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 INFORMATION:
The www.toyah.net News Section offers you up-to-date info about Toyah. We compile all the latest headlines, confirmed Toyah news, rumours, and events. We also bring you the latest on most of Toyah's appearances, plus all the info on new & forthcoming releases.



 









 













 




 
Please help us to publish as much Toyah News as possible by submitting yours to: david@toyah.net
 
.JANUARY 2009 NEWS:
 QuadCon2 - Quadrophenia Convention '09 - Cancelled!
 Friday 30th January, 2009 • Thanks to Layne.................................Events
Unfortunately 'Quadcon2' the Quadrophenia Convention 2009, due to take place in April in Brighton, has been cancelled.

Toyah was "provisionally confirmed" as a guest at the three-day event.

All tickets purchased for this event will be refunded by 31st January 2009. 

Please keep an eye on www.quadcon.co.uk for further details and information.

 Henley Standard - 20000 Expected At Rewind Festival
 Friday 30th January, 2009.......................................................Press Clips
More than 20,000 people are expected in Henley this summer for an Eighties pop extravaganza. 

The Rewind Festival is to be held at Temple Island Meadows over days from Friday, August 21 to Sunday, August 23. 

Acts confirmed so far include Gloria Gaynor, Sister Sledge, Rick Astley, Paul Young, Kim Wilde, Bananarama, Billy Ocean, Toyah, Chas ’n’ Dave, Midge Ure, Heaven 17, The Real Thing, ABC, Go West and Nik Kershaw. 

"Between them, these artists have had 171 top 20 hits and been in the charts for more than 47 years," said a Rewind spokeswoman. 

The festival will also feature funfairs and fireworks, Eighties discos and a Comedy Store tent. 

David Hartfield, of Rotherfield Greys, runs the Rival Organisation, which is staging the festival and has its offices in Remenham Hill. He said: "There has been a resurgence of interest in the pop music of the Eighties. This event is for the older age groups who loved the artists of that decade." 

Tickets, which cost up to £95 for an adult weekend camping ticket, go on sale today. For more information, visit www.rewindfestival.com 

* Tell us your memories of the Eighties pop scene and you could win a weekend ticket to Rewind. Visit www.henleystandard.co.uk 

 Henley Standard - A Blast from The Past
 Friday 30th January, 2009.......................................................Press Clips
Win a weekend pass to this year's Eighties pop extravaganza

The Henley Standard is feeling nostalgic this week. With Rick Astley, Kim Wilde, Bananarama, Midge Ure, Toyah and many more acts from the Eighties coming to Henley this summer, we want to hear stories of your brushes with fame, your memories from the Eighties and, if you have photographic evidence, we want to see the pictures! 

The entry judged to be the most entertaining will receive a weekend pass for two to the Rewind Festival. The pass will give the winner full access to the venue at Temple Island from August 21-23, 2009. Pitches are available for camping as part of the prize. As well as a line-up packed with the stars from the Eighties, the festival will feature funfairs and fireworks, discos and a Comedy Store tent. 

Line Up: Saturday 22nd August:
Kim Wilde, Rick Astley, Bananarama, Billy Ocean, Belinda Carlisle, Kid Creole, Heaven 17, Dr & The Medics, Nick Heyward, Toyah, The Real Thing, and China Crisis 

Line Up: Sunday 23rd August:
Gloria Gaynor, Sister Sledge, ABC, Paul Young, Go West, Midge Ure, Howard Jones, Nik Kershaw, T'Pau, The Christians, Phil Jupitus & The Blockheads, and Chas 'n' Dave.

Click here to enter the competition.

 Shoreham Today - Vampires Rock in Worthing
 Friday 30th January, 2009.......................................................Press Clips
The undead are back on their feet and ready to rock Worthing.

Vampires Rock had to be cancelled in December after Steve Steinman's sudden illness, but now a new date has been fixed for Sunday, February 1, at 7.30pm.

This new show is one of the few on the 2009 tour featuring Toyah Willcox in the stunning role of Devil Queen.

Steve showcases his unique, tongue-in-cheek humour in this remarkable musical comedy set in 2030s New York. He plays the charismatic and supremely evil Baron Von Rockula, owner of the Live and Let Die Club. 

Toyah joins him as the Baron's wife, and her star-personality and powerhouse voice light up the stage.

The spellbinding cast and musicians blast their way through the greatest rock anthems ever, including songs from Meat Loaf, Rainbow, AC/DC, Alice Cooper, Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Queen, White Snake, Bonnie Tyler and Cher.

Vampires Rock is a show like no other, with a twist of rock and a hint of musical theatre. It has an amazing stage-set, pyrotechnics to blow your mind, beautiful dancers and, of course, powerful vocals.

Tickets £21.50/£19.50, accompanied child £12, family £60. Visit www.worthingtheatres.co.uk or call 01903 206206.

 Dreamscape News Archive
 Friday 30th January, 2009.........................................................Site News
A veritable schmorgasbord of festive Toyah News from December 2008 has just been added to Dreamscape's News Archive. Please take a look at the News Archive, there's almost nine years of Toyah news to browse. 

