Okay so we all know XTC's (or actually, ostensibly Andy's) stance on touring.

What's I've never been able to place was why they couldn't just Bruce Johnston the line-up?

Okay, so Brian Wilson quit touring with The Beach Boys in late 1964. So, wisely, they got a tour replacement in initially Glen Campbell and then permanently Bruce Johnston. Which worked out quite well. Band was able to tour and promote themselves that way while Brian wrote at home.

Surely XTC could have done this (with a less-dynamic Andy stand-in ala Thomas Dolby)? As opposed to effectively canceling out that side of it completely.

Just a thought. Anyone have any suggestions?

Would anyone have really wanted to see Colin and Dave perform without Andy?
Answer: Probably... yes!

Would you really feel like you were experiencing "XTC" in that sort of scenario?
Answer: Definitely... no!

I think the same would be true with any 2/3rds combination of the band - even Andy and Colin together without Dave would feel like there was a limb/vital organ missing.

Something tells me that for us (the fans) it's great to hear an XTC tribute band, but for XTC themselves there may be a substantial amount of pain (or regret) involved in hearing a live rendition of their material.

If Barry, Terry, Dave and Colin announced they would be touring as XTC with an Andy-substitute would I mind? Not at all - I'd be very excited at the notion of seeing 4 of the 5 members of XTC. I'm very much a fan of all of their individual talents, so I'd just feel bad for Andy that he couldn't join in the fun. I was a fan of Barry's post-XTC work (namely Shriekback) as well.

I've never really bought the whole Andy-has-stage-fright-now reason for not touring. I'm sure it has more to do with him realizing they were making no money doing it, post-Valium withdrawal realizations, the conditions of touring (i.e. shady arrangements, shoddy accommodations & excessive amounts of it). Andy performed for ten years (Helium Kidz & XTC) it's doubtful he just all of a sudden acquired an aversion to it. Him not wanting to rearrange the arrangements for live performance is even more likely. Not stage fright.

My reaction to hearing these songs arranged and performed for a live show wouldn't be one of dread so much as a sort of "finally I'm hearing this song live from them" reaction. And yes, hearing a cover band (for XTC themselves) might provide a feeling of nitpicky resentment (as in "we could do this better"). It's probably only natural.

They're not too old where they couldn't still do it. It's just sad as these songs deserve wider currency. And a live situation might bring a decent amount of exposure to more people who'd love the songs (i.e. XTC virgins).

I think all here would agree that XTC produced a unique and special body of music. This music deservedly attracted hundreds of thousands of listeners worldwide and it's understandable that fans would enjoy to see the material played live, particularly now the music scene has swung away from the contrivances of the recording studio and back towards public performance.

In one sense it doesn't matter who plays the music - songs like Easter Theatre and Miniature Sun are arguably so distinctive and well-constructed that they can transcend the individual character of the performers, in much the same way that, say, a standard like Somewhere Over The Rainbow or a popular classical piece like The Firebird can be performed by any decent singer or orchestra and still retain their musical value. Certainly there's no shortage of musicians who enjoy playing XTC songs live, most notably Dave Gregory himself, who plays half a dozen XTC numbers along with '70s prog covers in his new band Tin Spirits.

On the other hand, XTC had an instantly recognizable sound due to Andy Partridge's vocal style and the intriguing, utterly original detail of his and Gregory's guitar parts. However heartfelt the tribute, it would be horrible to hear a band like Michael Stipe's REM or The White Stripes hacking through an XTC tune using straight major and minor chords. To do it justice, this music needs to be played by a band who are capable of getting their fingers (and brains) round the correct guitar parts, and possibly reproducing some of the later-period orchestral textures on stage.

In an ideal universe that band would contain a nucleus of Partridge, Gregory and Colin Moulding (the trio responsible for the bulk of XTC's recorded catalogue), but that's very unlikely to happen: Andy P. has made it clear he has no desire to perform live - he has confirmed this repeatedly and emphatically, both recently and over the years - and also says he finds the spectacle of aging musos reliving their youthful triumphs repugnant. There's no reason why he should change his mind, and even if he did, the XTC-reunion waters are currently muddied by his recent disagreement (aka "nasty male divorce") with Colin. Such family rows can take years to work out and sadly, are sometimes never resolved.

