The 1980s was a colourful decade with plenty of fashion statements, and now you can relive those days with live music from the bands who made it a time to remember. 

Toyah, Nick Heyward, of Haircut One Hundred, Ben Volpeliere Pierrot, of Curiosity Killed the Cat and Claire Grogan, of Altered Images will be playing on the same stage for one night only – Friday, October 15 – at Carlisle’s Sands Centre.

Toyah’s hits began in the early 80s with her talents recognised in 1982 when she won Best Female Singer in the [then] Rock & Pop Awards, now known as The Brits. 

Toyah has also had an acclaimed acting career and was most recently back in the public gaze with I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here. 

She will be performing many of her hits such as I Want To Be Free, Thunder In The Mountains, It’s A Mystery and Brave New World.

Nick Heyward made his first live appearance in years to rapturous response with the Here and Now 80s tours in the last couple of years. 

He will be performing hits from his days as Haircut 100’s frontman as well as from his solo career, including Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl), Love Plus One, Fantastic Day, and Nobody’s Fool.

Led by heart-throb, Ben Volpeliere Pierrot, Curiosity Killed the Cat became an overnight success when they entered the charts at number one in 16 countries. 

They sustained hits from 1986 to 1993, selling out concerts everywhere they went. 

You will be able to hear all their hits including Down To Earth, Name & Number, Misfit, Ordinary Day and Hang On In There Baby.

Altered Images, fronted by Clare Grogan, sold more than six million records in the 80s and Clare has since gone on to become a successful actress. 

This will be their first theatre tour in 17 years and hits include Happy Birthday, I Could Be Happy, Don’t Talk To Me About Love and See Those Eyes.

By Gillian Ellison; Whitehaven News, Thursday 19th August 2004.

8. Best of the Eighties
A nostalgic treat for lovers of the decade of excess, featuring Curiosity Killed the Cat, Nick Heywood, Toyah and Altered Images at the Astoria on 27 October.

EDP24
Star names are heading our way

I'm a celebrity get me in here! - For in the coming months Lowestoft is set to be turned into a star venue as a glittering array of top names appear. 

On October 7, some of the biggest music stars from the 1980s are to appear at the Lowestoft venue as part of the fantastic Best of the 80s UK Tour.

Nick Heyward, Toyah Willcox, Curiosity Killed the Cat and Altered Images will perform their greatest hits in a concert usually reserved for larger arenas and stadia.

Making it a night-to-remember, classic tunes from the 80s – such as Happy Birthday, I Want To Be Free, Whistle Down The Wind and Ordinary Day – will reverberate around the theatre. 

Nick Heyward, who has had nine top ten hits, the dynamic Toyah Willcox – who recently returned to the screen in I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here will be joined by Curiosity Killed The Cat, who entered the charts at number one in no less that 26 countries and became an immediate overnight megaband. They will be joined by Altered Images, who sold over six million records in the 80s.

Kent Courier
Best of the 80's 

Come and revive the 80's with all your favourites, Nick Heyward formerly Haircut 100. Curiosity Killed the Cat led by Volpellere Pierrot. Toyah with her memorable hits such as 'It's a Mystery' and Altered Images fronted by Clare Grogan. 

Carlisle News & Star

Four legends of the 1980s music scene – Curiosity Killed the Cat, Toyah, Altered Images and Haircut 100’s singer Nick Heyward – will be playing on October 15 at the Sands Centre’s Best of the 80s night.

I guess we all think of Toyah as unshockable... 

The woman who had her first hangover aged nine, swung from chandeliers for fun, fought crazy gangs of skinheads, acted alongside Christopher Biggins....

What could possibly phaze her? Why is she looking so bemused/puzzled?

Click on the picture and all will be revealed...

• BEST OF THE 80's - Toyah tours the lengths and breadths of the UK throughout the month of October, along with Clare Grogan (Altered Images), Nick Heyward and Curiosity Killed The Cat

• SLEEPING BEAUTY - Toyah plays the Wicked Fairy, Carabosse, at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, opposite Jack Ryder (ex-Eastenders) as the Prince. The panto runs from Thursday 9th December 2004 to Sunday 30th January 2005.

• FRENCH LEAVE - Toyah will be starring in this new film production. The film is scheduled to begin shooting in September. Written by Stephen Lister and directed by Stephen Dalton, the film also stars Eillen Atkin, Tom Hollinder and Audrey Tautou who played the title role in the hit film Amelie. 

• CELEBRITY HOMES - A new photo shoot, of Toyah at home, should be included in an issue of this new magazine sometime during the remainder of 2004.

• FURTHER PA's - With three, in Birmingham, Stoke and Belfast, under her belt already this year could Toyah be appearing near you soon? Who knows!!

• TOYAH ON TV - Look out for Toyah on telly in the coming months.

But, this isn't the only link Toyah and Jack (ex-Eastenders) have...

In 1981 the Toyah band were supported on tour by Wang Chung (aka Huang Chung). Lead singer of the band, Jack Hues (real name - Jeremy Ryder), is Jack Ryder's father!

Pop legend Toyah Willcox, famed for her colourful hair and outrageous outfits in the 1980s, will be the special guest at a conference to celebrate the role of women in business. Unique is arranging the second annual conference at Blackburn Rovers Ewood Park home on Tuesday, September 14th, with a diverse range of speakers to ensure the day inspires and energises, as well as allowing time for networking.

Toyah arrives after her recent appearance in ITVs I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and has also presented travel shows and documentaries. Throughout her 25-year career, she has maintained a deep interest in social issues, particularly education, and has stories to tell about her 13 top 40 singles, 15 solo albums, 20 stage plays and 10 films. 

