Toyah Willcox's key to 38-year marriage and why she's happy being child-free
Toyah Willcox has given a rare insight into her marriage of 38 years with rock guitarist Robert Fripp.
The punk singer, 65, married Robert, who has worked with the likes of David Bowie and Brian Eno, in 1986. They have gone on to work together as well as creating their viral Sunday Lunch series, which they now tour. Toyah and Robert, 77, film themselves every week performing covers of huge hits including Slipknot's Psychosocial, Billy Idol's Rebel Yell and Foo Fighters' All My Life.
In an exclusive chat with The Mirror, Robert and Toyah have shared the secret to their successful marriage of almost four decades. Sharing what it is like touring together, Toyah said: "It's exactly the same as being married for 38 years, it's good. We both come from very different genres." Robert added: "But we complement each other well, I have a wonderful time being out working with my wife, may I say, even having greater fun than when we were at home together."
Toyah and Robert make weekly videos together and have taken their duo act on tour (Toyah/Youtube)The couple have often spent much of their time apart due to their busy touring schedules. Speaking of lockdown, Robert said: "It was probably the first time since we've been married that we were actually together one day after the other on a continued basis. Up until that point, we'd only be together about eight weeks of the year because of our touring schedules."
Toyah and Robert, who was the founder of King Crimson, now head out on tour together thanks to the huge success of their online videos. She admitted performing together as husband and wife "normalises the experience" especially backstage. Toyah added: "Whereas if I'm working with other musicians that is purely a working relationship. But when we're working together I feel strangely more at home with the experience because I have a lifetime companion with me.
Strictly's Molly Rainford and Tyler West fuel romance rumours while on tour
"When I'm on my own you just become a bit more of a self-surviving professional, whereas when you're together, everything is shared." Robert said: "I adore my wife. My wife is lots of fun to be with. My wife is constantly mischievous, and one of her favourite little things is to make me jump." Toyah quipped: "It does make me aware I might give them a heart attack!"
They have been married 38 years (Getty Images)
Toyah has said they 'never considered' having children (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Cla)Explaining the key to their successful marriage, Toyah said: "I think we're both very independent. And because of our independent careers, we can have breathing away from each other. I would say to any couple trust and allow that in your relationships. Having these breathing space spaces, I think are really, really valuable.
"We don't have children, we never even considered having children. Hats off to those people who do because that commitment is extraordinary. I think with us we've managed to remain unique and independent as well as being a couple. We both travel the world independently of each other working, and we come back together because we want to - there's always a freshness in our marriage."
Robert added: "And if for any reason I'm falling asleep on that, my wife will hide and jump back on me just to remind me of how much fun it is being together."
Toyah and Robert will be performing at the North West’s favourite family-friendly festival, Deva Fest this summer. Find out more here.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
