Guitarist Dave Gregory discusses Swindon, XTC & Andy Partridge, his work with Peter Gabriel, Big Big Train, and Steven Wilson, string arrangements, a Terry Chambers drum loop, Aimee Mann, and more in this full interview with Liam Hair.
Thanks to Liam for gifting me this footage, see his full unedited interview with Dave Gregory here: https://www.youtube.com/@lhair02
00:00 A Day in the Life
01:56 Swindon
03:25 Guitar Influences
04:26 The Beatles
06:03 Jeff Beck
08:11 Piano Training
09:30 Christmas 1966
10:28 Strings vs Brass
12:00 XTC Tribute Bands
14:50 Scarecrow People
15:34 Terry Chambers
17:04 Mummer
18:50 Pete Phipps
20:02 Great Fire
20:54 Different Drummers & Producers
22:21 Pat Mastelotto
23:47 Big Big Train
25:52 Dave’s Guitar Demo
29:05 Guest Musician Dave Gregory
33:58 Thomas Walsh Pugwash
34:42 Working on Peter Gabriel’s Melt
39:31 Top of the Pops calling
40:30 Touring with Aimee Mann of Til Tuesday
42:00 Andy Partridge’s Encore
43:52 Dukes of Stratosphear fantasy
44:32 Steven Wilson 5.1 remixes
46:48 Sound Engineers vs Musicians
47:32 Meeting Steven Wilson
49:22 Arranging for In Absentia & Lightbulb Sun
51:04 XTC’s Australian Tour
55:10 Melbourne Crystal Ballroom
56:34 This Is Pop documentary
58:21 Loreley Festival 2018
1:00:21 Summer Shall Not Fade
1:01:19 Reflection on David Longdon
1:03:20 Is Melt the Guns a drum loop?
1:05:11 Hammersmith Odeon
1:06:58 1980 Touring
1:07:25 Liverpool after John Lennon’s murder
1:08:57 Could XTC exist today?
1:10:04 Jacob Collier
1:11:11 Virgin Records
#xtc #thisispop
13 Comments
Looking forward to this
Ahhh, here we go. I could listen to "Gregsy" for days. Many thanks !!
I can only hope 4 an XTC Reunion….😢😢😢
This full XL conversation is an absolute delight and makes my day!Kind greetings to you all!
What a WONDERFUL interview with a top-notch guy in Dave Gregory!!! THANK YOU!!!
You all hit the marks with your questions… and it was brilliantly comprehensive!
I had a chance to interview Andy and Colin during the Oranges and Lemons radio tour… (they were both fantastic and very kind)… but one regret was never getting a chance to chat with Dave. …so… again… THANK YOU!!
What a guitar player Dave is and was. His sound is XTC.
Have only seen and heard a little bit of this. Looking forward to hearing it all.
With Skylarking as the "fan favorite" – I am a slave to Drums and Wires. I discovered this after "Making Plans for Niegel" became a "alt chart hit" here in the USA , around 1980 when I first discarded my "classic rock" life for "New Wave / Punk". I was a senior in high school and had like minded friends . Drums and Wires has attached itself to my memory – Spring 1980 … the end of high school … The Album works as a complete piece (juts as The Pretenders first album did). Many of the songs hit that melancholy note: Ten Feet Tall, Roads Girdle the Globe, Scissor Man, Outside World, Complicated Game….
I'm a huge XTC fan, and now a huge BBT fan, and it's delightful to hear the full range of the great Dave Gregory with both.
Thank you for posting this interview. Love Dave Gregory ❤
Thanks to The Guitargonaut for answering my questions regarding tribute bands, especially my old band, Fossil Fools. Dave's (and Colin Moulding's) support for us will always be treasured. It's great that other bands are still showcasing XTC's music, including EXTC, Scarecrow People and The Fuzzy Warblers (who showcase most, if not all of Andy P's Fuzzy Warbles), amongst others! Love you Dave! ❤
How long ago was this?
One of the true Mr Nice Guys in music & as a lifelong XTC fan the band were truly finished the day he left & Apple Venus is ok but Wasp Star is very patchy at best & no way Dave should have been allowed to leave! I honestly thought they would reconcile but it wasn't to be & I've followed his career ever since & what a guitar player & multi instrumentalist the man is…. Great interview 👍