XTC: I Am the Audience

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“XTC has always been an underrated gem, and it’s high time they got the recognition they deserve.” Chrissie Hynde, The Pretenders 

 

Formed in Swindon in 1972, XTC was led by chief songwriter Andy Partridge alongside longtime collaborator Colin Moulding. Emerging from the UK new wave and post-punk scene, the band quickly earned a reputation for razor-sharp melodies, witty lyricism, and fearless studio experimentation. 

 

After early success as a high-energy live act, XTC stopped touring in 1982 due to Partridge’s health issues. What might have ended many bands instead sparked a creative rebirth. Free from the constraints of the stage, XTC evolved into a studio-only project, producing their most celebrated and adventurous work. Albums such as Drums and Wires, Black Sea), English Settlement, and Skylarking (produced by Todd Rundgren) cemented their status as masters of sophisticated pop songwriting. 

 

Though mainstream chart dominance largely eluded them, XTC’s influence has been profound. Widely regarded as one of Britain’s most creatively ambitious pop groups, they built a fiercely loyal global fanbase and left a lasting imprint on generations of musicians – often considered The Modern Beatles. 

 

XTC: I Am the Audience explores XTC’s remarkable legacy through in-depth conversations with over two hundred fans around the world, featuring contributions from top musicians like Pat Mastelotto, Dave Mattacks, Chris Difford, respected journalists Paolo Hewitt and Jon Robb, and Grammy award winning producer Steve Lillywhite. With previously unpublished interviews with Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory, alongside rare and unseen photographs, this book is an essential celebration of a band whose imagination knew no limits. 

 

“Yeah, I don’t mind XTC. But they’re a bit fucking clever, clever.” Paul Weller.