Toyah Willcox

www.toyahwillcox.com

Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958 in Kings Heath, Birmingham) is an English actress and singer.

Contents

1 Early life and career

2 Punk era

3 Singer

4 Acting

5 Autobiography

6 Radio

7 Recent activities

8 Personal life

9 Discography

9.1 Albums

9.1.1 Compilations

9.1.2 Collaborations

9.1.3 Reissues

9.2 Singles / EPs

10 Filmography

10.1 TV appearances

10.2 Music videos

10.2.1 Other music compilations

11 Notes

12 References

13 External links

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Early life and career

Toyah's father ran a successful joinery business. She attended Edgbaston C of E College where she gained a GCE pass in music and trained as an actress at the Old Rep Drama School in her home town of Birmingham.

Punk era

She first became well-known during the punk rock era, her appearances in Derek Jarman's 1977 film Jubilee and 1979's Who album-inspired Quadrophenia launching her as a provocative and anti-establishment figure.

Singer

Fronting a band known as Toyah, her singing career was slow to take off and the band released six singles in the UK before finally hitting the charts in 1981, with "It's a Mystery." This was followed by several other huge hits including "Thunder In The Mountains" and "I Want to Be Free." These singles were also successful on an international level. In the early eighties, Toyah also had her own successful make-up range called 'Soul Searches'.

In 1982, she was voted Best Female Singer at the British Rock and Pop Awards since restyled as The BRIT Awards, or "BRITs" and in 1986 she married UK guitarist Robert Fripp. She was one of the first acts to score regularly in the UK Singles Chart with EPs. Also in 1986, Willcox sang lead on the Tony Banks track "Lion of Symmetry." In 1987 she made the top fifty with her version of "Echo Beach."

Toyah has released 30 albums (both as a solo artist, and part of groups), 22 of which have been studio albums, 7 of which have been UK Top 40 successes. She has 13 UK top 40 singles, making her one of the most successful female artists in British history.

In 2001, 'Q' magazine named Toyah number 48 in their top 100 Greatest Women in Music poll, as voted for by readers of the magazine.

In 2009, Toyah came 7th in a BBC series naming the 'Queens of British Pop,' as voted for by the British Public.

In 2010, Toyah will perform with her band 'The Humans' at the London Roundhouse 'Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser' concert. She will also be performing both as a solo artist and as part of 'The Humans' on various dates across the UK.

Acting

Toyah's acting career began with the Old Rep Drama School in Birmingham and her theatre career includes Shakespeare plays and other productions such as Tales from the Vienna Woods at the National Theatre and in Trafford Tanzi at the Mermaid Theatre. She has played Calamity Jane at the Shaftesbury Theatre and was a guest vocalist in the anniversary tour of The Rocky Horror Show at the Royal Court Theatre. In 1990 she played Costanza in the national tour of Amadeus. She is currently (11th December 2009 to 10th January 2010), in pantomime playing Queen Ivannah in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Lyceum in Sheffield.

She has starred in a number of feature films including Jubilee and Quadrophenia and has had many television roles, including series such as Quatermass (1979) and Minder. In 1984 she starred opposite Laurence Olivier in The Ebony Tower and the same year, opposite Katharine Hepburn in the made-for-television movie The Corn is Green, directed by George Cukor. She has also appeared on Kavanagh QC and Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

She has also appeared as a presenter of programmes such as Songs of Praise, Holiday (BBC), and Good Sex Guide Late as well as being a guest on several shows such as The Heaven and Earth Show, Through the Keyhole and Loose Women.

In 1999, she took the lead in the children's television series Barmy Aunt Boomerang. She also provided the voices for the children's television programmes Teletubbies and Brum.

She has also appeared in the reality television series I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and I'm Famous and Frightened!.

Autobiography

Toyah has had two best selling books published. Following her 2000 autobiography Living Out Loud, Toyah had a further autobiographical book published in 2005 documenting her experience of cosmetic surgery, Diary of a Facelift.

Radio

She has been heard on radio including the 2002 BBC Radio 4 series The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. She is also credited with voicing the widow Fantine in Focus on the Family Radio Theatre's version of Les Miserables. In December 2006, she joined the radio drama series Silver Street on the BBC Asian Network as Siobhan Brady.

