Last
Goodbye: Cheers Then, Here's To
Old Friends...
10 March, 2012
On
this day, 10th March 2000, I
uploaded the very first version (yep, that
one there) of Dreamscape. I'd
sporadically worked on it for months
through 1999 and early 2000 so it was a
great day, finally putting it online full
of excitement and anticipation.
The
initial response was better than I could
ever have imagined. Within hours and over
the next few days, and weeks, I was
contacted by other Toyah fans who went on
to become great friends. Many of them
still are all these years later, and they
also remained brilliantly supportive of
the website.
I didn't even consider that
Dreamscape would last past 12 months, let
alone into its 13th year and in the
process become an integral part of the
online Toyah community. I think the
loyalty and amazing enthusiasm of many of
the site's visitors, especially in the
early days, helped drive me on. It was
also a time of learning new web design
skills so it was good to be able to put
them into practice here, and what better
subject could there be than the visual
magnificence of Toyah?
Nothing lasts forever and
it's with a heavy heart I'm saying
goodbye to Dreamscape, and to documenting
Toyah's every professional move (well...
almost every :)) It's been a privilege. A
last huge thank you to everyone who has
been a part of Dreamscape over the years,
and for all the messages this week (I'll
reply to each one), but most of all to
Toyah: For the music, the riot of colour
images and being a shining light in all
of our lives. A true inspiration. THANK
YOU!
PS. This is
all a bit po-faced and serious innit.
Bollocks to that! Have a stonking time at
'The Changeling Resurrection' gigs
everyone... Keep on Warrior
Raaawking!!!!!!!!
Phenomenal
People: Katharine Inspires Toyah
10 March, 2012
The
'Women of The World Festival 2012' is
currently taking place at the Southbank
Centre, London (9-11 March). The
excellent Phenomenal People
website, by 'Fuel Theatre', "A
celebration of inspiring women",
includes Toyah's tribute to, the
legendary, Katharine Hepburn.
KATHARINE HEPBURN, ACTRESS is an
inspiration for TOYAH WILLCOX:
In 1978, I co-starred in a TV film
The Corn is Green with the
Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn, who
was in her 70s. To begin with I
didnt know much about her history,
but as soon as I met her, her strength,
integrity and her power to share
experiences with those around her made me
realise this was a once in a life
time relationship. She was great!
She taught me to embrace life what ever
age you are.
The beautiful photo
the accompanies this article is a
little-used late 2004 shot by Dean
Stockings. Dean, Toyah's Official
photographer since the early 90s, has
taken numerous incredible photos of
Toyah, particularly over the last 10
years - imagery that rivals the iconic
classic 80s Toyah.
Who would be
YOUR choice of inspirational woman? Mine
would be Toyah (obviously) and my dear
much-missed mum, BUT I do think that
someone who is disgracefully under
celebrated is Yootha Joyce.
The woman is an absolute legend!
Toyah on TV:
My Vintage - This Tuesday at 8pm
10 March, 2012
The trailer for Toyah's My
Vintage has just started being shown
on 'Vintage TV', and has also been
uploaded to 'You Tube'. Watch it here.
The programme airs this Tuesday at 8pm.
My Vintage
: Vintage TV - Tuesday 13th March :
8.00pm Toyah Willcox. Toyah takes us
through a selection of her favourite
music videos, including David Bowie's
'Jean Genie' and Iggy Pop.
This looks really interesting. Toyah
says: "I'm going to play you some of
the songs I have fallen in love with over
the decades. This person has kept me sane
all of my life, and if ever I was to just
melt into a puddle of complete fandom it
would be for David Bowie... I used to
live in a warehouse in Battersea in the
late Seventies that I ran as a venue, and
Iggy Pop came to my warehouse one evening
and he didn't leave for about three
weeks!"
Also airing
on 'Vintage TV' on Tuesday: 10pm: God
Save The Punk | 11pm: New Wave Classics.
Vintage TV:
Pat Sharp's Top Ten @ Ten
10 March, 2012
Toyah features in the
'Vintage TV' trailer for Pat Sharp's
Top Ten @ Ten. This is currently
airing on the music channel and has also
just been added to 'You Tube' here.
