XTC

XTC was an alternative rock band formed in 1976 in Swindon, England.http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/xtc-biography The band's music would mature from punk-influenced New Wave tracks to medolic pop showing the influences of classic rock bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys.http://www.billboard.com/news/forthcoming-xtc-box-boasts-rarities-galore-1282650.story#/artist/xtc/bio/6063 Songs like "The Mayor of Simpleton" and "'Dear God'" were minor chart hits in the United States.http://www.allmusic.com/artist/xtc-p5883/charts-awards/billboard-singles However, a halt to touring after singer/songwriter Andy Partridge suffered performance-related anxiety attacks in the 1980s and a protracted dispute with the record label Virgin would limit their commercial success.http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/x/xtc-coat.shtml

In a column published in the Swindon Advertiser in July 2007, Partridge declared that his musical partnership with remaining XTC member Colin Moulding had ended.http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/music/andysanswers/3558640.What_s_happening_with_Colin_/ Partridge told the Chicago Tribune in 2008 that a series of issues led the fallout with Moulding, including a financial dispute.http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_popmachine/2009/05/the-ever-melodic-adventurous-underappreciated-british-band-xtc-had-just-come-off-1984s-coolly-digital-low-selling-th.html Partridge has worked on solo projects since the last XTC studio album was released in 2000, including a solo album Monstrance in 2007 with former XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews and contributing to a tribute album to Cardiacs lead singer Tim Smith in 2010.http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10184-monstrancehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/local/wiltshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_9286000/9286085.stm

XTC was founded when guitarist Patridge, bass player Moulding and drummer Terry Chambers left the group The Helium Kidz.http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/xtc-biography After adding Andrews in 1976, XTC would sign to Virgin Records in August 1977.http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=8&s=9&ss=233&c=1070&t=XTC Andrews was replaced by guitarist Dave Gregory in 1979.http://www.allmusic.com/artist/xtc-p5883/biography

The first album with Gregory was Drums and Wires and featured the Moulding-penned track “Making Plans for Nigel,” which reached the top 20 of the British singles charts.http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=8&s=9&ss=233&c=1070&t=XTC The 1980 record “Black Sea” would almost crack the Billboard Top 40, while the 1982 album English Settlement the following year would reach the British Top 10 and span the Top Five single “Senses Working Overtime.”http://www.allmusic.com/artist/xtc-p5883/biography

Chances to capitalize on the success of English Settlement fell apart after a 1982 tour was canceled after Partridge collapsed on stage during two separate shows.http://www.allmusic.com/artist/xtc-p5883/biography Chambers left the band and the next two albums failed to reach the commercial heights of previous albums.http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=8&s=9&ss=233&c=1070&t=XTC

XTC would rebound in the late 1980s commercially. A "difficult" recording session with producer Todd Rundgren resulted in the 1986 album Skylarking, which spawned a hit with the "controversial" single “Dear God” and spent six months on the American album charts.http://www.allmusic.com/artist/xtc-p5883/biographyhttp://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/x/xtc-coat.shtml 1989's Oranges & Lemons would continue the modest American chart successes, with the lead single “Mayor of Simpleton” becoming the band's first charting single in America.http://www.allmusic.com/artist/xtc-p5883/biography

After releasing Nonsuch in 1992, the band refused to record after a dispute with Virgin Records, which refused to let them out of their contract for the next seven years.http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/x/xtc-coat.shtml Gregory left the band during rehearsals for the 1999 album Apple Venus Volume 1, with Partridge and Moulding playing as a duo for the remainder of XTC's career.http://chalkhills.org/articles/RoughGuides01.html#ff

• Andy Partridge - Lead vocals and guitar
• Colin Moulding - Lead vocals and bass guitar
• Dave Gregory - Guitar and keyboards (first record was Drums and Wires, last record was Nonsuch)
• Terry Chambers - Drums (last record was English Settlement)
• Barry Andrews - Keyboards (last record was Go 2)http://www.allmusic.com/artist/xtc-p5883/biography

• 1978: White Music
• 1978: Go 2
• 1979: Drums and Wires
• 1980: Black Sea
• 1982: English Settlement
• 1983: Mummer
• 1984: The Big Express
• 1986: Skylarking
• 1989: Oranges & Lemons
• 1992: Nonsuch
• 1999: Apple Venus Part 1
• 2000: Wasp Star (Apple Venus Part 2)
• 2001: Homegrownhttp://www.allmusic.com/artist/xtc-p5883/discography