Huge thanks to Giddy Gavin for these pictures.

Huge thanks to Giddy Gavin for these pictures.

An Audience With Toyah Willcox is exceptional, inspiring, funny,and full of the usual energy & magic that Toyah brings to the stage.

That stage, on Sunday night, was set with a comfy armchair to the left and a rack of old stage clothes to the right. Throughout there were projections of photos (many of which rarely seen previously, including on-location shots of the making of the 'Brave New World' video and shots taken for the new DVD cover!) and videos were also shown.

Toyah recounted stories relating to the images, covering many of the topics familiar to readers of her 2000 autobiography 'Living Out Loud', but also told several stories that were new to most ears. She interspersed these with a total of eight songs, sung live to a newly-recorded backing track.

An Audience With Toyah, Lochgelly Centre, Fife: Sunday 25th September 2005 - Set-List:

Good Morning Universe
Thunder in the Mountians
Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard)
Because the Night
Its A Mystery
Sweet Child of Mine
River Deep Mountain High
I Want To Be Free

The reception was very warm and enthusiastic to say the least, and althought the crowd was not huge it was certainly vocal and the vibe in the room was amazing. Toyah was genuinely touched and surprised by the reception, explaining that it was the first time she had done this type of "show". Indeed, she over-ran by over 20 minutes for part one. After a 15 minute interval Toyah returned to the stage for a very interesting "Question & Answer" session, covering a wide variety of topics which she responded to admirably and fully.

There was then a signing session. Books, CDs, autographed cards, flyers etc were available for purchase & at least 90% of the crowd surged to the front to lap it up. Toyah spent quality time with everyone, posing for photographs and was very natural and friendly with all.

All in all it was a really entertaining, special evening.

Huge thanks to Giddy Gavin for the great review. Thanks also to Alec Kelly & Geoff Owenson.

Don't forget that An Audience With Toyah Willcox is scheduled to visit Finchley Arts Depot, Barnet, London (Sunday 16th October) and Stamford Arts Centre, Lincolnshire (Sunday 6th November). Certainly not to be missed if atall possible!

The website also has a brief review of 'The Safari Records Singles Collection - Part One' CD:

Toyah - The Safari Records Singles Collection Part 1: 1979-81 (Cherry Red Records)
Toyah Ann Willcox has certainly had a varied musical career - from punk to pop to prog to dance/trance and many points between. The 19 song disc opens with the very experimental "Victims Of The Riddle" featuring Toyah's rubber band vocals over some fairly bizarre synth work. It sets the stage for Toyah's career - music that's fascinating but far from comfortable. Odd, creepy, moving, funny, but almost never soothing. "IEYA" is a short horror movie of sound. "Fear the beast!" she sings. Indeed. "War Boys" kicks major colon with a driving bass/drum riff. So does "Tribal Look." For 2 short years, you can see the growth track to track in terms of writing & vocals. Raw enthusiasm gains polish & focus quickly.

If Safari was known for 1 thing, it was the crappiness of their pressings. This Cherry Red CD brings a new life and depth to the material. I never knew "The Helium Song" could sound this fine! The booklet has repros of all the singles sleeves, a discography, and well researched notes with vital input from Toyah herself. Can't wait for part 2!

Please click on the image to read the first part of this interview.

More pictures can be viewed by zooming over to: www.carolinephotos.com/events/050908_jeans

• Plus another from last Sunday's Avenue Of Stars, in which Toyah was an audience guest.

• Toyah was pictured in this week's 'OK!' magazine. The pic is taken from the aformentioned 'Jeans For Genes' fashion event.

• Here's an extract from Friday's 'The Times' - Opinion, by Jane Shilling:

Imagine gaining a new face that was once someone else's

... Meanwhile the papers are full of narratives by women of a certain age (of whom Toyah Willcox was recently one of the most eloquent) explaining how their facial surgery has restored to them the “real” selves that their saggy jowls and crow’s-feet had been cruelly eroding — as though one’s character, like one’s looks, began inexorably to deteriorate after the age of 30. 

