So sad and shocked to hear yesterday about Phil Spalding’s death. A gifted musician and a hero when I was growing up. When I was in touch with him a few times over the years he was always so accomodating, incredibly kind and enthusiastic. Phil played with so many great bands and artists over the past five decades and wrote many songs. He will live on through his music. Rest in Peace legend.
Something you don’t see every day – The Toyah band 1981 reunited for first time in 34 years! Joel Bogen, Nigel Glockler, Adrian Lee, Phil Spalding. Not in the same room altogether since a promotional TV appearance for Thunder In The Mountains in Germany, September 1981. Brilliant! One of the best posts in our, almost, 16 years of news. (Thanks to Official Toyah)
A big Thank You to, former Toyah band member Phil Spalding, for sending this festive photo to Dreamscape over Christmas, along with the message: “Happy Christmas and New Year to all Toyah followers and fans !!! PSxXxx” – All the best Phil, hope you had a great Christmas.
Also great to hear that another former band member, Nigel Glockler, is recuperating well after his recent health scare. Best Wishes to Nigel and Gina for 2015.
Phil Spalding’s Official Website has recently been updated with more content, including his memories of working on Warrior Rock and Love Is The Law. Read by clicking below.
Phil Spalding has a new “Bass Night with…” show taking place on Saturday 11th October at The Picturedrome, Northampton. View a larger version of the promo flyer, which includes further info on the appearance, by clicking below. Or visit www.thepicturedrome.com.
Phil Spalding is playing Another Bass Night at Absolute Music’s superstore in Bournemouth on Wednesday 4th June. Phil says: “I’ll be sharing lots more juicy stories from my crazy life on the road…”. Buy tickets by clicking below.
• The Official Phil Spalding Website: Phil’s website, “Music + Mayhem”, has some great content to browse through, including “the inside stories” on recording ‘Anthem’ and ‘The Changeling’, with more Toyah memories to follow. Visit the website…
• BFI: The Spell of The Tempest: Derek Jarman designs: Beautiful designs and annotations from Derek Jarman’s notebooks, held in the BFI National Archive’s Special Collections, reveal the magical thinking behind his version of The Tempest – Next Wednesday, 12th February 6.15pm at the BFI Southbank – Toyah interviewed onstage about her role in The Tempest. Still a few tickets left! – Further info here…
• Indie Reign: Project of the Week 37, will it be Love Stalk, Kaleidoscope Man, Island Time, or Alice in the Attic?: Show your support for, Kaleidoscope Man, the film Toyah is involved with by voting for it here…
• BFI: Derek Jarman: Five Essential Films: As BFI Southbank mounts a major retrospective of queer pagan punk director Derek Jarman, we choose five of his very best films – Continue reading…
• Edinburgh Filmhouse: Derek Jarman Season: A Jarman celebration February through to April, including screenings for Jubilee and The Tempest – Further info here… (Thanks to Brian Green)
• Jon Kutner: Five Essential Singles: A great article all about Martha & The Muffins’ classic ‘Echo Beach’ single, with a mention for Toyah too – View here…
Phil Spalding has a new “Bass Evening with…” show taking place on Wednesday 5th March at The Regent Hotel, Doncaster. Further info and book tickets by clicking below.
“Join me for an evening of punchy basslines, behind-the-scenes secrets from my colourful career and tips on how to record your bass parts in one take… no drop-ins and no edits!”