Recent activities

In 2002, Toyah became a prominent opponent of planned accommodation centres for asylum seekers near the Worcestershire village, Throckmorton. Protesting together with more than 1000 villagers, Willcox said, "The villagers are not anti-asylum seekers and they are not racists," adding that "It was not a simple black and white issue." Commenting on the Government's plans to build asylum centres in other rural areas, Toyah said "This is only the first of 15. The sheer scale is mind-boggling. This is a small country - it's all happening illegally."

She continues to perform with her band, releasing a live DVD in 2005, and has a busy schedule with theatre commitments, including appearing on stage in London's West End performing the title role of Calamity Jane at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2003.

Toyah was approached to tour Estonia by the Estonian ambassador in 2006, where she went on to form new band 'The Humans'

In 2007, she collaborated with Bill Rieflin as The Humans for live dates in Estonia. Previews of this material can be heard at "The Humans Myspace page". http://www.myspace.com/wearethehumans. .

Toyah is writing, recording and co-producing new solo material with long-term collaborator Simon Darlow. A preview of one of these songs, "Latex Messiah", can be heard at Toyah's official MySpace page as well as clips of new songs "Lesser God" and "Heal Ourselves". Toyah is currently negotiating a worldwide publishing deal with Zomba. "Latex Messiah" was released as a single on 29 October 2007; the associated album, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, was released on 12 September 2008.

In November 2007, Toyah took on the role of sponsoring the Black Country Urban Park for the Peoples 50M BIG Lottery. In April 2008, Toyah took part in the Great Walk To Beijing alongside other celebrities to raise money for Olivia Newton-John's Cancer charity. In June 2008 she appeared on Living With The Dead on LivingTV to share her experiences living in her haunted home. On 24 July 2008 Toyah appeared on the UK ITV1 This Morning (TV series) to discuss her role as a vampire in rock musical Vampires Rock. As part of Liverpool's European Capital Of Culture year, she will be performing for the first time ever at the newly opened Liverpool Echo Arena and Conference Centre. In 2009, a new version of Vampires Rock was created, called Vampires Rock Christmas, and Toyah is back in her role as the Killer Queen, next to the writer and one of the stars of the show, Steve Steinman.

On Sunday 5 July she will play at the Bents Park, South Shields in a live outdoor concert, and in October 2009 she made a guest appearance in the BBC1 drama series Casualty.

In 2009, Toyah has found continuing success with her new band 'The Humans. Fronted by Toyah, 'the Humans' also features Bill Reiflin of the internationally successful band R.E.M and Chris Wong. 'The Humans' also features Toyah's husband and 'King Crimson' guitarist Robert Fripp as an occasional member.

Personal life

She currently lives in Pershore, Worcestershire, UK, with her husband Robert Fripp. They married in 1986 in Poole, Dorset.

Discography

Albums

With Toyah (band)

Title

Year

Highest Chart

Date

Sheep Farming In Barnet

1979

-

-

The Blue Meaning

1980

40

14 June 1980

Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (live)

22 (certified Silver)

17 January 1981

Anthem

1981

2 (certified Gold)

20 May 1981

The Changeling

1982

6 (certified Silver)

 ?

Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour

20

 ?

Love Is The Law

1983

28

 ?

Mayhem

1985

-

-

As a solo artist

Minx (1985) #24 (UK Albums Chart)

Desire (1987)

Prostitute (1988)

Ophelia's Shadow (with members of King Crimson) (1991)

Take The Leap! (Japan-only release, same content as Leap!) (1994)

Dreamchild (1994)

Looking Back (re-recorded versions of old tracks) (1995)

The Acoustic Album (re-recorded versions of old tracks) (1996)

Velvet Lined Shell (mini album) (2003)

In The Court Of The Crimson Queen (2008)

We Are The Humans (2009) (As part of the band 'The Humans')

This Fragile Moment (2009) (This Fragile Moment is a music project formed by Toyah Willcox, Robert Jrjendal, Arvo Urb, Chris Wong and Markus Reuter)

Compilations

With Toyah (band):

Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (1984)

Best Of Toyah (1994)

Live & More: Live Favourites & Rarities (1998)

The Very Best of Toyah (1998)

Proud, Loud & Heard: The Best of Toyah (1998)

The Safari Singles Collection Part I: 19791981 (2005)

