Terry Chambers and EXTC are back on the road and they are sounding fantastic. In this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we catch up with Terry, Steve Hampton and Terry Lines at the start of a tour that will take in more than 20 dates in the USA, from Philadelphia to Virginia, and further gigs and festivals in the UK throughout the summer.   EXTC website    Music from Felix von Boxberg    What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from...

In the 50th episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we go back to the formative years of XTC in the company of Ian Doeser and Lee Moulding. As well as being front man with the Hamsters from Hell, Ian was in Swindon’s first punk band, the Aggravators, and has been sharing his memories of XTC and others in a book, A Big Fish in a Small Puddle. As well as being Ian’s drummer, Lee has a lifetime of memories growing up as a child of XTC.   Music courtesy of Beth Link.   A Big Fish...

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of XTC’s landmark album Apple Venus Volume I, producer Haydn Bendall talks to What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast about the fraught recording sessions that nonetheless resulted in such majestic songs as River of Orchids, Easter Theatre and Greenman. “The songs were fabulous,” he says. “I loved the songs.” Fellow producer Guy Sigsworth joins Mark Fisher to ask the questions. The Real Numbers Haydn Bendall Guy Sigsworth What Do You Call That Noise? An...

In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast we hear from Jason Repantis who works as a manager at the Universal Music Group archives. It was his job to dig out the original tapes of The Big Express for the recent Steven Wilson 5.1 Atmos remix – as well as to locate the original recordings of the 3D EP which has just been released in limited-edition vinyl. Jon Jacques and Mark Fisher ask the questions.   We also join Todd Bernhardt to pay tribute to Wes Long,...

Peter Pumpkinhead proclaims that "Any kind of love is alright" and gets nailed to a chunk of wood for saying so. What does that tell us about XTC's attitude to love and human relationships? In particular, how welcoming does this heterosexual band seem to those who aren't heterosexual themselves?   This episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast looks at XTC from an LGBTQI+ perspective. Guest host Darryl Bullock is joined by Keeley Moss, Tim Kendrick and Soizic De St John Rosse to...

Steven Wilson has returned to XTC's 1984 masterpiece and given it not only a stunning 5.1 surround remix but also, for the first time with XTC, a Dolby Atmos mix. Released on 29 September 2023, The Big Express comes complete with a two-disc digipack sleeve and 16-page booklet. Mark Reed, Mark Smotroff, Jon Jacques, David White and Steve Cox have enjoyed an early preview of the new mixes. They share their excitement on What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast. Music courtesy of Nigel...

Chris Braide, one of the most successful songwriters of his generation, talks to What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast about his collaborations with Andy Partridge, including Goodbye to You (Sister Shame) on Celestial Songs, the latest album by the Downes Braide Association, and the six-track Queen of the Planet Wow! EP expected out in 2024. Chris Braide Music courtesy of Chris Carry What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com    If you’ve...

As Steve Conte releases his Fourth of July single, the guitarist and singer talks about writing songs with his XTC hero, joining the New York Dolls and playing on stage with Chuck Berry. He also gives tantalising pointers to his forthcoming album of co-writes with Andy Partridge.   This episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast also includes comments from Andy Partridge himself, plus sad news about Ian C Stewart.   Music courtesy of Don Kerr and Communism.   Steve...

Andy Partridge and Stu Rowe have been working together  since the recording of Monstrance in 2006. Andy then produced Jen Olive's album Warm Robot in 2009 and Stu produced Jen's album The Breaks in 2013. Somewhere in between all that they laid down a series of  improvisatory ideas that have become The 3 Clubmen EP.   In this third episode, XTC's Andy Partridge talks about the unexpected joys of collaboration, the secret origins of Meccanik Dancing and his latest songwriting...

Ten years ago Stu Rowe, Jen Olive and XTC's Andy Partridge started working on material which, after all these years, is finally – and gloriously seeing the light of day. To celebrate the arrival of The 3 Clubmen, we're talking to each of the brilliant musicians in turn.   This week, Jen Olive talks about the genesis of the 3 Clubmen EP as well as working with Andy Partridge on her album Warm Robot and with Stu Rowe on The Breaks.   The 3 Clubmen EP is released 30 June 2023 and available from...

It's the music we've been awaiting for a decade – and now it's out! Stu Rowe, Jen Olive and Andy Partridge have gone public with The 3 Clubmen and their very wonderful eponymous four-track EP is released at the end of June. But with three such gifted musicians to choose from, what's a humble podcaster to do?   There can be only one answer: three weekly podcasts! In the first episode, Stu Rowe talks about working with XTC's Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Terry Chambers, Barry Andrews and...

Oh we do like to be beside the B-sides. In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, Mia Rankin, Ashley LeCron, Crawford Blair and Mark Fisher pick their favourite non-album songs , ranging from She's So Square to The World Is Full of Angry Young Men.   Music provided by Jeff Nicholson.   The episode was inspired by Mia’s ranking of all XTC B-sides on her Dead Letter Offices substack   What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from...

What happens when a Christian, a Humanist and a Buddhist congregate to talk about the songs of XTC? Will they give praise? Or will they be torn asunder?    David White, Belinda Blanchard and Ash Jñānagarbha share a pew with Mark Fisher to discuss Dear God, Dying, The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead, Easter Theatre, The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul, Scatter Me and Senses Working Overtime.   Music by Christopher Underwood and 5 Guys Named Lars   Ash Jñānagarbha   Belinda Blanchard in Dear...

In the second of a two-part conversation for What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, five fans, journalists and photographers recall what it was like to witness XTC explode onto the scene in 1978.

Memories of XTC on the release of White Music in 1978 by Sounds writers Tony Mitchell and Beverley Glick (aka Betty Page), photographer Jill Furmanovsky and Swindon fans Paul Burgess and Andy Poulton.

Young XTC fans Ashley LeCron, Lexie Ward, Lee Saunders and Lewis Wilkinson share their enthusiasm not only for XTC but also the bands that led them to discover XTC.

XTC drummer Terry Chambers, journalist Allan Jones and roadies Pete Dewhirst and Steve Warren recall life on tour in the late 1970s and early 80s.

Producer John Leckie recalls his formative studio experience working with former members of the Beatles and the excitement of going into the studio with XTC for their first two albums.

The members of Fossil Fools, the UK's longest running tribute to XTC, talk about their origins, their famous fans and their appearance at the XTC Convention 2022.

Australian XTC cover band Scarecrow People talk about bringing XTC's music to the stage on What Do You Call That Noise? XTC Podcast

Digging deep into the centre of the songs of XTC with a celebration of some of the band's best middle eights.

Thirty-five years after recording Dear God, Jasmine Veillette looks back at the making of XTC's Skylarking with studio manager Ralph Legnini.

Reassessing Mummer, XTC's most frequently neglected album, in the company of some of its biggest fans.

Bass player Matt Hughes talks about joining EXTC and discovering the XTC catalogue, as he hits the road with Terry Chambers' band. Meanwhile, John Heath recalls seeing XTC in 1979 and Kevin Chanel describes their very last gig in San Diego in 1982.