Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

A new interview with Toyah, from the Yorkshire Times, ahead of the Sounds Of The 80s gigs later this month.

BBC Radio 2 presenter Gary Davies has announced a nationwide 2024 tour for the live version of his show Sounds of the 80s, which will include an appearance from Toyah.

Ahead of the tour, Toyah spoke to the Yorkshire Times.

What can people expect when they come to the Sounds of the 80s show?

Anyone who attends one of the evenings will find an atmosphere where the audience can be themselves dancing and singing to their favourite tracks from a classic period in pop music. There was such a broad spectrum of music at the time from artists like Bananarama, Prince, and T’Pau, among others, including myself.

I think what will work beautifully is that the stage will be constantly active. Gary will be on there plus the dancers, and a stage set that is Gary’s Radio 2 studio and there will also be live performances from myself and other artists such as Carol Decker from T’Pau and Denise Pearson from 5 Star.

Why do you think the 1980s were such a golden period for popular music?

It was all very hedonistic, none of us thought beyond the 80s. It was difficult in the 90s to sell music from the previous decade, but that all changed with the Millennium. People wanted to hear all those iconic songs again. Part of the success of those tracks is the narrative of the songs; we really were traditional song writers then, writing about people’s attitudes and what they needed in their lives.

So, Toyah, tell us about your best 80s memories.

There were many good memories appearing on Top of the Pops. One of the happiest memories is the magnitude of what we did. For instance, on Christmas Eve in 1981, I played the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which went out live on television, bringing in twelve million viewers, which at the time was phenomenal.

• Continue reading at the Yorkshire Times. Further information and ticket links available at toyahwillcox.com.

Gary Davies posted at X, and shared this great retro shot from 1987: “Excited to be reunited with Toyah when she will be our special guest on our BBC Radio 2 Sounds of the 80s Live Tour Shows“… (Photo © Gary Davies)

• Toyah’s Painted Giraffe: “Touch The Wishing Stars” raised £8000 for Toyah’s mother’s hospice and is now placed permanently in the memorial garden at St. Richards Worcester – News Source – Toyah’s Nov 2018 Blog…

• Worcester Stands Tall: Browse all our past news on Toyah’s painted giraffe here… (Photo © Toyah Willcox)

• Toyah at Twitter: Studio day with Simon Darlow for very important release in 2019 – See the tweet…

• Toyah Releases 2019: Two new singles have been confirmed as being released by Toyah next year – News Source – Express & Star Interview…

• Edinburgh Evening News/Liam Rudden: My right ankle and left knee told me it hadn’t been a good idea to ‘pogo’ at Manchester’s Ruby Lounge on Friday. The occasion was the first of Toyah’s 60th Birthday gigs, though she looks a fraction of her age. The same could not be said for the vintage teenagers who turned out to see her – Continue reading…

• Acoustic, Up Close & Personal 2019: Toyah is playing the West End Centre, 48 Queens Road, Aldershot on 15th March 2019 – More info/Book tickets…

• Toyah at Twitter: FABULOUS SOLD OUT GIG & FINALE to the Toyah60 Tour @O2Islington last night. Great vibe & wonderful friends – See some backstage photos…

• Toyah60 – Finale:  Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard) – O2 Academy Islington – 4/11/18 – Watch/Listen…

• BBC iPlayer Radio: There’s still a great selection of past Toyah at BBC Radio content currently available to listen to at BBC iPlayer Radio; Great Lives: Toyah Willcox on Katharine Hepburn (originally aired in September 2015), Ramblings: Toyah takes Clare Balding for a walk in Worcestershire (February 2013), Woman’s Hour: Toyah on being a punk (February 2012), A Good Read: Book reviews (March 1998), and Saturday Live: Toyah’s shares her secret life (August 2011), Inheritance Tracks: Two of Toyah’s favourite songs (April 2017), Woman’s Hour: Toyah talks punk classic Jubilee reimagined for the stage (February 2018), Ramblings: Toyah guest presents ‘The Same Walk 365 Times’ (October 2013), The Reunion: Women of Punk (April 2017), Sounds Of The 80s: Toyah on the 80s (February 2014).

