- Paperback: 208 pages
- Publisher: Omnibus Press (18 May 1992)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0711927588
- ISBN-13: 978-0711927582
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.5 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 628,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
'Twomey's revised edition brings the story bang up to date. We get the tale of Dave Gregory's departure after 19 years with the band, Andy Partridge's marital and medical traumas, the struggles to record and release the Apple Venus albums, and the uncertainty over XTC's future...this book is as good as it gets.' RECORD COLLECTOR
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
The authorized account of the rise of the Swindon-based trio and the reasons behind their longevity and their decision to abandon live appearances.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
You don't have to read a lot of rock biographies to know that most of them aren't much cop. XTC aren't really famous enough to attract cash-in cut-and-paste jobs, but authorised tomes are often dull advertising affairs. Thankfully, the three longest-serving members of XTC were genuinely co-operative with this project, entirely forthcoming about intra-band tensions and their own mistakes (personal as well as professional) as well as the music itself.
Chris Twomey isn't a particularly striking writer but with this material he doesn't need to be; frankly, if you published the band's history as a novel nobody would believe it. Surefire hit singles that failed to chart, surprise success in New Zealand, riots in South America - it's all here. 2002's updated edition omits the discography from the earlier version (despite what it says on the back) but has an extra ten years of implausible adventures; the departure of long-serving guitarist Dave Gregory is explored from both his his perspective and Andy Partridge's, and then there are protracted record company disputes, to say nothing of the time their master tapes were [allegedly] stolen by a member of Squeeze.
All in all, this is an essential purchase for any XTC fan - though in all honesty, they've probably all bought it by now - but also recommended to anyone who wants to know how strange the music business can be.
Chris Twomey isn't a particularly striking writer but with this material he doesn't need to be; frankly, if you published the band's history as a novel nobody would believe it. Surefire hit singles that failed to chart, surprise success in New Zealand, riots in South America - it's all here. 2002's updated edition omits the discography from the earlier version (despite what it says on the back) but has an extra ten years of implausible adventures; the departure of long-serving guitarist Dave Gregory is explored from both his his perspective and Andy Partridge's, and then there are protracted record company disputes, to say nothing of the time their master tapes were [allegedly] stolen by a member of Squeeze.
All in all, this is an essential purchase for any XTC fan - though in all honesty, they've probably all bought it by now - but also recommended to anyone who wants to know how strange the music business can be.
Format:Paperback
I've always liked XTC without being a huge fan, & tbh I've had very little awareness of the group for a good 10 years or so. A while back a friend recommended this as one of his favourite music books, so I thought I'd check it out. Generally I'd agree with the other review here - the book's very well-researched (first hand interviews rather than cuttings job), & pretty well written. The prose is a bit flat at times, but at least Chris Twomey doesn't indulge in the kind of look-at-me verbal showing-off of some other music writers. It's an interesting insight into how a group can keep working over 20 odd years without having mega hits, moving to LA & so on, & the differing characters of the 3 guys in XTC. Andy Partridge certainly comes across as an enigma - passionate about the quality of the music & his song-writing (sometimes to the point of losing focus & getting obsessed with getting every note perfect), but also capable (imho) of some very selfish & impulsive behaviour.
Which brings us to the "elephant in the room" aspect of the book (& why I'm giving it 3* rather than 4) ... before reading this I knew the rough outline of the story: how the whole nature of the XTC enterprise was altered by Andy Partridge developing stage-fright & thereafter trying to work a la Brian Wilson, based either at home or in the studio. I hadn't realised until now just how many gigs & tours the group did in the first few years - USA, Europe, S America, Australia... So when Chapter 8 ends with Andy Partridge stressing about a forthcoming European tour, I thought we were getting to the meat of the book. Turn the page & Chapter 9 begins "In the period immediately following Andy's breakdown..." and that's pretty much it as far as explanation goes. I went back to see if I'd turned over 2 pages at once & missed a crucial passage, but no. It was clearly a very serious episode, which left the singer unable to even leave his house at times, such was his fear of being seen by other people. I can understand that maybe the author doesn't want to dwell on a depressing subject, & maybe Andy Partridge didn't want to discuss it, but I feel that such a pivotal moment in the group's life does need to be looked at in more depth.
But don't let this put you off - it's a good read, with some fascinating detail of the music scene from punk, thru the 80's, to the present. It got me digging out the Dukes of Stratosphear albums, & finding that they still sound great, & there's quite a few other mid/late-period XTC albums I'll be checking out now.
