Counting down to the
first "From Sheep Farming To
Anthem" gig this Sunday...Here is a rare 'Sheep Farming In
Barnet' era photo of Toyah from 1979.
Please click on it if you'd like to
download a larger wallpaper version,
without the FSF-A logo. (Thanks to Andi
for this great picture)
Official
Toyah: Toyah Kicks Off Concert
Dates
15 March, 2011
TOYAH
KICKS OFF CONCERT DATES AT LEGENDARY
CAVERN CLUB
Hot on the heels of her performance in
the final of Let’s Dance For Comic
Relief, Toyah kicks off a series of
hotly-awaited, special live concerts this
coming Sunday, 20 March at the legendary
Cavern Club in Liverpool.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of her
hit single It’s A Mystery and the
platinum-certified album, Anthem, the
concerts will see Toyah perform her
greatest hits and a cherry-picked
selection of songs from her first three
albums and early singles – many of
which haven’t been performed live
since the early Eighties.
In addition, Toyah will perform alongside
Nik Kershaw, Jimmy Somerville, Hazel
O’ Connor & Rick Astley at the
special Mencap charity concert, Our
Friends Acoustic, at London’s The
Grand on 12 May. To see Toyah’s full
gig diary for 2011 with links to buy
tickets click here.
Dreamscape
News Archive: February 2011
15 March, 2011
Our Toyah news for a, very
busy, February
2011
has now been archived: From Sheep Farming
To Anthem, Rewind: The 80s Festival, The
Tempest, Let's Dance For Comic
Relief, Rock & Bike Festival
2011, The Magical Faerie Festival,
Dreamscape TV (erm...), Toyah on BBC2's Daily
Politics and the coverage it
received, a rare tv interview from 1985,
Marigolds/'Quicksilver', Toyah on STV's The
Hour, At The Rainbow, '100
Hits: 80s Rewind' CD, live at Kings Place
with Weekend Guitar Trio, Dreamscape
marking 30 Years of 'Four From Toyah'...
and more!
From Sheep
Farming To Anthem: Counting Down
#2
15 March, 2011
We're
counting down to Sunday's
premiere "From Sheep Farming To
Anthem" gig at The Cavern,
Liverpool.
Over the next week we are going to
dedicate a page a day to a classic Toyah
song that should, though not necessarily
will, be included in the FSF-A set list.
Though, every song from the first three
albums are classic Toyah.
LOVE
ME: Has always been one of my
favourites; incredible vocals, incredible
band, awesome production from Steve James
& Toyah. View the second countdown
page here.
DID YOU KNOW: The house
on the cover of 'The Blue Meaning' is
Wykehurst Manor/Place situated in
Wykehurst Park in Bolney, West Sussex? It
was famously used for location filming in
the 1973 horror movie The Legend Of
Hell House as well as a number of
other films (The Eagle Has Landed,
Oh! What A Lovely War),
including a few Hammer Horror's. Built
between 1871 - 74, it was most recenty
used as a hotel.
TV Times
1980: Toyah - Rebel Without A
Pause
14 March, 2011
Counting
down to the first "From Sheep
Farming To Anthem" gig this
Sunday...
Here's an interview with Toyah from 'TV
Times' in October 1980.
She's been a Hell's Angel, a waitress and
a go-go dancer. She used to sleep in a
coffin and believes the next Antichrist
is due in 1982. She is now, aged 22, a
post-punk singer and actress who has
played the National Theatre. On Thursday,
in a Minder episode, All Mod
Cons, she plays Kate, a girl about
to be married, whose future home, a gify
from a relation, contains squatters. Her
name is Toyah Willcox, and her hair is
bright red (it's been through about 30
colour changes so far), her clothes
(tights, top and tiny cloak) are black,
and among her jewellery are bird-claw
ear-rings and a false eye made into a
ring.
• Read the
interview via full scan here.
(Thanks to Andi)
Hawkinge
Gazette: Toyah Flying Visit To
Faerie Festival
14 March, 2011
Toyah
Willcox is a special guest at this year's
Canterbury Magical Faerie Festival in
April.
Toyah first became well-known during the
punk rock era, with her appearances in
Derek Jarman's 1977 film Jubilee and the
1979's Who album-inspired Quadrophenia.
Fronting a band known as Toyah, they hit
the charts in 1981, with "It's a
Mystery" followed by several other
huge hits including "Thunder In The
Mountains" and "I Want to Be
Free". In 1982, she was voted Best
Female Singer at the British Rock and Pop
Awards.
Over the past 5 years The Magical Faerie
Festival has continued to steadily grow
and now welcomes over 2,000 people during
the 3 day celebration.
There are many special guest artists,
performers and workshops attending the
festival from all over the world.
From Sheep
Farming To Anthem: Counting Down
#1
14 March, 2011
The
countdown has begun! The 'From
Sheep Farming To Anthem' *Premiere* gig
takes place on Sunday, 20th March at The
Cavern, Liverpool.
