Dave Gregory Story - Interview by Mark Powell

[@michaelthomas366]

How can you not like this guy?

[@jen3800]

it never ceases to amaze me to find real musicians live truly humble lives, and have zero sense of entitlement despite decades of success in the charts kids today could learn a lot from this gentleman

[@acrovader]

Well put. Huge Partridge fan, here. Dave's a great guitarist. I really wish Andy and Dave and Colin would get back together and make great music again.

[@wyatt-rocks]

Some of the best albums ever made in history. The Dukes of Stratosphere still ranks for me in my top 10 of all time, but how do you pick even the best 3 XTC albums?! I'm forever thankful XTC came together and made so much magic for so long. Thanks for your amazing contribution, Dave!!

[@davidsanderson5918]

Easy.....Skylarking, Apple Venus, Oranges And Lemons. H'mm...English Settlement. Maybe Oranges And Lemons, Apple Venus, English Settlement then. H'm....Black Sea. Maybe Skylarking, Black Sea, Apple Venus?? H'mmm....Nonsuch. You're right, it's impossible. :)

[@thebrazilianatlantis165]

correlation between best XTC albums & XTC albums with Dave Gregory 100%

[@itchyego]

I am very much taken by Dave Gregory... I could believe that his mellow and insightful composure could have been the glue that keep the band closer over time. Great Interview.

[@kelvinwilson9217]

Dave is such a wonderful genuine person - so few in the music industry.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Ooh that's harsh! :) I think there are legions of genuine people in the music industry but they aren't represented as such in the media. Even the ones that seem insincere, once the bullshit dissolves and they're relatively quieter in later years they reveal themselves as no less wonderful or genuine as anyone else.

[@DarrellGregory]

A lovely way to spend an hour, Dave Gregory is a great interviewee.

[@MrSteviedan]

What an absolute gent. He restores your faith in the music business - despite all the setbacks, this guy LOVES music. Thanks for all the great guitar playing, Dave.

[@georgespencer3973]

I could listen to Dave talk about the Dukes experience for hours. Too bad it was only a couple minutes. Great interview. Thank you both..

[@mushroomgods4707]

an amazing guitar player and so down to earth. I miss XTC

[@stevesmith-lo2oj]

Hell of a guitarist. Dave Gregory sits comfortably among the great players in my minds Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Now I find out he's also an intelligent, thoughtful person...how refreshing. Thanks to Cherry Red for the terriffic interview!

[@krollpeter]

He did not really stand-up strongly enough towards the genius dickhead Mr. Partridge. But, but, but . . . he is spot on with the things he says, incl. that contemporary music "quickly making me tired of it" thing. "Even the worst music at that time usually still was listenable in a way, you know what I mean?" Yes Mr. Gregory, I know what you mean. The pile of dumbness in entertainment was never ever as huge. But you will be told you are getting old. We have hope however. I noticed around the end of their sixties or towards 70 yo many artist can get another creative peak. Let's wait together for the brilliant Mr. Partridge.

[@jodylancaster8706]

Dave seems very sweet. Soft spoken and gentle.

[@eliotmccann2589]

The Michael Palin of prog. Lovely man and wonderful musician

[@scooob]

Wonderful, enlightening and moving interview. What a sensible, sensitive and humble guy Dave appears to be. I'm a huge Andy Partridge fan, but I believe every word about how difficult he must be to work with sometimes. Genius doesn't come easy, I guess. Cheers to Dave, with much appreciation for his own gifts and how much he contributed to XTC's music.

[@psmith669]

I love this man. One if the best!!!!

[@grahambrown5013]

I remember watching Dave playing guitar in the early 70's in a band called Alehouse who came from Calne near Swindon. Also in the band was Tony Green on bass, Larry the Mole on guitar, Tony McCondach on drums and a guy called Rod who was the vocalist.

[@xtstevie]

The nicest guy in music......By a country mile!

[@ladycplum]

This is just gorgeous, Dave is a total sweetheart, and while Andy and Colin were the chief songwriters, it was Dave's arrangements and his playing that really topped off the cake with some sweet icing.

[@welshtoro3256]

Fantastic interview. Mark Powell gives Dave the space to express himself and open up. Personally I think Dave comes across as a great and honest guy. I have loved XTC for 35 years and have always thought Dave's contribution to be essential.

[@PaulButtrill]

Brilliant guitarist, yet a very humble guy.

[@tinfoilhatter]

Paul Buttrill i would say moderately humble-very humble seems a bit....ex-cessive perhaps? being the king of rock,along with colin and andy,he's far too humble for sure!

[@TheBestBoyyeeehehe]

what a pleasant man

[@kieronbowker9983]

Great musician and thoroughly decent chap. I have a lot of time for this good man. All the best Dave.

