally broadcast on The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC2 on Christmas Eve 1981, at the beginning of next month on BBC 6 Music’s Live Hour.
6 Music Live Hour: BBC 6 Music
Tuesday 3rd September: 2.30am
Toyah, Gossip and 77:78. Toyah in concert at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London in 1981, plus a session recorded by Gossip on this date (3rd September) in 2003 and one by 77:78 (1/7/2018). Available at BBC Sounds after airing.
Christmas Eve 1981, Toyah played the final date of the Good Morning Universe European Tour, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. This was Toyah’s third tour of the year, following the College Tour at the beginning of 1981 and the Anthem Tour in the middle of the year.
The gig was broadcast live on BBC2 on The Old Grey Whistle Test as their annual Christmas Eve concert for 1981. Others who were gifted the festive accolade over the years included Elton John (1974), Queen (1975), Rod Stewart (1976), The Kinks (1977), 10CC (1978), Ian Dury & The Blockheads (1980), Elton John (1982), Paul Young (1983).
Toyah would later recall: “I spent one Christmas in complete euphoria after doing the Drury Lane Whistle Test. I can remember driving home to Birmingham that night and it was snowing. Everything was just wonderful and I remained on a high after doing that show for about ten days.“
Another chance to hear highlights from Toyah’s 1981 Christmas Eve Drury Lane concert, originally broadcast on The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC2 on Christmas Eve 1981, at the end of the month on BBC 6 Music’s Live Hour.
6 Music Live Hour: BBC 6 Music
Wednesday 29th August: 2.30am
Toyah in concert at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London in 1981, plus a session recorded by the Quads on this date (29th August) in 1979 and one from Stereophonics (22/1/1997). Presented by Chris Hawkins. Duration: 1 hour. (Available at BBC iPlayer after airing)
Toyah and The Moondogs: Chris Hawkins presents recordings from the BBC’s archive of live music. Tonight including Toyah recorded at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London in 1981, plus The Moondogs in session.
Watch Friday night’s mammoth three-hour 30th Anniversary edition of The Old Grey Whistle Test at BBC iPlayer. A fantastic retrospective programme packed with great music, interviews and memories – Catch Toyah’s appearance, alongside Chris Difford, at approximately 2hrs 22m in.
‘It’s going to be a huge reunion’: Bob Harris reveals live line-up for Old Grey Whistle Test
BBC Music is reviving The Old Grey Whistle Test for a one-off live special at 9pm tonight (February 23) on BBC Four. The revival marks 30 years since the legendary music TV show ended – it ran from 1971 to 1988 – and former host Bob Harris will be back at the helm.
Harris presented the show with that famous “whispering” delivery from 1972-78 and his spell included UK TV firsts including the performance from Bob Marley & The Wailers. Forty-six years since he first hosted, Harris will be back for the live three-hour special, which has generated huge excitement among music fans of a certain age.
“I know, it feels very exciting at this end too – the interest has been absolutely incredible,” the Radio 2 presenter told Music Week.
• Continue reading at Music Week. NB: Toyah will feature in a live interview having just come off stage from a performance of Jubilee at Lyric Hammersmith – Further info at toyahwillcox.com.
Toyah will be an interview guest on the “For One Night Only” anniversary edition of The Old Grey Whistle Test on Friday. Toyah appeared on the series performing Danced & Indecision, March 1980 and live in concert from Drury Lane Theatre Royal as the Whistle Test special on Christmas Eve 1981. This special is airing to mark 30 years since the legendary series was last broadcast.
The Old Grey Whistle Test Live: BBC Four: Friday 23rd February: 9pm
For One Night Only. Hosted by Bob Harris, this live studio show features music, special guests and rare archive footage to mark the 30 years since the legendary series was last broadcast. Featuring performances from Peter Frampton, Richard Thompson, Albert Lee and more. Bob also chats to Whistle Test alumni, including Dave Stewart, Joan Armatrading, Ian Anderson, Chris Difford and Kiki Dee, as well as fans Danny Baker and Al Murray.
It’s the final day of the Dreamscape Christmas Countdown… I hope you’ve enjoyed the Christmas Toyahfest over the last 24 days.
On Christmas Eve 1981, exactly 34 years ago tonight, Toyah played the final date of the Good Morning Universe European Tour, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. This was, famously, broadcast live on BBC2 on The Old Grey Whistle Test. Toyah later recalled: “I spent one Christmas in complete euphoria after doing the Drury Lane Whistle Test. I can remember driving home to Birmingham that night and it was snowing. Everything was just wonderful and I remained on a high after doing that show for about ten days.“
We’re counting down to Christmas at Dreamscape…
Christmas Eve, 1981. Toyah play to millions (figures mentioned sometimes suggest over 10 million viewers) on The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC2, beamed live from the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Toyah was in top form this night and no wonder as it was the end to a hugely successful year: hit singles, an album that reached number 2 and stayed on the chart for the rest of the year, three sell out tours, topping year-end music polls, magazine covers, numerous television appearances… Here are screen caps from the original BBC2 Christmas trail for their 1981 Christmas Eve schedule.
• The Old Grey Whistle Test: New to Dreamscape’s You Tube channel, a rare clip from Toyah’s 1981 Christmas Eve concert, televised live on BBC2’s The Old Grey Whistle Test. This is the final song of the concert, ‘I Want To Be Free’, but it’s from the TV version not the BBC Video that was released in 1982, so a slightly different ending (Thanks to Andy) – Watch here…
• Toyah’s Digital Advent: We are being spoiled this Christmas by The Official Toyah Willcox Website. Already there’s been live footage from the Love Is The Law & More Tour, great audio from 1981, rare photos from the late 70s, and today a treat from the 90s – Visit the Advent…
• Nottingham Post: Celebrity signed book by Nottingham care assistant auctioned for charity: Care assistant Victoria Harwood is hoping to raise funds to save endangered animals – by drawing animals… The famous signatures include Richard Kiel and singer Toyah Willcox – Continue reading…
• Robert Fripp’s Diary: A selection of great festive photos have been posted to Robert’s online diary – View here…
• Official Discography: There is more content being added almost daily. Great info on Toyah;s many releases over the years – View here…
• Toyah 1987 – 2003: Great news that Toyah’s back catalogue from 1987 to 2003 will be made available digitally next year. Desire, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Take The Leap!, Dreamchild, Velvet Lined Shell – all fantastic albums that will hopefully reach more people in years to come!
