Rewind Scotland Festival star Toyah Willcox says it’s a mystery where all her money went

Toyah will be performing at this year’s Rewind Scotland line-up alongside various top 80s acts such as Hue & Cry, Bananarama, and Belinda Carlisle.

Pop star Toyah has revealed she was banned from eating to preserve her image in her ’80s heyday.

And the singer, who stars at this year’s Rewind Scotland Festival at Scone, says she was paid a weekly allowance of just a fraction of the money her records made.

“There were no excesses back then,” Toyah said.

“We were on £30 a week. I was weighed once a week and if I went over, even by an ounce, seven stone three pounds, I wasn’t allowed to eat.

“You read about rock stars with their private jets but we just weren’t allowed that.

“Everything was done on a budget. Whoever was living that lifestyle wasn’t near us.”

Toyah, 56, was a huge star at her peak. But she insists today’s live music scene means things are actually more lucrative.

“Back then the money went into an account we never saw unless you chased accountants and record companies and demanded to see the books.

“I was selling 75,000 singles a day in 1981 and that would still only get you number four in the charts. Now you can get to number one on 10,000 sales.

“But I think there’s more money around now because we can do live work.

“And we employ fewer people. When I’m on the road I’m not taking three trucks and 40 road crew.”

Toyah will perform alongside a host of other big names at Rewind Scotland The 80s Festival at Scone Palace from Friday to Sunday, July 24-26.

The line-up includes Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, Bananarama, Jimmy Somerville, Howard Jones, Five Star and Altered Images on the Saturday.

On Sunday alongside Toyah are OMD, Kim Wilde, Nik Kershaw, Belinda Carlisle, Paul Carrack and Hue & Cry.

For Toyah it’s far from a case of a rare reunion with her fellow Eighties stars.

“We’ve known each other for over 30 years and we know each other’s children now,” she adds.

“Rewind is always such a buzz because it’s such a fabulous family-orientated vibe.”

Tickets on sale now. See rewindfestival.com.