[@ladycplum]

Dave set me a copy as a Christmas present in 96! I actually opened it at work and pretty much shrieked like a maniac in front of I don't even know how many people!

[@SonicVineyard]

Dave is lovely!...so compassionate too

[@jeffblack5024]

First time I saw Dave Gregory was in Swindon in about 1978 - Dean Gabber and the Gaberdines. They were a pub R&B band and their gimmick was that the lead singer wore a dirty mac and read the lyrics out of a porn mag. I also have an old copy of NME where he writes in to the letters page pointing out that they've got Steely Dan guitar soloists wrong.

[@JoffEngland]

What a legend great interview and the hour just whizzed by, love the post chat Tin Spirits track.Back in 1982 or so Dave took the time to write me a personal letter of apology for the collapse of the XTC club, what a gentleman and what a talent.

[@krollpeter]

I see he delivered much more to XTC than "only" playing some guitar. I feel sorry hearing the parts about Andy Partridge. I consider him one of the best composers Britain has. I would have loved to hear more by XTC. In their best moments they were as good as the Beatles, or better.

[@InParticularNobody]

comes across as a thoroughly nice guy. in my opinion, Dave's genius is as vital a part of the XTC machine as Andy's. Nice to see Dave so generous in his praise for Andy after all that's passed between them...

[@dougmedina4619]

He was a big part of XTC sound.Great player and all around good guy.

[@ISAWXTC1980]

Love the "Dukes.." back story !! 2 weeks - 6 brilliant time capsule creations

[@jcee]

Could listen to Dave all night!So interesting and down to earth!Great guitarist too!:-)

[@lennykrainie1903]

What a lovely humble guy ! Thank you for taking the time to arrange this interview, excellent interviewer as well!

[@michaeljayes2836]

Fantastic interview , great guitar player and a really nice guy, such a shame XTC are no more they are greatly missed.i live in hope that one day they will reform for one last album, well I can dream I guess.

[@BlueRidgeParkway]

Thank you for sharing this video! I adore Dave Gregory, and of course, XTC. He is one of the greatest living guitarists imho. And such a shame that Andy had to go get all egotistical and drive Dave away. Let's hope they patch things up soon and start making some more great music! And the whole Virgin Records scam--wtf? Richard Branson has more money than God. He should feel terrible for trying to screw over one of the greatest bands to ever come out of England. Shame on you Richard Branson! Long Live XTC!

[@kyfawkes]

Branson feels no guilt. Psycopaths don't...

[@77hodag]

As a hardcore XTC fan, this interview is like catnip! God bless Dave Gregory for giving the fans such a wonderful insight into the XTC years.

[@Melanie-phoenix72]

Hi Dave, You may or may not remember my Dad, Ivan Robinson of Skin Deep back in the early 70's Its going back some years but he has told me all about you and Mole and Tony Green, I kind of remember but I was only a nipper then lol Dad sends his regards to you :)

[@sharktroubles]

Thank you for bringing this interview to the KZbin masses! Mr. Dave Gregory epitomizes sweetness, humility and unconceited intelligence both in his comportment and musical dialect. Watch out though - his vitriolic side can bite you! His solo on "That Wave" is a true testament to his emotional balance. It was my pleasure to further my life education with this awesome content. Wow.

[@xs10tl1]

Wow. what a lesson. Two of the best records of all time (imho) delivered under duress and out of sheer willpower. (And yet another gifted group screwed by Virgin Records...)

[@hiddenfire65]

Great interview. I'm glad that Dave shares his perspective on difficult things.

[@beatles122223333]

Such an underrated guitarist. Also fantastic piano player. Arranged the strings on 1000 umbrellas. That alone earns him significant recognition. He WAS xtc.

[@joeibarnes9206]

Bingo!

[@kirkenhoffenmeister]

What a stunning musician and a wonderful thoughtful storyteller. His string arrangements too are genius.

[@martinjohncameron]

I enjoyed this immensely; what an unassuming, generous man. I was not aware that the interview was just an hour and was unexpectedly treated to a fantastic piece of music at the end.

[@AntonShields]

Dave if you could see what I'm writing. Xtc is my one of ALL TIME favorite bands ever. I play guitar and your contribution to the work is uncanny. And though, it sad to know that another XTC record will not be made, i am please to know everyone in that band worked so hard to make music that will last through out the years. I don't believe a musician work can reach a higher achievement. Thanks Cherry red Records for posting this video. I really would love to me Dave and rest of the members of XTC to personally thank them for adding amazing catalog of inspiring and well thought out music. BTW, I feel when an artist spends too much time of the record, it sometimes looses its fire or edge. When Dave mentions how little time they had to make the music, it shocked me a little but the same time it was refreshing because i know for a fact their soul and heart was in the music. AND IT SHOWS TO YOUR FANS. Thank you Dave Gregory.