• The Northern Echo: Acoustic, Up Close: The once rebellious, wild woman of the British mainstream pop scene with her dangerously pink hair and fire in her eyes, Toyah Willcox still oozes charisma. I wonder if she and David Bowie had the same hairdresser? – Continue reading…

• Live 2016: There are still a number of gigs and appearances taking place through the remainder of October – See Toyah’s Official Gig page…

• Kaleidoscope Man: Tanks vs Aliens – Let Battle Commence!: Finally, after 4 years of dreaming and planning, I am delighted to tell you that we’ve finally completed the one part of the movie I was truly terrified about doing. The tanks vs aliens battle scenes – Continue reading…

• Sounds Of The 80s: Toyah chose Voodoo Doll as her 80s b-side on BBC Radio 2. There’s still time to listen to the show at BBC iPlayer…

• Great Yarmouth Film Festival: Toyah guested at this event at the end of September, introducing Quadrophenia.

• Crime and Punishment: The final performance of Crime and Punishment took place at The Scoop Theatre on 24th September…

• Classic Hits: Genesis Keyboardist Tony Banks Says New Solo Box Set Features “a Lot of Good Music”: Banks worked with a variety of well-known musicians on his solo albums, including such singers as ex-Marillion frontman Fish, Nik Kershaw and Toyah Willcox, and acclaimed drummers like Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta and longtime Genesis touring member Chester Thompson – Continue reading…

• Nerdly: Frightfest 2015: First look at Steve Oram’s ‘Aaaaaaaah!’: The debut feature of actor Steve Oram (Sightseers, TV’s Glue), Aaaaaaaah! stars Julian Barratt, Toyah Willcox, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Steve Oram, Lucy Honigman, Tom Meeten and Sean Reynard. The supporting cast include Noel Fielding, Holli Dempsey, Shelley Longworth, Alice Lowe, Tony Way and Waen Shepherd. Aaaaaaaah!, written and directed by Steve Oram, produced by Andy Starke and executive produced by Ben Wheatley, will have it’s world premiere at FrightFest on August 28th with many of the cast and crew in attendance. A few tickets are still available www.frightfest.co.uk – Continue reading…

• Get Reading: Famous faces spotted at Rewind Festival over the years: Rewind South: The 80s Festival, which attracts 40,000 fans each year, will return to Temple Island Meadows on Friday, August 21, to Sunday, August 23… Toyah Willcox at Rewind 2011 – Continue reading…

• Eastbourne Herald: Eastbourne gets ready for Vulcan’s swan-song at Airbourne: at the Bandstand, evening concerts include Big Band Night on Thursday and the legendary pop-punk princess Toyah, on Friday. BBC South East Today also broadcast live from the show from 6.30pm on Friday, as their Festival Friday tour hits town – Continue reading…

• The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive: Read full transcripts of Toyah’s recent interviews on BBCR2’s Sounds Of The 80s and BBC Radio Derby – Go read…

A decade of music and four seasons of weather were rolled into one at Rewind Festival at the weekend.

But neither the hail, rain nor wind could dampen the spirits of the 35,000 crowd, who were determined to have a blast at the fifth 80s festival at Scone Palace. And every now and then, just to brighten the mood even more, the sun shone.

However, as the hail and rain battered down, the bands played on and the enthusiastic, mostly middle-aged, crowd sang and danced their way through what were near monsoon conditions at times. Old favourites such as Kid Creole, Howard Jones, Hue and Cry, Dave Edmunds, Nik Kershaw, Belinda Carlisle and Kim Wilde were among those getting everyone rocking to the classic sounds of the 80s.

(Caption: Toyah (top) was one of the hosts who introduced, among others, Kid Creole and Clare Grogan.)

• Continue reading here. (Thanks to Sharon Dickson for the scan)

Hear music star Toyah Willcox sharing her fave Sounds of the 80s with the lovely Sara Cox! Check out Toyah in the 80s when she had a slightly different look for our contribution to this week’s #throwbackthursday

• BBC Who’s in Today?: Check out Toyah Willcox in for Sounds of the 80s on BBC Radio 2 with Sara Cox – we’re celebrating ‪#‎TBT‬ in her honour! – Visit the Who’s in Today? Facebook…

• BBC Who’s in Today?: Visit the Who’s in Today? project website…

• Tony Banks: A Chord Too Far: More info on the forthcoming boxset which includes Toyah’s Lion Of Symmetry – Continue reading…

• Brave New World: Some of us never tire of Toyah’s iconic/unforgettable/still relevant 1982 image – Check out what Mark Wallis Design has done with the single sleeve…

• Celluloid Wickerman: Alchemical Magic in Derek Jarman’s The Tempest (1979): Forever a cinematic alchemist – a sage that conjured and devoured celluloid before the eventual ritualistic sacrifice- Derek Jarman is the perfect suitor to Shakespeare’s The Tempest (1979); a play whose heart is bathed in the tragedy and power of magic – Continue reading…