Still, if Toyah and Fay Weldon and Anne Robinson and the rest of them feel a restored sense of identity after their face-lifts, imagine the effects of this donor surgery. Despite its Hollywood chiller overtones, the donor “face” is actually a layer of epidermis, fat and nerves, to be draped over the patient’s own bone structure and musculature. 

If the surgery works, presumably there will come a day when the recipients look in the glass to see reflected something like the face they had before the interruption of disfigurement. At which point they’ll be able to resume worrying, like the rest of us, about the widening gap that age creates between the person we look like, and the person we feel we are. 

[Source: Times Online - Friday 23rd September 2005]

The Most Fertile Man In Ireland : Sky Movies 7 - Friday 30th September : 00.20am
The Most Fertile Man In Ireland : Sky Movies 9 - Monday 3rd October : 03.15am
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. 

What Women Really Want : UKTV Style - Wednesday 5th October : 00.00am
What Women Really Want : UKTV Style Plus 1 - Wednesday 5th October : 01.00am
What Women Really Want : UKTV Style - Friday 7th October : 00.00
What Women Really Want : UKTV Style Plus 1 - Friday 7th October : 01.00am

Punk star Toyah wows crowd

Legend's soft spot for area
Brummie-born punk princess Toyah Willcox thrilled fans at Wolverhampton's Robin 2 club with a storming set last night.

Toyah blended some of her greatest hits, including It's A Mystery, with some of her favourite rock anthems to the delight of a packed out crowd.

And 80s legend Toyah, 47, revealed she has a real soft spot for Black Country audiences.

Speaking before the gig Toyah, who hasd played the city three times, praised local rock fans, saying they were some of the best she'd played in front of in her 30 years of touring. She said: "You get really great crowds here. Wolverhampton has really passionate fans who get involved and are great to play to."

Last night's concert was filmed for a new DVD which will be in the shops for Christmas. It means people attending the concert will be able to buy a permanent momento of the night, together with behind the scenes footage and interviews.

Toyah returns to thrill her loyal fans in city

Crowd is in raptures as princess of punk sings
Punk princess Toyah returned to her roots last night with a gig in Wolverhampton, Mark Douglas spoke to her

Brummie punk star Toyah stromed into Wolverhampton last night and revealed why the West Midlands holds a special place in her heart.

Toyah played a riotous set at Bilston's Robin 2 club as part of her sell-out UK tour, and said she loved the passionate crowds she draws in this area.

Passionate
Speaking before the packed out gig Toyah, who has played the city three times, said: "You get really great crowds here. Wolverhampton has really passionate fans who get involved and are great to play to. I played this venue six or eight years ago and I always remember it being a good gig because the audience can really get involved with you."

Backed up by a six-piece band, including a brass section, Toyah belted out a selection of hits from three decades to fans last night.

Toyah played the Civic Centre last year, and said it was great to return to the West Midlands. The flaxen-haired rock star said: "I love heraing the accent. Wherever you go in the world you can always tell when there is a Brummie around and I absolutely love it."

Filming
Toyah spent all of yesterday filming a new live DVD at Robin 2, with interviews, live footage and behind-the-scenes extras all being filmed by a camera crew.

The Robin 2 gig was a bit of a shift of gear for Toyah, who has been selling out huge 20,000 venues as part of the 80s nostalgia Here And Now tour.

She said: "I think I like bigger venues because there is no feeling like going out in front of 20,000 people and performing.

"But this place looks fantastic and they have done a great job of refurbishing it."

This year has been a busy time for Toyah as she has re-released all of her back catalogue of punk classics. And she is still busy as a TV presenter and actress, which has seen her star on everything from popular travel show Holiday to Songs Of Praise.

Huge thanks to David Gilchrist for both articles.

Thanks to Merx, Alec Kelly & David Gilchrist.

Thanks to Gary Hamilton for the screen captures.