That leaves the theoretical prospect of finding a replacement, albeit temporary, for the main man: that vacancy might have to be filled by two musicians, because few individuals combine the right vocal character with the guitar chops. Someone suggested Thomas Dolby - not a bad idea, but he doesn't play guitar . . . the key would be finding someone with the voice to carry the songs, but not an Andy vocal impersonator because, ahem, one is enough. One would hope that if anything like this happened it would be done with Partridge's blessing, and that the door would always be left open for him to make any kind of contribution he felt comfortable with (a hologram appearance?) Arguably, he too should be rewarded for the live performance of music he composed, even if he's not involved in performing it. (P.R.S. are supposed to collect money from venues for this purpose, but it's a bit of a lottery as to whether the composer actually receives it.)

While musing on theoretical 21st century XTC line-ups, we should accept that there is absolutely no incentive for any of the members to reunite unless someone makes a proper, considerate professional approach and offers some well-paid dates in comfortable venues with civilised travelling conditions and accomodation. It's one thing cramming into the back of a van with three other sweaty blokes and driving 300 miles between gigs when you're in your early twenties, but repeating the experience in your mid-fifties isn't exactly a top priority for any sane musician. Like Steve Hillage, Andy Partridge was burned out by Virgin Records' insistence that their signed acts tour themselves to death playing random gigs in order to promote albums on which they were paid a shameful, exploitative pittance of a royalty. If that wasn't bad enough, Partridge says that XTC weren't paid properly (if at all) for their live concerts, and were ripped off by their manager into the bargain. If you treat musicians like that, little wonder they retreat to the back of a cave to lick their wounds and in some cases, don't come out again.

But we can dream on. A live XTC (or XT3?) reformation would be an attractive prospect for promoters across the world and could represent a chance for these special musicians to make some money. (God knows they deserve it, was there ever a harder-working group?) It would also help promote their current musical activities and sell some CDs without Virgin or some **** of a manager creaming off the lion's share. Let's hope someone out there seizes the moment and makes it happen. Ars longa vita brevis, as they say in Swindon.

Welcome to the backporch, Kronkite - nice to see you here!

Al.

Welcome Cronkite.

Interesting thoughts.

Thanks! It's great to find another forum devoted to this brilliant band.

lets just get 5 young females from japan( with that crazy sexual energy you seem to find in young females from japan ) who with great diligence have perfected two live sets of both barry/xtc and dave/xtc
and play ...be great...

i can imagine a female national health specs andy,a pouty lip colin,a guitar whiz girl dave.......even a thin haired organ demon barry girl but i'll be fucked if i can imagine a female japenese drummer girl with arms like terry

Loads girder the grobe . . . perhaps a Sumo wrestler on drums. Seriously though, does anyone have any suggestions for a credible stand-in vocalist?

I would like to see a revised interpretation of the songs. I could happily saliva at the thought of a band consisting of

Colin and Dave. Plus an additional guitarist. Lee Moulding on drums and for a new take on the whole affair Holly on vocals.

Let go, it's over.

Wow.

When I originally posted my query it was more of a hypothetical (and literal) how-is-it-that-no-in-the-band-thought-of-this-solution?

Of course, ideally, no one wants to see XTC without Andy. But if need be - physically - he is only 1/4th of the band and can be subbed for. Granted the substitute wouldn't bring what Andy brought to the table, but, if they were selective surely they'd have solved it with somebody more than capable. Clearly a substitute (borrowed from a peer/contemporary band perhaps) would prove a practical solution and satisfy all those who wanted such a thing to occur (songwriting royalty-less Dave, their record label, XTC fans, manager). Everybody wins.

Thomas Dolby (aside from him also being an XTC fan) was only brought up because that's who Tarquin Gotch (remember him?), Dave & Colin told Andy was going to replace him for a full-on stadium tour in support of O&L. Of course it was just a hoax successfully orchestrated by them to prove that it was by choice that Andy didn't want to play as opposed to couldn't - as Andy took the bait and demanded to play on the tour.

Which makes me it must have been - at very least - pretty frustrating on that front for Dave, Colin & for a short while Terry.

In the 20 years since XTC have done anything even resembling a tour (The Oranges & Lemons Acoustic Radio Tour May, 1989) touring conditions for bands of XTC's stature have improved to the most pampered-degree.
I respect Andy's decision but having seen so many older bands of late (namely The Police - who were very impressive) it's almost embarrassing that the flakiest of bands have got it together minus key members and made it work on their terms, successfully. And a not-really-defined-as-flakey-XTC never even bothered to.

In fact, come to think of it, it's actually somewhat sad.

Let go, it's over.