 Toyah at IndigO2 for SAS Band's New Year Bash
 Tuesday 27th January, 2009 • Thanks to Steve..........................Live/Gigs
Toyah performing 'School's Out' on Saturday night, during SAS Band's New Year Bash, at IndigO2. Toyah also sang 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' and 'River Deep Mountain High'. Click on the caps to watch 'School's Out'.

 Toyah on Sky Movies
 Tuesday 27th January, 2009.....................................................Television
Quadrophenia : Sky Movies Indie - Thursday 29th January : 2.15am
Quadrophenia : Sky Movies Indie - Wednesday 4th February : 2.35am
Quadrophenia : Sky Movies Indie - Saturday 7th February : 11.55pm
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.

Most Fertile Man In Ireland : Sky Movies - Wed 4th February : 7.20am
Twenty-four year old virgin, Eamonn Manley, lives with his mother in Belfast and is painfully shy with the ladies. Things change for Eamonn when Mary Malloy decides to make the first move and soon Mary realises that she is pregnant even though she was using birth control. The doctor discovers that Eamonn has an unusually high sperm count... His mother has the idea that he can help the local ladies who have had problems conceiving a baby... Director: Dudi Appleton. Starring: Kris Marshall, Kathy Kiera Clarke, Bronagh Gallagher, James Nesbitt, Kenneth Cranham, Toyah Willcox and Olivia Nash. (NB: This is showing on Sky Movies Comedy and Sky Movies Comedy HD simultaneously) 

 The Spoof - Ross, Willcox to head ITV Spring Schedules
 Tuesday 27th January, 2009....................................................Press Clips
A humourous article on Toyah and Jonathan Ross was included at 'The Spoof' website last week.

Johnathon Ross is to present a new ITV show, insiders have announced. Titled "Ross's Rollicking Rock and Roll Revival Revue", the show will be seen as a positive step in the 49-year-old's rehabilitation after the "Sachsgate" affair.

ITV bosses, always ahead of the game, have also signed Toyah Willcox to head the cast of "Super Soccer Success Stories (sponsored by Simpson's Sausages)" for their summer schedule on Sundays. Other programmes will include remakes of "On the Buses", "Noel's House Party" and "Miami Vice" (set in Devon this time) and an as-yet-secret reality show - inside the Hadron Collider!

Michael Grade is (despairing) 62. 

 Tat Parade - Toyah: Minx
 Tuesday 27th January, 2009............................................................Music
The quaintly titled 'Tat Parade' blog recently ran a feature on Toyah's 1985 album 'Minx'.

Toyah is best known in the UK for her string of early 80’s hits; most notably It’s A Mystery – a post punk/pop kitsch classic that has become her signature tune. Other hits included I Want To Be Free and Thunder In The Mountains – all Top 5 hits in 1981. Moving forward 4 years, and Toyah had a new label – Portrait/CBS, and had undergone a synth-pop makeover! 

The end result was the album Minx, produced by Christopher Neil...

Please click here for the full article.

 Celebrity Mastermind - More Screen Captures
 Friday 23rd January, 2009........................................................Television
More screen caps from Celebrity Mastermind. Toyah guested on the show on Sunday 28th December, and her specialist subject was David Bowie: 1967 to 1977. Toyah scored a total of 14 points and placed third in the show. Celebrity Mastermind was watched by almost 6 million viewers, the 19th most popular show of Christmas week. Please click on the caps for larger versions.

 Toyah on TV - Never Mind The Buzzcocks
 Friday 23rd January, 2009........................................................Television
Never Mind The Buzzcocks : Dave - Tuesday 3rd February : 10.20pm
Never Mind The Buzzcocks : Dave - Wednesday 4th February : 00.40am
Mark Lamarr hosts a special anniversary edition of the long-running pop quiz, with Phill Jupitus and Bill Bailey. Guests include 80s pop icon Toyah Willcox and Sumon Sunyal.
 Belfast Telegraph - Show is spooked, we are being followed by ghosts
 Wednesday 21st January, 2009...............................................Press Clips
Toyah Willcox yesterday claimed that the musical she is bringing to Belfast next month is spooked. 

“We are definitely being followed around by ghosts,” said the rock star turned actress. 

Willcox plays the Devil Queen in the show Vampires Rock, with a storyline set among the undead of New York in 2030. 

And to add to the spiritual tension around the show, it will be in town on a one night stand at the Waterfront Hall on Friday, February 13. 

Toyah, whose musical has run for more than 40 dates, explained that the spooks struck dramatically in one show when a coffin, in which a character called Stringfellow was being carried on stage, refused to open. 

“There was absolutely no reason for the loose-fitted lid to be stuck, but it was and we had to struggle to get actor Mike Taylor out,” the former singer said. 

“He was quite alarmed and so were the rest of the cast. 

“I believe in ghosts and I think we are being followed around by spooks on this tour.” 

Tickets for Vampires Rock are currently on sale at the usual outlets. 

 Toyah on TV - Our Psychic Family
 Wednesday 21st January, 2009................................................Television
Our Psychic Family : Biography Channel - Thursday 29th Jan : 8.30pm
Our Psychic Family : Biography Channel - Friday 30th Jan : 00.30am
Craig takes a trip to London to meet eighties pop icon, Toyah Willcox. Craig’s revelations of personal information shocks Toyah and she takes away some helpful relationship advice for her husband! 

