[tweetmeme]There’s a new documentary about XTC in the works that’s currently titled “This Is Pop,” and a 6-minute, 20-second trailer for the film — featuring archival footage of the band and much screen time by frontman Andy Partridge — has made its way online.
You can watch the whole thing below.
Not much is known about the film itself, but the production company apparently sent the trailer and a description of the film to British digital publisher C21Media, where it is now no longer visible to non-subscribers. But the trailer, as such things do, has made its way to YouTube.
As you can see, the footage in the trailer includes appearances by Stewart Copeland of The Police and actor Harry Shearer. XTC’s Colin Moulding appears briefly, and according to the posted description, bandmates Terry Chambers and Dave Gregory are included as well. There’s no indication whether early member Barry Andrews participated. All of the XTC interviews are new.
In the trailer, Partridge discusses writing “Senses Working Overtime,” and the “mother of all panic attacks” that ended XTC’s touring days. He also compares his band to a certain Liverpudlian quartet: “Occasionally, once in a very rare while, you get a band that starts pretty good, gets better and better and better. And that’s rare. And I think, and I have to say, I have to be immodest… We are the other band that did that.”
It ends with Partridge proclaiming: “The whole rockumentary thing bores the very buttocks off me.”
Here’s the official description of the film:
XTC: This Is Pop
An alternative look at one of Britain’s best-loved and most influential bands – XTC.
Emerging from the late 1970s punk and new wave explosion, XTC amassed a devoted following with hit singles “Making Plans for Nigel,” “Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me),” “Senses Working Overtime,” “Dear God” and “Mayor of Simpleton.”
Featuring brand-new interviews with Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Terry Chambers and Dave Gregory, “This Is Pop” film abandons the traditional, linear story structure to illustrate the band members’ words and music through animation, archive and specially-shot sequences.
Below, watch the 6-minute trailer and see Partridge’s reaction to it on Twitter:
Trailer: XTC “This Is Pop” documentary
Andy Partridge’s thoughts on the trailer:
The trailer for the coming XTC documentary was leaked. I’ve been told it won’t look like that and the title could change.I haven’t seen it.
— XTC (@xtcfans) March 3, 2017
Apparently it was made to sell to foreign buyers?
— XTC (@xtcfans) March 3, 2017
I’m not sure I want to watch the finished thing? I’m torn about the whole thing anyway.
— XTC (@xtcfans) March 3, 2017
Ideally, I would have wanted 4 teenage Japanese girls to play XTC, and it all take place in the Japanese equivalent of Swindon. Subtitles
— XTC (@xtcfans) March 3, 2017
Really, XTC was all about the music. A blank screen for an hour would be the best visual.
— XTC (@xtcfans) March 3, 2017
My God, just saw the trailer for this forthcoming doc…I am one fat, bald fuck.
It’s official.Ah well, I know how it pans out.
— XTC (@xtcfans) March 4, 2017