• Sounds Of The 80s: Toyah’s ‘I Want To Be Free’ was included on the playlist of Sounds Of The 80s on BBC Radio 2 at the weekend, and repeated in the early hours of today – Listen to the show, for the next four weeks (BBC iPlayer, the TV and radio catch-up service, has just extended its programme availability from one week to 30 days), at BBC iPlayer…

• The Talent Zone: Toyah Willcox showcased her home on Through The Keyhole: The actress and eighties music legend, allowed Lemon to roam around her home getting up to all sorts including allowing Toyah’s pet rabbit to break her rather expensive guitar – Continue reading…

• Music For Stowaways: British Rock & Pop Awards 1979-1981: From 1982 (confusingly the 1981 ceremony thanks to the year numbering) onwards, the British Rock & Pop Awards were happening concurrently with the British Record Industry Awards (later the BPI Awards, and even later the BRIT Awards) – Continue reading…

• John’s Look-Out: Reboot…1981 No.49… Here you go with another issue, it’s No.49 – A classic Toyah ‘Look-In’ cover from 1981 – View here…

• Edinburgh Evening News: Enjoy the creative genius of Jarman: Liam Rudden: Like many of my generation, it was the 1978 film Jubilee that introduced me to the work of film-maker, artist and gardener, Derek Jarman. Now considered a cult classic, it featured a very young Toyah Willcox, equally youthful Adam Ant, and starred Jenny Runacre and Edinburgh’s own Ian Charleson – Continue reading…

• Flexipop! Facebook: Toyah had a decent showing in the Top Tens you sent in for the Flexipop! Readers’ Ultimate Top 40 Singles Of The 80’s Chart with Thunder In The Mountains being the most popular choice. Released in 1981, it was her eighth UK single and not included on an album at the time – Continue reading…

• Sounds Of The 80s: View a full transcript of Toyah’s recent BBC Radio 2 interview at The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive…

• Get Bucks: Bowie fan celebrates Friars anniversary after catching the star’s shirt: The exhibition also features… the classic double neck guitar used by Genesis founder Mike Rutherford, Howard Jones’s 1983 Moog keyboard rig, and an amplifier used by U2, a stage costume worn by Toyah Willcox, and Lol Coxhill’s saxophones – Continue reading…

• Queer Pagan Punk: BFI Derek Jarman retrospective: As mentioned yesterday, Toyah guested at this event last night. She tweeted: “fabulous night at @BFI Southbank Jarman retrospective. Loved it. The audience really liked The Tempest“.

• My Vintage: It’s a great upcoming weekend for Toyah fans, not only is she guesting on Sounds Of The 80s (see below) but Sunday sees the premiere of the My Vintage, Toyah and Robert special, which I know a lot of people are looking forward to seeing.

• Sounds Of The 80s: BBC Radio 2: Toyah guests on this show on Saturday night. Toyah tweeted on Tuesday: “I’m Sara cox’s special guest on this sat’s sounds of the 80s @BBCRadio2 10pm“. Listen live at the Radio 2 website or catch up at BBC iPlayer post-broadcast.

• Live 2014: Toyah played her first live date of the year on Sunday. A PA at the Ultimate 80s show in Skegness, with a host of other 80s bands. She tweeted: “In skeggy. Just met Annabelle from Bow Wow Wow 4 1st time! Musical Youth think im a Toyah Impersonator. BOYS! Lol“.

• Busy Toyah!: This “newsy bits” update wouldn’t have been possible without Twitter. Our penultimate post is this tweet from Toyah on how busy she is: “Crazy 2 weeks. Feel like I’m on a bob sleigh run with no shoes on! Acoustic rehearsal\press\tv\scripts\talks….Aaaahhhhhhhhhh“.

• Photos: View larger versions of each of the photos above at Twitter, Instagram and The Official Toyah Website, respectively. (Photos 1&3 © Toyah Willcox Ltd, 2 © Vintage TV)

National Album Day Organisers Hail Impact Of 2020 Event

The third edition of National Album Day, held last Saturday, 10th October, has been hailed the most successful yet by industry figures and by its joint organisers, the BPI and The Entertainment Retailers Association, with the impact reflected in the Official Vinyl Charts, the Official Album Charts and sales overall as well as across media and socials.

Presented in association with broadcast partner BBC Sounds and audio partner Bowers & Wilkins, National Album Day celebrates our love of the album, the continuing importance of the format, and the personal stories artists can share through the artform. This year the day paid tribute to the musically rich decade of the 1980s, supported by a host of artist ambassadors and album platforms such as Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties and Classic Album Sundays.