 30 Years Of Music: 1979 - 2009
 Tuesday 20th January, 2009............................................................Music
2009 marks 30 years since Toyah's first music releases, the 'Victims of the Riddle' single and 'Sheep Farming In Barnet' AP. Through the year Dreamscape will be commemorating the anniversary with some special additions and features, specifically related to Toyah's music career. 

We're starting with SNAPSHOT: Random Toyah Pictures. There will also be our 'In The Court Of The Crimson Queen' SuperFeature, as well as lots of other music related bits and pieces over the next 12 months.

 Celebrity Brides Unveiled - More Screen Captures
 Tuesday 20th January, 2009.....................................................Television
More screen caps from Celebrity Brides Unveiled. Toyah guested on the show on Sunday 28th December, talking about first meeting Robert, her wedding day and showing her dress, flowers and garter. Click on them for larger versions.

There are a couple more opportunities to watch Celebrity Brides Unveiled, with Toyah, this weekend.

Celebrity Brides Unveiled : Wedding TV - Sat 24th January : 8.00pm
Celebrity Brides Unveiled : Wedding TV - Sun 25th January : 5.00am
In this episode punk rock Princess Toyah Willcox talks about the heartbreak of her first love, while we quiz T Pau's Carol Decker on whether she had china on her wedding list! [Available on Sky 266 & Freesat 402 - All of the above will also air on the Wedding TV Plus 1 channel too]

 Street Addict - Video @ YouTube
 Tuesday 20th January, 2009............................................................Music
Screen captures from another fan made "video". This, for Toyah's superb 1981 'Thunder In The Mountains' b-side 'Street Addict', is by Marcus. Please click on the caps to watch the animated video at YouTube.

 Secret Diary Of A Call Girl - Newsy Bits & Pieces!
 Saturday 17th January, 2009....................................................Television
Some newsy bits & pieces on Secret Diary Of A Call Girl as Series/Season 2 premieres in both Canada and the US this weekend.

• In the USA SDOACG, Season 2, premieres this Sunday, January 18th, at 10:30pm on the Showtime channel.

• In Canada, the second season will debut on The Movie Network channel on Monday, January 19th, at 9:30pm.

• In the US the Region 1 DVD of Season 1 was released on 6th January 2009.

Secret Diary Of A Call Girl is a worldwide hit; The UK, US, Canada, Sweden, Israel, New Zealand, Latin America, France, Australia, Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and Turkey are just some of the countries that air the show.

• The third series starts pre-production at the end of February, filming sometime after that, and will air in Autumn 2009. Toyah has already said she will be filming and Call Girl Series Producer has said: "There will be a finale with the family."

• Series 2 will be released on region 2 DVD in the UK on Monday 2nd March. On the same day as a special double DVD set of series 1 and 2.

• Read Digital Spy's 2009 TV Preview: 'Call Girl 3' feature here.

 In The News - Special guests for Quadrophenia screening 
 Saturday 17th January, 2009...................................................Press Clips
Quadrophenia director Franc Roddam praises Toyah in an article published yesterday about a special screening of the film, taking place this evening in London.

Roddam also praised other members of his cast. Of Toyah Willcox, former punk star turned successful actor, he said: "Toyah is a fantastic little actress. 

"There's moments of emotions that she portrays that are amazing." 

Read the full article here. Quadrophenia airs on Sky Movies a number of times over the next couple of weeks.

Quadrophenia : Sky Movies Indie - Wednesday 21st January : 2.20am
Quadrophenia : Sky Movies Indie - Friday 25th January : 10.00pm
Quadrophenia : Sky Movies Indie - Thursday 29th January : 2.15am
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.

 Toyah Newsy Bits & Pieces!
 Saturday 17th January, 2009........................................................Various
• Toyah mentioned in a recent interview she was filming Supersize Me. Could she have been meaning Supersize vs Superskinny? A new 10 part series begins on Channel 4 next week.

Supersize vs Superskinny : Channel 4 - Tuesday 20th January : 8.00pm

• The Love & Madness theatre company used songs from Toyah's 1988 album 'Prostitute' during rehearsals for their 2008 productions of La Ronde and Oliver Twist.

• Webmaster of the Toyah Willcox Interview Archive, Minna, has recently uploaded great slideshow videos for 'Voodoo Doll', 'Angel In You', 'We Are', 'Dawn Chorus' and 'Race Through Space' to One True Media. They can also be viewed at You Tube.

• Toyah is namechecked in the Perthshire Advertiser in their Packed programme has something for everyone article from 14th January.

• Here's a third ad/promo flyer for for the SAS Band's New Year Bash at the IndigO2 on Saturday 24th January. The "Surprise Guest" has been revealed as Roger Taylor from Queen.

 Ready Steady Cook - More Screen Captures
 Thursday 15th January, 2009....................................................Television
Screen captures from Ready Steady Cook on Boxing Day. This was Toyah's third time on the BBC2 cookery show. The other guest was TV presenter Shauna Lowry. Toyah's previous appearances were in April 2001, opposite Midge Ure, and in October 2007, opposite Carol Decker. The Christmas 2008 show is the second time Toyah, along with her celebrity chef, has won the RSC plate. 

