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XTC

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This article is about the band XTC. For the drug, see MDMA.
XTC

XTC are an influential new wave band from Swindon, England.

History

The early years, 1972–1977

First coming together in 1972, the core duo of Andy Partridge (guitars & vocals) and Colin Moulding (bass & vocals) went through many band names (including The Helium Kidz and Star Park) over the next five years. As the Helium Kidz, they featured in a small NME article as an up-and-coming band from Swindon. Drawing influence from the New York Dolls and the emerging New York punk scene, they played glam rock with homemade costumes and slowly built up a following. Drummer Terry Chambers joined in 1973. Keyboard player Barry Andrews followed in 1976, and the band finally settled on a name: XTC. By this time, the punk rock movement was in full swing, and XTC had found their style, a unique brand of hyperactive pop mixed with funk, punk, ska, reggae, and art rock.

The touring years, 1977–1982

In 1977 XTC was signed by Virgin Records. They recorded the 3D - EP that summer, and followed it up with their debut LP White Music in January 1978. White Music received favorable reviews and entered the British top 30, but lead single "Statue of Liberty" was banned by the BBC for making lewd references to the famous statue.

File:XTC - Making Plans For Nigel picture cover.jpg
Original UK 45 rpm single picture cover: XTC - Making Plans For Nigel

After their second effort, Go 2, and the accompanying bonus disc Go + (a collection of dub mixes of songs from the album), Andrews left and was replaced by guitarist and keyboardist Dave Gregory. Andrews went on to form Shriekback and also worked with Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen. With Gregory's arrival, the band scored their first charting single, Moulding's "Life Begins at the Hop".

The loss of Andrews' distinctive keyboard playing started the band on a path towards a more traditional rock sound, although Gregory also contributed occasional keyboards (and later, string arrangements). The resulting album, Drums and Wires, contained the band's first big hit, "Making Plans for Nigel" (right), which caused a minor controversy because of its lyrical reference to British Steel. The album found the band branching out into more overtly political topics, culminating in the unhinged ranting of "Complicated Game", which became one of the band's most well-known non-hits. Drums and Wires also marked their first sessions at London's Townhouse Studios. The studio was at the time much sought after for its highly reverberant "live" drum room, and it was greatly favoured by their producer of the time, Steve Lillywhite and his engineer Hugh Padgham.

File:XTC - Smash Hits Mar Apr 1980 magazine cover.jpg
XTC on the cover of a 1980 issue of Smash Hits

During this period, Partridge also further indulged his love of dub, releasing a solo LP in 1980 under the name 'Mr Partridge'. The album, Take Away/The Lure of Salvage, featured radical dub deconstructions of music from the preceding XTC albums. Later the same year Moulding and Chambers released the "Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen" single under the name The Colonel.

Their 1980 LP, Black Sea spawned the hit singles "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" and "Generals and Majors". The song "Sgt Rock" namechecks the comic book character of the same name and reflects Partridge's lifelong obsession with American comics, particularly the work of Steve Ditko.

The last major hit of XTC's touring phase was "Senses Working Overtime", the first single from their double album English Settlement and a top 10 hit in 1982. At the peak of their popularity, the band embarked on a major tour, but Partridge suffered a breakdown on stage during one of the first concerts of the tour in Paris on March 18 1982.

The studio years, 1982–1992

Andy Partridge's breakdown, which manifested itself as uncontrollable stage fright, was reportedly precipitated by his wife throwing away his supply of Valium. According to the band's biography, Andy had become dependent upon the drug after it was prescribed to him as a teenager during his parents' divorce. He reportedly was never withdrawn from the drug and became dependent on it.

Concerned about her husband's dependence on the drug, Partridge's wife ill-advisedly threw his tablets away — without seeking medical advice — just before the Paris concert. Not surprisingly, Partridge suffered anxiety attacks of such severity that he was soon forced to withdraw from touring permanently. The European and British dates were cancelled and after one show in San Diego the whole US leg was also abandoned. Since then, XTC has been exclusively a studio band, although they have given occasional live-to-air performances from radio stations, and have made a handful of TV appearances as well.

Chambers left the band shortly thereafter, during the recording of their 1983 album Mummer. He was unhappy with the confines of the studio, and also felt the loss of income that resulted from their withdrawal from touring (he did not write, and so received no publishing royalties). Another major factor was his relationship with his Australian girlfriend; they subsequently married, and Chambers migrated to Australia and settled in Newcastle, New South Wales. Rather than finding a replacement, XTC has used a series of session drummers over the years, including Peter Phipps, Prairie Prince of The Tubes, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson and Mr. Mister, Chuck Sabo, and Dave Gregory's brother, Ian Gregory (as "E.I.E.I. Owen").