Stars past and present immortalised in the British equivalent of the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

The Avenue of The Stars will be a permanent walkway in London's Covent Garden, which organisers hope will become a major tourist attraction. The opening of the celebrity strip was marked by a three hour live ITV1 show, which included performances from many of the 100 celebrities who have a place on the walkway. 

The first 100 stars have been chosen for their impact in the world of entertainment in the last 50 years. They include household names from the world of film, comedy, music and TV. 

The stars - some being awarded posthumously - must have been born in the UK or Commonwealth for their names to be emblazoned on the walkway in a silver star. 

In addition to having their names set permanently in the walkway, celebrities are each being presented with replica stars. Among those to be posthumously honoured are comedian Les Dawson and actor John Thaw. 

Thanks to Andi Westhorpe for the picture.

An advert for Toyah's very first 'An Audience With...' appearance, at The Lochgelly Centre in Fife, next Sunday evening.

"A chance to meet Toyah and hear her inspirational, funny and unorthodox life story - including the revelations about her recent facelift, now the subject of her major bestselling book "The Diary Of A Facelift". Also includes live singing.

Tickets £10.00. Performance commences 8.00pm

HOW TO BOOK: In Person: Tickets are available from the centre Box Office within Lochgelly Centre: Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 9.30pm :: Sat/Sun 9am - 4.30pm. By Phone: Tickets reserved for 48hrs by phone or purchased using a credit or debit card. By Post: Cheques should be made payable to Fife Council and must accompany order. Special Discounts: Discounts of 10% are available to parties of 10 or more. By Email: info@tlc-fife.com.

The Lochgelly Centre,
Centrebank Street,
Lochgelly,
Fife KY5 9RD
Tel: 01592 418141

The Robin 2, Wolverhampton: Friday 16th September 2005 - Set-List: 

Echo Beach
Obsolete
Race Through Space
Neon Womb
Little Tears Of Love
Thunder In The Mountains
Jungles Of Jupiter
Our Movie
It's A Mystery
Danced
I Explode
Sweet Child Of Mine
She Sells Sanctuary
Ieya

Encore
Till Victory
I Want To Be Free

Encore II
Neon Womb

Please visit the Dreamscape Forum for lots more info, chat, gossip and pictures from this gig. 
Huge thanks to Richard Smith for the picture.

Huge thanks to Merx for the poster :o)

Pipers Nightclub, Folkestone: Wednesday 14th September 2005 - Set-List: 

Echo Beach
Obsolete
Race Through Space
Neon Womb
Little Tears Of Love
Thunder In The Mountains
Jungles Of Jupiter
Our Movie
It's A Mystery
Danced
I Explode
Sweet Child Of Mine
She Sells Sanctuary
Ieya

Encore
Till Victory
I Want To Be Free

Please visit the Dreamscape Forum for lots more info, opinons, chat, and gossip from this gig. 
Huge thanks to Chris Limb for the use of the picture [ please visit www.toyah.org ] and to Merx for the set-list.

Along with a host of other celebs, including Dermot O'Leary, Michelle Collins, Martin Clunes, Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen (who appears on the book's cover with huge hair), and Ricky Gervais, Toyah had her hair all messed up, and gave us a very grungy look, for the article, which is taken from a new ChildLine book.

"It's A Mystery Toyah still has any hair left after all the bad dos and dye-jobs she had in the Eighties"

Bad Hair Day by Nicky Johnston and Gavan Naden in association with ChildLine, Robson Books, is available at News Of The World Books for £4.74 9RRP £4.99). To order a copy call 0870 167 8787.

Excitement is building as we have now got the news that Milton Keynes theatre are staging Snow White. Diane and I met the cast and within minutes the chemistry between them was obvious with a warm comradeship. They are all very striking and although we had brief conversations with most of them, our star, was our local hero Big George. 

The interviews took place in the Theatre and we were moved on for a photo shoot at the Snowdome, xscape. Steve Wilson, the Events coordinator arranges for us to photograph the stars in the middle of the snow. We also chit chatted with the stars once more and I found out a beauty secret from Toyah, her complexion has been beautifully enhanced by surgery in Paris and she looks amazing. This years Pantomime is going to be a real winner, and if you have not booked as yet, don't leave it too late.