 The Times - Life & Style: People
 Thursday 15th January, 2009...................................................Press Clips
Punk priestess Toyah was unimpressed by John Humphrys’ diction when she appeared on Celebrity Mastermind: “When he asks the questions he buries his head in his lap and mumbles at the speed of light,” she blogs. “I even asked him to speak up because I couldn’t hear him.” Humphrys also failed to recognise Toyah’s achievements: “I am still in the industry I love even though some ‘old school farts’ think life stopped for me in 1981 and that their researchers don’t offer the contestants ‘crib sheets’.” Ouch.

See the article at Times Online.

 Toyah at Liverpool ACC
 Monday 12th January, 2009..........................................................Theatre
Toyah, as part of Liverpool's European Capital Of Culture year, performed for the first time ever at the newly opened Liverpool Echo Arena and Conference Centre on her last performance of Vampires Rock of the year, on Saturday 27th December 2008. And doesn't she look amazing!!

 Celebrity Mastermind - Screen Captures
 Monday 12th January, 2009......................................................Television
Screen captures from Celebrity Mastermind. Toyah guested on the show on Sunday 28th December. Please click on them for larger versions. More soon.

 Celebrity Brides Unveiled - Screen Captures
 Monday 12th January, 2009......................................................Television
Screen caps from Celebrity Brides Unveiled. Toyah guested on the show on Sunday 28th December. Please click on them for larger versions. More soon.

 Ready Steady Cook - Screen Captures
 Monday 12th January, 2009......................................................Television
Screen captures from Ready Steady Cook. Toyah guested on the show on Boxing Day. Please click on them for larger versions. More caps soon.

 SAS Band's New Year Bash
 Monday 12th January, 2009.......................................................Live/Gigs
Another promo ad for the SAS Band's New Year Bash at the IndigO2.

 Vampires Rock - Changes @  YouTube
 Monday 12th January, 2009 • Thanks to Paul...............................Theatre
Toyah, as the Devil Queen, performs 'Changes' with Steve Steinman as Baron Von Rockula, in Vampires Rock at Blackpool Opera House on 15th November. 

 Toyah's 2009
 Saturday 10th January, 2009................................................Toyah's 2009
There are already quite a few upcoming appearances and gigs in the pipeline for Toyah in 2009: Vampires Rock in Worthing, Belfast, Perth and London, as well as another Autumn tour with the show. Toyah also plays two gigs with the SAS Band later this month, appears at Blackpool and Gran Canaria Pride events, both taking place in May, and she appears at the Henley Festival in August.

Anchoress will finally be available on region 2 DVD, and the second series of Secret Diary Of A Call Girl will be released too. Toyah will also film series three of Call Girl this year, and she has mentioned she is making a film, The Power of 3. The Humans album should be released in 2009, and could there be some more gigs during the year? Toyah will also guest at The Quadrophenia Convention in Brighton in April and she will play at Pontins in March.

 Toyah to guest in new ITV2 sitcom FM
 Saturday 10th January, 2009....................................................Television
Toyah will be guesting in an episode of a new sitcom FM. The series will begin airing on ITV2 next month.

The 6 x 30-minute FM will star Chris O'Dowd (The IT Crowd), Kevin Bishop (Star Stories) and Nina Sosanya (Love Actually). It follows neurotic indie DJ Lindsay Carol and his co-workers at Skin FM as they face pushy band managers, diva behaviour and the "perils of skinny jeans".

Read more about FM at The Independent and Broadcast Now. Toyah mentions the recording of this in her January blog.

 Jasper Carrot's Christmas Cracker
 Saturday 10th January, 2009......................................................Live/Gigs
As we reported in late December, Toyah was one of the guest performers at Jasper Carrot's Christmas Cracker at the Birmingham NEC on Sunday 21st December. Here is a little more info about the show: Toyah performed two songs at the show; 'School's out' and 'Sweet Child 'O Mine'. She rehearsed her songs earlier in the day with Bev Bevan and his band at the Pavilion.

The Christmas show only happens once every four years, there was an audience of 10,000, and each person was given a free flashlight keyring which created a magical Christmas effect during the show. There's a clip of Toyah at the show here and another here. The Birmingham Mail also published a news story about the show.

 Toyah Newsy Bits & Pieces!
 Saturday 10th January, 2009........................................................Various
• Toyah's first blog of 2009 has been added to the Official Toyah MySpace and www.toyahwillcox.com. Dreamscape sends Best Wishes to Toyah's dad for a speedy recovery.

• We reported last year that Series Two of Secret Diary Of A Call Girl would only be available as a double DVD set with Series One, it now appears it will also be released on its own. The two-series DVD and Series Two will both be released on 2nd March.

• 'It's A Mystery' was played on BBC1's Homes Under The Hammer on Thursday (8th January). [Thanks to Paul Lomas]

• Toyah is mentioned in the Aberdeen Press & Journal Bumper star-strewn year ahead onstage article from Thursday 8th January.

Halifax Evening Courier namecheck Toyah in their 2008: Review Of The Year from 30th December.

BBC News, Ballymoney Times, The Mirror, Visordown, Clutch & Chrome, Manx Radio, Business Gazette, and News & Star all have articles on Celebrity Mastermind, and all mention Toyah. There's also an interesting review of the series at Life After Mastermind.

