Q. Hi Andy.


The music business has always been sort of a fickle monster. In hindsight, why do you think XTC never received such enormous international acclaim? Outside of what I read about the very poor treatment you had received from Virgin, do you think not touring was a big part of it? Do you ever wish that you could have taken XTC back out on the road?


For example, just today I was listening to "Mayor Of Simpleton" and compared to some of the other trite on the radio waves at the time (Milli Vanilli anyone?), I'm simply dumbfounded by the fact that the song didn't chart higher than 72 here in the States and 46 over in jolly old England.


Lastly, and while I'm certain I know the answer to this, I'll try anyway. Is there any possibility an XTC video compilation on DVD might see the light of day? I'm certain with licensing that it's probably not the most financially viable idea, but I'm not sure how much longer my videotapes will hold up and hoped that it maybe at the very least you'd get a laugh from the question.


Thanks for your time.


Craig Marciniak Maryville, TN

A. Craig, Craig, let's not be vague, he's not related to Marshall Haig. I fully KNOW down to my bones why international ultra-stardom somehow slipped through my pasty Penhill fingers. It's a melange (good word) of not having the right hair or trousers. Not having the money spent on the promo wagon. Coming from England's "comedy" town, therefore we couldn't possibly be serious, certainly in the eyes of the sheeplike British critics. Touring too much and too intensely in the wrong places (greedy management needing quick money, no regard for strategy or our health). Crap videos. Not representing a "movement", eg. mods, new romantics, metal etc. and really because our music needed a little work to get into it, you have to do the chewing if you see what I mean.


As for taking it back on the road. No, we had to escape from our bad situations contractually and I personally became sick of the road, I wanted to grow.


We are negotiating with Virgin at the moment to do something with our (wretched) videos, but the way seems strewn with inter-band tangles and squabbles so please don't hold your breath.


Andy