Coming March 2019. Now available to pre-order

From the editor of The XTC Bumper Book of Fun for Boys and Girls comes a musical exploration of one of the most essential pop groups of the 20th century. In this compelling 228-page book, some of the world's leading musicians and keenest fans come together to discuss what makes XTC so very special.

Every member of XTC also makes an appearance, including Andy Partridge on mixing, Dave Gregory on arranging and Barry Andrews on the piano – not to mention an in-depth review of Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers playing live as TC&I for the first time in 36 years.

That's in addition to interviews with XTC drummers Pete Phipps, Pat Mastelotto, Ian Gregory, Prairie Prince, Dave Mattacks and Chuck Sabo.

Contributing musicians include:

• Chris Butler: The Waitresses

• Tracey Bryn: Voice of the Beehive

• Rick Buckler: The Jam

• Chris Difford: Squeeze

• Jason Falkner: Jellyfish

• Andrew Falkous: Future of the Left

• Peter Gabriel

• Mike Keneally

• Dennis Locorriere: Dr Hook

• Steven Page: Barenaked Ladies

• Debbi Peterson: The Bangles

Plus Anton Barbeau, Todd Bernhardt, Chris Braide, Mikey Erg, Anne McCue, Jim Moray, Erich Sellheim, Rosie Vela, Mark Vidler and David Yazbek, as well as members of Big Big Train, bis, Cosmic Rough Riders, Fassine, New York Dolls, Odds, Tin Spirits and many more...

"The legacy of XTC receives the treatment it deserves" Malestar General

"Jam-packed with fun" The Irish Times

"A Winner" Peek a Boo Music Magazine

"An exceptionally well crafted book" We Are Cult

"The perfect overview of one of British music's most fascinating, essential but also elusive bands" Louder than War

"A delightful and dizzying collection of XTC exploration, analysis, and devotion" Boing Boing

"I marvelled at the density and scope of this enterprise" Bookolage

"Immense style and poise" Record Collector

£17.99 + free UK p&p (from £5 international p&p)

Get your copy of What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book now!

Musician Hugh Nankivell looking at Dave Gregory's sheet music in What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book.

Picture: © Mark Fisher 2019

As well as reproductions of all the original issues (see below), The XTC Bumper Book of Fun for Boys and Girls, a 256-page edition of Limelight, is packed with new articles and interviews.

2017 highlights include:

• Andy Partridge on childhood, children and creativity

• Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers on the art of the rhythm section

• Dave Gregory on Drums and Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement

• XTC on some surprising musical influences

• Comedians Phill Jupitus, Kevin Eldon, Stewart Lee, Joanna Neary and Paul Putner on their favourite XTC songs

• Clive Jackson of Doctor and the Medics on being produced by Andy Partridge

• Belinda Blanchard on starring in the video for Dear God

• Peter Mills on the link between Thomas Hardy and XTC

• Mark Fisher on XTC puns and wordplay

• Watch the YouTube trailer

"A sumptuous compendium . . . The most comprehensive and incisive book about XTC yet published." Dom Lawson, Prog Magazine, September 2017

"Music publication of the year." Dave Jennings, Louder than War, September 2017

"Varied, surprising and fun." Samantha Burke, Cent Magazine, September 2017

"Dotted throughout those original pages and some relaxed, genuinely insightful interviews; Partridge in particular is on outspoken form throughout. Fans new and old will pore over this."Jamie Atkins, Record Collector, September 2017

"A delicious thing to dive in and out of." Iain Lee, Talk Radio, September 2017

Get your copy of The XTC Bumper Book of Fun for Boys and Girls now!

Top of the page: Andy Partridge in his shed. Above: Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers talking exculsively to Limelight.

Pictures: © Mark Fisher 2017

issue one 1982

• Pirate twins again: Thomas Dolby

• Interviews with Colin and Dave:

• This is pop!: Dave's favourite LPs

issue two 1982

• Making plans for Sgt Rock: characters

• Andy on Take Away/The Lure of Salvage

• Strange Tales, Strange Tails: XTC chat

issue three 1983

• Animal and panicking: Mummer preview

• Melt the drums: tribute to Terry

• Guide to swinging Swindon

issue four 1984

• In loving memory of a name: on Terry

• Wanna be in my gang? Pete Phipps

• XTC play at work: recording Play at Home

issue five 1985

• Most of All I Remember: Colin on Terry

• Taking moss off the Moulding: on Colin

• Power of a kiss: Dukes of Stratosphear

issue six 1987

• Skylarking: XTC on recording the album

• Chain of command: 25 O'Clock review

• Terrible Todd: Andy & Dave on Rundgren

issue seven 1988

• The touch of gold: Colin interview

• At the hop: memories of XTC live

• Duke box jive: Sir John Johns interview

issue eight 1990

• The perfect groove: Dave interview

• Fan convention: Manchester pics

• The light of real love: XTC's love songs

xtc fan convention 1990

• Readers' poll: results

• Well, well, well: Alice Thompson of the Woodentops

issue nine 1992

• Trash Can Sinatras: interview

• Books, rooks and cooks: Andy interview

• Lilac bird: Stephen Duffy

Get your copy of The XTC Bumper Book of Fun for Boys and Girls now!