• Continue reading at bpi.co.uk.

Toyah guested on BBC Radio London’s David & Carrie Grant show yesterday morning. The show was guest hosted by Jumoke Fashola.

Singer Toyah Willcox looks ahead to an 80s drive-in music experience which aims to help raise money for Help Musicians and celebrating the re-opening of Alexandra Palace with Chief Executive Louise Stewart.

• Listen online to the show, for the next four weeks, at BBC Sounds.

• Yorkshire Times: Let’s Rock Announce On Line 80’s Lockdownfest2: Following the huge success of the first 80s LockdownFest last month, Let’s Rock have announced a second online festival, 80s LockdownFest2, happening on Friday 3rd July from 7:00pm – Continue reading…

• Glastonbury/PRS for Music: Rewatch Toyah’s 2016 Interview which has just been added to PRS for Music’s Glasto Playlist – Toyah Willcox chats to M magazine in the PRS for Music tent at Glastonbury 2016 about her creative highs, early inspirations and ongoing love affair with songwriting – Continue watching…

• The Audiophile Man: Vinyl Review Round-Up #1: Reviews of Toyah’s recent vinyl releases, including Minx, Prostitute and Ophelia’s Shadow – Watch here (from 8.04)…

• Octopus TV: Andrew Eborn is joined by Chris Wong who talks about his life and career including as Toyah Willcox’s musical director and guitarist, working with Toyah in The Humans along with REM’s Bill Rieflin and 25 years in panto at Marlowe Theatre where he has played the Ghostbusters theme tune over 13,500 times! – Continue watching…

• Jools Holland: Toyah chooses her favourite acts: if anyone missed this when it aired or was available on BBC Sounds, you can listen to it here…

Toyah guested on Alex Dyke’s Wall of Sound on BBC Radio Solent yesterday, talking about the Electric Ladies Of The 80s Tour, Toyah Solo, career longevity and more. It’s A Mystery and Thunder In The Mountains were also played at either end of the chat.

Toyah Willcox: Alex chats to Toyah about her upcoming show in Wimborne

• Toyah’s interview begins around 39m into the show and is available for the next four weeks at BBC Sounds.

Get ready to rock to the sounds of the Eighties

Marion McMullen turns back the clock with some of the stars of the 1980s who are coming out to play at the Let’s Rock retro festival dates across the country

What is your strongest memory of the 1980s?
I sing my hits at least two to four times a week these days – the 80s are alive and kicking. But if I was to look back for a strong memory, it would be how large the clothes were. Everything was big and baggy.

What was your favourite gig?
Drury Lane Theatre, Christmas Eve, 1981. Headline artist for BBC TV’s The Old Grey Whistle Test – there were 12 million viewers tuned in. I was slightly nervous!

Did you ever have a starstruck moment?
(David) Bowie, always Bowie. He took my breath away. I have run away from him twice because I was speechless.

Did you embrace 1980s fashion?
I was very individualistic so I like to think 80s fashion embraced me. All my clothes were one-off designer made. I liked the big shoulders ’til I realised how out of proportion they were.

• See a larger version of the feature here. (Thanks to Colin Dew-Parry)

Listen online at BBC Sounds to all six of Toyah’s In The Court Of The Crimson Queen radio interviews which aired on various BBC Radio stations last week.

Sensational is currently being played on numerous BBC radio shows.

BBC Radio Ulster: The Arts Show: 26.03.2019 – We look back at the enigmatic genius of Scott Walker, author Ayelet Gundar-Goshen on her new book ‘Liar’, Toyah Willcox is back on tour and Carmel tips her favourite new TV releases. Listen at BBC Sounds for the next month.

BBC Radio Guernsey: Jenny Kendall-Tobias Show: 27.03.2019 – John Randall is in conversation with celebrity guest Toyah Willcox. She talks about her album “In the Court of the Crimson Queen” and remembers the time she visited Sark. Listen at BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio Kent: The Dominic King Show: 27.03.2019 – Toyah, Paul Hendy and The Kent Sessions with L. Norton – Join Dom for The Arts, Life in Kent, Live Music and Conversation. Listen at BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio Cornwall: David White Show: 28.03.2019 – Toyah discusses her new album and looks back on her classic hits from the early 80s. Listen at BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio Derby: Steve Jordan Show: 28.03.2019 – Join Steve for showbiz and TV conversation, as well as a round-up of the day’s news. Listen at BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio Wales: Eleri Sion Show: 29.03.2019 – Punk legend Toyah talks about her latest release, film guru Gary Slaymaker reviews the new “Dumbo” and baker Nick McLeod is in the Foodie Friday kitchen. Listen at BBC Sounds.