If Mummer saw Partridge cooling his heels with pastoral songs like "Love on a Farmboy's Wages", the band's next album took a noisy left turn. 1984's The Big Express, surprised both their record company and fans alike with its abrasive sound and became XTC's poorest seller to date. The album was nonetheless a personal high point for Partridge, who considers songs such as "(The Everyday Story of) Smalltown" and "Train Running Low on Soul Coal" amongst the best he has ever written.

In 1986, the band travelled to Todd Rundgren's studio-in-the-woods in Woodstock, New York to record Skylarking. Although the pairing of XTC and Rundgren was highly anticipated by fans, the sessions were less than enjoyable for the band. Rundgren had insisted that the band send him, in advance, demos of all the songs that they thought they might tackle for the record. When the band got to Woodstock, Rundgren had already worked out a running order for both the recording and sequence of the album itself. True to his "hands-on" studio production style, Rundgren insisted that everyone adhere to his scheme. This did not sit well with the band, Partridge in particular. The two egos of Rundgren and Partridge clashed frequently during the recording of Skylarking and when it was finished Partridge said that he was not at all happy with the resulting product. Partridge has since softened his view, describing the album as "a summer's day baked into one cake."

Skylarking revived the band's commercial fortunes, earning critical accolades and spawning the controversial hit "Dear God", which was originally issued as the B-side of the album's first single, "Grass". Interest in the song saw the album re-pressed with "Dear God" included and the new version of the LP sold 250,000 copies in the USA. ("Dear God" replaced "Mermaid Smiled", which was absent from the album until it was finally reinstated for the remastered Skylarking CD in 2000.) "Dear God" later received additional attention when Sarah McLachlan recorded her own version .

The band's follow up, Oranges and Lemons, produced by Paul Fox, was their biggest seller yet, with "Mayor of Simpleton" and "King for a Day" getting heavy airplay on MTV. It was during this period that Partridge began a relationship with an American fan, Erica Wexler, the niece of famed American record producer Jerry Wexler. Although signs of the failing of Partridge's first marriage were evident as far back as English Settlement (notably on the album's closing track, "Snowman"), it was some time before the still-married Partridge felt comfortable with Wexler's advances; this awkward situation is chronicled in the song "Another Satellite". However, the relationship finally came to fruition after Partridge's first wife Marianne left him. Wexler and Partridge are happily together.

During their long career, XTC have also released material under a variety of pseudonyms, including two albums of psychedelic parodies as "The Dukes of Stratosphear" (ultimately released on a single CD, Chips from the Chocolate Fireball, simultaneous with the second album's vinyl release), a Viz comics promotional single as "Johnny Japes and his Jesticles", a Christmas-themed single as "The Three Wise Men" and a guest appearance on their own tribute album Testimonial Dinner as "Terry and the Lovemen".

Their 1992 album, Nonsuch (named after Henry VIII's fabled palace), united them with famed UK producer Gus Dudgeon and drummer Dave Mattacks. The album featured the US and UK hit tunes "Dear Madame Barnum" and "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead"; the latter brought the band perhaps its greatest success after the early 1980s. (The video for "Peter Pumpkinhead" made an unusual comparison between Jesus and John F. Kennedy.) Despite its success, soon after its release, a contractual dispute with their label, Virgin Records, saw XTC go "on strike" from 1992 through 1998, finally resulting in the termination of their contract. They issued no new material during this time, although two compilations were released: Upsy Daisy Assortment and the 2-CD set Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-1992, which featured remastered versions of their singles, including many tracks not issued on CD before.

Management and contractual problems had dogged the band throughout their career, and around the time of the recording of Nonsuch they had to make a legal settlement with their former manager. Although most fans assume (and the lyrics of "I Bought Myself a Liarbird" from The Big Express imply) that there was some financial impropriety involved, the terms of the settlement imposed a "gag" on the band and have prevented them from speaking publicly about the matter.

The final straw for the band was Virgin's scuttling of their 1992 single "Wrapped in Grey", which was pressed up in the tens of thousands, and then recalled and destroyed by the label. The band asked that Virgin either allow them to re-negotiate their contract or release them, but the label stalled for years until finally agreeing to release them after a change of management at the company.