Anticipation for Toyah's "Classics
Revisited Live 2011" dates has been
growing and now the first gig is almost
here.
The set list is, of course, being kept
secret, only helping to build even more
excitement, but over the next seven days
we are going to dedicate a page a day to
a classic Toyah song that should, though
not necessarily will, be included. Every
song from the first three albums is a
classic.
COMPUTER: A song written
over 30 years ago and yet far more
lyrically relevant than much of the music
clogging up the charts in 2011! View the
first countdown page here.
DID
YOU KNOW: The iconic cover shot
of Toyah on 'Sheep Farming In Barnet' was
taken at Fylingdales Radar Base in
Yorkshire? It almost didn't happen as
security guards chased Toyah and
photography crew from the high security
site. The three "golf balls" no
longer exist, they were removed in the
early 90's.
• View more details and
book tickets for The Cavern gig, here.
Visit The Official 'From Sheep Farming To
Anthem' page, here.
Let's Dance
For Comic Relief: The Final
13 March, 2011
Ok,
come on now, who thought they would ever
see Toyah with pink hair (ok, pink wig!)
again? Let alone sporting it while on
prime time BBC One dancing with Chesney
Hawkes to 'Grease Lightning', while Louis
Spence recovers from being snogged by the
aformentioned Mr Hawkes? You couldn't
make it up!!
Toyah came over all Frenchy (I had to
Google that ;)) on last night's Let's
Dance For Comic Relief final. It was
a fun evening and congratulations to,
winners, James Thornton and Charlie
Baker, but also to everyone who took part
and have, so far, raised over £1 million
for Comic Relief. Please click on the
caps for larger versions.
You Tube:
Let's Dance For Comic Relief: 80s
Final
13 March, 2011
The standalone "80s
Supergroup" Grease Lightning
final performance at 'YouTube'. Watch the
complete clip below or double click to
view at 'YouTube'. Video courtesy of RedNoseDay.
Celebrity
Naked Ambition: The Ebony Tower
13 March, 2011
A short clip of The
Ebony Tower was shown after all on
last night's, two hour plus, Celebrity
Naked Ambition. Greta Scacchi
figured highly in the countdown and she
reminisced about baring all with Toyah
while making the drama in France in 1983.
View larger versions of the caps by
clicking below.
Let's Dance
For Comic Relief: Final @ 'BBC
iPlayer'
13 March, 2011
Watch last night's complete Let's
Dance For Comic Relief final at BBC
iPlayer, here.
It's available until next Saturday
evening, and can also be viewed in HD at
BBC iPlayer, here.
Let's Dance
For Comic Relief: Final Tonight
BBC1
12 March, 2011
Toyah @
iTunes: Top 10/Anchoress/New
Compilations
12 March, 2011
The
current iTunes Top 10 Toyah
downloads, with seven songs from 'Anthem'
included, is:
1. It's A Mystery, 2. I Want To Be Free,
3. Thunder In The Mountains, 4. Latex
Messiah (Viva La Rebel In You), 5.
Jungles Of Jupiter, 6. Pop Star, 7. I Am,
8. Masai Boy, 9. Demolition Men, 10. War
Boys
Toyah's 1993 film Anchoress,
finally released on region 2 DVD in 2009,
is now available to buy or rent
at iTunes.
Toyah is included on two recent exclusive
iTunes compilations. All songs included
on both are the rerecorded versions from
the 'Looking Back' album: Punk Power
features 'Obsolete', and also includes
songs by Hazel O'Connor. The New
Wave Mix
features 'Thunder In The Mountains, 'I
Wanna Be Free' and 'Danced', and also
includes Theatre of Hate, Iggy Pop, Sex
Pistols and Bad Manners.
Let's Dance:
Backstage/Results Screen Captures
12 March, 2011
It's the final batch of our Let's
Dance For Comic Relief screen
captures. Toyah and co backstage (in a
BBC corridor!) and then the elimination
and results at the end of last week's
show.
Killing Made
Easy: 10 Years...
12 March, 2011
Exactly 10 years ago Toyah
made her first musical recording of the
21st century with vocals on a track,
'Lime in the Coconut', with the band
Chester in March 2001. This later evolved
into the brilliant 'Killing Made Easy' by
Family Of Noise, available for download
at Amazon
and iTunes.
Toyah Newsy
Bits & Pieces!
12 March, 2011
•
There's lots of excellent online
promotion for Toyah's 2011 live gigs, in
particular the "From Sheep Farming
To Anthem" dates. There's a great
page at The Cavern's website, where the
"From Sheep Farming..."
premiere gig takes place a week tomorrow.
View the page here,
and book tickets for The Cavern gig, here.
• 'Atrix' have also just added a new
page at their website on the, just
announced, "From Sheep
Farming..." gig taking place there
in July. View their page here.
• Chesney
Talks Toyah,
and much more, in a new interview with
'Digital Spy'.
• Thanks to everyone for their 11th
Birthday messages. Very much appreciated,
as always!
