I HAVE seen Toyah in many, many guises. As an intergalactic rollerskater and a multicoloured Masai. A superslick Minx-era diva or classically staring and sphinxlike. But I've never, ever, in my years of scrutiny, seen her show her bum.

Perhaps she was inspired by Kylie and her celebrated hotpants. Or maybe she just felt cheeky. I don't know what sparked the sexy streak. But Toyah took the stage for her four-song slot with the creases of her bum cheeks clearly peeping from between a very short dress and thigh-high boots.

And good on her! 

I felt like she'd undergone some sort of Betty Boopification, teetering on spike heels and tossing her long platinum blonde hair around. This is the woman who, 20 years ago, claimed she was too old to be a sex symbol and had to guzzle a small lake of whisky before she'd do the nude scenes in her film and TV work.

"You guys at the front are so lucky," she drawled in a curious mid-Atlantic manner, silver armoured breasts glinting,"To be looking up the skirt of a 43-year-old." 

It's true, Toyah is 43. But then so is Madonna. I rest my case.

She covered the stuff she needed to and it all sounded pretty punchy and euphoric. Being proud, loud and heard in this cavernous venue before thousands of paying punters was a mean feat for Toyah when you consider that you never so much as hear her hits on the radio, a pub jukebox or any of those 80s compilation CDs.

In the early 80s, her vocal style was more bellow than mellow. Later, as a married woman, she was to develop a deep, grown-up sexuality.  But last night as she cooed, swooned, whooped and wiggled her way through the required staples - Good Morning Universe, Thunder In The Mountains, It's A Mystery and I Want To Be Free - it was odd but good to see it applied retrospectively.

Thunder... got a spot of Latino-type percussion and even It's A Mystery, the one she loves to loathe, was delivered with a special spark.

Later Belinda Carlisle, the only other female singer on the bill, was distinctly lack-lustre as, rooted to the spot, she belted out her identikit hits. Sadly, Adam Ant had to pull out, due to his much-publicised illness, putting paid to the possibility - all right, remote, I admit - of a spontaneous and timely Maneaters reunion.

Here And Now is strictly for fun, a chance for thirty and fourtysomethings to dress up in a school uniform and gyrate in synthesiser heaven to those Howard Jones songs you haven't heard since 1983 but, biazrrely, can recollect in full the moment they chime in. 

But Toyah's 20-minute turn came early on, before most of the assembled pop fans had managed the pre-requisite few beers to get them properly into the party mood. Following the openers, China Crisis, she was met with an attentive but very meek audience.

As Toyah grinningly bounded around the stage, we sat still and clapped politely when instructed. 

Toyah said she wanted Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham to hear us. A tall order. She warned us she'd be lynched if we weren't out of our seats and dancing by the time Go West appeared. Collectively, we appreciated her point of view and promised to take her comments on board.

Her participation bit during I Want To Be Free - the one she always used to do, involving the inquiry "Whaddaya wanna be?" to illicit the answer "Free!" - got a sluggish response. But then, she had to try. In fact, she was a perfect party hostess. Charming and full of zesty bonhomie. 

At a gig like this you can't come on all mystical and intense. It just wouldn't work.
 
 

When Toyah appeared I was breathless. She looked spectacular. She was absolutely gorgeous!!  All week long I have been dying to see pics of her on this tour but never saw any, not even in the papers. I had an image in my mind but it was not what I saw, but that does not mean I was in any way disappointed.
     Her performance was probably the best I have ever seen. Her hair was long and golden, she is so slim, there is no way she needs plastic surgery!!!!!  I was also amazed at the number of people singing along with her. I was screaming her name out all the time she was on stage. Then before I knew it she was gone. Then the mc said " and thanks to the Toyah fan."

(Michael O'Brien - Toyah Fan)

Thanks to Michael too, for the Toyah pic from the Sheffield gig:)