Going independent, 1992–present

After leaving Virgin, Partridge had their accounts audited and it was discovered that the company had withheld substantial royalty payments from them. The settlement of the accounts provided the group with much-needed cash flow, allowing Partridge and Moulding to install fully-equipped studios and work comfortably at home. They are now able to record the majority of their work themselves, although they have used major commercial studios (including Abbey Road Studios in London) for some sessions. Finally released from Virgin, they formed their own label, Idea Records, and embarked on the recording of the ambitious "Apple Venus" project, a collection of the best material written during the band's dispute with Virgin. The band's initial plan had been to record a double album, featuring one disc of acoustic and orchestral songs and one of electric songs. However, financial constraints forced the band to abandon the double album plan and finish and release the first volume before completing the second.

However, this did not prove to be the end of their problems. Dave Gregory left the band during the recording sessions for Apple Venus Volume 1 after 20 years' service, and to the horror of the band's loyal fans. Gregory was unhappy with the plan to record an album whose arrangements relied largely upon orchestral instruments and keyboards. What was not mentioned was that the cutting back on his part on the new XTC recordings, particularly the string arrangements (taken over by Andy Partridge), meant considerably fewer "points" in the calculating out of royalties; as Gregory never wrote any songs for the band, this resulted in a significant dent in his potential income from the album, basically reducing his payments to that of a session musician (Gregory is credited as a session musician rather than as a band member on the finished album, as he left before it was completed). Partridge later claimed in a press interview that he and Colin were going to sack Gregory anyway because of his sullen attitude during the recordings, and that they had waited for him for six years to write the orchestral arrangements, and had finally told him that they would not let him stop the project.

Dave Gregory's contribution to the XTC sound had been immense; the technical skill of his guitar and keyboard playing, and his orchestral scoring, had facilitated a huge expansion in the group's sonic possibilities. His skills also encouraged, perhaps goaded Partridge to new heights of musicianship. It is some measure of how liked he was by the XTC fanbase that they gave Moulding & Partridge pelters on the band's official forum for his departure — and some measure of their mutual respect for their fans and Gregory that the criticism went uncensored. The three got back together for a charity reunion of their Dukes of Stratosphear alter-egos years later, and Partridge has recently (November 2006) revealed that he and Gregory have rekindled their friendship.

The band's next record, Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) was the guitar-heavy collection Gregory would have preferred. In October 2005, the two albums were reissued together in the 4-CD Apple Box collection.

Now in control of their own work and with their own small studio, Partridge and Moulding have released instrumental and demo versions of their first two albums on Idea, Apple Venus and Wasp Star. Having left Virgin, relations have improved and Andy Partridge has since released a series of albums of demos of his songs (mainly from the Virgin years) under the title of Fuzzy Warbles in 2002, on a new label imprint APE. Colin Moulding declined to contribute his demos to the series. The Fuzzy Warbles series includes eight volumes along with a bonus CD, Hinges. The Canadian Vancouver based singer-songwriter and jazzpoet Veda Hille has released her latest album Return of the Kildeer (2005) on APE records.

A boxed 4-CD compilation, Coat of Many Cupboards, spanning the band's time with Virgin, was also released in 2002.

The 2005 inclusion on Apple Box of the first new XTC tracks in five years ("Spiral", written by Partridge and "Say It", by Moulding), offered hope that the band might continue. However, in November 2006, Partridge told several interviewers that Moulding no longer had any interest in writing, performing or even listening to music. Partridge has said he would not continue XTC without Moulding, and that therefore he has been forced to regard XTC "in the past tense," with no likelihood of a new project unless Moulding should have a change of heart. (Ironically, Partridge says he and Gregory, their differences now resolved, have tentatively considered working together again.)

Discography

Studio albums (with chart position)

The Dukes of Stratosphear releases

Compilations, instrumentals, demos and live albums

Fuzzy Warbles albums

Other compilations

  • Eighties Goldies (1980) A French Cassette-Only Compilation of First Six Singles & B-Sides.
  • The Tiny Circus of Life (1992) Limited French Compilation.

