Multi-talented Toyah just loves getting back to her roots

Jun 30 2009 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal

Since the early 80s, Toyah Willcox has been a name synonymous with something. Whether it be pink hair, alternative remedies, plastic surgery or an iconic children’s TV show. Sam Wonfor talks to her ahead of a return to her (non-hair-related) roots.

“The nice thing about being the age I am, is that rather than being pressurised into something which is being mass marketed, I can choose to do something at my own pace because I want to do it. It’s a terrific feeling.”

Apparently the new band “don’t really work in the UK” ... but apparently go down a storm in Estonia and will be having a crack at a second album and some States dates later this year.

So with that digression sorted, let’s return to the 80s-flavoured shows we were talking about.

“I was in Ireland for an Easter (Here and Now) show and will also do some of the English festivals. It’s a worldwide brand now. It’s really nice to get up on stage and do 20 minutes ... and then you’re with your friends,” she adds, speaking of her fellow performers.

“We share the same band. It has this real feeling of being a travelling family. We are all pretty close and have got over being competitive.

“We can all appreciate what these songs have done for us.”

Toyah says that far from being faced with people of her own generation at these regular celebrations of past pop powerhouses, she is increasingly being greeted on stage by relative youngsters.

“I’ve been noticing how different the audiences are. They are getting younger.

“I did a gig in Shrewsbury recently and 80% of the audience were under the age of 30. People are discovering the music and they like it.

“Eighties music is, for the younger generation of today, what 60s music was to me.

Toyah Willcox plays the South Tyneside Summer Festival at Bents Park, South Shields on Sunday.

Also on the bill are former T’Pau frontwoman Carol Decker and 2002 Fame Academy runner-up Sinead Quinn.

The open-air section of the festival’s programme continues on July 19 with a performance from the Soundpower Orchestra, X Factor star Andy Abrahams on July 26 and on August 2, ABBA tribute band Bjorn Again will be strutting their stuff with support from S Club 3 and former 5ive singer Scott Robinson.

For a full festival programme, visit www.southtyneside.info