[@TheMightyHartley]

Great stuff! What a nice guy Dave is.

[@BlueRidgeParkway]

Dave Gregory is a fantastic guitarist, very under-rated. He contributed ALOT to the sound of XTC. Such a shame Andy had to get all pissy and sour his relationship with Dave. And Colin...he basically gave up on music after that. Try to find Dave's CD of cover songs. I forget what it's called, but it's amazing. Dave played & recorded it all himself, and it's uncanny to the originals. Awesome guy!

[@davidsanderson5918]

I'm SO glad Dave says that he puts on a record first thing every day. And also it invariably happens to be a record from his youth. This is significant and reassuring to hear because in recent times I've felt more and more detached from conventional society simply because I can't part with my huge record collection which of course is comprised of music from my youth except for a handful of exceptions. CDs are indeed wearing. I was raised on vinyl. I sometimes wonder if I'm a complete dinosaur. THANK YOU DAVE. I'm with you, maan.

[@quinn4626]

What a brilliant guitarist. Listening to his work, somehow he always manages to come up with THE perfect part for whatever song he's recording. Once you've heard it, you can't imagine the song without it.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Fantastic and informative interview! Thanks to Mr. Dave Gregory for sharing so eloquently his experiences.

[@Svatopluk]

I really enjoyed this. It was very interesting and insightful to hear about how he fit in his own musical approach to XTC. Thanks for making this.

[@proggerbob]

What an enlightening interview! Thank you for sharing this. Came from the Big Big Train website, realizing when I got there that Dave was in the band. I've been an enthusiastic XTC fan and witness since the '70s, long championing their astonishingly creative work. What a delight that Dave continues to bless us with his distinctive sound working with Big Big Train. Having now heard the fabulous work he's up to with Tin Spirits, I'm now off to pick that up too! How wonderful to discover new music!

[@RareBird0]

I saw XTC at the Palladium in NY in 1981. It was wonderful. Andy came on a second or two later and his entrance reminded me of the receptions Ray Davies would get at Kinks concerts.. Had no idea such a presence had any guarded flaws. "Chips from the Chocolate Fireball" is one of the top 5 pieces of high art rock ever made. Bless you Swindon guys. You surely made my world better.

[@XellKamikaze]

Wooooah, an hour long Dave Gregory video? Looks like I'm not going to bed just yet.

[@chrismiller9740]

What a humble yet wonderful guitarist. He belongs with the greats, Clapton, knoffler, page

[@GarthDibbler]

I love Dave

[@Texaleiro]

I love Dave Gregory's work with XTC, and he's a lovely gentleman But he never wrote a song (not that Andy would have let him ... ). It's telling when he says, "I could take orders from Andy, or I could take orders from Todd."

[@jeffdawson2786]

Tin Spirits’ Scorch is my favorite album. Wonderful music from beginning to end.

[@malenkyslovos]

Dave you're sooo lovely - fantastic interview Mark!

[@RegVarnish]

Indeed a true gentleman. What a sheer pleasure to watch such an informative video. And DG is a great electric 12 string player.

[@TVplanetclaire]

Tin Spirits are one of the best live bands I have ever seen and the nicest blokes you could hope to meet. Roll on Album #2 !

[@Ted_Selke]

Great interview! I like Mummer and Big Express very much!

[@bathsheba56]

Thanks, Dave! You added so much to XTC, such a keen sensibility through that guitar in your hands. Great to hear your side of things--and you're still making great music with Tin Spirits and Big, Big Train!

[@tonyphillipsable]

Thanks for sharing. A gifted, kind and genial man.

[@whouster]

Renowned for being one of the nice guys of rock, and here's the evidence. Such a kind-natured chap, and always very modest about his own guitar prowess.

[@aliensporebomb]

Fascinating - very well spoken and a great guitar player/arranger/musician.

[@Bubbasweet]

Dave, must be the most sensible guy in XTC... A true gentleman and legendary guitarist.. I cannot imagine working with Andy. Must have been frustrating...

[@mccreature]

Great interview!

[@evenodder1]

A brilliant and thoughtful man and musician. Thanks for posting this ! It made my day,week,and month :)

[@qwe098qwe098qwe098]

Mesmerising interview.

[@eardrumbuzzer4672]

Dave is brilliant! He added ten times the weight of Andy and Colin! He is the best thing that ever happened to XTC! He is the perfect foil to Andy and Colin's guitar styles! Listen to "Drums and Wires" first!!!