Click below for larger caps.
Vintage TV is
delighted to announce its first new
series of 2012. Twice-weekly from 13th
February, Pat Sharp's Top Ten @ Ten
will air on Mondays and Wednesdays at
10.00am, repeated at 10.00pm*. With all
the energy and enthusiasm of his Fun
House days, Pat Sharp returns to
television to do what he loves best: talk
about music. *Wednesday's episode will
also repeat on Saturday morning at
10.00am.
Dreamscape
Songwords: Dreamscape
09 March, 2012
It's the final songwords and
as I'm ridiculously predictable, of
course, it has to be this. Without this
song this site could possibly have been
called "Toyahland" or something
equally as lame... it's the mighty
'Dreamscape' from 1983's 'Love Is The
Law'. Please click below to view a larger
version.
Thank You!
Thank You! Thank You!
09 March, 2012
Thanks to Paul Stephens of Sugar Rush:
The Humans Fansite
for the excellent Dreamscape birthday
clip, and to Andrew York for his lovely Changeling
card (with Toyah's wonderful text from
the album booklet). View the clip and a
larger version of the card by clicking on
each below.
It's the
penultimate update and I just want to say
a massive thank you to every single
person who has sent news, photos, scans
and info for Dreamscape over the past 12
years. Without everyone's contributions
this site would have been a far poorer
place. The 12 Year News Archive and
Gallery contain content from hundreds, if
not thousands, of Toyah fans and readers
of the site and it's due to this huge
collective effort I'm going to endeavour
to keep this site online (albeit slightly
redesigned as an "Archive") as
an info/image resource/reference/guide to
Toyah (delete as applicable lol!).
I must just say a
big thanks to Paul Lomas who was an
invaluable help when I was first putting
together Dreamscape back in 1999, and
continued his support throughout; John
Wain for wonderful Toyah times and unique
memories; Lärwi for being a brilliant
friend, always with positive feedback for
the site; Alec Kelly for his amazing
support of Dreamscape; Michael Cooney for
his undying encouragement; Craig &
Alan for acknowledging Toyah.Net on 'GMU:
The Very Best of' compilation (such a
thrill for a mere fansite), and to those
who I've been in touch with right from
the beginning: Andi Westhorpe, Paul
Cable, Mark Taylor, Andrew York, Gavin
Brick, Paul Johnson. Okay, this is
starting to feel like This Is Your
Life... Just a huge TY to
EVERYONE!
Toyah
Newsy Bits & Pieces!
09 March, 2012
It's the last ever "Toyah Newsy Bits
& Pieces!". If you're ever at a
loose end, feeling bored or laid up in
bed there are over a decade of them at
Dreamscape's News
Archive :)
Here's to future days:
There is so much for Toyah fans to look
forward to this year, and beyond: The
Changeling Resurrection Tour, the third
album by The Humans, guesting on My
Vintage, The Power Of Three
on DVD, a new Toyah-penned horror
novel/film (possibly), more new music,
gigs, images...
Warm Invention
name Toyah as one of their "Fearless
Females of New Wave". Amen to that.
She rubs shoulders with Siouxsie. Debbie
Harry, Poly Styrene, Hazel O'Connor,
Alison Moyet, Grace Jones and Annabella
Lwin. View here.
The excellent 'Remember The
Eighties', which published four great
Toyah interviews between 1998 and 2011,
should be returning soon with a new
website. Keep an eye on their progress here.
Race Through
Cyberspace
09 March, 2012
Although this site ceases to
be an active news service as of tomorrow
there are a multitude of other websites,
blogs and social networks to keep you
updated on all things Toyah and The
Humans.
An 80s music revival night at Glasgow
Green in July will include Rick Astley,
Paul Young, Toyah Willcox and T'Pau. A
reader recalls a similar event some years
ago when red-haired Toyah bounded on
stage in glittery thigh-length boots and
shouted: "Glasgow! I've come for
your men!"
A woman in the audience shouted back:
"Take them."
Dreamscape:
Versions Two & Three
08 March, 2012
A look back at two previous
versions of the site: Two (2001 - 2006)
and Three (2006 - 2010).
