Toyah - Four From Toyah

I Love 1981 pt. 7
Lest we forget....although I believe early 80s starlet Toyah (real name Toyah) has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years as fund-raiser, Tellytubbie voice and even as a musical performer.
Emerging from the Brummie drama-school-meets-punk-rock scene Ms. Wilcox was a kind of half-way between Siouxsie and Kate Bush with her aggressive, warbling voice and theatrical "dance" moves and OTT make up and stage costumes. Toyah was actually the name of the whole band in the early days although the monicker gradually became associated with herself only. Well, it was her name in the first place I suppose.

Although 1980's Sheep Farming in Barnet and The Blue Meaning (ehem..) were often mentioned in trendy musical despatches, it wasn't until the Four From Toyah EP, with lead track It's a Mystery, that the flame haired chanteuse and her mates got a taste of chart success getting as high as no. 4, suitably trumped out of the top 3 by "competition" blonde Kim Wilde. Published an EP, I have no recollection whatsoever of the other 'three' tracks, but fear not, I am informed that they can be found on the CD edition of the ensuing Anthem album.

Toyah maintained a decent chart run in 81 and 82, thanks above all to her Numan-esque type loyal fanbase, although quite what appealed to them to me remains a myth-te-wyy (sorry, had to get that in). Take it away Toyah band...

Toyah now lives with her husband Mr Robert Fripp in Evesham, Worcs. and apparently occasionally records and performs with a band called The Humans.

Toyah official site here