[@StuartJessiman]

He did NOT add 10 times the weight of Andy and Colin. Andy Partridge is a brilliant, prolific writer of songs. He was the man that made XTC. Dave Gregory does deserve a lot of praise for the way he blended his guitar sound in with that of Andy to enrich a song. He appears to be a nice guy. But the truth is that had Andy left XTC, therer would be no XTC, whereas had Dave left it could have survived, albeit with a lost of guitar textures and many other contributions.

[@CONSIDERABLYMORE1]

@@StuartJessiman fool

[@leslieburns4665]

Magnificent. A perfect portrait of a band, a song, and a process.

[@ladycplum]

I've been pen pal friends with Gregsy for about 18 years now. Sometimes he sends me a package with British candy you can't find in America.

[@MultiPetercool]

1000 Umbrellas sounds like something from Johannes Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes. Brilliant!

[@220773]

I would have NEVER thought an XTC member might ever like early Genesis or cover 'Roundabout'................... you're welcome to it, Dave!

[@michaelthomas366]

I'm 61 but when I was boy growing up surfing in CA, I had the same 'dutch boy's haircut ! Lol

[@keithjacques7484]

Hope you get a chance to record another chat with Dave Gregory at some point. Mark's interview style suits this extremely well. Perhaps when the next Tin Spirits album is released?

[@PeterPumpkinhead1]

Thanks for posting this. Haven't watched it all yet, but cool.

[@jonathaninkent]

Fascinating, esp Apple Venus sessions.

[@michaelohare6498]

i;m from chicago, seen xtc many year ago,love Daves guitiar,thanks for postin

[@12fold]

It's been a cathartic couple of months for me for me since I first started watching this video, rationing it out to myself, piecemeal, because each 20 seconds seems to lead me off on another trail.

[@101Volts]

Just listening to Dave talk is like going from the Minutemen's "Anchor" Song to the Hangar music in Simcopter to me or something mellower than that; It's quite relaxing. I don't think I'll be able to finish watching this tonight, But it's nice to see. Thanks! :)

[@PigletVanGogh]

Andy & Ray have #1 and #2 in my book for 30 yrs plus. Great seeing someone else with similar taste. About to watch this interview, now. Once met a neighbor who was good friends with Dave Gregory. The guy refused to utilize a computer. Haven't seen him in about 7-10 years. Hope he came to his senses (working overtime) and gained exposure to all this good stuff.

[@1111pelican]

such a nice down to earth guy

[@DaleLeopold]

I was lucky to see Dave perform at the Wild Honey autism benefit show in LA a few years ago. Various artists performed the Beatles' White Album (plus assorted '68 Beatles tracks). Dave was part of the "house band" and was brilliant (no surprise)! I hadn't heard Tin Spirits until now, but I really enjoyed them.

[@brianbernard2083]

Nice to find you all. Thanks

[@95thFoot]

Wonderful, eye-opening interview. We love the music, but these guys had to live through its creation, and bear the consequences, good and bad. Really like the music at the end of the clip!

[@Nyquest]

Excellent interview. Nice one Mark & Dave.

[@garethmurray9332]

excellent interview, of course Andy's account about what happened during the making of Apple Venus Vol 1. does vary greatly from Dave's. I suspect the truth is they're both right to a certain degree.

[@AthensGuitarLessons]

+Gareth Murray I've heard rumors about this over the years, but never heard any details. What was Andy's account of what happened? Where could I read more about this? Never really have been clear on what happened.

[@StingrayOfficial]

I loved the nice things he had to say about Andy.

[@paulconnelly4050]

Brilliant interview, he comes off as such a gentleman.

[@mattstevensguitar]

Excellent stuff. Heard a bit of the ghost of the Mahavishnu in that last track :)

[@TheMightyHartley]

He really is a gent.

[@HidingFromFate]

The video screen capture reminds me of Dana Carvey's Church Lady.

[@fourtheye111]

Thanks for this! Great interview.

[@ladycplum]

He is, once I made an offhand remark that I hadn't had any British chocolate in awhile, and the next thing I know this beautiful vintage tin appeared in the mail chock full of Curly Whirlies, Dairy Milks, Caramellos....I swore I'd get back at him for doing that, because he's not rich, I think we all know this.

[@richnageotte]

I just now noticed Dave's resemblance to Michael Palin.

[@Egurenkone]

He seems to be a really nice guy.

[@chemtrailtracker]

great stuff thanks

[@StingrayOfficial]

Thank you for this! So much!

Listen to the ending solo in the song Keeper of Abbeys! Dave Gregory at his best!! Best band out there right now!! Big Big Train!! open.spotify.com/track/15OHo7Jas7ru1ENeOKOPoI