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Toyah
Toyah performing on BBC1's Top of the Pops in 1981.
Toyah performing on BBC1's Top of the Pops in 1981. Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, was a long-running British music chart Television programme, made and broadcast
Background information
Origin England
Genre(s) Punk rock, Rock music, New wave, Gothic rock
Years active 1977-1983
Label(s) Safari Records
Associated acts Blood Donor
Members
Toyah Willcox
Joel Bogen
Phil Spalding
Adrian Lee
Nigel Glockler
Former members
Steve Bray
Pete Bush
Charlie Francis
Mark Henry

Toyah is the name of the band fronted by Toyah Willcox between 1977 and 1983. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. New Wave is a Rock music genre that existed during the late 1970s and the 1980s This article is about the musical style of gothic rock For the goth scene in general see Goth subculture. In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958 in Kings Heath, Birmingham) is an English actress and Singer. Joel Bogen is an English rock and punk Guitarist. He worked with Toyah Willcox from the late 1970s to 1983 as the guitar player in Phil Spalding (born 19 November 1957 in London is an English bass player Adrian Lee (b 9 Sep 1957, London, England) is an English musician known especially for his keyboard work with several well-known acts of the Nigel Glockler, British drummer famous for his staying in Heavy metal band Saxon. Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958 in Kings Heath, Birmingham) is an English actress and Singer. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) The only other consistent band member throughout this period was Joel Bogen, Willcox's principal co-writer and guitarist. Joel Bogen is an English rock and punk Guitarist. He worked with Toyah Willcox from the late 1970s to 1983 as the guitar player in

Contents

Early days

The band began life in June 1977, and played their first gig without a name or a bass player. After several minor line-up changes, and a brief period called Ninth Illusion before recording any music whatsoever, the band began to record early demos in Toyah's converted warehouse Mayhem - which comprised offices, recording and rehearsal rooms for many young bands on the London scene at that point, including the Toyah band themselves, who quickly took their name from their unusual vocalist and figurehead.

Early demos recorded during 1978 included songs called "Mother", "Hunger Hill", "Eyes", "Computers", "Gaoler", "Waiting", "Danced", "Neon Womb", "Problem Child", "Little Boy" and "Israel", several of which would make it onto the band's early releases, and several others would emerge on the later rarities compilation Mayhem in 1985. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Mayhem is a collection of previously unreleased material consisting mostly of demos and tracks not included on previous albums Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar)

The band soon signed to indie label Safari, and their debut single was released in July 1979. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Entitled "Victims Of The Riddle", it featured following band line-up:

Their next release was an extended 33 rpm EP[1] entitled Sheep Farming In Barnet, and was released in August 1979. Joel Bogen is an English rock and punk Guitarist. He worked with Toyah Willcox from the late 1970s to 1983 as the guitar player in An extended play ( EP) is a Vinyl record, CD, or Music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify Sheep Farming in Barnet is the debut album by Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records The band followed this up with another non-album single, "Bird In Flight"/"Tribal Look", and their full-length debut The Blue Meaning. The Blue Meaning is the second album by Toyah, released in 1980 by Safari Records

Commercial success

Following Willcox's appearance as punk musician "Toola" in an episode of the UK TV series Shoestring, ATV[2] filmed the band during this period, both off-stage and on. Shoelaces (also shoestrings, shoe laces or boot laces) are a system commonly used to secure Shoes The shoelace can be untied and loosened permitting Associated TeleVision Limited, best known simply as ATV, was a British ITV company from 1955 until 1981 The result was a hit documentary watched by 10 million viewers, propelling Toyah into the mainstream, and the live album Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!. Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! is a live album recorded by Toyah on 17 June 1980 at the Lafayette Club in Wolverhampton