Daily
Record: 80s 'Supergroup' To
Record Charity Single
11 March, 2011
A
new interview with Clare Grogan in
today's 'Daily Record'. She talks behind
the scenes at Let's Dance For Comic
Relief, being friends with Toyah,
maybe a slight change to this week's
'Grease Lightning' routine, and possible
plans next year for the quartet to record
a Comic Relief single.
Clare Grogan and 80s 'super
group' set to record charity single after
fun for Comic Relief
Last night, Clare revealed: "We are
thinking of joining forces and doing a
Comic Relief song for next year. We get
on so well and I think it's a really
lovely, funny idea. She said: I've had
such a giggle with them. Toyah and I are
the bossy ones. All you can hear is Toyah
and I shouting, 'Move, move quicker,
hurry up, hit the spot', and they say,
'Stop shouting at us'."
• Read the full interview at the
'Daily Record' website, here.
The
Telegraph: Let's Dance For Comic
Relief: Preview
11 March, 2011
Michael
Hogan explains why the latest series of
the celebrity talent contest, which ends
tomorrow, has been the most entertaining
so far.
The third series of this charity
celebrity prance-off has been the best
yet: daftly entertaining, pulling in
decent ratings of over 7million and full
of ramshackle,
raiding-the-dressing-up-box charm.
Tomorrow comes the live grand final, with
the six remaining acts squeezing into
their Lycra and storming the dancefloor
one last time to recreate an iconic
routine.
• Read the full preview at 'The
Telegraph' website, here.
Toyah on TV:
Let's Dance/Casualty/Celebrity
Attic
11 March, 2011
Let's
Dance For Comic Relief : BBC1 - Sat 12th
March : 7.10pm Steve Jones and
Alex Jones host the nail-biting finale of
the series which has seen some of
Britain's best-loved comedians and
television personalities step into their
dancing shoes to raise money for Comic
Relief. Finalists include Russell Kane
performing as Beyonce, Katie Price
Breaking Free with a vacuum cleaner, Noel
Fielding with his uncanny Kate Bush
impression and Charlie Baker and his best
mate James Thornton tapping into the
viewers' hearts. With Miranda Hart, Louie
Spence and Rufus Hound, and a performance
from Plan B.
Celebrity
Naked Ambition : Ch4 - Saturday 12th
March : 9.00pm
Celebrity Naked Ambition : Ch4 +1 -
Saturday 12th March : 10.00pm
British bombshell Kelly Brook hosts this
countdown of the A-list stars who have
dared to bare in the movies. Incudes
Greta Scacchi talking about Laurence
Olivier, Toyah and The Ebony Tower,
so there may be a clip. Also airing on
Ch4 HD.
Casualty : Watch -
Thursday 17th March : 8.00am
Casualty : Watch +1 - Thursday 17th March
: 9.00am Comfort Zone. Ruth's pregnancy
fears are confirmed, leaving her torn
between her ambition to be a surgeon and
strengthening feelings for Jay. Toyah
Willcox guest stars as a woman who
accidentally injures her baby son.
Cash In The
Celebrity Attic : Watch - Saturday 19th
March : 12.00pm
Cash In The Celebrity Attic : Watch -
Sunday 20th March : 6.15am
Cash In The Celebrity Attic : Watch -
Sunday 20th March : 10.00am
80s pop icon and actress Toyah Willcox
invites the team into her home to raise
money for MacMillan nurses. She even gets
on the podium herself to sell some items.
Also on Watch +1.
We Are... 11
10 March, 2011
I
wasn't going to bother making a fuss
about it but I've marked every site
'birthday' one way or another so... We
are 11 years online today and,
like Toyah herself, we have gone through
many, many changes!!
To the left: Some of our many site logos
from over the years (click for a larger
version), and below: Screen shots of the
various versions of Dreamscape. I can
still remember putting together that
first version all those years ago.
I'm hoping to keep this site going for at
least another year, so here's to our 12th
year of Toyah news and stuff, and thanks,
once again, to everyone who has sent
news, photos, comments and friendship
over the last 4015 days - The horns
of elfin land are (still) calling you
:)
Let's Dance:
Performance/Judges Screen
Captures
10 March, 2011
Screen captures from the
"80s Supergroup" Let's
Dance For Comic Relief performance
(just a few - most of it was too fuzzy!)
and judge's comments. Please click on the
caps for larger versions.
Coming Soon: (Yep,
more!) The final batch of caps: Backstage
and the results/vote off.
• the better the currently announced
FROM SHEEP FARMING TO ANTHEM dates sell,
the better chance there is of more being
added incl. London; time for the faithful
to show the sign of the Voor & extra
support :)
• 1 song not heard live since 1980.
1 song not heard live since 1981. 1 song
not heard live since 1982. These &
more will be on the SHEEP-ANTHEM set list
folks..
Let's Dance
For Comic Relief: VT Screen
Captures
9 March, 2011
Screen captures from the
"80s Supergroup" Let's
Dance For Comic Relief short comedy
film. This was shown immediately before
their performance. Please click on the
caps for larger versions.
