Andy Partridge At Topping & Co Bath, June 25 2016

[@tombaddeley2182]

Can't tell you how excited I am to hear Andy is planning a solo album. His music, his melodic and lyrical genius, has been my life's soundtrack over the past 35 years, even down here in Oz! For the discerning listener, he's up there with McCartney and Lennon. He's Britain's greatest unsung musical genius. Play on forever, Andy Partridge, play on.

[@schwarzblatt]

One of the very finest songwriters of the 20th century.

[@iano5957]

Great! Thanks so much for capturing and sharing. AP is just hilarious.

[@jinjagohst]

I was there, a special night. Wish I'd gone on to the pub later when he was playing his guitar too!

[@kieronbowker9983]

Really enjoyed that. Andy is very good value. And a new album of songs? Oh yes please!

[@tigerlight430]

Thanks for sharing this, it's marvellous. You can really hear the warmth in the room!

[@nickcaldwell9528]

Cool as! What a great guy and as a fan of 25 years I can't wait to hear the new/old stuff. Good on yer Andy, don't hide yourself away.

[@stevesandford1437]

As articulate and entertaining as his songs are, I'd simply listen to him talk (about anything...) just to be delighted... There's definitely an edge to Andy, but I think he acknowledges that? (I don't imagine he's the easiest person to work with...) Then again, he's an absolutist and he knows what he wants. (And look what that's given us over his entire career...) He has that thing that a lot of (very good) comedians have, in that he's jovial, personable, charming, intelligent, disarming and often very, very funny... But he's DEAD SERIOUS about his work... (And why wouldn't he be?) I don't think Andy Partridge would describe himself as a 'genius', but I don't think he minds at all when other people do? And they do... He's THAT FRIEND that you met and fell madly and permanently in love with, and over years realized why you probably shouldn't have? (But by then it was far too late...) I think he's fucking wonderful... xx SF

[@peterreynolds7270]

andy should do a speaking tour cheers

[@melomane2010]

Mellotrons - Steve Hackett once described the sound as if you were listening to a broadcast of a symphony orchestra playing on Mars. "Purple fog" is quite apt as well - it's such a British instrument although I couldn't really tell you why - it just is. If you need proof, just listen to "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her" - the sound of the Mellotron coupled with Andy's lyrics - "The sea is warship grey" - it's truly a perfect marriage of sound and story. And what a story - time has completely stopped, the watch is waiting for its next tick and our protagonist is locked in that fateful moment - do I or don't I? I have a great music video in my head for this song, well for almost all of the XTC catalog, given how visual and evocative their lyrics are.

[@kevcatnip7589]

good points

[@steverogers1281]

What a lovely fellow Andy is. As for the manager... vimeo.com/7996247

[@twitchygiraffe4636]

Feel really sorry for him, wikipedia only tells you half the story about his stage fright! And i had no idea that xtc had "done a queen" and signed with a production company instead of direct with virgin themselves, you'd have thought mr lefty branson might have seen what was going on there and somehow wrangled them out of their shitty contract with the production bastard but no couldn't give a shit! Shows his true colours that he was just like the major lables in attitude, cos the indie lables wouldn't have acted like that! Very informative and funny interview this thanks!!

[@geoffjoffy]

He should quit shaving his head and grow his hair out. He doesn't suit the bouncer look.

[@robin_holden]

He'd need some hair to grow. If I was as bald as him, I'd probably do the same.