BBC Beds Herts & Bucks: Big George's Panto Diary
Follow Bucks Breakfast's Big George through his first panto experience. This week - it's the press launch for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Milton Keynes Theatre.

Hi diddly dee, an actor's life for me!Well, not really, but this Christmas I will be appearing on stage at the Milton Keynes Theatre in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Tickets are selling fast (33 per cent up on last year) so don’t say you didn’t have the chance to come and throw rotten tomatoes!

It stars Suzanne Shaw as Snow White, Toyah Willcox as the Wicked Queen, Richard O’Brien as her Henchman and Warwick Davis as Prof, the lead Dwarf. And what am I? The romantic lead? 3rd Tree on the left? I’ll let you know when rehearsals begin in November. Although after Toby [Friedner's] success in Aladdin two years ago, whatever I play, it’ll be a tough act to follow!

[ Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties - 7th September 2005]

Serious About News: Snow White Line-Up Announced
The final line up for this years panto at the MK Theatre has been announced - Oh yes it has.

The production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will feature former Hear'Say singer Suzanne Shaw in the lead role.Promising to get Milton Keynes audiences dancing the Time Warp in the aisles, will be Richard O'Brien as the Wicked Queen's henchman. 

Polishing up her poisoned apple in preparation, Toyah Willcox will be returning to one of her favourite pantomime roles as the Wicked Queen. Of course steering Snow White away from danger in the forest will be the seven loveable dwarfs including film star, Warwick Davies. Will handsome Prince Charming, Duncan Breeze, make it in time to rescue Snow White from the Wicked Queen?

With glittering costumes, fantastic new sets and side-splitting comedy, this is the perfect winter warmer for Christmas 2005 through to New Year celebrations of 2006. Tickets are already on sale so book yours now on 0870 060 6652!

[ Source: www.seriousaboutnews.co.uk - September 2005]

• Also on Saturday night, on Channel 4, a retro Toyah clip from The Roland Rat Show, from 1985 ("My name's Toyah, not Soya!"), was shown on Zippy And George's Puppet Legends. Yep! That's a screen cap from the original airing of the show over there <<<

• Toyah was pictured in last week's 'OK!' magazine. I think this was from the 'Jeans For Genes' Fashion Event. Not sure as I haven't saw it!!

• Please don't forget to vote for Dreamscape in the 'BT Digital Music Awards 2005'. You can access the voting page via the banner at the top of this page - Thanks!

What Women Really Want : UKTV Style - Thursday 29th September : 1.30am
Money. It's grumpy old men with heels on! Er no, it's feisty high-profile women of all ages giving forth on everything from sex and singledom to plastic surgery and pregnancy. Today's hot topic is money - find out what Toyah Willcox, Jenny Eclair, Nadia Almada and other celebs have to say about loot. Narrated by Ulrika Jonsson.

The Most Fertile Man In Ireland : Sky Movies 7 - Friday 30th September : 00.20am
The Most Fertile Man In Ireland : Sky Movies 9 - Monday 3rd October : 03.15am
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. 

The HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER, and rarely glimpsed reissue cover for 'Nine To Five', the single Toyah, Adam Ant, and various others released in 1978 under the guise of The Maneaters.

The song, of course, originated from Derek Jarman's 1977 "punk" "epic" Jubilee, in which Toyah played 'Mad', and Adam 'Kid'.

This version, released, I think, sometime in 1982, tried to exploit Toyah and Adam's respective amazing 1981 successes by emblazoning the sleeve with their names and up-to-date images.

The panto, at the Milton Keynes Theatre, runs from Friday 9th December 2005 to Sunday 22nd January 2006, and as well as being a classic story with a huge budget, (over a million pounds) they have also obtained the rights to use all the Disney songs. So it will be really unmissable!