Good Morning
Universe: Drury Lane 1981
08 March, 2012
Lärwi, of The Toyah
Willcox Interview Archive
has uploaded the full VHS version of Good
Morning Universe: Live At Drury Lane.
Watch this excellent gig at 'You Tube' by
clicking below.
Dreamscape:
It's The Great Escape!
08 March, 2012
A look back at a small
selection of the bits and pieces I've put
together for Dreamscape over the years,
interspersed with some classic Toyah
photos. Self celebrating isn't good but
nobody else is going to do it :)
Seriously though, it's more a celebration
of Toyah's awesome imagery... set to the
sounds of 'Dreamscape'. First heard 29
years ago and still sounding completely
magnificent.
Rare Photos:
Toyah 1979
08 March, 2012
Rare photos of Toyah from a
1979 session. Click below to view the
original contact sheet. (Thanks to Andi
for these and for his huge contribution
to this site over the last 12 years -
Most of the rare photos, polaroids,
outtakes, video clips etc., that are now
spread over the internet for fans to
enjoy, were available here first due to
him taking the time to contact
photographers who worked with Toyah, and
tirelessly research Toyah's late
70's/early 80s photo archive - Thanks
again Andi)
Toyah Live
2012: Here & Now Glasgow
07 March, 2012
A
new 'Here and Now' date has just been
announced for this July in Glasgow. This
will be the first 'H&N' show for
Toyah in the city since her first at
Glasgow Armadillo (SECC) back in April
2002.
HERE AND
NOW IS COMING TO GLASGOW 2012: The
Biggest Party On The Green This Summer
Rick Astley, Belinda
Carlisle, The Real Thing, Paul Young,
Curiosoity Killed The Cat, Toyah and
T'Pau.
Saturday 21st July 2012, Glasgow Green,
Scotland
As a special offer to Here And Now
Members you can purchase tickets for 48
hours until midnight 8th March for £30.
Click here to
purchase www.ckevents.net. Tickets after
advance purchase period www.ticketline.co.uk.
Toyah Doll:
Brave New World/Warrior Rock
07 March, 2012
It's the 'Brave New World'
Toyah doll, in a very familiar setting. A
great re-creation of the reverse Roger
Charity photo from the BNW single sleeve.
Yet again the attention to detail is
fantastic. Please click below to view a
larger version. This has also been added
to The
Changeling 30
website. (A huge thank you to Andi for
sharing his creativity on Dreamscape)
BCAB:
Herding Cats: Pearl
07 March, 2012
Toyah
contributes vocals/narration (not sure
which) to the track 'Pearl' on Guide Cats
For The Blind Volume 5 'Herding Cats'.
The fifth CD released in aid of BCAB.
Toyah Willcox Pearl A story of unrequited love. Ive
always found unrequited love to be much
less expensive in the long term.
The British Computer Association of the
Blind (BCAB) is a lively group of blind
and partially sighted computer users. We
offer training, discussion, networking
and help to all our members.
Established in 1969 we're the oldest
computer association for blind and
partially sighted people in the world.
Our membership includes people of all
skill levels, interests and abilities.
Find out more about BCAB.
Guide Cats rock! We're delighted to
announce that our acclaimed series of
Guide Cats CDs has now raised more than
£50,000 for our EyeT4All project!
View more info on the CD, and BCAB
in general, here.
(Thanks to Michael)
Behind
The Sofa: News Reports
07 March, 2012
News
of the Doctor Who charity book
'Behind The Sofa' has spread like
wildfire over the last few days.
A retro Toyah article, from
'Diana Annual' 1983. Click below to view
a larger version.
A Life On
Shuffle: Toyah & The
Invisible Car
07 March, 2012
Tuesday
28 February 2012 First
song of the day is, Thunder in the
Mountains (Take the Leap! version)
by Toyah. Ive been a fan ever since
I first heard the Sheep Farming EP.
People whove read my diary
Kia Ora Mr Shakespeare about
my time touring two Shakespeare plays in
New Zealand know how important songs from
Toyah were while I was there. (Kia Ora is
due out on Kindle soon).
I walk down to the sandwich shop and
purchase a bacon and egg sandwich, and as
I walk back another Toyah track shuffles
to the fore; this time, Wife
from the excellent imaginative,
Prostitute album.