Toyah played a mind-boggling FOUR gigs over the weekend – Wellowfest 2017, Let’s Rock London, Party in the Park Dunstable and Party in the Park Cookley – Below is a press report on Wellowfest and check out Toyah’s Twitter for direct updates from the incredibly busy lady herself!

Wellowfest: Big names and local acts mix for village festival

More than 40 bands and singers will perform over three days at the annual Wellowfest music festival this weekend. They include headliners Hazel O’Connor, Toyah Willcox and The Blockheads.

It takes place at Chapel Farm, Wellow, from tomorrow (Friday) until Sunday. The festival, launched in 2014, covers a wide range of genres, including pop, punk, country and 1980s classics.

The organisers said: “In its fourth year of running, Wellowfest maintains its roots as a family-friendly festival with a chilled out and relaxing vibe. Kick back and enjoy the best of the English countryside while listening to an eclectic mix of sounds.”

• Continue reading at the Newark Advertiser.

Punk icon Toyah Willcox has just as much attitude now as she did when she burst on to the music scene in the 1980s.

From punk princess to high priestess of TV, Toyah Willcox is a uniquely gifted performer. Charismatic, outspoken and impossible to categorise, she is one of Britain’s iconic household names – an award-winning rock legend as well as a much-loved actress and music composer.

Toyah is busier than ever, shooting four movies this year, and playing Glastonbury. One of her earliest films was the classic 1979 movie Quadrophenia, and almost 40 years on, it’s her starring role in the sequel.

As the first part in an exciting new series of live events producted in conjunction with Dulcet Sounds, Toyah will be performing live at Tribeca on Sunday 16th October. Tickets now on sale at £10 each plus £1 booking fee via https://dulcet-sounds-events.ticketlight.co.uk.

• Continue reading at Tribeca-Bar. See also Canal-St.

Bad hair, neon clothes and most importantly classic tracks that went down in music history – it’s Southampton’s own celebration of the 80s.

Now organisers of Let’s Rock Southampton have announced the line-up for their third date on the Common next summer, the Daily Echo can today reveal.

Revellers will be dancing to the sounds of former Frankie Goes To Hollywood lead vocalist Holly Johnson, heartthrobs from the era Rick Astley and Jason Donovan, Grammy Award winners Soul II Soul, Fine Young Cannibals frontman Roland Gift and former teen icon Tiffany.

Also on the bill are Scottish rockers Big Country, 2 Tone ska revival band The Selecter, Eurovision favourites Sonia and Cheryl, Mike and Jay from Bucks Fizz, plus chart-topping Toyah and rockers Dr & The Medics.

• Continue reading at the Southern Daily Echo.

• Live 2015: More gigs have been added to Toyah’s concert itinerary for this year, including a few new “electric” concerts which are now titled: “Proud, Loud & Electric” – Visit the Official Gigs page…

• Toyah @ Twitter: Tweeting about last night’s second gig of The Humans tour: “It’s @GlosGuildhall 2nite. Nervous cause the fripp will b in the audience xxx” – Visit Twitter…

• Birmingham City Council: Living in Birmingham: Top 12 Birmingham Facts – 2.Birmingham is home to several legendary music acts including UB40, Duran Duran, ELO, Black Sabbath, Toyah Willcox, Joan Armatrading and Ruby Turner – Continue reading…

• Nitehawk Cinema: Urgh! A Music War: Take a trip back to early 1980s with this compilation of twenty-six powerful live performances by the eras best Punk, New Wave, and Post-Punk bands. Pre-party for Urgh! in Nitehawk’s street level bar at 10pm on both nights…Nitehawk teams up with Network Awesome for a very special screening of WOMEN IN PUNK at 10pm on Friday and Saturday. FREE entry and FREE Mike’s Hard Lemonade (until supplies last) – Continue reading…

• Eastbourne Borough Council: Legends Tribute Extravaganza Kicks Off a Packed Eastbourne Bandstand Summer Season!: Toyah Willcox, an award-winning rock legend will entertain audiences over Airbourne weekend, in a concert showcasing her greatest hits on 14 August – Continue reading…

• Maldon Standard: Family music festival, Soundstock, returns next month: Soundstock will be hosting Toyah, who will be performing her Up Close and Personal show – Continue reading…