Daily Mail:
Greta's Celebrity Naked Ambition
9 March, 2011
Actress
Greta Scacchi, 51, says in Celebrity
Naked Ambition, a C4 documentary on March
12, that one of her fondest memories is
of stripping off and giving Sir Laurence
Olivier ‘a little thrill’ when
she was 22 and he 78.
Toyah
was mentioned in Tuesday's 'Daily Mail'
(page 19) in a small article concerning
Greta Scacchi and The Ebony Tower.
This is related to a programme entitled Celebrity
Naked Ambition airing on Channel 4
this Saturday at 9pm.
It looks like there could possibly be a
brief clip of The Ebony Tower
shown. The article is also available to
view at the 'Daily Mail' website, here.
(Thanks to Penny Andrew)
View a selection of Weekend
Guitar Trio with Toyah and Jan Bang
photos, from their Kings Place appearance
on Saturday 26th February, at 'Flickr', here.
From Sheep
Farming To Anthem: Two More Dates
8 March, 2011
Two
more 'From Sheep Farming To Anthem' dates
have been confirmed for July and
September.
There are now nine
confirmed dates in total. Although these
dates, obviously, aren't being promoted
as a "tour" I know from
speaking to people that many are thinking
of the gigs as a tour of sorts!
Saturday 23 July 2011:
Artrix, School Drive, Bromsgrove: www.artrix.co.uk
[Tickets on sale soon] Friday 30 September 2011:
Villa Marina Promenade Suite, Isle Of Man
[ Tickets ]
With just 12 days until the
first concert, at The Cavern in Liverpool
on Sunday 20th March, rehearsals are in
full swing. Tickets for The Cavern are
available here.
Rewind:
Toyah Chats To STV's The Hour
8 March, 2011
Some
of you may have caught Toyah Willcox on
Wednesday's episode of STV's The Hour,
performing an acoustic version of her
classic track "It's A Mystery"
and chatting about Rewind Scotland.
If
you missed her fantastic performance and
interview you can check it out here
(go to part 4).
Toyah will
be performing at Rewind on Sunday
31st July.
Toyah Newsy
Bits & Pieces!
8 March, 2011
• Andi Fraggs
was interviewed on The Rowetta &
Nick Show on Gaydio last Saturday,
during which he talked about Toyah, her
influence on music, and how she sometimes
deserves more recognition than she
receives. Listen to the interview, via
podcast, at Rowetta's website, here.
• Red Nose Night - What A
Line Up!: View full details, at
'RedNoseDay' here,
of Comic Relief - Funny For Money,
airing on Friday 18th March, 7pm - 1.30am
on BBC One.
• If I can find time I'm hoping to
add more screen caps from last Saturday's
Let's Dance For Comic Relief in
the run up to this weekend's final.
Let's Dance
For Comic Relief: Rehearsal
Screen Captures
6 March, 2011
Screen captures from the Let's
Dance For Comic Relief rehearsals.
Click on them for larger versions.
You Tubing
With Let's Dance For Comic Relief
6 March, 2011
The standalone "80s
Supergroup" Grease Lightning
performance at 'YouTube'. Watch the
complete Seventiestastic clip below or
double click to view at 'YouTube'. Video
courtesy of RedNoseDay.
Let's Dance
For Comic Relief: Intro Screen
Captures
6 March, 2011
Screen captures from the Let's
Dance For Comic Relief intro. Click
on them for larger versions.
Let's Dance
For Comic Relief @ 'BBC iPlayer'
6 March, 2011
Congratulations to Toyah,
Clare, Chesney and Limahl, as well as Ade
Edmondson, all through to next week's Let's
Dance For Comic Relief final. View
last night's full show now at BBC
iPlayer, available until just before next
week's live final on BBC1. Please click
below to head to iPlayer.
Red Nose
Day: The 80s Meets The 70s
6 March, 2011
80s
Super Group: Chesney Hawkes, Toyah
Willcox, Clare Grogan and Limahl,
re-enact all-time 70s favourite Grease
Lightning and boogy their way through to
the final.
Toyah, Clare, Chesney and Limahl's
"80s Supergroup" Grease
Lightning performance is available
to view at the 'Red Nose Day' website.
•
View the clip at the 'RedNoseDay'
website, here.
Red Nose
Day: Last Let's Dance Finalists
Chosen
6 March, 2011
It
was Ade Edmondson who won the all
important public vote with his cracking
ballet performance of 'The Dying Swan' -
dressed, of course, in a shiny pink
leotard and huge fluffy tutu.
Next in line were TV presenters Caroline
Flack and Joe Swash who performed a
dazzling routine to the Black Eyed Peas
hit 'My Humps', and the 1980's super
group consisting of Toyah Willcox,
Limahl, Clare Grogan and Chesney Hawkes,
who danced their socks off to 'Grease
Lightning'.