• Toyah is mentioned in the Australia Courier Mail, from December, in an article about who voices various children's cartoons.

 Toyah on TV - Celebrity Brides Unveiled
 Saturday 10th January, 2009....................................................Television
Toyah's interview on Celebrity Brides Unveiled proved to be more interesting than first anticipated. She talked about the lead up to her wedding and the day itself. Toyah also gave the programe access to some photos from her wedding album.

They showed about 15 wedding photos. The above will be the only ones I'll add to Dreamscape ( I was hesitant about adding these but they have been on TV) though I will add more screen caps from the interview soon. This programme should be available to view online at some point as most of the other editions are already online. There are also further opportunities to watch this on TV over the coming weeks.

Celebrity Brides Unveiled : Wedding TV - Tue 13th January : 6.00pm
Celebrity Brides Unveiled : Wedding TV - Sat 24th January : 8.00pm
Celebrity Brides Unveiled : Wedding TV - Sun 25th January : 5.00am
In this episode punk rock Princess Toyah Willcox talks about the heartbreak of her first love, while we quiz T Pau's Carol Decker on whether she had china on her wedding list! [Available on Sky 266 & Freesat 402 - All of the above will also air on the Wedding TV Plus 1 channel too]

Celebrity Brides Unveiled : Wedding TV - Wed 14th January : 6.30pm
Celebrity Brides Unveiled : Wedding TV - Sat 31st January : 8.30pm
Best Of: In this special 'best of' edition we look back at some of the highlights of the series, featuring a host of stars. [Available on Sky 266 & Freesat 402 - All of the above will also air on the Wedding TV Plus 1 channel too]

 Toyah on TV/Sky Movies
 Saturday 10th January, 2009....................................................Television
Maigret & The Hotel Majestic : ITV3 - Monday 19th January : 9.10am
Maigret & The Hotel Majestic : ITV3 - Tuesday 20th January : 2.05am
Detective mystery series. Maigret is called to the scene when a beautiful woman is found dead in the basement of the Hotel Majestic with a gun in her handbag. The Chief Inspector's investigations initially centre around the staff at the hotel - until he discovers that the woman's husband booked a trip to Rome that he never made. Starring: Michael Gambon, Geoffrey Hutchings, Jack Galloway, Toyah Willcox and James Larkin.

Quadrophenia : Sky Movies Indie - Wednesday 21st January : 2.20am
Quadrophenia : Sky Movies Indie - Friday 25th January : 10.00pm
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.

 What's On At Pontins? - Retro Weekender: 48 hour Party
 Saturday 10th January, 2009......................................................Live/Gigs
It's back! The biggest 48 hours Camber Sands has ever seen! Bananarama, Go West, Toyah Willcox, Hazel Dean, and Odyssey. Plus tributes to Madonna, Culture Club and many more. Retro Weekender, 27th March 2009.

 Who Killed Simon Peters?
 Saturday 10th January, 2009......................................................Releases
Toyah is included in the advertising blurb for a forthcoming new book. 'Who Killed Simon Peters?' by Paul Hendy is published, by FRA who also published Toyah's 'Diary Of A Facelift' in 2005, on 26th February 2009.

The King is dead. A nation mourns…
Having clawed his way up from C-list obscurity to the pinnacle of A-list superstardom, media personality and self-proclaimed King of Saturday Night Television, Simon Peters is found dead in ‘suspicious circumstances’.

Deluded, self-obsessed and with an ego the size of Coventry, Simon trod on so many toes, stabbed innumerable backs and slept with a lot of the wrong people in his ever-more desperate search for fame. The bitter ex-agent, the ruthless manager, the jilted ex-girlfriend, the rival game-show host and any number of members of the viewing public who’d had to sit through his shows – each and every one had reason to hate Simon. But who would hate him enough to want to see him dead? Investigative journalist David Mulryan looks back on the career of this light entertainment legend in his search to answer the burning question: 

Who Killed Simon Peters?

Taking you inside the mind of a man who is dying to be famous, this deliciously funny novel takes a sideways swipe at show business, slaps the face of the television industry and gives a friendly poke in the eye to our celebrity-obsessed culture. 

An hysterical, rip-roaring, celebrity yarn…Hendy has done it again!: CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS

Paul Hendy brilliantly depicts the glamour and grime of showbusiness. A laugh a page and then some: SHAUN WILLIAMSON

Brilliantly funny…why isn’t it all about me, though? I think he should have called it ‘Who Killed Toyah Willcox?’: TOYAH WILLCOX

I had to read the whole book just to make sure I got a mention…Very funny though: PETER DUNCAN

 Review Of The Year - Toyah's 2008: Part Two
 Wednesday 7th January, 2009..............................................Toyah's Year
In July Toyah appeared on Sky Two's Top 50 Celebrity Comebacks... she was interviewed in 'The Guardian'... played live at Festival Too in Kings Lynn, The Quarry in Shrewsbury, Stanstead Park, and at the British Motor Show... showed off her new fangs in the 'Daily Express'... the cover for 'In The Court Of The Crimson Queen' was revealed... Toyah was interviewed on Smooth Radio, Xfm and BBC Radio Devon... Toyah and Steve Steinman were interviewed by BBC London News... Toyah guested on This Morning...  raised money for charity with John on Celebrity Cash In The Attic on BBC2... and cooked up a storm on Daily Cooks Challenge on ITV1.