Starring Richard O'Brien (Rocky Horror & Crystal Maze), Suzanne Shaw (Hear'Say), Toyah Willcox, Warrick Davies (Harry Potter) and Duncan Breeze (A Night at the Musicals). 

This dazzling all-new pantomime is set to transform Milton Keynes as this magical fairytale melts your heart when the beautiful Snow White meets her Prince Charming. With glittering costumes, fantastic sets, side–splitting comedy and lots lots more this is the perfect winter warmer for Christmas 2005 through to the New Year’s celebrations of 2006. 

Box Office: 0870 060 6652

Please click on the image to visit the Milton Keynes Theatre website for further info, dates and times.

Milton Keynes Panto Interviews
Toyah Willcox

Perhaps Christmas is the last thing on our minds right now. Milton Keynes is too busy watching the Ashes, panic-buying stationary for the start of their children's term, or melting in a rather overdue heat wave. However, the first stages of this years pantomime - Snow White - are already heavily underway, and, in a baking hot side-room of the theatre, this year's cast are sitting in a neat row, facing the local press. Among them are singer/actress Toyah Willcox and local radio presenter "Big George", my interviewees for the day.

First off, I ask Toyah, a key figure in the late seventies music scene, whether she feels there are any intrinsic links between pantomime and punk rock. She seems slightly startled by the question - 

"I think the main similarity is that, like with punk, I'm doing something I'm really proud of". 

And indeed this isn't her first pantomime. Throughout her long career she has performed in over ten different pantomimes, including two previous productions of Snow White. 

"The worst thing is learning the dance routines, I try to do as much learning beforehand, and never go into a job worrying about the punishing schedule, I think "this will be the best thing I'll ever do". 

I reminded Toyah that back in 1977 she had worked with Richard O'Brien (another leading star in this years panto) for a movie - 

"Oh my God yeah! We also shot a children's series together in 1994". 

Having also worked with Warwick I ask her if this makes things easier - "It makes it nicer because there are close bonds there. I've never been in a panto where people didn't get along." 

Although she won't be writing any of the music this year, she will be doing a lot of singing she tells me, "I like to do songs that are culturally well known. I might do a Rolling Stones song." 

We move to talk about her favourite part of the play. In her capacity as Wicked Witch, she tells me she is most looking forward to the poison apple scene, "The kids go mad for that bit! Apparently I have a very good old woman's voice."

Finally I ask her why she chose Milton Keynes "I had invitations to do productions in theatres all over the country, but I chose Milton Keynes because it's a good theatre, and I know its going to be a good production". I think that says it all really. 

NB: Richard O'Brien mentioned Toyah in a recent interview:

Have you worked with any of the cast before? 
"Yeah, I worked with Toyah when Derek Jarman did a movie called Jubilee in 1977"

More recently they worked in a childrens TV production of The Ink Thief. But up to this point Toyah is the only one he has worked with.

Brum : CBeebies - Saturday 17th September : 7.20am
Brum : CBeebies - Saturday 17th September : 10.20am
The adventures of a little car who lives in a motor museum, narrated by Toyah Willcox. When precious gems are stolen from a famous celebrity at the airport, Brum is soon on the trail of the two thieves.

What Women Really Want : UKTV Style - Monday 19th September : 7.00am
What Women Really Want : UKTV Style Plus 1 - Monday 19th September : 8.00am
What Women Really Want : UKTV Style - Monday 19th September : 9.30am
What Women Really Want : UKTV Style Plus 1 - Monday 19th September : 10.30am
What Women Really Want : UKTV Style - Tuesday 20th September : 1.30am
Girlfriends. Get up close and personal with the female psyche in this pacy new series featuring feisty celebrity opinions and gripping true-life stories. In this episode, Jenny Eclair, Toyah Willcox, Jodie Marsh and Sarah Cawood discuss why their girlfriends are so important to them. Discover which celeb hates her own company, and who admits that even her best mates bitch about her behind her back. Miaow! Narrated by Ulrika Jonsson.