It
was left to the celebrity panel to decide
who would get the last remaining spot,
and celebrity panellist Felix Dexter made
the casting vote, awarding the '80s super
group the much coveted place in the
final.
Next Saturday night will see the ultimate
dance-off between all six finalists as
they each try to win over the public and
get crowned the Let's Dance for Comic
Relief 2011 champion. Proceeds from the
public vote will go to Comic Relief to
help transform lives across the UK and
Africa. Make sure you don't miss the
final showdown next Saturday night.
• View the full report
at the 'RedNoseDay' website, here.
Magnus Opus
Music: 'The Best Of Toyah' CD
Offer
6 March, 2011
...
And the marketing opportunity award
of the weekend goes to... But
seriously, this is a great offer (via
Twitter last night) from 'Magnus Opus
Music', not sure how long it runs for.
Toyah The Best of CD for only
£2.50. Enter the code TOYAH at the
checkout. Toyah - The Best of
CD: All the hits and more including
"It's a Mystery", "I Want
To Be Free" and many more on one
fabulous CD. Deleted Title - Limited
Stock!
Track Listing:
1. Be Proud, Be Loud, Be Heard
2. It's A Mystery
3. I Want To Be Free
4. Neon Womb
5. Ieya
6. War Boys
7. Angels And Demons
8. Thunder In The Mountains
9. Good Morning Universe
10. Rebel Run
11. Furious Futures
12. Run Wild, Run Free
13. Brave New World
14. The Vow
15. I Explode
16. Sphinx
17. Stand Proud
18. Dance(d) (Live)
Access All
Areas: Our Friends Acoustic
6 March, 2011
Our
Friends Acoustic The 80s Extravaganza Is
Back In Aid Of Mencap
A NIGHT OF THE BEST STRIPPED-BACK
HITS FROM THIS ICONIC DECADE
@ THE GRAND IN CLAPHAM THURSDAY 12 MAY
The 80s may be gone but are by no means
forgotten, as ‘Our Friends
Acoustic’ returns for a one off show
in aid of learning disability charity
Mencap. On Thursday 12 May at The Grand
in Clapham, Nik Kershaw hosts a night
which will feature performances from;
Rick Astley, Toyah, T’Pau, Cutting
Crew, Hazel O’Connor, Katrina
(former Katrina and the Waves), Jimmy
Sommerville (Bronski Beat and The
Communards) and Nik Kershaw himself. This
spectacular event promises a night to
remember, as each era defining artist
performs unique, acoustic versions of
their greatest hits. Tickets go on sale
Wednesday 2 March priced at just £25,
with all proceeds going to learning
disability charity Mencap
www.ticketmaster.co.uk – don’t
miss out on a chance to re-visit the 80s
in all their glory! Round up your friends
for a night of fun, 80s classics and
dancing!!
• View the full article at the
'Access All Areas Music' website, here.
Let's Dance:
Newsy Bits & Pieces
6 March, 2011
• Further to
yesterday's report on Toyah topping
Yahoo's "Trending Now" list,
she stayed in the Top 10 for all of
yesterday and returned to number one
search as Let's Dance For Comic
Relief aired on BBC1 last night.
• Ade Edmondson uploaded a photo of
himself and Chesney Hawkes yesterday.
• BT Life:
Finally, eighties singers Toyah Willcox
(It’s a Mystery), Clare Grogan
(Happy Birthday, Don’t Talk To Me
About Love) and Limahl (Too Shy), formed
an unlikely super group with early
nineties sensation Chesney Hawkes (The
One and Only). Performing to Greased
Lightning, they seemed to enjoy
themselves more than any other act.
•
Daily Mail:
Retro Heroes: 'Eighties Supergroup' Toyah
Willcox, Limahl, Chesney Hawkes, and
Clare Grogan were runners up and will
take their place in next week's grand
final. Limahl, Chesney Hawkes, Clare
Grogan and Toyah proved they had the
moves when it came to taking on younger
upstarts on the dancefloor tonight.
• Keep an eye on the Comic Relief RedNoseDay
website
for updates on Let's Dance For Comic
Relief, as well as details on how to
donate and raise money for this
incredibly worthy cause.
• What's On
TV:
The 80s supergroup - consisting of
Limahl, Clare Grogan, Toyah and Chesney
Hawkes - who took part despite having had
his biggest hit in the early 90s - won
the judges vote with their tribute to
Greased Lightning from Grease.
• Digital Spy:
The '80s supergroup - consisting of
Chesney Hawkes, Toyah Willcox, Limahl and
Clare Grogan - finished in the top three
with their homage to classic musical
Grease and faced off against I'm A
Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here Now!
hosts Caroline Flack and Joe Swash.
• The Press
Association:
An 80s 'supergroup' consisting of Limahl,
Toyah Willcox, Clare Grogan and 90s pop
star Chesney Hawkes wore leather jackets
and overalls for a high energy routine to
Grease Lightning. The foursome won the
second finalist's place after being voted
through by Bishop and Dexter.
