Editing XTC (section)

==1993–present: legal entanglement, return and breakup==

===Strike period===
In 1993, Partridge conceived XTC's next project to be an album of [[bubblegum pop]] songs disguising itself as a retrospective compilation featuring 12 different groups from the early 1970s. The lyrics were also heavily sexual, with song titles such as "Lolly (Suck It and See)" and "Visit to the Doctor". Partridge recalled playing some demos for Virgin agents, and compared their reaction to the "[[Springtime for Hitler]]" scene from the 1967 film ''[[The Producers (1967 film)|The Producers]]''. The label rejected his idea.<ref name="Dom2000" /> Virgin denied Partridge's requests to renegotiate or revoke XTC's contract.<ref name="Mojo1999" /> Paul Kinder believed that the label and the group were "poles apart" and that "the contract was so old it got to the point where Andy wanted the moon and Virgin weren't prepared to give it him."<ref name="Mojo1999" />

Whatever new music the band recorded would have been automatically owned by Virgin, and so the band enacted [[strike action]] against the label.<ref name="Dom2000" /> [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and [[George Michael]] also went on a strike against their respective labels that was heavily publicized at about the same time. XTC's strike, however, received little press.<ref name="Sailed2006" /><ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4707495/And-the-band-did-not-play-on.html|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160226074010/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4707495/And-the-band-did-not-play-on.html|url-status =dead|archive-date =26 February 2016|title =And the band did not play on|website =The Daily Telegraph|location=London|first =David|last =Gritten|date =8 February 1997}}</ref> In the meantime, Partridge produced [[Martin Newell (musician)|Martin Newell]]'s 1993 album ''[[The Greatest Living Englishman]]''<ref>{{cite web|last1=Unterberger|first1=Richie|author-link1=Richie Unterberger|title=The Greatest Living Englishman|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-greatest-living-englishman-mw0000535804|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> and early sessions for [[Blur (band)|Blur's]] [[Modern Life Is Rubbish|second album]]. "I thought I did sterling work. ... Next day, <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[David Balfe]] from [[the Teardrop Explodes]] said], 'Quite frankly, Andy, this is shit.{{'"}}<ref name="Mojo1999" /> Other complications arose; he developed some health issues, and his wife divorced him.<ref name="Mojo1999" />

In 1997 (also reported as in late 1994<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bookman |first1=Dave |title=Virgins No More |journal=Eye Weekly|date=15 December 1994 |quote=After a 17-year association, pop perfectionists XTC have ended their relationship with Virgin Records.}}</ref>), XTC found themselves freed from financial debt and from Virgin after "making some heavy concessions". Partridge fantasised that people from the label "met in the dark and thought, 'These blokes are not making a living. We've had 'em all these years and we've got their catalogue and the copyright to their songs for evermore and we've stitched 'em up real good with a rotten deal so, erm, maybe we should let them go.' I like to think that it was a guilt thing."<ref name="Mojo1999" /> One of the group's first new recordings since the strike was released for the tribute album ''[[A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC]]'' (1995).<ref name="OBrian1998"/> "The Good Things", a Moulding song originally demoed for ''Oranges & Lemons'',<ref name="Contrast1990" /> was credited under the pseudonym Terry and the Lovemen.<ref name="OBrian1998">{{cite web|last1=O'Brien|first1=Karen|title=Quintessential Englishman Andy Partridge, front man of Eighties band, XTC, talks to Karen O'Brien about rebirth, recording contracts and the value of hindsight|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/interview-andy-partridge-andys-plans-work-out-but-theres-no-room-for-nigel-1196333.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/interview-andy-partridge-andys-plans-work-out-but-theres-no-room-for-nigel-1196333.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The Independent|access-date=25 September 2017|date=5 September 1998}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 1998, ''Song Stories'', an authorized overview of the band's catalog by journalist and longtime friend [[Neville Farmer]] was published. Partridge said the book was badly edited and "used the crappiest quotes".<ref name="Dom2000" />