Read the full post, at the 'A Life
On Shuffle' blog, here.
Modern
Drummer: Back Through The Stack
07 March, 2012
A
1986 interview with Simon Phillips, from
'Modern Drummer' magazine, has been made
available online at their website. This
includes Simon reminiscing about how he
joined Toyah and ended up touring with
the band.
Back Through The Stack
Simon Phillips, December 1986
The first thing that comes to mind when
setting out to write an introduction
about Simon Phillips is that, to readers
of Modern Drummer, he needs no
introduction. He was first featured in
the magazine in June 1981. Since then,
his name has appeared regularly in the
news and information sections, as well as
among the poll winners. There is also the
fact that many members of the
international drumming community have
seen Simons brilliant clinics.
There are many superb English drummers
around, but if you had to choose one who
is indisputably accepted among his peers
as being one of a special handful of
players who are currently the finest and
most influential in the world, it would
definitely be Simon Phillips.
Read the interview, at the 'Modern
Drummer' website, here.
Dreamscape:
Toyah Odds & Ends!
06 March, 2012
A few, mostly Eighties
inspired, Toyah bits and pieces I thought
you might like to see. The screen caps
are from Razzmatazz, 1982. Click
on each below to view larger versions.
Angels &
Demons: Forthcoming Documentary
06 March, 2012
Calling
all Angels & Demons... 1983
was a very special year for us Toyah
fans. Toyah was starring in Trafford
Tanzi at The Mermaid Theatre and a group
of young fans calling themselves the
Angels and Demons were lucky enough to
have one of the best summers of their
lives.
Some of us even got the chance to sing
backing tracks on Love is the Law, were
you were one of those chosen ones?
I was an Angel and Demon and I am now a
TV Producer planning to make a film about
that special summer. I am trying to track
down and speak to all my fellow Angels
and Demons. Please email: angelsanddemons83@gmail.com
Official
Toyah: New Toyah Goodies
05 March, 2012
New goodies from the
Official Toyah website: Another
'Changeling Resurrection' promo, a
preview of the new tour t-shirt and a
live version of 'Latex Messiah',
officially recorded on last year's 'From
Sheep Farming To Anthem' tour at
Manchester Academy. There will be a new
live track each month on the Official
Gigs page. Click on each photo below...
Official
Toyah: March 2012 Blog:
Changeling
05 March, 2012
Toyahs March 2012 blog
has been added to The Official Toyah
website. As always, it's a great read,
with Toyah talking about 'The Changeling
and 'The Changeling Resurrection', The
Humans' third album, her first script, The
Power Of Three and more. Read it by
clicking below..
Toyah
Newsy Bits & Pieces!
05 March, 2012
'Like Punk Never Happened: Smash Hits
Archive', the blog that is mirroring the
publication of the original 'Smash Hits'
30 years on, has just added the March 4 -
17 1982 issue. This includes the back
page advert for the following issue's
free poster featuring a great shot of
Toyah, and The Human League on the other
side. I remember buying this and it
doesn't feel like 30 years ago!!! View
LPNH here.
Legendary (slightly OTT I admit
but he did write 'Human Nature/The Family
of Blood') Doctor Who writer
Paul Cornell was tweeting
about Toyah yesterday: "Really
loving DEMON KNIGHTS! Add a Toyah
Willcox-type character and it will be
perfect! ;)" (Thanks to James
Armstrong)
(The above gives me
a final excuse to ask the age-old
question, no not Doctor Who? but... When
oh when oh when oh when will Toyah be in Doctor
Who...?)
'The Moose Harris Micro Blog' has
recently added a short, but perfectly
formed, post on Phil Spalding. View here.
A splendid shot of the original
BBC VHS release of 'At The Rainbow' can
be viewed, at 'Video Collector', here.
Toyah plays 'Lets Rock The Moor!'
in Berkshire on Saturday 12th May. Check
out the official website here.
Behind
The Sofa: Further Information
05 March, 2012
More
info on the limited edition 'Behind The
Sofa' book Toyah has contributed to.
The book can be pre-ordered for £14.99
and is also available as a PDF ebook
priced £4.99. There are also a number of
special edition packs named after Who
monsters.