Twitter Goes
Toyah Crazy
5 March, 2011
Twitter went Toyah
crazy post-performance on Let's Dance
For Comic Relief earlier tonight.
Here are just a few tweets:
Is
that Toyah Wilcox?! I heart Toyah. Now
I'm rooting for the 80s... Uhoh. Two
things that get a huge amount of my time
+ cash. Toyah & The Boosh. Torn final
votes indeed... I spent a lot of time in
80's trying to get my hair like Toyah
unsuccessfully... Congratulations to
Toyah and the 80s Super Group for being
voted into the final next week of Let's
Dance for Comic Relief... Toyah and
Claire Grogan.. Two of my eighties
lusts... In fairness, Toyah & Claire
Grogan are wearing well... Toyah AND
Claire Grogan? Pretty sure I had a
fantasy about that at school... Robert
Fripp is on BBC1. Wearing a spangled name
badge with 'Toyah's husband' written
large... Toyah and Clare do it for me too
:)... Robert Fripp spotted in the
background of Let's Dance for Comic
Relief supporting Toyah. Now *that* is
love... I am going to watch Comic Reliefs
dance thing in a minute on iplayer purely
cause Robert Fripp was on there
supporting Toyah.
Let's Dance
For Comic Relief: Vote
Now
5 March, 2011
Toyah Tops
Yahoo UK Trending Now/Search
5 March, 2011
Around
Midday today Toyah was number one on the
'Yahoo UK' "Trending Now" Top
10. This is the first time I can ever
recall seeing Toyah's name in there, and
it means there must be a LOT of people
searching for her via Yahoo today.
As of this update, @ 1.50pm, she was
still trending at number four. (Thanks to
Greg Fowler for the news flash)
Official
Toyah: March 2011 Blog/Let's
Dance BBC1 Tonight!
5 March, 2011
Toyah's March blog is now at
www.toyahwillcox.com.
Don't forget that Toyah dances for Comic
Relief live this evening on BBC1. Let's
Dance For Comic Relief airs at
6.40pm. There are hundreds of Let's Dance
related internet news stories and tweets
namechecking Toyah at the moment!
Photo(s) Of
The Week: So Far
5 March, 2011
Someone asked about previous
"Photo(s) Of The Week". There's
only been 10 but here they are...
Northern
Echo: Toyah at Newcastle Eighties
Night Gig
5 March, 2011
Punk
princess Toyah Willcox will perform at an
Eighties night in aid of the NSPCC on
Saturday, March 26.
The Retro Ball at Life Conference and
Banqueting takes place at the Centre for
Life, in Newcastle.
As well as live music from Toyah, the
event will include a drinks reception,
three-course dinner and more
entertainment including: break dancers,
charity auction, and retro games
including KerPlunk and Space Invaders.
Danny Mitchell, corporate fundraising
manager for the NSPCC, says: “We
thought a fun retro theme would connect
many people to a time when they were
younger and remind them of the daft
things they used to do. Our Retro Ball
will be a really fun event but it’s
important to remember why we’re
doing this."
• View the full story at 'The
Northern Echo' website, here. NB:
This Toyah appearance has not been
officially confirmed as yet!
Daily
Record: Toyah Willcox On The 80s
Revival
3 March, 2011
A
new interview, published today by the
'Daily Record'.
Toyah
Willcox on the 80s revival, plastic
surgery and the scary thought of dancing
for Comic Relief
Singer Toyah Willcox has
admitted her "knees are
knocking" at the prospect of
performing on Saturday's Let's Dance For
Comic Relief. The 52-year-old is part of
a group, also made up of Chesney Hawkes,
Altered Images' Clare Grogan and
Kajagoogoo's Limahl, who hope to make it
through to the final on March 12.
The 80s icon leaned forward
with the smile of a cougar and said:
"We all want to get our hands on
Chesney. "He doesn't have a chance.
All three of us are after him."
• View the full
interview at the 'Daily Record' website, here.
Daily
Record: Exclusive: Toyah Willcox
'It's A Mystery'
3 March, 2011
With
a career spanning over 30 years, Toyah
Willcox performs a special acoustic
version of her hit 'It's a Mystery'
exclusively for dailyrecord.co.uk. Toyah
heads to Scotland this summer as part of
the Rewind Scotland Festival at Scone
Castle.
• Click below to view this at the
'Daily Record' website.
BBC iPlayer:
Coming Soon: Let's Dance For
Comic Relief
3 March, 2011
BBC iPlayer is already
gearing up for Episode 3 of Let's
Dance For Comic Relief. The show
will be available at iPlayer almost
immediately after it airs this Saturday
evening on BBC1 at 6.40pm.
The Magical
Faerie Festival 2011
3 March, 2011
Visit the updated website
for The Magical Faerie Festival. This
looks like it will be a wonderfully
colourful festival. Toyah plays a PA at
The Canterbury City Faerie Ball on Friday
22nd April.