===''Apple Venus'' and ''Wasp Star''===
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| quote = For the orchestral ''[[Apple Venus]]'', the budget allowed a day of recording at Abbey Road [with] a 40-piece band [that failed to] match the mathematical precision of [the arrangements] [...] The [recordings had to be sampled], cut and pasted together to achieve the "[[Vaughan Williams]] with a hard-on" sound required.
| source = —Paul Morrish of ''[[The Independent]]'', 1999<ref name="Morrish1999">{{cite news|last1=Morrish|first1=John|title=Arts: The agony and the XTC|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/arts-the-agony-and-the-xtc-1071947.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/arts-the-agony-and-the-xtc-1071947.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|location=London|date=20 February 1999}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 
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By late 1997, Partridge and Moulding had amassed a large stockpile of material.<ref name="muzik2000"/> The former's songs were an elaboration on the more orchestral style he developed with ''Nonsuch'' tracks "Omnibus", "[[Wrapped in Grey]]", and "Rook".<ref name="RB2002"/> Moulding felt that "something a bit different" was appropriate for the band at this juncture, and shared Partridge's desire for a cohesive LP similar to soundtracks such as ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' and "stuff that Burt Bacharach wrote for various [films]".<ref name="muzik2000">{{cite web|last1=Tobin|first1=Alex|title=XTC Interview with Colin Moulding|url=http://www.kindamuzik.net/achtergrond/xtc/xtc/496/|website=Kinda Muzik|date=29 May 2000|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> Partridge thought the new songs were "some of the best stuff, if not the best stuff, ever. It's even more intensely passionate than before."<ref name="Mojo1999" />

The group elected to divide the album into two parts: one of rock songs, and the other of orchestral/acoustic songs augmented by a 40-piece symphony.<ref name="Chicago2000" /> They found a label, [[Cooking Vinyl]], and a producer, [[Haydn Bendall]], who had engineered XTC's debut EP back in 1977 and had significant experience in recording orchestras. [[Prairie Prince]], who drummed on ''Skylarking'', returned for the sessions. It soon became apparent that the band did not have the funds to record all the material they had.<ref name="Mojo1999" /> Gregory, Moulding, and Bendall wanted to reduce the project to one disc, but Partridge insisted on spreading it over two LPs.<ref name="Chicago2000" /> It was decided that they release one album with the orchestral portions ("volume 1") and leave the rock songs for its follow-up ("volume 2").<ref name="Mojo1999" /> A session was booked at Abbey Road, but the recording was rushed, lasting one day, and had to be edited over a three-month period.<ref name="Dom2000" />

Gregory quit the band whilst in the middle of sessions due to personal issues and discord with his bandmates.<ref name="Chicago2000" /><!---  Moulding was not present for what he called an "enormous row" between Gregory and Partridge.<ref name="RundgrenRadio-Colin"/> ---> Partridge told journalists that Gregory left because he grew impatient with the recording of the orchestral material and wanted to quickly move on to the second project, which would have consisted of rock songs.<ref name="Chicago2000" /> He attributed Gregory's frustration to diabetic mood swings,<ref name="Mojo1999" /> as did Moulding.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Randall|first1=Mac|title=XTC: The Masters Return|magazine=Launch|date=4 March 1999}}</ref> Gregory denied that his leaving pertained to "musical differences", and that it was moreso "personal problems" related to Partridge.<ref name="RundgrenRadio-Gregory"/>

{{Listen
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|title="River of Orchids" (1999)
|description= ''[[Apple Venus Volume 1]]'' relied almost entirely on orchestral or acoustic instruments.<ref name="Zupko">{{cite web|last1=Zupko|first1=Sarah|date=1999|title=XTC, Apple Venus Volume 1 / Transistor Blast|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/xtc-transistor-apple/|website=PopMatters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604162328/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/xtc-transistor-apple/|archive-date=4 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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Released in February 1999, ''[[Apple Venus Volume 1]]'' was met with critical acclaim and moderate sales.<ref name="Sailed2006" /> It had minimal promotion.<ref name="Mojo1999" /> Comparing the album to the group's earlier work, ''Pitchfork'' reviewer Zach Hooker wrote: "''Apple Venus'' finds them picking up pretty much where they left off. Or maybe even a little bit before they left off: this record bridges the gap between the ambitiously poppy ''Oranges and Lemons'' and the pastoral ''Skylarking''. ... The music is built on simple phrases, but the relationships between those phrases becomes tremendously complex."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/8835-apple-venus-volume-one/ |title=XTC: ''Apple Venus, Volume One'' |website=Pitchfork.com |date=23 February 1999 |access-date=16 June 2011 |last=Hooker |first=Zach}}</ref> In contrast, the companion album ''[[Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2)]]'' (2000), consisting of more guitar-based material, was assumed as one of the band's "weakest" albums.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dahlen|first1=Chris|title=Apple Box|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9231-apple-box/|website=Pitchfork|date=21 July 2006|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> Upon release, its British chart peak was higher than ''Volume 1'', at number 40 in the UK,<ref name="OCC" /> while in the US it was lower, at number 108.<ref name="Billboard200" /> Partridge believed that some parts of the album was when "the [artistic] slope started to go down".<ref name="Machine09"/> {{clear left}}