August saw Toyah play live at and host The Shugborough Music & Fireworks Festival, she also played at Ascot Racecourse... Vampires Rock reports were everywhere... and various websites reported on Toyah commenting on Ashes To Ashes and wanting a role in a soap... 'Hello!' ran an article on Toyah taking part in 'The Best Of The 80s' shows... Secret Diary Of A Call Girl premiered in Australia... Toyah was guest presenter on BBC Radio London... and she was interviewed by 'Venue' magazine, 'Docklands24', 'Sunday Mercury' and 'The Ripon Gazette'... a preview of another new song 'Love Crazy' was made available.

September was a very busy month... the long-awaited studio album, 'In The Court Of The Crimson Queen' became available (though it will be "officially" released this Easter)... [Joel Bogen turned 50]... Toyah guested on The George Lamb Radio Show... there was also TV interviews on BBC News 24, BBC Breakfast and numerous interviews with around 20 radio stations to promote Vampires Rock... 'Sensational' was added to BBC Radio London's playlist... Toyah guested on BBC2's What Are You Like?... the second series of Secret Diary Of A Call Girl began airing... Vampires Rock opened in Retford... Toyah appeared in Leslie Ash: Face To Face on ITV1... she was interviewed by 'The Telegraph', 'Bella', 'Fabulous', 'Cotswold Life' and 'Hello!'... Gaydar Radio interviewed Toyah... she guested on Loose Women... and turned book reviewer for the 'Daily Mail... 'Ieya' was included on the 3CD 'The Edge Of The Seventies'... and, after all these years, Toyah's hair was still winning acclaim, she won an Orange Poll on which celebrity had/has the Best Hair!! 

Vampires Rock continued to tour the UK in October, receiving positives reviews from many newspapers, magazines and websites... The Region 1 Rocky Horror Tribute Show DVD was released... Toyah was interviewed by 'BBC Somerset', 'Daily Mail', 'Northern Echo', 'Liverpool Daily Post', 'Travel Mail', 'Daily Record', 'Reveal' and 'Limited Edition' magazines...  Toyah guested on GMTV and The Paul O'Grady Show on Channel 4... and 'It's A Mystery' was included on the '100 Hits - 80s Pop' 5CD set.

November, and Vampires Rock was still slaying (in a good way!) audiences everywhere... There was an onslaught of Toyah interviews this month: in 'A Place In The Sun' magazine, 'Ipswich Evening Star', Aberdeen Press & Journal', 'Blackpool Citizen', 'Blackpool Gazette', 'Halifax Courier', 'Daily Express', 'Sunderland Echo', 'The York Press', 'Hull Daily Mail', ' Worthing Herald' and 'Discover Jersey'... The Region 2 Rocky Horror Tribute Show DVD was released... and Toyah guested on The Big Black Book of Horror.

In December 'It's A Mystery' was included on the 'Fantastic 80s - The Complete Collection' 5CD set, and 'Thunder In The Mountains' on the 'Smash Hits Party!' 4CD set... Vampires Rock's Christmas shows, including a huge show at Liverpool Arena, took place... Toyah was interviewed by 'Scarborough News', 'Daily Express', 'Nerve', 'Liverpool.com' and 'Sunday Express' magazines, and the 'Liverpool Echo'... she was the cover star of 'Eternal Spirit' magazine... there was a surprise appearance at Jasper Carrot's Christmas Cracker at Birmingham NEC... and 'Good Times' magazine declared 'In The Court Of The Crimson Queen' "CD of the Year!"... Toyah guested on Our Psychic Family, Ready Steady Cook, Celebrity Brides Unveiled, and rounded off the, fantastically busy, year with an appearance on Celebrity Mastermind.

 SAS Band's New Year Bash
 Wednesday 7th January, 2009...................................................Live/Gigs
The promo flyer for the SAS Band's New Year Bash at the IndigO2 on Saturday 24th January.

There is still time to get tickets for the SAS New Year show at Club IndigO2 (at the O2 in London)..... but be quick. 

Sat 24 January - tickets from www.ticketmaster.com - or direct from SAS Band office - Tel: 01293 783399 

Artists include: Madeline Bell, Fabbagirls, Graham Gouldman, Patti Russo, Jeff Scott Soto, Chris Thompson, Toyah Willcox, Roy Wood - and Crash, feat James Toseland + SURPRISE GUEST.

www.sasband.com/ www.theindigo2.com / www.ticketmaster.com

Toyah will also be at the "warm-up" gig at The Brook in Southampton on Friday 23rd January.

Here's a review, by 'Record Collector' magazine (Issue 346), of the last SAS Band gig Toyah performed at:

The SAS Band: Southampton Brook: 9th December, 2007
A bunch of musos celebrating Christmas by performing covers of Tamla and soul classics doesn’t sound so special. But when the chief muso is Queen keyboardist Spike Edney, you can expect some cool guests. Long-term Meatloaf foil Patti Russo blasted out the Aretha songbook with style and charm, while the more demure Kiki Dee handled You Can’t Hurry Love and It Takes Two with unaffected aplomb. A sprightly Madeleine Bell’s Heard It Through The Grapevine was sadly separated from I’ve Been Loving You Too Long by a dire drum solo. The highlight was a startlingly energetic cameo from Toyah Willcox, blasting out Sweet Child Of Mine. Mrs. Fripp proved herself a showbiz trouper of the highest order. After a fantastic version of The Temptations’ I Can’t Get Next To You, things descended into a self-indulgent Queen medley, but the evening had already been a triumph.