What Women Really Want : UKTV Style - Wednesday 21st September : 7.00am
What Women Really Want : UKTV Style Plus 1 - Monday 19th September : 8.00am
What Women Really Want : UKTV Style - Monday 19th September : 9.30am
Sex. Fast-paced series presented by Ulrika Jonsson, with an array of female celebrities discussing what they really want out of life in the noughties. Christine Hamilton, Toyah Willcox, Vanessa Feltz and others talk candidly about sex. Find out which celeb finds one-night stands easier than commitment, who lies to her men about sex, and who was called 'undresser' at school - naughty!

Toyah, looking stunning, hosted a table at the event, with all proceeds from ticket sales going straight to Jeans for Genes.

For further info on this event please visit: www.jeansforgenes.com

The shoot was an all-day affair that took place at Toyah's country home.

Toyah says: "It all started very sensibly, a very classic look, well kind of 1960s si-fi, which after 35 years has become a classic look. My make up, which I decided to do myself took five hours, I have panda eyes, Kabuki pink cheek bones and enough rhinestones stuck to my chest to make Ivana Trump jealous..."

Check out Toyah's September webletter for all the details.

[News Source: www.toyahwillcox.com ]

The 1991 album 'Kneeling At The Shrine' by Sunday All Over The World, a band consisting of Toyah (vocals), Robert Fripp (Guitar), Trey Gunn (Stick/Vocals), and Paul Beavis (Drums/Percussion), will be re-released next year with additional bonus live material.

'Kneeling At The Shrine' contains, possibly, one of Toyah's finest ever compositions. That being the splendid epic 'Freedom'. This CD is worth owning for that song alone, imo.

In Toyah's latest webletter, very recently added to www.toyahwillcox.com, she says of one of these additional tracks:

"Sunday All Over The World's Kneeling At The Shrine, is going to be re-released next year with additional live tracks from a show we did in Milan in 1989 which is one of the best vocal performances I have ever done in the whole of my thirty years on stage."

Head on over to www.toyahwillcox.com for more...

'Mayhem' was originally released in 1985 by Safari Records, after Toyah had left the label to sign to CBS/Portrait, and is made up of demos, early versions of songs that were later released with different titles/arrangements, unreleased versions, and the track Toyah recorded for ITV's Pop Goes Christmas, 'I Believe In Father Christmas'. 

'Mayhem' was sub-titled: 'A special collectors edition album of rare and archive recordings'. The cassette version included three extra songs. These will ,ore than likely be included on the new CD version. 

Further "bonus tracks" will also be included on this long-awaited CD release.

• Volume 2 of Toyah's 'The Safari Records Singles Collections' has been favourably mentioned in this week's 'Music Week' magazine. 'Music Week' is THE weekly guide to Europe's most influential music market for more than 40 years. So there!! ;o)

• A date in Toyah's gig appearances for 2006 has been slightly altered. See below for the update to this, or check out the live page on www.toyahwillcox.com.

• Help get Toyah played on BBC Radio 1 again!! The station is currently running quizzes for fans to compete against each other, answering questions on their favourite artists. Maybe some Toyah fantatic could propose Toyah? [Thanks to Angie, aka BirdInFlight @ the Dreamscape Forum ]

• Toyah - Live 2006
Friday 24th February : Skegness (full band) *REVISED*
Saturday 25th February : Bognor (full band)
Friday 17th March : Minehead (full band)
Saturday 18th March : Skegness (full band)

A number of the above dates are subject to change. 
Check out Dreamscape's LIVE section for dedicated pages on Toyah's past 2005 gigs.

As well as spinning 'Thunder In The Mountains' and 'I Want To Be Free', Mark and Jo chatted to Toyah about her new forthcoming (still to be filmed, obviously) live DVD, her chart career (including 'Victims Of The Riddle' being number one on the UK indie chart for a year), being a punk in Birmingham circa 1973, looking different, toe-amputation, writing her autobiography (and re-writing it too), cleaning, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Toyah even recalled bumping into Mark a couple of years ago on Chiswick High Street!