Which brings us to the "elephant in the room" aspect of the book (& why I'm giving it 3* rather than 4) ... before reading this I knew the rough outline of the story: how the whole nature of the XTC enterprise was altered by Andy Partridge developing stage-fright & thereafter trying to work a la Brian Wilson, based either at home or in the studio. I hadn't realised until now just how many gigs & tours the group did in the first few years - USA, Europe, S America, Australia... So when Chapter 8 ends with Andy Partridge stressing about a forthcoming European tour, I thought we were getting to the meat of the book. Turn the page & Chapter 9 begins "In the period immediately following Andy's breakdown..." and that's pretty much it as far as explanation goes. I went back to see if I'd turned over 2 pages at once & missed a crucial passage, but no. It was clearly a very serious episode, which left the singer unable to even leave his house at times, such was his fear of being seen by other people. I can understand that maybe the author doesn't want to dwell on a depressing subject, & maybe Andy Partridge didn't want to discuss it, but I feel that such a pivotal moment in the group's life does need to be looked at in more depth.
But don't let this put you off - it's a good read, with some fascinating detail of the music scene from punk, thru the 80's, to the present. It got me digging out the Dukes of Stratosphear albums, & finding that they still sound great, & there's quite a few other mid/late-period XTC albums I'll be checking out now.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
A must for fans...
1 May 2000
Format:Paperback
If you're not a fan of XTC, this book is probably not for you. But if you are a fan of the greatest proponants of British Pop for the last 20 years, you absolutely must own a copy. It's may not be the best biography of a band ever written, but it's very good nonetheless, and the author has done his homework.
I admit I'm a fan of the worst sort. I own all their released albums, as well as a number of singles, promotional releases, and a very bad video copy of a German TV concert with terrible sound that I can still watch over and over. I find myself siting at home with the guitar absent mindedly playing "Love on a Farm Boy's Wages" or "Mayor of Simpleton" while watching TV.
If you're that kind of person, you certainly need to know all the details of the band, how it came about, the references in the songs and so forth. So what are you waiting for?
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Detailed? Maybe in *some* ways, maybe not in others...
21 April 2003
Format:Paperback
I am becoming more and more an XTC fanatic, and this book has certainly helped my interest grow. It's a detailed biography of the band and the individual musicians who made up XTC...
But, the details are sometimes only partial to times and events that were, it would seem, obviously much easier to chronicle.
The Swindonians that made up XTC get a thorough childhood-to-adult/musician treatment, and I just wish the happenings of the band had been as emphasized. Sure, we read all that happened, but as the band comes together and pushes onward, it seems to go by much too quickly. Barry Andrews' admission into and departure from the band goes by like a fleeting wind. Although it is made clear how the band felt about certain events and delves into controversies (i.e. the dealings with Todd Rundgren as a producer, the news of Andy's decision to stop touring, etc., etc.) it all seems jucier to me than what I get; It makes me wish Twomey'd left out some extra details about Swindon and given us, the fans, more to chew on that had to do with what we feel a connection with; The band, the individuals, the albums, etc at a time they came into *our* lives via the music & videos (which you hear almost nothing about). One very long chapter alone could've been spent on something like the Rundgren fiasco, and yet it is only one of four or five observations that are glanced over within one chapter!
I understand the "Song Stories" would possibly leave me even less satisfied. >sigh!< Oh well, we get what we can (and as much of it as possible) about a band that we love as much as XTC! Anyone Else want to write a book that is not only more informational, but updates the lads into this next millenium, as well?
But, the details are sometimes only partial to times and events that were, it would seem, obviously much easier to chronicle.
The Swindonians that made up XTC get a thorough childhood-to-adult/musician treatment, and I just wish the happenings of the band had been as emphasized. Sure, we read all that happened, but as the band comes together and pushes onward, it seems to go by much too quickly. Barry Andrews' admission into and departure from the band goes by like a fleeting wind. Although it is made clear how the band felt about certain events and delves into controversies (i.e. the dealings with Todd Rundgren as a producer, the news of Andy's decision to stop touring, etc., etc.) it all seems jucier to me than what I get; It makes me wish Twomey'd left out some extra details about Swindon and given us, the fans, more to chew on that had to do with what we feel a connection with; The band, the individuals, the albums, etc at a time they came into *our* lives via the music & videos (which you hear almost nothing about). One very long chapter alone could've been spent on something like the Rundgren fiasco, and yet it is only one of four or five observations that are glanced over within one chapter!
I understand the "Song Stories" would possibly leave me even less satisfied. >sigh!< Oh well, we get what we can (and as much of it as possible) about a band that we love as much as XTC! Anyone Else want to write a book that is not only more informational, but updates the lads into this next millenium, as well?
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
This is the sad truth
25 April 2002
Format:Paperback
Though this biography was downplayed by the band in Song Stories, I believe it has more journalistic substance. Chris Twomey actually got to know the memebers, and was ballsy enough to be critical in his appraisal. He obviously touched a nerve, or there would be no need for Song Stories! Read it and realize they're people too,each with their own vision of what should have been.
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