The line-up changed in 1981, with only Willcox and Bogen remaining for the band's next set of releases. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 They were joined by Phil Spalding on bass, Nigel Glockler on drums and Adrian Lee on keyboards, and released the hit EP "Four From Toyah", the lead-track from which is a cover called "Its A Mystery" - originally recorded by Sheep Farming's producer Keith Hale and his band Blood Donor. Phil Spalding (born 19 November 1957 in London is an English bass player Nigel Glockler, British drummer famous for his staying in Heavy metal band Saxon. Adrian Lee (b 9 Sep 1957, London, England) is an English musician known especially for his keyboard work with several well-known acts of the " Four From Toyah " was the sixth UK single and second EP by the band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released in 1981 The song was a major success, and subsequent promotion pushed the EP to #4 in the UK singles charts. The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC on behalf of the British record industry

The album it is taken from, the aptly titled Anthem, reached #2 that same year, and also featured the anthemic smash hit "I Want To Be Free", which charted highly in the UK (#8), Ireland (#10) and South Africa (#10). Anthem was Toyah 's most successful album to date propelling them into both the UK Album Charts as well as the singles charts with releases Two more hit singles appeared - "Thunder In The Mountains" featuring an impressively over-the-top video from Godley & Creme, and the "Four More From Toyah" EP, with its lead track "Good Morning Universe". Godley & Creme were a duo of English Pop musicians and Music video directors Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. This introduced Simon Phillips on drums, who had replaced Nigel Glockler (who had left to join Saxon). Simon Phillips (born 6 February 1957 in London) is a prolific English Jazz and rock Drummer. Nigel Glockler, British drummer famous for his staying in Heavy metal band Saxon. Saxon are an English heavy metal band formed in 1977 in Barnsley, Yorkshire.

The band were now a mainstream success across the UK and much of Europe, but hopes of another massive success were not on the minds of Willcox and Bogen, as they went into the studio to record the follow up to Anthem. Now seeing Adrian Lee's keyboard duties taken over by newcomer Simon Darlow and Joel Bogen, the band recorded a much darker gothic album entitled The Changeling. This article is about the musical style of gothic rock For the goth scene in general see Goth subculture. The Changeling was Toyah 's follow-up album to the critically acclaimed Anthem. The album was still a success, as was lead single "Brave New World", but neither reached the heights of their predecessors, and a follow up single announced as "Dawn Chorus" never materialised - a new track, "Be Proud, Be Loud (Be Heard)" emerging instead. The album was followed by a highly successful tour, captured for posterity on the double live album Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour. Warrior Rock Toyah On Tour is a live double LP recorded on 17 July and 18 July 1982 at London's Hammersmith Odeon at the end of Toyah The live line-up added Keith Hale on keyboards, and the album shows a truly stunning live act at their peak.

End of an era

The final Toyah album, Love Is The Law, followed in 1983, and again saw another line-up change, with only Willcox, Bogen and Darlow remaining. Love Is the Law is the last studio album released in 1983 by Toyah as a band before Toyah Willcox embarked on her solo career Phillips had been replaced by Andy Duncan, and Spalding shared bass duties with Brad Lang: both Phillips and Spalding had moved on to work with Mike Oldfield. Michael Gordon Oldfield (born 15 May 1953 in Reading, Berkshire) is an English Multi-instrumentalist Musician Singles from the album, however, failed to set the charts alight, and the band's final single, "The Vow", peaked only at #50.

Willcox and Bogen parted ways the following year - the pair writing several songs which never reached the recording studio, and Bogen co-writing one song for Toyah's debut solo album Minx in 1985. Minx was the first album released by Toyah Willcox as a solo artist Toyah herself had left Safari at this point, after being signed to CBS off-shoot Portrait as a solo artist. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. As a parting gift to the band's fans, Safari raided their archives and released the rarities compilation Mayhem - featuring demos and unreleased songs - however, this was done without Toyah's consent or knowledge - she found out about the album by spotting it on import in a record store in America.

Glockler joined Saxon where he stayed for many years. Saxon are an English heavy metal band formed in 1977 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. Phillips was already an extremely in-demand session musician when he joined Toyah and remains so. Phil Spalding became one of the most sought-after session bassists in the world.

There were discussions regarding a Toyah band reunion in the late '90s/early 2000s. For whatever reasons, it never got off the ground.