For the next week this can be relistened to (go direct by clicking on the picture) at the BBC Radio 2 website. You'll need Realplayer to do so. If you're only interested in Toyah fast-forward 40 minutes into the show.

These are for Toyah's appearances at 'Live On The Lawn', Ayrshire, and the 'Cookson' Festival in South Shields, both from August.

Take a peek by clicking on the piccie of Toyah from Cookson. Well worth a look as some of katy's pictures of Toyah are superb.

In 2001 Dreamscape placed 324th out of over 2,600 music websites, in 2002 we did even better by coming 244th from 3000 sites. The following year we placed at number 129 from thousands of music based websites, and last year Dreamscape came 195th from over 6000 entrants. 

Registering your support only takes a few seconds and every vote counts. Thanks in advance!

Rhythm Tracking: Jimi LaLumia's Eight To Watch

Toyah: Toyah, a superstar in the U.K. during the 1980s, is enjoying a major revival in England. At the beginning of the year, two albums previously unreleased on CD became available - the live album Warrior Rock as well as Love Is The Law. Their sales success led Safari Records, Toyah's original label, to release The Safari Records Singles: A & B Sides, a two-volume set. On top of that, her CBS album, Minx, is now available on CD as Minx-Plus, featuring all the B-sides of her singles from that period. Still to come is the much-sought after Mayhem, which was released by Safari after Toyah left for CBS. Visit toyahwillcox.com to find out more about this amazingly talented star.

Huge THANKS to Jimi for this. Jimi regularly posts at Dreamscape's Forum, if you'd like to give him some feedback about this article. Alternatively, you can pay a visit to his website: www.jimilalumia.com.

• 'The Safari Records Singles Collections' continue to gain Toyah increased airplay, sales and interest in her music. The first collection has made it into online station WFMU's Top 30, as well as being included in various show playlists:

WFMU Heavy Airplay List: WFMU Top 30: compiled by Music/Program Director Brian Turner

Various - Thai Beat A G-Go Volume 3 (Subliminal Sounds)
Marc Brierley- Autograph of Time (Castle)
Creme Soda - Tricky Zingers (Radioactive)
Cat Box Quartet - Running Uphill (Radio Khartoum)
Cause Co-Motion - EP (What's Your Rupture?)
Afrirampo - Kore Ga Mayaku Da (Tzadik)
Merry-Go-Round - Listen, Listen (Rev Ola)
Various - Nightmares at Toby's Shop (Toytown Productions)
Mike Wexler - Mike Wexler (I and Ear)
Shantel - Buccovina Club Vol. 2 (Essay)
Hannibal and the Sunrise Orchestra - Children of Fire (Universal Sound)
Scavanger Quartet - We Who Live On the Land (Acidsoxx)
Klimperei - Baboler (Acidsoxx)
Ed Askew - Ed Askew (ESP)
White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan (V2)
Spacious Mind - Rotvalta (Goddamn I'm A Countryman)
King Khan & BBQ - The King Khan & BBQ Show (Goner)
Rod Lee - Vol. 5: The Official (Club Kingz/Morphius)
Excepter - Throne (Load)
Fifths of Sevens - Spry From Bicer Anise Folds (Les Disques du Soleil)
Mike Rep & the Quotas - Black Hole Rock (Old Age/No Age)
Crystal Belle Scrodd - The Inevitable Crystal Belle Scrodd (Klang Galerie)
Icky Boyfriends - A Love Obscene (Menlo Park)
Toyah - The Safari Records Singles (Safari)
Pernice Brothers - Discover a Lovelier You (Ashmont)
Differnet - Come On and Bring Back the Brjoken Sounds of Yore (Friendly Noise)
Black Helicopter - That Specific Function (Traktor 7)
Fire - Could You Understand Me (Skyf Zol)
Various - Funky Funky Houston (Tuff City)
Encre - Flux (Clapping Music)

• 'The Helium Song' from part one of the collection was recently added to the playlist of Charlie at WFMU: "You can't go home again, especially if your home has been blown off the face of the earth".

