Dave Gregory

When Dave Gregory joined XTC in 1979, he transformed the band through his muscular, melodic guitar playing, occasional keyboards and, on "1000 Umbrellas," a string arrangement. Gregory always found ways to elevate singer-guitarist Andy Partridge’s and bassist Colin Moulding’s tuneful songs, such as “Generals and Majors” and “Senses Working Overtime.” But Gregory, frustrated by Partridge’s controlling ways, quit in 1999, and the band hasn’t released new material in more than 20 years. Although all four members of the classic lineup now live in Swindon, England, they don’t see one another. But Gregory remembers much as he takes us through the creative explosion and eventual implosion that was XTC.