Toyah goes solo

Toyah Willcox's first attempt at going solo was a drastic change of style - the album Minx, released in 1985, was worlds apart from the angry, opinionated, strong-willed woman who had made her name with ferocious new-wave punk songs. This was pop of the highest order, with Toyah employing songwriting teams and stylists to give her a polished new look and style in an attempt to crack America. It failed, and was Toyah's last charting album. As her albums progressed, she became more and more experimental, later collaborating on several records with her husband, Robert Fripp. Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946 in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England) is a Guitarist, Composer and a Record Her last album to date was the 6-track project Velvet Lined Shell, which many saw as a return to her punk roots.

Toyah Willcox's solo career [though always released under the name Toyah] was dramatically different to the music she made with Joel Bogen and company, though she often revisits songs from this era, including re-recordings spread across three different albums from the mid 1990s. Her recent live sets have been almost entirely made up of Toyah band songs, with only a smattering of later solo tracks and cover versions.

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Reissues

Singles

For more information on Toyah Willcox's solo recordings, please refer to her individual wikipedia entry. Sheep Farming in Barnet is the debut album by Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records The Blue Meaning is the second album by Toyah, released in 1980 by Safari Records Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! is a live album recorded by Toyah on 17 June 1980 at the Lafayette Club in Wolverhampton Anthem was Toyah 's most successful album to date propelling them into both the UK Album Charts as well as the singles charts with releases The Changeling was Toyah 's follow-up album to the critically acclaimed Anthem. Warrior Rock Toyah On Tour is a live double LP recorded on 17 July and 18 July 1982 at London's Hammersmith Odeon at the end of Toyah Love Is the Law is the last studio album released in 1983 by Toyah as a band before Toyah Willcox embarked on her solo career Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (sometimes known as Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! All The Hits by including the cover slogan to differentiate it from the earlier live For the Albuquerque Telemundo station see KTEL-LP. K-tel International is an " As-Seen-On-TV " company which is most noted for Mayhem is a collection of previously unreleased material consisting mostly of demos and tracks not included on previous albums Mayhem is a collection of previously unreleased material consisting mostly of demos and tracks not included on previous albums Sheep Farming in Barnet is the debut album by Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records The Blue Meaning is the second album by Toyah, released in 1980 by Safari Records Anthem was Toyah 's most successful album to date propelling them into both the UK Album Charts as well as the singles charts with releases The Changeling was Toyah 's follow-up album to the critically acclaimed Anthem. Warrior Rock Toyah On Tour is a live double LP recorded on 17 July and 18 July 1982 at London's Hammersmith Odeon at the end of Toyah Love Is the Law is the last studio album released in 1983 by Toyah as a band before Toyah Willcox embarked on her solo career Mayhem is a collection of previously unreleased material consisting mostly of demos and tracks not included on previous albums Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! is a live album recorded by Toyah on 17 June 1980 at the Lafayette Club in Wolverhampton "Victims Of The Riddle" was the debut single from the post-punk band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released in 1979 Sheep Farming in Barnet was the second single by Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records Bird In Flight / Tribal Look was the third single by Toyah, and was released in 1980 by Safari Records "IEYA" was the fourth UK single from the post-punk band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released in 1979 " Danced (Live " was the fifth UK single from the post-punk band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox. " Four From Toyah " was the sixth UK single and second EP by the band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released in 1981 " I Want To Be Free " was the seventh UK single by the band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released on 7th May 1981 " Thunder in the Mountains " was the eighth UK single by the band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released in 1981 " Four More From Toyah " was the ninth UK single and third EP by the band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released at the end of 1981 " Brave New World " was the tenth UK single by the band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released in 1982 Ieya '82 was the eleventh UK single by the band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released in the summer of 1982 "Rebel Run" was the thirteenth UK single by the band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released in September 1983 over a year since the band's last single The Vow was the fourteenth and final UK single by the band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, and was released in November 1983 Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958 in Kings Heath, Birmingham) is an English actress and Singer. Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958 in Kings Heath, Birmingham) is an English actress and Singer.

Band Members

Notes

  1. ^ Marketed as an "Alternate Play" record by their label Safari Records
  2. ^ ATV was a division of ITV
  3. ^ Sometimes known as Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! All The Hits by including the LP's cover slogan in the name to differentiate it from the 1980 live album of the same name

References

External links

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