• 'Our Movie' from the same set was added to WFMU's 'The Cherry Blossom Clinic' playlist.

Please click on the logo to visit the website and view the full playlist.

• Both collections, as well as 'Minx... Plus' have been placing well, and steadily so, in Amazon UK's sales charts over the past few weeks.

Also coming are punk band Stiff Little Fingers on October 5 and Brummie singer Toyah Willcox on September 16. Legendary funk stars Average White Band perform on September 21.

[News Source: Wolverhampton Express & Star]

You can relisten to the interview online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2.

• From Toyah's Official website: Toyah is scheduled to be guesting on BBC World and The Top of the Pops Show in the not too distant future. More info soon...

• Future releases: 2005 has been an amazing year for fans of Toyah's (old) music, with, no less than, five reissues/retrospectives made available. Later this year we have more to look forward to, with the first issue of 'Mayhem' (originally released in 1985) on CD, and 'Toyah - Live at The Robin' (this probably WON'T be the title) DVD. Both on the Cherry Red label.

• There was a couple of obscure references to Toyah in one of this year's shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. MoonJourney, which also spoofs Kate Bush's lyrics, included one song containing the line "Sherwood Forest or an African scene", which is taken from the song 'Marionette' from Toyah's 1981 album 'Anthem'.

Thanks to Chris Limb (aka Tellurian). More info can be found at:

www.festivalhighlights.com/moon/moon.pdf
www.edfringe.com/shows/detail.php?action=shows&id=MOONJ

• Toyah was namechecked in a recent article in 'The Telegraph':

The return of the secondary modern: Famous secondary modern pupils

Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop: Maude Allen Secondary Modern School for Girls, Littlehampton, Delia Smith, cook: Bexley Heath Secondary Modern, London, David Jason, actor: Northfield Secondary Modern, London, Melvin Burgess, author of teenage fiction: Maiden Erlegh School, Earley, Reading, Keith Moon, late drummer with the Who: Alperton Secondary Modern, London, Sue Townsend, creator of Adrian Mole: South Wigston Secondary Modern, Leicestershire, John Prescott, deputy prime minister: Ellesmere Port Secondary Modern, Cheshire, George Carey, former archbishop of Canterbury: Bifrons Secondary Modern, Barking, Toyah Willcox, singer and actress: Queensbridge Secondary Modern, Birmingham, Patrick Stewart, actor: Mirfield Secondary Modern, West Yorkshire.

'Minx' (Demon/Edsel, DIAB8074): "The one and only album the post-punk shock queen recorded for the Portrait label (after her move from Safari and before migrating to EG with her husband). Produced by Christopher Neil (one of the top MOR and pop producers of the era) and featuring her last two UK top 40 entries 'Don't Fall In Love I Said' and 'Soul Passing Through Soul', this was Toyah's last successful album for quite some time. 

Also among the tracks were covers of Rare Bird's "Sympathy" and Alice Cooper's "School's Out" which nod at Ms Willcox's two most pervading influences- glam and prog. This reissue is boosted by five bonus tracks- two of which were the B-sides to the aforementioned singles (never before released on CD), the other three extended remixes of album tracks. All the lyrics are included, as well as sleevenotes from both Toyah and her webmaster and some interesting shots of the lovely lady."

'The Safari Records Singles Collection - Part 2' (1981 to 1983)' (Cherry Red, CDMRED 267): "Second volume of hits and B sides from Birmingham based shock-rock-popstress, now known as Mrs Robert Fripp. 

This album leads on from where the last Safari compilation left off, with the huge 1981 hits 'I Want To Be Free' and 'Thunder In The Mountains' and the subsequent six singles that followed. Also includes two songs that have never been heard before by anyone- making this an essential purchase for afficionados."

Both albums include great artwork, sleevenotes, and 'Minx' also has full album lyrics too.