 Vampires Rock - Rockman Music Announcement
 Wednesday 7th January, 2009......................................................Theatre
Due to unforeseen circumstances and a heavy touring schedule, The Vampires Rock London tour dates have been reduced to 2 nights only.

The show was due to run from Sat 28th Feb – Friday 6th March 09 however, the ONLY dates the show will now play are Saturday 28th Feb and Sunday 1st March.

This means tickets are now limited and we suggest you purchase them ASAP to avoid disappointment.

Rockman Music and the cast of Vampires Rock are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you, and hope to return to London later in 2009 to play further dates. 

For more information or to book tickets, please call the Shaw Theatre box office on 0871 594 3123 or visit www.theshawtheatre.com 

 Review Of The Year - Toyah's 2008: Top Ten Moments
 Tuesday 6th January, 2009...................................................Toyah's Year
In a career of numerous exceptionally busy years... Toyah, my favourite workaholic, had, even by her own standards, a very busy 2008. Here are, what Dreamscape considers, the Top Ten Moments of the past hectic year:

1. In The Court Of The Crimson Queen - Album Of The Year
2. Good Morning Universe - The Very Best Of Toyah - 2CD Set
3. Sensational video
4. British International Motor Show concert at ExCeL & other gigs
5. Celebrity Mastermind
6. Rocky Horror Tribute Show DVD
7. Vampires Rock
8. The Great Walk to Beijing 2008
9. Target30 Quadrophenia Convention 2008
10. BBC Radio London - Guest Presenter/Gaydar Radio Interview

 Dreamscape: Still to come...
 Tuesday 6th January, 2009.......................................................Site News
Please stay tuned to Dreamscape. We have much more to come over the next week: Screen captures from Ready Steady Cook, Celebrity Mastermind, and Celebrity Brides Unveiled. Part Two of Review Of The Year - Toyah's 2008. Plus a rundown of what we know so far about Toyah's plans for the coming year.
 Review Of The Year - Toyah's 2008: Toyah50
 Monday 5th January, 2009....................................................Toyah's Year
Toyah's 50th birthday on May 18th was cause for celebration in early 2008. The Official website gave us a Gallery of rare and colourful Toyah photos, a digital jukebox of previously unheard Toyah tracks, a preview of the 'Sensational' video, news on a new 2CD compilation, and the Official Toyah Top 50. 

Minna's Interview Archive also added birthday updates. The Dreamscape forum was full of messages about, and for, Toyah and various other websites and publications mentioned the big day too.

In the run up to May 18th Dreamscape brought you lots of rare interviews, photographs, features and press ads.

Our Toyah50 section, with a rare photos gallery, comprehensive magazine covers feature, fan memories and much more, including a message from the birthday girl herself proved, hugely popular. Indeed Toyah's 50th birthday and the days after proved to be Dreamscape's most popular period to date. The site had over 5000 unique visitors in four days! Sensational!!

 Review Of The Year - Toyah's 2008: Part One
 Monday 5th January, 2009....................................................Toyah's Year
January 2008 got underway with the announcement it was going to be a year of celebration, with the build up to Toyah's 50th birthday in May... this month also saw the release of the first series of Secret Diary Of A Call Girl on DVD... Toyah's 2007 panto Jack & The Beanstalk finished its run in Reading... Toyah guested on BBC1's The Big Questions.

In February the 'Radio Times' published a small article on Toyah... 1982 and 1985 versions of Toyah popped up on reruns of The Kenny Everett Show on ParaComedy... she was interviewed by the 'Lincolnshire Echo'... and played a gig at the State Club in Lincolnshire... 

March saw Toyah play Butlins Skegness... she was interviewed by 'The Telegraph'... and rounded off the month with a PA at The Nightingale in Birmingham.

April was a busy month. The Press Association published a two-part article on Toyah... 'The Sun' reported on Toyah's forthcoming Living With The Dead appearance... she guested at Target30 Quadrophenia Convention in Brighton... various TV magazines ran mini articles on How Do You Sleep? the Tonight special Toyah presented on ITV1... numerous websites and newspapers and magazines also ran articles on this... Toyah was interviewed in the 'Daily Mail', 'Closer' magazine, the 'Mail on Sunday', 'The Sun' and 'Woman'... she was also interviewed by 'Holy Moly'... Toyah also took part in The Great Walk to Beijing 2008 during April.

May saw Toyah turn 50 (see seperate feature)... 'Here & Now - The Very Best of The 80s' 3CD released... Rockworld TV broadcast an edited version of Wild Essence... Toyah was interviewed by 'Digital Spy'... she opened the Natural Living Show in Northampton... Toyah guested at Living TV's Summer Launch... and appeared on Loose Women... she attended the Vivienne Westwood exhibition in Sheffield... the 'Southern Daily Echo' and 'Shropshire Star' both interviewed Toyah... and she guested on Britain's Got More Talent.