The Safari Singles Collection Part II: 19821983 (2005)

Good Morning Universe - The Very Best of Toyah(2008)

Collaborations

The Stranglers & Friends Live in Concert (with The Stranglers et al., lead/backing vocals on four tracks) (1982)

Lion of Symmetry (with Tony Banks on the album Soundtracks) (1986)

The Lady or the Tiger (with Robert Fripp) (1986)

Kneeling At The Shrine (with Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, and Paul Beavis, as Sunday All Over The World) (1991)

Kiss Of Reality (with Kiss Of Reality, lead vocals on six tracks) (1993)

The Third Star (by Trey Gunn, lead vocals on the track Symbiotic) (1996)

Cabaret (with Nigel Planer) (1997)

How to Dress Sensibly (with various artists collective created by English Eccentrics, backing vocals on track One Cup of Tea) (2007)

Reissues

With Toyah:

Sheep Farming In Barnet (1990)

The Blue Meaning (1990)

Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (live recording) (1990)

Anthem (with extra tracks) (1999)

The Changeling (with extra tracks) (1999)

Sheep Farming In Barnet/The Blue Meaning (double CD with extra tracks) (2003)

Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour (abridged reissue on one CD) (2003)

Mayhem (with extra tracks) (2005)

Love Is The Law (with extra tracks) (2005)

Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (live recording with extra tracks) (2006)

As a solo artist:

Phoenix (reissue of Dreamchild) (1997)

Ophelia's Shadow (2003)

Prostitute (2003)

Minx (with extra tracks) (2005)

Take The Leap! (UK release of Japanese album from 1994 with extra tracks) (2006)

Singles / EPs

Collaborations:

"Nine To Five" (with Adam Ant as Maneaters) (1982)

"Lion of Symmetry" (EP with Tony Banks) (1985)

"Killing Made Easy" (limited release with Family of Noise) (2004)

With Toyah (band):

Title

Year

Highest Chart

Date

Victims of the Riddle

1979

-

-

Sheep Farming in Barnet EP

-

-

Bird in Flight / Tribal Look

1980

-

-

Ieya

-

-

Danced (Live)

-

-

Four from Toyah EP

1981

4

28 March 1981

I Want to Be Free

8

16 May 1981

Thunder in the Mountains

4

3 October 1981

Four More from Toyah EP

14

12 December 1981

Brave New World

1982

21

22 May 1982

Ieya (re-issue)

48

17 July 1982

Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard)

30

9 October 1982

Rebel Run

1983

24

24 September 1983

The Vow

50

12 November 1983

As a solo artist:

Title

Year

Highest Chart

Date

"Don't Fall in Love (I Said)"

1985

22

27 April 1985

"Soul Passing Through Soul"

57

29 June 1985

"World in Action"

93

21 September 1985

Echo Beach

1987

54

25 April 1987

"Moonlight Dancing"

-

-

"Out of the Blue"

1993

-

-

"Now and Then"

1994

-

-

"Little Tears of Love" (limited release)

2002

-

-

"Latex Messiah (Viva La Rebel in You)" (Digital release)>

2007

6 (iTunes Rock chart)

29 October 2007

"These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" (The Humans)

2009

Filmography

Jubilee (1977) Mad

The Corn is Green (1979) Bessie Watty

The Tempest (1979) Miranda

Quadrophenia (1979) Monkey

The Ebony Tower (1984) Anne

Anchoress (1993) Pauline Carpenter

Julie and the Cadillacs (1999) Barbara Gifford

The Most Fertile Man in Ireland (1999) Dr Johnson

Three To Tango (2009) Michelle

TV appearances

Quatermass (1979) Sal

Shoestring (1979)

Minder (1980)

Tales of the Unexpected (1982) Marigold - Blue Marigold episode

Dear Heart A BBC comedy sketch series Toyah appeared in, playing a number of characters, including Super Advice Person, Jules Says, and Gina & Tina (1982)

The Ebony Tower (1983) Anne (The Freak) - with Laurence Olivier

Pop Quiz Christmas Special (1984)

French & Saunders (1988) Herself

Boudicca (1988)

Cluedo (1990) Miss Scarlet (An ITV Programme)

First Night on TV (1992) (Toyah hosted this arts programme)

