XTC Then: By 1980, XTC had quite a history behind them. The British band had released 3 albums in a span of two years, replaced only one band member (keyboardist Barry Andrews) and had their first UK hit with "Making Plans For Nigel." Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Terry Chambers and new recruit Dave Gregory released 1980's Black Sea supporting it with a tour. English Settlement, two years later, showed off the band's growth and pop sensibility which awarded them a UK Top 20 hit with "Senses Working Overtime." With hits and material in place, a world tour loomed ahead and Partridge became more and more fearful of it. Stage fright set in and during a Paris show he abruptly left the stage. The European and British dates were cancelled and after one show in San Diego and the whole US leg was abandoned. XTC's next singles, for lack of a better word, bombed. Their next two albums (Mummer and The Big Express) although brilliant were less cohesive. With a little time off, Partridge started working with a side project The Dukes Of Straosphear. The psychedelic debut, 25 O'Clock, outsold The Big Express and remotivated XTC. The band flew to the US to work with producer Todd Rundgren for 1986's Skylarking. The production room was rumoured to be a warzone but a great product emerged. In the US, the single "Grass" picked up strong airplay due to it's non-album track b-side "Dear God". The album was quickly re-pressed with "Dear God" on it and sold 250,000 copies in the US. The next year the Dukes released another album Psonic Psunspot. A CD-only compilation Chips From The Chocolate Fireball would be released and the Duke called it a day. XTC's 1989 follow-up, Oranges And Lemons, found major airplay on US college stations with the single "The Mayor Of Simpleton" (a #1 US Modern Rock track) and another minor hit with "King For A Day". The albums reception encouraged XTC to break from their 'studio only' status and make a small acoustic 'tour' of US radio stations. Now: In 1992, (tied up in a lawsuit with an ex-manager, hiring a new one to replace his replacement and the search for a new producer) Nonsuch was released with a strong single "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead" (another #1 US Modern Rock hit). Partridge and Gregory took some time off for collaborative projects and production work. A tribute album, A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs Of XTC, was released in 1995 in the US only followed the next year by best of releases, Upsy Daisy Assortment and Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles Collection. With a new label and new material, XTC returned in 1999 with Apple Venus Volume 1 with lush orchestral arrangements. UK music press raved about the album yet Dave Gregory left the band during the recordings. Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding pushed ahead with a more guitar driven release, Apple Venus Volume 2, out in stores in 2000.