===''Fuzzy Warbles'' and disintegrated partnership===
After ''Wasp Star'', newly recorded XTC material was released sporadically. The four-disc hits and rarities boxed set ''[[Coat of Many Cupboards]]'' (2002) included "Didn't Hurt a Bit", a rerecording of a ''Nonsuch'' outtake. The Dukes of Stratosphear—with Dave and Ian Gregory<ref name="Machine09">{{cite news|author1=Pop Machine|title=Andy Partridge hails the Dukes, buries XTC, chides Robyn Hitchcock and considers himself done|url=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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613014431/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|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 June 2009|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=29 May 2009|quote=PM09}}</ref>—were reunited for the charity single "Open a Can (of Human Beans)" (2003).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dahlen|first1=Chris|title=25 O'Clock / Psonic Psunspot|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12893-25-oclock-psonic-psunspot/|website=Pitchfork|date=2 April 2009|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> Another set, ''[[Apple Box]]'' (2005), included two new tracks: "Spiral", written by Partridge and "Say It", by Moulding. These songs were available to purchasers of the box set in digital format only, with the use of a special download code. This followed with a digital-exclusive track, Moulding's "Where Did the Ordinary People Go?", released in December 2005.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

From 2002 to 2006, Partridge simultaneously released volumes in the multi-album ''[[Fuzzy Warbles]]'' series, a set dedicated to unreleased solo demos and other material.<ref name="DahlenFuzzy"/> Moulding was initially attached to the project, but opted out because "I just wouldn't have found it very inspiring. Maybe a couple of volumes would've been okay, or just one. But he [Andy] wanted to do twelve, which kind of put the wind up me a little bit. We had a bit of an argument about it."<ref name="OF03">{{cite web|author1=wesLONG|title=Didn't Hurt a Bit|url=http://www.optimismsflames.com/Interview1Colin.htm|website=Optimism Flames|date=June 2003|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> He felt that such "petty" arguments about XTC's finances precipitated the band's unofficial break-up, as he said in reference to the ''Fuzzy Warbles'' collection, "I got the impression he was going for broke ..."<ref name="mojo2021"/> Partridge said that the impetus for the project was the proliferation of bootleggers who were selling low-quality copies of the material<ref name="Sailed2006" /> and that the ''Fuzzy Warbles'' set earned him more money than XTC's back catalog on Virgin.<ref name="DahlenFuzzy"/> He also did not feel that XTC were a band anymore: "It's more of a brand. It's more [[HP Sauce]] than ever. [Colin and I are] two selfish middle-aged gits who make the music we make."<ref name="Morrish1999" />

