Former XTC frontman Andy Partridge took to Twitter this morning to declare his irritation with fans — or, rather, “wankers” — waking him up at night by chanting the lyrics to “Making Plans for Nigel,” the very popular 1979 single for the band that he neither wrote nor sings.
In his tweet, Partridge says he wishes these nocturnal visitors would instead “find the house of the writer and singer for once, and not disturb the rhythm guitarist every time.” While Partridge came to be seen as XTC’s leader, he didn’t write or sing lead on all of the band’s songs. In this case, bassist Colin Moulding handled those duties for “Nigel,” the lead single off Drums and Wires.
I do wish that the wankers who chanted “Making plans for Nigel” outside my house last night, waking me, would find the house of the writer and singer for once, and not disturb the rhythm guitarist every time.
Arseholes.— XTC (@xtcfans) October 14, 2018
In some back-and-forth with followers on Twitter about the late-night visitors, Partridge goes on to lament that the band has not been honored in its hometown of Swindon, England: “That’s the thing, if Swindonians are proud of XTC, they don’t show it in any official way. Other towns have streets named after artists, that sort of thing. I’m used to being ignored, and prefer it.”
Below, watch XTC perform “Making Plans for Nigel” on Dutch television.
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- XTC’s Andy Partridge covers Pink Floyd, Bonzo Dog Band on new 10-inch EP
- XTC documentary ‘This Is Pop’ to receive U.S. premiere on Showtime in January
- XTC’s ‘Black Sea’ being prepped for reissue with new stereo, surround mixes
- Andy Partridge working to restore XTC’s ‘Oranges and Lemons’ for audiophile reissue
- XTC’s ‘Drums and Wires’ audiophile reissue to include new 5.1 mix, demos, rehearsal tracks
- Reissue of XTC’s ‘Skylarking’ with ‘corrected polarity’ finally coming to CD
at 8:58 pm
Dear Andy: Ha ha!
— God
at 8:44 am
brilliant. done in one.
at 10:14 pm
Nevermind those clowns from Swindon, the rest of the world loves ya.
at 12:50 am
Is he missing the point? Chanters might be taking the mick! Andy Partridge’s upset over record label’s preference for releasing Colin Mouldings more ‘commercial’ songs as singles has been well documented
at 1:29 am
Ay Andy
Do you fancy doing a bit of a rock project…
at 4:36 am
I prefer to be ignored, so here’s a post on the internet to hundreds of thousands of people.
at 7:50 am
Agreed, “The Andy doth protest too much, methinks.”
at 12:29 pm
The cranky old sod is just having fun with this.
at 4:37 pm
Singers and whingers always seem so unhappy unless they get to complain…
at 4:39 pm
Singers and whingers always seem so unhappy unless they get to complain.
at 11:40 am
Why does Andy always seem so crabby? Who does he think he is, Morrissey?
at 5:31 pm
Not quite. No tours to schedule and cancel due to alleged stagefright.
at 5:33 pm
Andy, please see if you can convince the Dukes of Stratosphear to come out of retirement and put together a new album with Kevin Parker and/or various others in the Tame Impala/Pond constellation, or maybe give KP permission to see what kind of wizardry he could spin with covers of some Dukes of Stratosphear classics. Thanks.