Fans who buy the Ogron package, at
£19.99, will have heir names added to
the list of donors in the book, while the
Slitheen package, priced £39.99, also
includes a signed print of one of ten
illustrations by artist Ben Morris, a
contributor to Doctor Who Magazine and
Doctor Who Adventures.
For £199.99, companies can purchase the
Zygon package which will see their logo
or a sponsors message appear in the
book, while the most committed (and
wealthiest) Doctor Who fans can indulge
in the Morbius package which, for
£999.99, allows them to write their own
300-word memory of the show for inclusion
in Behind the Sofa (when I last looked
the Morbius option had sold out).
Compiled by author Steve Berry to raise
money for Alzheimers Research UK,
and featuring original illustrations to
accompany the stars Who memories, a
full run of the book is due in shops in
September.
The
Old Grey Whistle Test: Toyah
04 March, 2012
On this day 32 years ago
Toyah appeared on The Old Grey
Whistle Test on BBC2. The band
performed 'Danced' and 'Indecision'.
Eight minutes of excellence, as you can
see by viewing below.
The
Changeling 30: Now Online
04 March, 2012
A little earlier than
expected 'The Changeling 30' website went
live on 1st March. Thanks to those of you
who responded positively and also to
Toyah's Official Facebook for posting a
link to it. In just a few days the site
has been visited thousands of times. I'm
thrilled simply because it is such an
incredible album and deserves to be
celebrated. (Thanks to Andrew York for
the, and I rarely use this word, stunning
Changeling imagery below. View a
wallpaper version of it here)
Check it
out: Gallery, with approximately
120 photos; Complete Songwords; The
Changeling on TV: Many of Toyah's key TV
appearances related to 'The Changeling';
Toyah on 'The Changeling'; Fans talk 'The
Changeling'; Press; Press Adverts; Screen
Shots; Fan Art; 25th Anniversary Feature;
Fan's talk 'Brave New World'; Tours; Fan
Magazine; Radio One 'Rock On' Changeling
Special; Warrior Rock; Booklet
Poetry/Text; Dreamscape Adverts... It's
fairly comprehensive!
Toyah
Newsy Bits & Pieces!
04 March, 2012
Welcome to
our final week of updates. I'm going to
attempt to post something every day up
until the 10th March (Saturday!). Thanks
to everyone who has emailed regarding the
end of Dreamscape (yes, even the person
who says I'm being "disloyal"
lol - all communication is good).
A huge thank you to Andrew York,
who has been amazing throughout
Dreamscape's 12 years but especially so
lately, for this great tribute to the
site. Please click on this to view a
larger version.
The new series of Pointless
Celebrities has started airing on
Saturday evenings on BBC1 (though not
next weekend due to rugby). Toyah
recently filmed an edition of this, so
she should be appearing soon.
Great footage of Toyah, Christmas
Eve 1981. One of my favourite gigs and
Toyah memories from a mindbogglingly
brilliantly ecelectic and amazing career.
'War Boys' and 'Victims Of The Riddle'
live from the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
on The Old Grey Whistle Test.
Click here or
below to view, and here
for larger versions of the screen caps.
(Thanks to Andi for this brilliant
footage)
The
Changeling Resurrection 2012: New
Date
04 March, 2012
Another
variant of the official imagery for 'The
Changeling Resurrection 2012' UK Tour was
made available at Toyah's Official
Facebook earlier this week.
There is also a seventh date of the tour
now confirmed, at Rhodes Arts Complex,
Bishops Stortford on Saturday 5th May.
Toyah also takes 'The Changeling
Resurrection' to Brighton, Bristol,
Glasgow, London, Wolverhampton and
Manchester through April.
This newest date isn't listed at Toyah's
Official Gigs
page yet but it is confirmed at Toyah's
Official Facebook. View the event page here.
Book
tickets for this latest addition, at
'Ticket Web', here.
(Thanks to Lärwi for the link).
Visit the Official
Toyah Gigs page here.
View a larger version of the new
poster/flyer here.
Louder
Than War: Derek Jarman's
'Jubilee'
04 March, 2012
Another
interesting new evaluation of Jubilee.