{{Quote box
| quote = He [Colin] told me some months back that he's not interested in music anymore, and doesn't want to write, and basically said, "Our paths will cross again or they'll be involved in some way." And then he proceeded to move away from his house.
| source = —Andy Partridge, 2007<ref name="fridge"/>
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In 2006, Partridge recorded an album, ''Monstrance'', with Barry Andrews and drummer Martyn Barker. During one of the sessions, some of his hearing was destroyed following a studio mishap, which caused him to develop severe and permanent [[tinnitus]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gallo|first1=Phil|title=XTC's Partridge discusses boxset, Monstrance|url=https://variety.com/2006/music/news/xtc-s-partridge-discusses-boxset-monstrance-1117955044/|website=Variety|date=4 December 2006|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> Near the end of the year, he told an interviewer that Moulding recently ("a couple of months back") lost interest in writing, performing or even listening to music. He remained hopeful that the situation was temporary and assured that they had "not killed off the XTC head. I mean, we still have the head cryogenically frozen. ... It's no good making a record and calling it XTC, certainly, if Colin isn't involved."<ref name="Sailed2006">{{cite news|last1=Schabe|first1=Patrick|title=The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul|url=https://www.popmatters.com/the-man-who-sailed-around-his-soul-2495729988.html|website=PopMatters|date=27 October 2006|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> In November, he stated that he had been forced to regard the group "in the past tense," with no likelihood of a new project unless Moulding should have a change of heart.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Countdowns to XTC|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|date=December 2006|page=22}}</ref> Months later, Partridge intimated that Moulding had moved and changed his phone number,<ref name="fridge">{{cite web|last1=Maher|first1=Dave|title=Andy Partridge: XTC "Well and Truly in the Fridge"|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41069/Andy_Partridge_XTC_Well_and_Truly_in_the_Fridge|website=Pitchfork|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114055305/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41069/Andy_Partridge_XTC_Well_and_Truly_in_the_Fridge|archive-date=14 January 2009|date=2 February 2007}}</ref> effectively ending all contact between the two and reducing their correspondence to emails exchanged via their manager to discuss the division of the band's assets. Partridge also said he and Gregory—their differences now resolved—had considered working together again.<ref name="RundgrenRadio-Andy">{{cite web|author1=Doug|title=Andy Partridge interview|url=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2008/02/17/rundgren-radio/|website=Rundgren Radio|access-date=5 January 2018|time=57:00–58:50, 1:45:00–1:46:25 |date=17 February 2008|type=Audio}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = There was no official announcement that we'd finished. I just got wind that Andy didn't really want to make another record, but he didn't tell me and maybe he didn't know himself. ... I just think we were two old men who didn't really talk much.
| source = —Colin Moulding, 2018<ref>{{cite web|last1=Catchpole|first1=Matt|title=MAKING PLANS – XTC's Colin Moulding And Terry Chambers Ponder Live Shows After DIY Great Aspirations EP|url=https://essentiallypop.com/epop/2018/02/making-plans-xtcs-colin-moulding-and-terry-chambers-ponder-live-shows-after-diy-great-aspirations-ep/|website=Essentially Pop|date=22 February 2018|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref>
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In July 2008, Partridge wrote in the ''[[Swindon Advertiser]]'' that he believed his "musical partnership with Colin Moulding has come to an end. For reasons too personal and varied to go into here, but we had a good run as they say and produced some real good work. No, I won't be working with him in the future."<ref>{{cite web | title = What's happening with Colin? | author = Andy Partridge | url = http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/music/andysanswers/3558640.What_s_happening_with_Colin_/ | publisher = The Swindon Advertiser | date = 30 July 2008 | access-date = 12 October 2008 | author-link = Andy Partridge | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110929104107/http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/music/andysanswers/3558640.What_s_happening_with_Colin_/ | archive-date = 29 September 2011 }}</ref> In December, Moulding resurfaced for a live radio interview where he confirmed his recent disillusionment with music, but revealed that he was thinking of working on solo material. His given reasons for the break-up were financial discord, disagreement over the extent of the ''Fuzzy Warbles'' project, and a "change in mindset" between him and Partridge. He also stated that he and Partridge were once again communicating directly by email.<ref name="RundgrenRadio-Colin">{{cite web|author=Dave|url=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2008/12/07/Rundgren-Radio|title=Interview of Colin Moulding|website=Rundgren Radio|date=7 December 2008|access-date=9 December 2008|type=Audio|time=12:24–16:00|archive-date=25 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225073541/http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2008/12/07/Rundgren-Radio|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Reissue programme and TC&I ===
XTC did not technically break up in a legal sense. As of 2014, the group still existed as a trademark controlled by Partridge and Moulding.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=xtcfans|last=Partridge|first=Andy|author-link=Andy Partridge|number=501119551971815424|date=17 August 2014|title=THE CORRECTOR- XTC has never split,legally it still exists,as Colin and myself}}</ref> Throughout the 2010s, selected albums from the band's catalog were reissued as deluxe packages centred on new stereo and [[surround sound]] mixes by [[Steven Wilson]].<ref name="teamrock16">{{cite web|last1=Hughes|first1=Rob|title=Andy Partridge: The Big Interview|url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-08-18/andy-partridge-discusses-the-pitfalls-of-fame-in-the-prog-interview|website=Team Rock|date=18 August 2016|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> Partridge said that he did not "insist on any mastering or messing with XTC 5.1" and that his involvement with Wilson's mixes goes only as far as authorizing them.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=xtcfans|last=Partridge|first=Andy|author-link=Andy Partridge|number=944611842193838080|date=23 December 2017|title=Sadly, I have to be the CHRISTMAS CORRECTOR.-I do not add or insist on any mastering or messing with XTC 5.1 as people are saying on 5.1 fora. They are not later 'mastered' either. Steven just mixes them and I let him.That's it. Be cool yulesters.}}</ref> The official XTC [[Twitter]] account @xtcfans was originally managed by writer Todd Bernhardt. According to Partridge, after some time, "I sort of took it over, because I thought it was weird that there was another person in the way." In 2016, Partridge and Bernhardt released a book, ''Complicated Game: Inside the Songs of XTC'', that contains discussions between the two about 29 XTC songs, one Partridge solo track, and an overview of his approach to songwriting. It was published by Jawbone Press.<ref name="Zaleski2016">{{cite web |last1=Zaleski |first1=Annie |title="Music is so abused these days": XTC's Andy Partridge opens up about songwriting, painting and developing the "cruel parent gene" toward your own art |url=http://www.salon.com/2016/03/20/music_is_so_abused_these_days_xtcs_andy_partridge_opens_up_about_songwriting_painting_and_developing_the_cruel_parent_gene_toward_your_own_art/ |website=[[Salon magazine|Salon]] |date=20 March 2016|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref>