Crave Metal:
Toyah Returns To The Neon Womb
3 March, 2011
She was one of the
original pioneers in the punk rock
movement, but with a prolific career
spanning over 30 years, 2011 welcomes
Toyah Willcox back onstage in an audience
approved trip back in time, and return to
her outrageous roots. With a number of
special gigs throughout the up and coming
year, including a one off home-coming
show in Birmingham, Toyah will be
performing hits from her popular and
iconic early albums ‘Sheep Farming
In Barnet’, ‘The Blue
Meaning’, ‘Toyah! Toyah!
Toyah!’ and ‘Anthem’. Her
stamp in the world of music sets her
firmly into the immortal realm of rock
legends, with 13 top 40 singles, and 20
albums since her breakthrough single
“It’s A Mystery” first hit
the charts back in 1981.
Toyah is also currently working on new
material with writing partner Bill
Rieflin, (who was a member of Ministry
and Nine Inch Nails), and so eclectic as
her full house audiences are, from our
perspective it’s great to see her
embrace the alternative scene again,
which saw what many would say, her most
favored and ground breaking releases to
date.
Toyah’s Birmingham show is at The
HMV Institute on 16th April 2011, and
features her full live band, plus support
from special guest goth/rock outfit,
Deadfilmstar.
This Fragile
Moment on Radio 3/Weekend Guitar
Trio Filmed
3 March, 2011
'Fragile' by This
Fragile Moment was played on BBC Radio
3's In Tune programme on 23rd
February.
Toyah — Fragile
Performer: Toyah Willcox, Performer:
Chris Wong (bass), Performer: Markus
Reuter (guitar), Performer: Fragile
(Estonian duo: Arvo Urb, Robert
Jurjendal).
Unsung Records UR012CD, T6
• Some of the concert by Weekend
Guitar Trio with Toyah and Jan Bang was
recorded for future broadcast on Estonian
TV. So, if you are in Estonia look out
for it. (Thanks to Michael)
Daybreak:
Interview: Screen Captures
2 March, 2011
Screen caps from Toyah and
Chesney Hawke's great interview on Daybreak
this morning. Chesney seemed suitably
impressed by Toyah's 'I Want To Be Free'
video and Toyah swayed along to Chesney's
acoustic 'The One And Only'. Please click
on the caps for larger versions.
Apologies that these are such low
quality, my capturing software is, a bit
like myself, past its sell by date!
Daybreak:
Newsy Bits & Pieces!
2 March, 2011
•
Chesney Hawkes uploaded a great photo of
himself and Toyah to twitpic earlier
today, along with a sweet caption:
"My lovely dance partner for Let's
dance...x #Toyah Willcox." View here.
•
Watch, the main part of, Toyah and
Chesney's guest appearance at ITV.com's Daybreak
website,here. Chesney
Hawkes serenades Christine with his
biggest hit, plus find out why he's
joining Toyah Willcox to raise cash for
Comic Relief.
• View a slew of
(small, unless you are registered) photos
from today's Daybreak at 'Rex
Features' here.
Screen captures from Daybreak's
three Toyah and Chesney "Coming
Soon" teasers, dotted through this
morning's programme. Please click on the
captures for larger versions.
Toyah
has been confirmed as one of the special
guests at a very special night, Our
Friends Acoustic - the best
stripped-back hits from an iconic decade
in aid of Mencap.
TICKETS
ON SALE WEDNESDAY 2nd MARCH
The
80s may be gone but are by no means
forgotten, as ‘Our Friends
Acoustic’ returns for a one off show
in aid of learning disability charity
Mencap. On Thursday 12th May at The Grand
in Clapham, Nik Kershaw hosts a night
which will feature performances from;
Rick Astley, Toyah, T’Pau, Cutting
Crew, Hazel O’Connor, Katrina
(former Katrina and the Waves), Jimmy
Sommerville (Bronski Beat /The
Communards) and Nik Kershaw himself.
This
spectacular event promises a night to
remember, as each era defining artist
performs unique, unplugged versions of
their greatest hits. Tickets go on sale
Wednesday 2nd March priced just £25,
with all proceeds going to learning
disability charity Mencap from www.ticketmaster.co.uk -
don’t miss out on a chance to
re-visit the 80s acoustically. [ News
Source: Official
Toyah website ]
Daybreak:
Screen Caps... Soon!
2 March, 2011
Please check back later to
view screen caps from Toyah's Daybreak
appearance this morning.
Daybreak:
Toyah Guesting This Morning!
2 March, 2011
Toyah & Chesney
Hawkes will be promoting their imminent
'Let's Dance for Comic Relief' appearance
at 07:40am, Wednesday 2 March on ITV1's Daybreak.
[ News Source: The
Official Toyah Facebook ]
Flashback
Festival 2011
1 March, 2011
The 'Flashback
Festival' website has just been updated
with new flyers/posters promoting this
year's festival at Clumber Park in
August.
