XTC

XTC is a pop band from Swindon, UK. They are considered the forefathers of the Britpop movement of the 1980s. They are one of the most influential bands still working today.

Table of contents 1 A short history of the band 2 Discography 2.1 Major Albums 2.2 Major EPs 2.3 Albums as The Dukes of Stratosphear 3 Other Notes 4 Collaborations and Connections

A short history of the band

The original members (1976) were Andy Partridge[?] (guitar, vocal) , Colin Moulding[?] (bass, vocals), Barry Andrews[?] (keyboards) and Terry Chambers[?] (drums).

Andrews left the band after their first two albums, "White Music" and "Go2", and was replaced by Dave Gregory[?], another guitar player. Andrews went on the work with Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen and the band Shriekback[?].

This changed the sound of the band away from Andrews' stylish keyboards toward strictly guitars and percussion, thus the inspiration for the third album title "Drums and Wires". Gregory, however, also contributed keyboards and string arrangements later in the band's career.

XTC toured up until 1982, when the demands of the tour schedule became too much for Partridge, who abruptly left the stage during a concert March 18, 1982 in Paris. Since then, XTC has been almost exclusively a studio band. Chambers left the band shortly after, not happy with the confines of the Studio. Since then, XTC has used a series of session drummers rather than have a drummer join the band, using talents such as Peter Phipps, Prairie Prince, Dave Mattacks, Pat Mastelotto, Chuck Sabo and Dave Gregory's brother, Ian Gregory[?].

In 1986, the band traveled to Todd Rundgren's studio-in-the-woods in Woodstock, NY to record what many consider to be the best album of their career, Skylarking. Rundgren had insisted that the band send 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 and has said that the album was actually helped by Rundgren's heavy hand.

XTC has released material under pseudonyms, including two albums as "The Dukes of Stratosphear" , 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"

As a result of a contract dispute with Virgin Records, XTC was "on strike" for 1994 through 1998, resulting finally in the termination of their contract, and thus they released no material during this time.

Finally released from Virgin, they formed their own label, Idea Records. Dave Gregory left the band before the release of the 1999 album "Apple Venus Volume 1", leaving just Partridge and Moulding. Now in control of their own work, XTC have built their own small studio and have released instrumenal and demo versions of their first two albums on Idea, "Apple Venus" and "Wasp Star". Having left Virgin, relations have improved and Andy Partridge is releasing a series of albums of 'demos' of his songs (mainly from the Virgin years) under the title of "Fuzzy Warbles", on a new label imprint APE (Andy Partridge Experiments). Colin Moulding declined to contribute his demos to the series.

Discography

Major Albums

• White Music (1978)
• Go 2 (1978)
• Drums And Wires (1979)
• Black Sea (1980)
• English Settlement (1982)
• Mummer (1983)
• The Big Express (1984)
• Skylarking (1986)
• Oranges And Lemons (1989)
• Nonsuch (1992)
• Apple Venus Volume 1 (1999)
• Homespun (1999)
• Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) (2000)
• Homegrown (2001)
• Music to Help You Breathe More Easily (2003)

Major EPs

• 3D (1977)

Albums as The Dukes of Stratosphear

• 25 O'Clock (vinyl only 12" EP, 1985)
• Psonic Psunspot (vinyl only, 1987)
• both of the above compiled as: Chips from the Chocolate Fireball (CD only, 1987)

Other Notes

They were featured in XTC vs. Adam Ant, an ironic tribute by They Might Be Giants.

External links:

• XTC official site: http://xtcidearecords.co.uk/
• XTC fan site: http://chalkhills.org/
• XTC fan site: http://optimismsflames.com/

Collaborations and Connections

The following artists have worked with members of XTC:

• Joan Armatrading[?]
• Peter Blegvad[?]
• Harold Budd[?]
• Thomas Dolby
• Peter Gabriel
• Steve Lillywhite[?]
• Aimee Mann[?]
• Martin Newell[?]
• Todd Rundgren
• Hugh Padgham[?]
• Ryuichi Sakamoto
• Saeko Suzuki[?]
• David Yazbek[?]

• L'Affaire Louis Trio[?]
• The Residents
• The Woodentops[?]
• Captain Sensible[?]
• Voice of the Beehive[?]

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XTC is also a slang term for the drug called Ecstasy. The name of the band predates this slang term.