Thirty Years in the TARDIS (Doctor Who Documentary. VHS release AKA "More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS) (1993) Herself

The Ink Thief (1994) "Dog"

Presenting...Toyah on VH1 (1997)

Light Lunch" (1997)

Boys From The Black Country - The Slade Story (1998) (Toyah presents this programme)

It's Slade (1999) (Toyah appears in this documentary)

Barmy Aunt Boomerang (1999)

Rock Legends (2002) (Herself)

Open House Panto Special (2002)

QueenMania" (2005) (Toyah performs the Queen song 'Don't Stop Me Now")

Proud Parents. Channel 4 (2006) Herself

Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2007)

In Your Dreams (2008) Herself

Living With The Dead (2008)

Celebrity Mastermind (2008)

Psychic Therapy (2009) Herself

Celeb Experiences (2009) Herself

Hole In The Wall (2009) Herself

Celebrity Brides Unveiled (2008) Herself

Celebrity Life Skills (2009) Herself

The One Show (2009) Toyah discusses Marc Bolan and his influence on her

Casualty, BBC TV Series, Season 24 Episode 6, guest appearance, Hazel Tillier, (screened 10 October 2009)

Celebrity Ready Steady Cook Christmas Special (2008) Herself

Toyah has also appeared in many shows looking back on popular culture, including the 'I'm a celebrity' series, and various 'Top 100 favourite' shows.

Music videos

Toyah at the Rainbow (1981) (live recording from Rainbow Theatre)

Good Morning Universe (1982) (live BBC recording from Theatre Royal, Drury Lane)

Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (1984) (companion to K-tel LP of same name; compilation of four pop videos and one live track)

Wild Essence - Live in the 21st Century (2005) (live recording)

Other music compilations

Urgh! A Music War (1981) (live performances by various artists, featuring Toyah's Danced)

Notes

^ BBC News website

^ Telegraph website

^ Worcester News website

^ Marriages England and Wales 19842005

^ a b c Chart Stats - Toyah

^ collection of unreleased & archive material

^ Also known as Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! All The Hits. This K-tel release is sometimes confused with the earlier 1980 live album of the same name but it contains different material: it's a compilation of various studio-recorded singles-chart hits and other tracks originally released between 1979 and 1983.

^ Double CD including solo material and unreleased demos/mixes spanning the whole of Toyah's musical career thus far.

^ Released as cash-in single. Originally appeared on the Jubilee Original Soundtrack album.

^ Dreamscape Toyah fansite

^ TV Easy magazine, Issue 22-28th Sept, page 4

References

Astley, Craig (20002008). "Official Toyah Willcox Web Site, The". http://www.toyahwillcox.com. 

Evans, Gayna (July 1982). Toyah. Proteus. ISBN 0-86276-102-6. 

Gilligan, Bev & Driscol, Margarette (1982). Official Toyah Special, The. Grandreams ltd. ISBN 0-86227-071-5. 

Roberts, David (23 May 2003). British Hit Singles (16th Edition). Guinness World Records ltd. ISBN 0-85112-190-X. 

West, Mike (April 1982). Toyah. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-0062-0. 

Willcox, Toyah (17 August 2000). Living Out Loud. Hodder & Stoughton ltd. ISBN 0-340-74570-3. 

Willcox, Toyah (17 March 2005). Diary of a Facelift. Michael O'Mara Books. ISBN 1-84317-135-X. 

External links

The Official Toyah Willcox Web Site

The Official Toyah MySpace

Toyah Willcox at the Internet Movie Database

Tellurian Online - a Toyah Wiki

Dreamscape - a comprehensive Toyah fansite and forum

'Toyah' the 1980 documentary on YouTube

Mermaid Days - Toyah Willcox in Trafford Tanzi

Persondata

NAME

Willcox, Toyah Ann

ALTERNATIVE NAMES

SHORT DESCRIPTION

Singer, actress

DATE OF BIRTH

18 May 1958

PLACE OF BIRTH

Kings Heath, Birmingham, England

DATE OF DEATH

PLACE OF DEATH

Categories: English female singers | English pop singers | English television actors | English stage actors | Participants in British reality television series | I'm a CelebrityGet Me out of Here! contestants | People from Birmingham, England | People from Pershore | 1958 births | Living people
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