Toyah’s second single, the ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’ (EP/AP), was released in July 1979. The traditional EP contained four songs, Safari Records wanted to differentiate from that format and decided to release SIX songs on one single (a mini album really). This was the first, and last, AP release. Tracks were: A. Neon Womb, Indecision, Waiting; B. Our Movie, Danced, Last Goodbye. The band members were Pete Bush: Keyboards, Mark Henry: Bass, Joel Bogen: Guitar, Steve Bray: Drums, Toyah Willcox: Verbals. As with the debut single, this was a huge hit on the UK indie chart, and also increase the band’s, already growing, popularity in other parts of Europe. The, now iconic, cover shot for the single was taken at the RAF Fylingdales radar station near Whitby in Yorkshire. Unfortunately, the “golf balls” were demolished in the mid 1980’s. (Thanks to Asher for the Fylingdales photo)
Tallulah, in Stephen Poliakoff’s American Days, was Toyah’s second theatre role, two years after Tales From The Vienna Woods. The play opened at The ICA, London on 12th June 1979 and also starred Phil Daniels as Gary, and Caroline Embling as Lorraine. American Days unfolds in the sterile London offices of an international entertainment conglomerate. Three would-be punk rock stars audition for a record company executive…
Toyah’s debut single ‘Victims Of The Riddle’ was released in April 1979. A brave choice as the first release as it was hardly a commercial sounding, radio friendly, song. The single reached number one on the Indie Chart in the UK and spent many months of 1979 there. The sleeve featured an intentionally disturbing image. At the time of release few knew the gruesome story behind the photo and assumed it was a doll. ‘Victims Of The Riddle’ was also released later in Spain, with the far more appealing ‘Sheep Farming In Barnet’ artwork. The beginning of an amazing music career and a brave choice to get started with.
Toyah was one of a bunch of presenters of Look! Hear! for three series between 1979 and 1981. The programme, covering music and the arts in The Midlands, was made at BBC Pebble Mill and gave bands like Duran Duran, The Beat and The Selector their first tv exposure.
The first series of Look! Hear! aired weekly in early 1979. Chris Phipps, Ann Butler, Liz Cotton and John Holmes, who were all ‘Radio Wolverhampton’ DJs, were the other presenters.
Toyah made her first live appearance on New Year’s Eve 1977, fronting Ninth Illusion in Swiss Cottage, London. There were only two gigs under this name. Rechristened TOYAH, their first gig was at Finchley Christ College Disco in April 1978, followed by a string of dates through the rest of that year. The debut TOYAH tour was ‘The Resurrection ’79 Tour’, starting on 27th March 1979, at London Dingwalls, playing 12 dates throughout the UK in March and April. This tour visited some legendary live venues: Factory, Manchester, Eric’s in Liverpool, Tiffany’s in Edinburgh and Music Machine, Camden. The line up was: Toyah (Vocals), Joel Bogen (Guitar), Mark Henry (Bass), Steve Bray (Drums), Pete Bush (Keyboards). (Thanks to toyahwillcox.com)
Timeline wise this one is slightly tricky. Little Girls Don’t, made by ‘ITV Playhouse’, looks like it could have been filmed in either 1977 or ’78, but the credited date on the programme is 1980. To confuse matters more this didn’t air until March 1981. I’m plonking it in 1979 for now…
Quadrophenia, as with Jubilee, is a film that has grown in popularity in the decades since its’ release. Starring Phil Daniels, who gives an incredible performance as, central character, Jimmy, the film boasts one of the most famous and iconic movie “line up” promotional photos, instantly recognisable and used on various posters over the years. Toyah plays Monkey alongside Leslie Ash, Mark Wingett, Phil Davis, Ray Winstone and numerous others. It’s worth noting that Quadrophenia and Jubilee, films focusing on punk and Mods, are two of the biggest “youth” movies of the 1970’s. Toyah has the distinction of appearing in both.
Safari Records’ late 70s/early 80s timeline of Toyah dates the band signing to the label as January 1979, though their “Our History” implies it may have been late 1978: In 1978 a Melody Maker postage stamp picture of Toyah together with a small but glowing review of one of the very few gigs that her band had ever played led us to a leaky rehearsal space under Waterloo Bridge, where we saw the band and they signed with Safari who then were pleasantly surprised to learn of Toyah Willcox, actress, her performances in ‘The Corn is Green’ (starring Katherine Hepburn), ‘Jubilee’, ‘Quadrophenia’ and her current casting as Miranda in Derek Jarman’s forthcoming ‘The Tempest’.
One Of These Nights I’m Gonna Get An Early Day aired in October 1978. Toyah has a small role in this, playing a character called Fran, a groupie. This was a 30 minute play from the ‘Premiere 2’ series. Also stars Michael Gambon, Bryan Marshall & Janine Duvitski.
Toyah played Bessie Watty in the 1978, made for television, remake of a 1945 Bette Davis movie, The Corn Is Green. Starring the legendary Katharine Hepburn and directed by George Cukor, Toyah was working with “Hollywood royalty”. The film continues to air sporadically on UK television.
Jubilee, Toyah’s first film. She played Mad, a pyromaniac. Directed by Derek Jarman, it premiered on 22nd February 1978 at Bloomsbury Square Odeon, aka Gate 2, London. The film was derided in its first few years but has become something of a cult movie over the last decade and is regularly written about in online blogs and articles. Jubilee also featured Adam Ant in his first role, as well as Richard O’Brien and Little Nell of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Three Piece Suite was a six part series of half hour programmes, all starring Diana Rigg. Each show was cut up into three 10 minute plays. Toyah plays a character called Buzz in Episode Five, This Situation…! It also featured George Baker and aired on BBC2 in April 1977.
Toyah’s debut theatre role, playing Emma in Tales From The Vienna Woods, with The National Theatre Company, at The Laurence Olivier Theatre, London was an audacious beginning. The production had a large cast and also starred Stephen Rea, Warren Clarke, Brenda Blethyn and Elizabeth Spriggs. It was directed by Maximilian Schell and opened on 21st January 1977.
Toyah’s first professional acting role, first television appearance, first music performances – all included in Glitter, a 30 minute drama from the BBC’s ‘Second City Firsts’. Also appearing are Phil Daniels, Noel Edmonds and Doremy Vernon (probably best remembered as the Canteen Manager in Are You Being Served?). Toyah’s character, Sue, also performs two songs with the band Bilbo Baggins, ‘Floating Free’ and ‘Heartbreaker’. Further info on Glitter here.