In June the tour dates for Vampires Rock were announced... she was interviewed by the 'Daily Mail', 'Bradford Telegraph', 'Birmingham Mail', and 'The Guardian'... she performed at the Roundhouse Rock And Roll Gala... featured in 'Now' magazine... she guested on Sky's Top 50 Showbiz Comebacks... two paintings of Toyah by Melissa Mailer-Yates went on display at the RockFace Exhibition at St Paul’s Gallery... and Toyah was interviewed on BBC Midlands Today at the exhibition... Living With The Dead was broadcast and various TV guides ran mini-articles on the programme... Toyah played at at the 'Wisley Music Festival', and 'Grassington Festival'... and 'Good Morning Universe - The Very Best Of Toyah' 2CD was released.

Throughout the year Quadrophenia, Jubilee, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Top Of The Pops 2, Celebrity Masterchef, Quatermass, Maigret, Brum, Kavanagh QC, Proud Parents, Shoestring, The Most Fertile Man In Ireland, TV Scrabble, Cherry Red, Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, In Your Dreams all aired and re-aired on various channels ensuring Toyah was a constant presence on TV screens in 2008.

 Eternal Spirit - Toyah Magazine Cover
 Sunday 4th January, 2009.......................................................Magazines
Toyah is the cover star of the, just recently published, Winter 2008 issue of 'Eternal Spirit' magazine. This is issue six of the Suffolk publication with the cover boasting "An interview with Toyah Willcox". Please click below to visit the Suffolk Spirit Guide website for details on how to buy the magazine.

 Wirral Globe - Exclusive: Toyah Willcox interview
 Sunday 4th January, 2009.......................................................Press Clips
The 'Wirral Globe' have a video interview with Toyah, from just before Christmas, at their website. I haven't been able to play it but this could be just a temporary technical glitch. Click below to visit the website.

 Vampires Rock - Newsy Bits & Pieces!
 Sunday 4th January, 2009............................................................Theatre
Vampires Rock 2008 tour sold 100,000 tickets.

• The Halloween DVD filmed at the Ipswich Regent Theatre featuring Toyah will be released at the end of January. Please keep an eye on vampiresrock.com for the release date.

• Tour dates for the Halloween 2009 shows have been added to the Vampires Rock website, with some already on sale.

• Toyah's first 2009 Vampires Rock appearance will be the rescheduled Worthing date, at Worthing Assembly Hall on February 1st.

 Anchoress - Region 2 DVD - Release Delayed (Again)
 Sunday 4th January, 2009..........................................................Releases
The region 2 DVD release of Anchoress has been put back again. It will now be available from 23rd March 2009. 

When a 14th century village girl (Natalie Morse) begins to see visions of the Virgin Mary, her religious beliefs set off a crisis in the town. The local priest (Christopher Eccleston) and an officer contend with the girl and her mother (Toyah Willcox) for power and authority.

 Toyah on TV
 Sunday 4th January, 2009........................................................Television
Celebrity Brides Unveiled : Wedding TV - Tue 13th January : 6.00pm
In this episode punk rock Princess Toyah Willcox talks about the heartbreak of her first love, while we quiz T Pau's Carol Decker on whether she had china on her wedding list! [Available on Sky 266 & Freesat 402]

Our Psychic Family : Biography Channel - Thu 22nd January : 8.30pm
Craig takes a trip to London to meet eighties pop icon, Toyah Willcox. Craig’s revelations of personal information shocks Toyah and she takes away some helpful relationship advice for her husband! 

 The Guardian - Christmas TV Ratings
 Sunday 4th January, 2009.......................................................Press Clips
The first episode of Celebrity Mastermind, hosted by John Humphrys and featuring public figures including singer Toyah Willcox and Hairy Biker Dave Myers, stormed the 6.30pm slot with 5.5 million viewers.

The BBC1 programme, the first in a series of five, took a 27% share of the 30-minute slot.

 Bowie Wonderland - Bowie on Mastermind Again
 Sunday 4th January, 2009............................................................Internet
BOWIE ON MASTERMIND AGAIN

Episode one of BBC quiz show Celebrity Mastermind yesterday saw singer and actress TOYAH WILLCOX choosing DAVID BOWIE 1967-77 as her specialised subject and her chosen charity was MacMillan Cancer Support.

The questions were pretty straightforward with Toyah managing to score 10 correctly with 3 passes.

If you missed the show, as I did, you can still watch it over at the BBC website via their iPlayer here

(Ed. For those of you who don't know - Toyah is married to former Bowie collaborator Robert Fripp).

 Happy New Year/Dreamscape News
 Thursday 1st January, 2009..............................................New Year's Day
It's 2009! Happy New Year! I thought I'd add a quick New Year's Day update regarding something I've been considering for a while. I've decided to "downsize" Dreamscape. The website will not be affected, though there may be some changes during 2009 (time for another redesign possibly), but I am closing the Forum and MySpace. I'm afraid these will disappear over the next few days.


[ SUPERFEATURE: 25 Years of The Changeling ]

[ SUPERFEATURE: Jubilee - Toyah is Mad! ]

[ SUPERFEATURE: Toyah's GLITTERing beginning! ]

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