Welcome to the final “Toyah Newsy Bits & Pieces!” of the year…
• Smash Hits Archive: Exactly 30 years to the day it was originally published, the December 22, 1983 – January 4, 1984 issue of Smash Hits. This includes various Toyah content: There’s a review of the Rebel Run Tour, Celebrity Squares article, and in the “Quotes Of The Year”. Toyah is also included in the 1983 Reader’s Poll, placing at number six in the Best Female Singer and Most Fanciable Female categories. View the full issue here…
• The Official Phil Spalding Website: Phil’s website, “Music + Mayhem”, is now live and has some great content to browse through, including “the inside stories” on recording ‘Anthem’ and ‘The Changeling’, with more Toyah memories to follow. Visit the website…
• Phil Spalding: Check out all of Dreamscape’s recent Phil related news here…
• Official Toyah Advent: The final door was opened earlier today BUT there will be a bonus gift for Christmas Eve tomorrow. Visit the advent here…
• Official Instagram: Toyah has been posting some festive photos over the last week. Take a look at her Instagram page…
• Toyah Live 2013: Toyah is rounding off yet another busy year of live tours, concerts, festivals and PAs with two appearances at Marilyns Nightclub in Evesham, Worcestershire. The first PA is on Saturday 30th November, and the other, which just might possibly be Christmas related, takes place on Thursday 19th December – View a larger version of their Toyah promo at their website…
• The Great British Alternative Music Festival: Toyah plays this festival twice next year, in March and October. Also playing in March are Bad Manners, The Damned, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Gene Loves Jezebel and many more – View further info here…
• Toyah Live 2014: Tickets for next year’s gigs are already being received. Here’s kenbob’s for the Holmfirth Picturedome, where Toyah plays a Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits… Live! gig in February – View here…
• Official Gigs: View Toyah’s, already very full, live diary for 2014 at The Official Toyah Willcox Website…
• All Messed Up: Featuring Phil Spalding on guitar (yup guitar, not bass) All Messed Up play a charity concert at Mr Kyps, Poole on Tuesday 10th December – View further info here and get your tickets here…
• The Changeling (Import): A random photo at Twitter – But a pretty magnificent one nonetheless – View here…
• Here & Now Cruise: Toyah performing ‘Echo Beach’ on the Oceana during a 12 day cruise to the Mediterranean in late October. Toyah was only onboard for two days between Barcelona and Gibraltar, playing two shows – View the clip here…
Phil Spalding is playing a Bass Night at Absolute Music’s new superstore in Bournemouth on Wednesday 4th September. Phil says: “Join me for an evening of punchy basslines, behind-the-scenes secrets from my colourful career and tips on how to record your bass parts in one take… no drop-ins and no edits!”
A rare 1982 article from German music magazine Popcorn, featuring great photos of Toyah, Joel Bogen and Phil Spalding from ‘The Changeling’ Tour. Would any German visitors care to translate? Click below to view a larger version. (Thanks to Glyn Whelan for this great scan)
Yes, this is a word in your ear… Just uploaded to You Tube. Excellent quality footage of Toyah performing ‘We Are’, on German music programme RockPop, in 1981. Amazing! (Why didn’t British music shows emblazon huge photos of Toyah as backdrops?)
Phil Spalding has wished all of Dreamscape’s visitors a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from himself and his partner Helen.
Thanks to Phil for the great photo. Please click here to view a larger version.
Look out for the launch of Phil’s new website, philspalding.com, which will be launching in early 2013.
• Just a reminder that Toyah guests on Pointless Celebrities this afternoon on BBC1 at 5.15pm.
• Toyah’s Official Advent Calendar: Anyone for some unheard/unseen Toyah exclusives? Toyah’s Christmas Countdown begins at toyahwillcox.com on 12-12-12.
• Phil Spalding is now at Facebook. An official website will also be online soon. New website PhilSpalding.Com coming soon … Music and Mayhem !!! A lot of music and a lot of MAYHEM !!! Watch this space !!! Phil also told me: I have a load of personal photos from Toyah tours which I will be posting, bit by bit, on FB and my site.
• The Brit Awards @ You Tube: Paul Young wins Best Male presented by Toyah | BRIT Awards 1985 – Just uploaded!
• Read a transcript of Toyah’s ‘BBC Radio Kent’ interview (broadcast on Saturday, more info here) at The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive.
A few photos from the ‘Mini Tour’ in December 1982. Click to zoom. (Thanks to Ray Sears)
Three rarish Toyah photos from 1981. Live on the ‘Anthem Tour’, the band, and performing ‘Good Morning Universe’ on Top Of The Pops. These were originally included in a German magazine article. Click below to view larger. (Thanks to Paul Lomas)
One of the best singles of 1981, excellent production by Nick Tauber and iconic visuals on the single’s sleeve (and 12″ picture disc) and the accompanying video. I’ve always believed that this could be a massive hit again if it was included on the soundtrack of a big movie…
Two fantastic photos of, legendary Toyah bassist, Phil Spalding at the European Premiere of Rock Of Ages on Sunday 10th June. Click on each for larger versions. (Thanks to Phil)