Campaigner for womens issues Janet Anderson, MP for Rossendale and Darwen and mother of three, will open the conference. Previously an advisor for Barbara Castle and Jack Straw, she provided one of the shock results of the 1992 election when she defeated Tory Minster Sir David Trippier. Also speaking will be the first North West Womens Champion, Tricia Calway, who will share good practice; Alwin Thompson, of Interlink Foods, on how he turned the company into one of the top three cake manufacturers in Britain, and Jan Ward on her 30m. business in the Middle East.

Places are limited so reserve your place with Clare Tetlow at c.tetlow@chamberelancs.co.uk or book online at www.elancswomeinbusiness.co.uk.

Innovate or stagnate
Companies that rest on their laurels often wither and die but those that are always improving their products or services will thrive, writes Rachel Bridge in part two of our series

Sylvia Tidy-Harris was busy taking bookings for her public-speaking agency when she was suddenly inspired. She realised she had far fewer women than men on her books and yet there were a lot of talented women who were experts in their field and would make brilliant speakers. 
She trawled through possible website domain names and when she found www.womenspeakers.co.uk was still available she knew that it was too good an opportunity to miss. 

Earlier this year the Women Speakers Agency was launched and now represents 120 high- profile women. They include the singer Toyah Willcox, the runner Sally Gunnell and the former MP Edwina Currie. Tidy-Harris books them to speak at dinners, conferences and events.

The article is available, for a limted time, to read online. Please click on the 'Times Online' logo.

• Toyah was mentioned in an article in the 'Grimsby Telegraph' on Tuesday 10th August:

IT'S AN ALL-STAR LINE-UP TO MAKE VENUE SHINE 
Toyah Willcox is among the Eighties' pop stars who will appear in the Best Of The 80s show on October 9, and original members of Seventies bands Spear Of Destiny, Big Country, The Alarm, The Sex Pistols and The Stray Cats will perform semi-acoustic classic songs in a show called Dead Men Walking on October 5.

• Newly added to Dreamscape's 'Live 2004' section - pages dedicated to July's 'Here and Now' date, and last weekend's Belfast PA at the Kremlin nightclub. The latter includes some pictures from the appearance.

This was the first time in over two years that Toyah had dusted down the memorable outfit that grabbed so many headlines back in April '02.

It's been many years since Toyah has visited Northern Ireland, the reception she received was very positive, ensuring she makes a return visit sometime soon. 

Toyah, it seems, just can't get enough of performing live @ the moment. Where will she pop up next... ?

KREMLIN, Belfast: Saturday 7th August 2004 - Set-List: 

Echo Beach 
Thunder In The Mountains 
Hanging On The Telephone 
It's A Mystery 
Sweet Child 'O Mine 
River Deep, Mountain High 
I Want To Be Free 

Huuuuge THANKS to the mysterious muse for the great picture and PA report. Please check back soon for more pictures from Toyah's Belfast PA.

A great read, with Toyah mentioning; Jerry Springer - The Opera, Cherie Blair, the outdoor 'Here and Now' concert in Bolton, Simply the Best, Hampton Court Fower Show, Sports Relief, Sleeping Beauty, the new film French Leave, October's 'Best of The 80's' tour, and.... 'Living Out Loud'.

It looks like Toyah's autobiography, published in 2000, could be revised and relaunched by a new publisher sometime in 2005.

Please click on the original 'Living Out Loud' cover to visit the Official Toyah website for the full Webletter.

Toyah plays the Wicked Fairy, Carabosse, at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, opposite Jack Ryder (ex-Eastenders) as the Prince.

The panto runs from Thursday 9th December 2004 to Sunday 30th January 2005.

If you live in the area look out for Toyah - her face is emblazoned on a Sleeping Beauty promotional van.

Following on from the Nightingales, in Birmingham, and The Club, Stoke, PA's in June, and July's 'Here and Now' Outdoor show at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, comes another PA. This time at KREMLIN nightclub in Belfast.

Friday 30th July sees Kremlin kicking off its Pride celebrations - nine days of old favourites and new surprises and all with an African feel!  But the biggest night of the year will be The Zulu Ball on Saturday 7th August with special guest star Toyah Willcox... 

Revolution present The Zulu Ball - The highlight of the year - Kremlin's Pride Ball 2004 continues the african theme with the grand Zulu Ball... see Red Square transformed to the heart of africa! Plus special guest Toyah Willcox live on stage! Two Resident DJs, open from 8pm.

Please click on the picture to visit the Kremlin website.

Finally found out that the scores on this edition were: Birmingham : 16, Belfast : 12. After three shows Birmingham are second on the leader board. The Top two of the series return to compete against each other in the Grand Final.

Toyah was briefly shown at the beginning of Saturday's show too.

• Toyah was mentioned on Thursday's Loose Women. Presenter Kaye Adams recalled how Toyah wanted her funeral (she interviewed her on It's Your Funeral in 2001), telling the others that she wanted cut up and fed to wild-life to re-enter the cycle (aka as a Tibetan Sky Burial) and wanted either her father or husband to oversee the proceedings. Carol McGiffin  (Chris Evans' ex-wife) screwed up her face and said "That's just sick!". Hmm, not as awful as marrying Chris Evans, though, surely? ;o))

• The Marlowe Theatre website has recently been updated with more info on Toyah's panto for 2004, Sleeping Beauty.

Many thanks to Alec Kelly.

The fourth instalment of the CASTAWAYS section of the site... This time looking at Toyah's first TV role, as Sue in Glitter, from 1976. Please take a look at the previous three; Jubilee, 'Brave New World', and The Tempest, by clicking on the picture.

Also planned for updating in the near future are the COMPILED and PRESS ADVERTS sections.

Please check back soon...

Many thanks to the elus!ve stranger.