This one from 'Louder Than War'.
DEREK JARMANS JUBILEE
- PRETENIOUS ART-HOUSE OR
PORTENTOUS KITCHEN-SINK?
2012 sees Great Britain celebrating Queen
Elizabeth IIs Diamond Jubilee
sixty years since her ascension to
the throne and as the ruler of our fair
and sceptred isle. Thirty-five years ago,
a young film director Derek Jarman, was
putting pen to paper and writing the
script for an inspired piece of cinematic
and cultural punk history
Jubilee. The film was to
represent a dark and nostalgically
contemporary document of, at the time, a
near future in the hands of anarcho-punks
on the street and corporate giants holed
up in their mansions. In 1977 the
year punk broke and the year Her
Majestys Silver Jubilee was in full
swing Jarman, having been
influenced and inspired by the sight of
Jordan (the SEX shop assistant) cast her
and a number of up and coming punk
wannabes Adam Ant, Toyah Willcox,
Gene October along with a few
bands supplying a soundtrack, as
characters and cameo roles in this new
film.
Read the full article, at the
'Louder Than War' website, here.
Behind
The Sofa: New Book
04 March, 2012
Toyah contributes a
recollection about Doctor Who in
a new book, 'Behind The Sofa'.
This collection of over one hundred
celebrity memories of Doctor Who has been
compiled by author Steve Berry in aid of
Alzheimer's Research UK and is
beautifully illustrated by Ben Morris.
100% of the profits from the sale of this
book go to charity.
This is a hardcover book, with 200 pages.
Strictly limited to 300 orders. Also
available as a PDF version which can be
purchased separately as an eBook.
Pre-order a book, or view further
information on this, here.
Sadly the, bleepin excellent, 'Behind The
Sofa' blog has now closed but the site is
still available to visit here.
Vintage TV:
March Newsletter
04 March, 2012
The 'Vintage TV'
March Newsletter has been mailed out and,
once again, includes a photo of Toyah
with news of another upcoming appearance
for her on the channel.
My Vintage Gets More Varied:
My, have we been lucky this month with
guests. Weve welcomed a
choreographer, a radio DJ, a punk
princess, an actor and a producer to
present us with their top video picks and
tell stories of their fascinating lives
in the entertainment industry. Vintage TV
is proud to present to you five of our
greatest My Vintages to date: Arlene
Phillips, Janice Long, Toyah Willcox,
Robert Powell and Mike Hurst.
Theyre utterly unmissable.
Toyah
on TV: Toyah @ The Movies +
04 March, 2012
The Corn is Green :
True Movies 1 - Monday 5th March: 1.00pm
The Corn is Green : True Movies 1 -
Monday 5th March : 9.00pm
Period drama starring Katharine Hepburn
as a spinster teacher in a Welsh mining
town who grooms her star pupil for
Oxford. With Ian Saynor, Bill Fraser,
Patricia Hayes, Anna Massey, Artro
Morris, Dorothea Phillips, Toyah Willcox,
Huw Richards, Bryn Fon, Dyfan Roberts and
Robin John. Directed by: George Cukor.
(PG) (1979)
True Movies is
available on Sky (Channel 321), Freesat
(Channel 302), Virgin Media (Channel
424), UPC Ireland (Channel 328). View a
collection of The Corn Is Green
screen caps here.
My Vintage
: Vintage TV - Tuesday 13th March :
8.00pm Toyah Willcox. Toyah takes us
through a selection of her favourite
music videos, including David Bowie's
'Jean Genie' and Iggy Pop.
Quadrophenia
: ITV1 - Thu 15th March: 2.30am
Quadrophenia : ITV1 +1 - Thu 15th March:
3.30am
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. Also airing on ITV1 HD.
The Most
Fertile Man In Ireland : Sky Movies Indie
- Saturday 17th March: 3.45am
Satirical comedy with Kris Marshall,
Kathy Keira Clarke, Bronagh Gallagher,
James Nesbitt, Kenneth Cranham, Olivia
Nash, Pauline McLynn, Tara Lynne O'Neill,
Toyah Willcox, Harry Towb, Marc O'Shea
and Paddy McCarney. Also airing on Sky
Movies Indie HD.