Singles and EPs

  • "Science Friction" (October 7, 1977 — withdrawn)
  • 3D - EP (October 7, 1977)
  • "Statue of Liberty" (January 1978)
  • "This Is Pop?" (April 1978)
  • "Are You Receiving Me?" (September 1978)
  • "Go +" (October 1978) 6-song EP of dub mixes, included with first edition of Go2, reissued on Explode Together
  • "Life Begins at the Hop" (April 1979, #44 UK)
  • "Making Plans For Nigel" (September 1979, #17 UK)
  • "Ten Feet Tall" (March 1980 — US Only)
  • "Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down" (March 1980)
  • "Generals and Majors" (August 1980, #32 UK)
  • "Towers of London" (October 1980, #31 UK)
  • "Take This Town" (November 1980)
  • "Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)" (December 1980 #16 UK)
  • "Love At First Sight" (January 1981 — US/Canada Only)
  • "Respectable Street" (March 1981)
  • Live & More EP (April 1981 — Japan Only)
  • 5 Senses EP (September 1981 — Canada Only)
  • "Senses Working Overtime" (January 1982, #10 UK)
  • "Ball and Chain" (February 1982, #58 UK)
  • "No Thugs In Our House" (May 1982)
  • "Great Fire" (April 1983)
  • "Wonderland" (June 1983)
  • "Love On A Farmboy's Wages" (September 1983, #50 UK)
  • "All You Pretty Girls" (September 1984, #55 UK)
  • "This World Over" (November 1984, #99 UK)
  • "Wake Up" (February 1985, #94 UK)
  • "Grass" (September 1986, #100 UK)
  • "The Meeting Place" (February 1987, #100 UK)
  • "Dear God" (June 1987, #15 Billboard Rock Album Tracks Chart, #99 UK)
  • "The Mayor of Simpleton" (January 1989, #46 UK, #1 US Modern Rock, #72 US Hot 100)
  • "King for a Day" (April 1989, #11 US Modern Rock, #82 UK)
  • "The Loving" (August 1989)
  • "The Disappointed" (March 1992, #33 UK)
  • "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" (May 1992, #71 UK)
  • Demo Tracks (July 1992 — Japan Only)
  • "Wrapped In Grey" (September 1992, withdrawn)
  • "A Hello Selection" (November 1994) (Andy Partridge) limited edition 4-song EP of demos, only available to members of They Might Be Giants' Hello Recording Club
  • "Easter Theatre" (April 1999)
  • "I'd Like That" (June 1999)
  • "I'm The Man Who Murdered Love" (May 2000)
  • "Where Did The Ordinary People Go?" (December 2005 Internet-Only)

Other notes

They were mentioned in "XTC vs. Adam Ant" by They Might Be Giants, but did not appear on the track. TMBG had earlier covered "25 O'Clock" on the A Testimonial Dinner tribute album. Primus covered the song "Making Plans for Nigel" on the "Miscellaneous Debris" EP and the song "Scissor Man" on the "Rhinoplasty" EP.

Marillion included this line in the song "Drilling Holes" from their Marbles album in 2004: "We ordered extra tea/listened to XTC/under a shady tree/went back to bed at three...."

French duo Nouvelle Vague covered "Making Plans for Nigel" in 2004.

The XTC tribute album A Testimonial Dinner was released in 1995. One track, "The Good Things", attributed to Terry and the Lovemen, was actually XTC themselves, using yet another pseudonym.

Several of their most recent albums have titles that appear as lyrics in songs on the previous album.

  • Skylarking includes the song "Ballet for a Rainy Day", which contains the words "orange and lemon raincoats roll and tumble together just like fruit tipped from a tray".
  • The next album, Oranges and Lemons, includes the song "Chalkhills and Children", which contains the words "while some nonsuch net holds me aloft".
  • The next album, Nonsuch, includes the song "Then She Appeared", which contains the words "apple venus on a half-open shell".
  • The next album is Apple Venus, vol. 1.
  • The first two connections were pure coincidence, but a fan pointed out the connections and Partridge chose the title for Apple Venus by looking through the Nonsuch lyrics. The next album Wasp Star is not a lyric from Apple Venus but a name given to the planet Venus in times past. As the second volume of the Apple Venus project, the title also reflects the alternate style of the songs as compared to volume 1.

The song "Then She Appeared" from the album Nonsuch appeared on a third season episode of Gilmore Girls during the second on-screen kiss between the characters of Rory and Jess.

The band appeared on the Carmen Sandiego: Out of this World CD as XTC with a song called "Cherry In Your Tree" and performed on several other tracks, purportedly at the request of the host of the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego TV show, Greg Lee, who is said to be a big fan.

"No Language In Our Lungs" from Black Sea was featured in an episode of the NBC-TV series, Freaks and Geeks in 2000.

"Making Plans for Nigel" was recently featured on the soundtrack of Layer Cake, a 2004 film.

They also performed a remarkably faithful version of the Captain Beefheart song "Ella Guru" on a Beefheart tribute album Fast & Bulbous: A Tribute to Captain Beefheart.

XTC's song "Happy Families" is featured on the soundtrack of the 1988 John Hughes film, She's Having a Baby. The Crash Test Dummies version of XTC's "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" is featured on the sound track of the 1994 comedy, Dumb & Dumber. Also, XTC's song "Take This Town" is used in the film Times Square.

XTC was the first band/artist to perform songs with acoustic guitars on MTV (May 1989) - before the popular series Unplugged was created.

The following artists have worked with members of XTC:

The following bands have worked with members of XTC:

References

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