Until 2016, Moulding remained largely inactive as a musician. In October 2017, he and Terry Chambers issued a four-song EP, ''[[Great Aspirations]]'' (credited to "TC&I").<ref name="TCI2017">{{cite magazine|last1=Ham|first1=Robert|title=Colin Moulding on Reteaming With Terry Chambers for 'DIY' New Project & Possibility of XTC Reunion|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8046313/colin-moulding-xtc-tci-interview|magazine=Billboard|date=26 November 2017|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> Its release coincided with a televised documentary film of the band's career, ''[[XTC: This Is Pop]]'', which premiered on Sky Arts on 7 October.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=xtcfans|last=Partridge|first=Andy|author-link=Andy Partridge|number=903314641497063424|date=31 August 2017|title=XTC TV doc THIS IS POP will be broadcast on Sky Arts on Saturday Oct. 7th at 9pm GMT. Date for your diary.}}</ref> The documentary featured new interviews with Partridge, Gregory, Moulding and Chambers.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=xtcfans|last=Partridge|first=Andy|author-link=Andy Partridge|number=807296972675760129|date=9 December 2016|title=@SongIsKing Being made now.Interviews with all band,bar Barry, HOPE HOPE it's going to be good.Same fella did 10cc one, see that?}}</ref> Moulding praised the film and commented on the possibility of a full-fledged XTC reunion: "They say never say never, don't they? It would seem unlikely, put it that way."<ref name="TCI2017"/> As of January 2018, Partridge maintained that the group would "not be recording together again."<ref>{{cite tweet|user=xtcfans|last=Partridge|first=Andy|author-link=Andy Partridge|number=952303691637370882|date=13 January 2018|title=I've been away for a bit, back now, to try and answer all your questions...there is no XTC these days, we will not be recording together again. Ummm....is that all?}}</ref> From 29 October to 1 November, TC&I performed four sold-out shows at Swindon's Art's Centre, in Old Town. It was the first time Moulding and Chambers had played a live gig in decades.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peacock |first1=Tim |title=XTC's Colin Moulding And Terry Chambers Announce First Live Gigs Since 1982 |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/xtc-colin-moulding-terry-chambers-gigs/ |website=Udiscovermusic.com |access-date=31 October 2018 |date=31 July 2018}}</ref>

In 2021, Moulding told ''Mojo'' that he and Partridge had recently become on good terms with each other. "[Andy and I] didn't speak for a long time, except about business, and then it was quite terse. But we're quite cordial with each other now, it's probably as good as it's been for quite some time. Would we do XTC again? (''laughs'') I don't think we would, because I'm not sure whether I could put up with his dictatorial ways any more, or whether he could put up with me."<ref name="mojo2021">Mojo 2021 issue{{full citation needed|date=October 2021}}</ref>

On 13 April 2024, it was announced that original keyboardist Jon Perkins had died at the age of 66.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ponting |first1=Noel |title=Tributes paid to XTC's first keyboardist Jonathan Perkins |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/24345492.tributes-paid-xtcs-first-keyboardist-jonathan-perkins/ |access-date=29 May 2024 |publisher=Swindon Advertiser |date=29 May 2024}}</ref>