With hits including Making Plans for Nigel, Senses Working Overtime and Sgt Rock (Is Going to Help Me), XTC was one of the UK’s most exciting and influential bands. But as the band’s success snowballed and the tours grew (including globe-trotting spells with The Police and Talking Heads) XTC main man, Andy Partridge, pulled the plug on touring making XTC a purely studio-based entity.
“For me being in a band is all about playing live,” said Terry. “When we came off the road I thought ”how are we going to promote ourselves?” A little later, rehearsals for XTC’s new album failed to soothe Terry’s concerns: “I felt the songs on our last three albums (Drums and Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement) were great, and we were really playing well. But I didn’t think the new material was heading in the right direction and, of course, we weren’t going to be playing the songs live.”
Enough was enough. Terry upped sticks and emigrated to Australia where he remained with his family for the next three decades. Apart from brief stints in Aussie bands Icehouse and Dragon Terry left his drumkit gathering dust. That all changed in 2016 when Terry visited the UK for a family wedding and reconnected with old XTC bandmate, Colin Moulding. XTC had folded so Terry and Colin decided to collaborate on a new musical venture called TC&I.
“We played six sold-out shows at Swindon’s Art Centre,” said Terry. “It was a fantastic experience.” Sadly, Terry’s return was short lived. Satisfied with performing many of his XTC songs live for the first time, Colin Moulding laid TC&I to rest just before Christmas 2018, leaving Terry with no outlet for his rekindled passion. A lifeline came in the form of Steve Tilling – TC&I’s guitarist and now EXTC frontman. “Steve and I became good friends over the course of TC&I. We both felt we should salvage something from the situation. We decided to form a band that honoured XTC’s legacy while introducing new material of our own. That’s when EXTC was born.”
Terry and EXTC are bringing a full set of classic XTC songs to audiences worldwide. Already, the band has stormed through prestigious shows including headline appearances at the Isle of Wight Festival and London’s legendary 100 Club. And for the ultimate stamp of approval, the band comes with the blessing and support of XTC leader, Andy Partridge.
A standing show.