What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Skylarking at 40 with XTC’s Colin Moulding, Blur’s Dave Rowntree, MP Rupa Huq and presenter Samira Ahmed Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

27 October 2026 is the 40th anniversary of XTC’s Skylarking and a big birthday deserves a big celebration. Joining us at the party for this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast are XTC’s Colin Moulding, Blur’s drummer Dave Rowntree, BBC Radio 4 presenter Samira Ahmed and Labour Member of Parliament Rupa Huq.

As well as 40 years of Skylarking, they talk about Want it Bad, the new single by Colin Moulding, released on 18 September 2026 and available from Burning Shed.

Want it Bad by Colin Moulding

A Hard Day's Night (BFI Film Classics) by Samira Ahmed

No One You Know: Dave Rowntree's Early Blur Photos

What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed, the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Steve Lillywhite on producing XTC Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

The special guest in today’s episode of What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is Steve Lillywhite who, in 1979, was the 24-year-old producer of Life Begins at the Hop, XTC’s first single featuring Dave Gregory, followed by Drums and Wires and then 1980’s Black Sea. All these years later, he still looks back at it as a charmed period of his life.

The six-time Grammy Award winner has also worked on the first three albums by U2, Peter Gabriel’s third solo album, Fairytale Of New York with The Pogues and the first and only album by The La’s.

Music from Ashley Smith.

What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed, the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

XTC Record Collector special: behind-the-scenes Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

Published on 16 July 2026, Record Collector presents… XTC is a whole magazine dedicated to Swindon’s finest. If features interviews with Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Dave Gregory and Terry Chambers, as well as insights from Steve Lillywhite, John Leckie, Hugh Padgham, Nick Davis and Mike Batt.

To mark the occasion, this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast brings together editor Jeremy Allen and contributors Imogen Bebb, Huw Thomas and Mark Fisher to go behind the scenes on this special magazine.

Song courtesy of Paulcito.

Record Collector presents… XTC

Paulcito on Bandcamp

What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed, the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Chalkhills and geoglyphs: the landscape of XTC Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, author Jon Woolcott talks about The Tattooed Hills, his new book about the chalk figures of southern England, including the Uffington White Horse, cover star of XTC’s English Settlement. “It’s timeless, simple and classic,” Andy Partridge tells him in the final chapter of the book.

With fellow XTC fan Chris Badley, we talk about the culture of the countryside and the influence of the landscape on everything from Chalkhills and Children to The Wheel and the Maypole.

Music from Matthew Caleb Flamm

The Tattooed Hills

What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed, the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

XTC's Terry Chambers: 50th anniversary gig May 08, 2026

Show notes

Exactly 50 years after XTC last played the Town Gardens Bowl in Swindon, drummer Terry Chambers is returning to the open-air art deco venue with EXTC.In this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, Terry talks about celebrating his 21st birthday in 1976 and his 71st birthday in 2026 – and the many gigs he has played in between.

The all-day event on 18 July at the Town Gardens Bowl features Chris Cobbson & Roi Geyari, Mickelson and Jim Blair before EXTC take to the stage.

Gayle Ramage and Mark Fisher ask the questions.

EXTC

Music from Dave Beale and Darrell Roberts of Age of Freedom

What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed, the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by the online record shop, Burning Shed, which is the only place to get official XTC merchandise.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

XTC live at Emerald City with sound engineer Gary Bradshaw Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

In a Record Store Day exclusive, XTC are releasing Live Boots, a double-LP recording of their gig at Emerald City, New Jersey, on 17 April 1981 – exactly 45 years ago.

Sitting behind the sound desk for that gig was Gary Bradshaw, this month’s guest on What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast. In a revealing interview, Gary talks about graduating from guitar tech to sound engineer and onwards to some of the biggest bands in the world, including Alison Moyet, George Michael, Pink Floyd, ELO and Take That.

He also talks about jumping aboard the Police’s tour bus, the shock of seeing Andy Partridge collapse on stage and why he still rates XTC as among the finest bands there ever was.

Record Store Day, 18 April 2026

Music from Allan Knox and The Kettle Zone

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by the online record shop, Burning Shed, which is the only place to get official XTC merchandise.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

XTC and dub with Mark Thomas, Paul Myers and Tom Morley Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Fireball XL5, All Along the Watchtower, Cut It Out, Go+, Take Away/The Lure of Salvage, Living Through Another Cuba…

There are more – and they’re all examples of XTC’s early experiments with dub. In this special two-hour edition of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we are exploding together as we go on a deep dive into XTC’s fascinating adventures in sound.

Sharing their love of dub are Tom Morley, the original drummer of Scritti Politti, stand-up comedian Mark Thomas, and songwriter and broadcaster Paul Myers, plus dedicated XTC fans Jeff Farris and Kevin Chanel.

Mark Thomas: https://markthomasinfo.co.uk/

Paul Myers: https://pulmyears.substack.com/

Jeff Farris: https://soundcloud.com/jefffarris

Kevin Chanel and Groove Records: https://groovesrecords.com/

Tom Morley: https://tommorley.com/about/

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by the online record shop, Burning Shed, the only place to get official XTC merchandise.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

XTC live with Tom Morley (Scritti Politti) and Kathleen Hiraga Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

The first episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast of 2026 includes not one but two interviews.

The first is with photographer Kathleen Hiraga, who took pictures of XTC at Hurrah! in New York City on 16 January 1980 – a gig that wound its way onto The Rhythm bootleg album. On her website, she is selling copies of her favourite images.

The second is with Tom Morley, the original drummer of Scritti Politti, who, along with his bandmates, Green Gartside and Nial Jinks, was a regular at XTC’s gigs at the Rochester Castle in London in 1977, even before they were signed.

What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed, the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.

Music courtesy of Jean-Paul Vest and Last Charge of the Light Horse

Kathleen Hiraga

Tom Morley

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

XTC's Wasp Star at 25 Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Twenty-five years after its release, Wasp Star remains XTC’s final statement. So how does the album stand up? Is it underrated? Is it neglected? Is it eclipsed by Apple Venus? And is it in need of some more love?

In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we head to the west of Scotland where Glasgow-based XTC fans Stephen Hope, Lorraine Lee, Alison Eales and David McGuinness show their love for a fascinating album.

What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed, the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.

Music courtesy of Daryl Bean – with a very special guest guitarist…

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

XTC and the Dukes of Stratosphear with Ian Gregory, aka EIEI Owen Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast we return to the 2025 XTC Fan Festival to hear Ian Gregory who, under the pseudonym of EIEI Owen, was the drummer in XTC’s psychedelic alter ego the Dukes of Stratosphear. He is also the brother of Dave Gregory.

What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed, the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.

Music courtesy of Jack Calvesbert and Spider Noises

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

Picture courtesy of Tim Bourne

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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