Toyah played this last year and is
included in the line up again, though
some of the bands advertised are still
unconfirmed:
The
Human League, Level 42, Heaven 17, Nik
Kershaw, Toyah, with more to be
announced.
Flashback Festival: Saturday 20th
Aug 2011
Come and join us
flashback to the coolest decade in pop
music, bring your picnic with you and
enjoy our fabulous line up of 80s
sensations.
• For further details, ticket info
etc, please click below to visit the
'Flashback Festival' website.
The Tempest
1 March, 2011
With the release of
a new film version of Shakespeare's The
Tempest, comes interest in previous
versions.
Derek Jarman's
version, with Toyah as Miranda, is
mentioned in Shadowlocked's
feature; The Tempest: The Road To A
Female Prospero. "A highly
sexualised Tempest courtesy of Derek
Jarman appeared in 1979 with Toyah
Willcox as Miranda and Heathcote Williams
as Prospero". The Arts
Desk
does similar; "Derek Jarman
understood this precisely in his 1979
chuntering Heathcote Williams-sexy Toyah
Willcox film. It was dark, dressy, deeply
strange - and set, claustrophobically,
poetically, inside. Here, the play’s
been taken outside and kind of left
there."
Toyah Newsy
Bits & Pieces!
1 March, 2011
•
Retro You Tubing #1: The
original announcer intro to the ATV docu
TOYAH from December 1980: Speaking of
Wonder Woman, here's quite a lady... View
here.
• Retro You Tubing #2:
Strange but sort of interesting, the
adverts between TOYAH: View here.
•
Current You Tubing #1:
Toyah's interview on The Hour
last week is now at 'YouTube'. View here.
• Current You Tubing #2:
As is the full show. View here.
• Toyah, via Melissa Caplan, is
namechecked in the second part of a
recent 'The Swelle Life' article on
designer Judith Frankland. View that here.
• Toyah was, once again, included on
the "Playlist for Dark Night of the
Soul with Julie" last night on
'WFMU'. They played 'I Want To Be Free'.
View here.
Ok,
come on now, who thought they would ever
see Toyah with pink hair (ok, pink wig!)
again? Let alone sporting it while on
prime time BBC One dancing with Chesney
Hawkes to 'Grease Lightning', while Louis
Spence recovers from being snogged by the
aformentioned Mr Hawkes? You couldn't
make it up!!
The
current iTunes Top 10 Toyah
downloads, with seven songs from 'Anthem'
included, is:
Let's
Dance For Comic Relief : BBC1 - Sat 12th
March : 7.10pm Steve Jones and
Alex Jones host the nail-biting finale of
the series which has seen some of
Britain's best-loved comedians and
television personalities step into their
dancing shoes to raise money for Comic
Relief. Finalists include Russell Kane
performing as Beyonce, Katie Price
Breaking Free with a vacuum cleaner, Noel
Fielding with his uncanny Kate Bush
impression and Charlie Baker and his best
mate James Thornton tapping into the
viewers' hearts. With Miranda Hart, Louie
Spence and Rufus Hound, and a performance
from Plan B.
I
wasn't going to bother making a fuss
about it but I've marked every site
'birthday' one way or another so... We
are 11 years online today and,
like Toyah herself, we have gone through
many, many changes!!
Two
more 'From Sheep Farming To Anthem' dates
have been confirmed for July and
September.
• Further to
yesterday's report on Toyah topping
Yahoo's "Trending Now" list,
she stayed in the Top 10 for all of
yesterday and returned to number one
search as Let's Dance For Comic
Relief aired on BBC1 last night.
Twitter went Toyah
crazy post-performance on Let's Dance
For Comic Relief earlier tonight.
Here are just a few tweets:
Is
that Toyah Wilcox?! I heart Toyah. Now
I'm rooting for the 80s... Uhoh. Two
things that get a huge amount of my time
+ cash. Toyah & The Boosh. Torn final
votes indeed... I spent a lot of time in
80's trying to get my hair like Toyah
unsuccessfully... Congratulations to
Toyah and the 80s Super Group for being
voted into the final next week of Let's
Dance for Comic Relief... Toyah and
Claire Grogan.. Two of my eighties
lusts... In fairness, Toyah & Claire
Grogan are wearing well... Toyah AND
Claire Grogan? Pretty sure I had a
fantasy about that at school... Robert
Fripp is on BBC1. Wearing a spangled name
badge with 'Toyah's husband' written
large... Toyah and Clare do it for me too
:)... Robert Fripp spotted in the
background of Let's Dance for Comic
Relief supporting Toyah. Now *that* is
love... I am going to watch Comic Reliefs
dance thing in a minute on iplayer purely
cause Robert Fripp was on there
supporting Toyah.
Toyah & Chesney
Hawkes will be promoting their imminent
'Let's Dance for Comic Relief' appearance
at 07:40am, Wednesday 2 March on ITV1's Daybreak.
[ News Source: 
With the release of
a new film version of Shakespeare's The
Tempest, comes interest in previous
versions. 
