Ahead of the XTC Festival being held at the Swindon MECA this weekend, a longtime fan and history author wrote about the band’s “forgotten” lead singer.
On Facebook last year I came across a very early photo of legendary Swindon band XTC - posted, coincidentally, by its former lead singer and showing five (yes, five) members on stage.
Immediately below, someone had left a comment, and it couldn’t have been any more succinct. It simply read: ‘What??’
And the same, possibly incredulous, response will probably issue from the lips of most XTC fans when they learn that the group’s first lead singer was not, as expected, local musical savant and record label owner Andy Partridge, but a certain Mr Steve Hutchins.
Already a great fan of the highly influential, flamboyant American ‘mock-rockers’, The New York Dolls, Andy took the opportunity to forge a new ‘glam’ direction with his songwriting, concentrating on subject matter that fascinated him, such as science fiction, outer space and American DC Comics.
Following their ambitious arrival on the local music scene, The Helium Kidz quickly grew impatient at their apparent lack of progress, despite securing a few appearances at the Greyhound in Fulham. Following a breakdown in the relationship with their then-manager, they knew that once again, something had to change.
Somewhat of a reluctant lead singer, Andy lucked out when his then-girlfriend, Linda Godwin, got talking to Steve at a party in London. A research and development materials scientist by profession, Steve revealed that he was now developing a parallel career in the music business as a rock vocalist.
A phone call was hastily arranged between Andy and Steve, and it was agreed that Steve would travel to Swindon from his home in Surrey to meet the other members of The Helium Kidz for an audition-cum-rehearsal.
Steve told me, ‘I don't think there was any persuasion at all as I was offered the job on stage at the very first rehearsal. We just seemed to fit seamlessly as I could not only sing, but also capture the songs and lyrics easily and immediately. It seemed like a perfect match.’
Reflecting on this period when living in Streatham SW16, Steve says, ‘There was a local band called First Dimension who needed a singer. I duly auditioned and got my first job. I have to say we were pretty average at best, but it got me started. That is where Gerry Shephard first saw me.’
Indeed, Steve went on to spend a few years in the band State Convention with future Glitter Band member Gerry Shephard (who, with his iconic silver star guitar, wrote songs such as ‘Goodbye My Love’ and co-wrote ‘Angel Face’).
‘My very first gig with them after just a few days was at the legendary Eel Pie Island [the hotel there became an iconic rock and blues venue in the 1960s].’
The only non-Swindonian in The Helium Kidz line-up, Steve was born in Battersea in London and has gone on to live in various parts of the country. Following divorce from his first wife, he found a place to rent in Surrey with three friends, all of whom were ‘into music’.
Joining The Helium Kidz in the autumn of 1974, one of his first acts was to get them to convene at his home in Wallington that December, where they would record a demo in the front room, engineered by Alan Parkin. The tracks comprise: ‘Adrenalin’, ‘Private Eye’, ‘In Love With The Hurt’, 'Shark In The Pool', ‘Café’, and ‘Little Gold Runner’.
Dave Cartner would, however, be fired from the band shortly afterwards. ‘He was a nice chap, but in my mind simply not a good fit for the band,’ says Steve. ‘Whereas Andy would play arranged, interesting sequences of music with light and shade, Dave was more of a rock guitarist, thrashing out a big sound. It was just a mismatch in my opinion.’
Other sources stress that Dave was struggling to reconcile the demands of home life, work and the band and that this ultimately led to ‘the parting of the ways’.
Cassette tapes of the demo were reproduced and sent out to record companies and music industry ‘insiders’ by Steve to try and arouse some interest.
In due course, Steve was contacted by Tony Gordon of Wedge International (known for his work with Lulu and later with Sham 69, Angelic Upstarts and Culture Club/Boy George), who’d liked what he’d heard and set about signing the band on a management contract.
‘Wedge loved the tape and especially one particular track called Private Eye. This was the track that all the other interested parties went for as well. As an aside, it is also my favourite track.’
By now living in a flat in Purley, Steve was so confident of the band’s future success he gave up full-time work altogether.
To be fair to Tony Gordon, he did go on to secure recording sessions at Pye and Decca labels, where the studio time was given free of charge, with engineers and producers always on hand to get the tracks down for consideration.
On reflection, without trying to sound clever, I don't think these professional studio recordings captured the very essence of the band, so maybe that is why we didn't get the deal.’
In a way, these rejections heralded a further evolution in the band’s music, with the songs gradually becoming faster, more compact, more commercial, even introducing some imaginary dance crazes along the way.
And, of course, the music was edging ever closer to a newer wave, and, with the later addition of a Davoli synthesiser,…well, far more whizzy too.
To make the band more ‘marketable’, Steve thought the band needed to record some of these newer songs, and in the summer of 1975, he self-funded a session at the independent TW Studios in Fulham. There they laid down four new tracks: ‘Walkin’ Cross The Ceiling’, ‘Yabber, Yabber, Yabber’, ‘Star Park’ and ‘Neon Shuffle’, plus updated versions of ‘Saturn Boy’ and ‘Shark In The Pool’.
They continued to rehearse and gig like crazy, following an open-air concert, Andy informed us that the name of the band was now going to be XTC, which all of us liked.’ It was shortly afterwards that young keyboardist Jonathan Perkins joined and, for a while, the band reverted to a five-piece.
Steve laments: ’I wanted them to come to London so we could get on the defined 'London Circuit' to generate a fan base and attract A&R guys from the record companies. In that way we would build a great following of fans and have a much better chance of getting a record deal.
"Unfortunately, they would not do it and shortly afterwards I got a call from Colin Moulding [thought to be circa March 1976] to say that they were going to stay in Swindon on their own without me as the vocalist.
‘I stopped being a performer the moment I parted with XTC. It came totally out of the blue and hit me like a train. I was so sure of the band and its potential, and although I still got many offers from other bands, I did not wish to join anybody else.’
In the latter stages of his time with XTC, Steve had already secured premises in Waddon, which he planned for the band to use as a rehearsal facility, but in view of his change of circumstances he converted it into a rehearsal and demo studio instead.
His career then shifted to being a successful promoter/agent/manager. He tells me: ‘I also found and managed Girlschool. They were actually called Painted Lady when I found them playing at The Brecknock pub in North London. I took them on and changed the name…’
In a bizarre twist, he also became involved with future Glitter Band, Random Hold and XTC drummer, Pete Phipps: ‘I know Pete well. He was in a band called Rushour, later called Ex Directory. I also ended up trying to get them a deal.’
Amongst the many enterprises he has owned and managed over the ensuing years, Steve recalls running an advertising and marketing company as well as specialist car restoration and property development businesses.
In addition, he has ‘chaired an animal charity, lectured in business studies and marketing at Cambridge College - and even delivered educational services within a Category A Maximum Security Prison.’
Steve is also widely known for owning a highly successful, international Terrier breeding & show kennels, as well as his prize-winning participation in Greyhound racing and his numerous articles on canine nutrition and husbandry.
Having retired to South Devon in 2016, Steve now lives with his wife and daughter in Torquay and, from afar, supports his beloved Chelsea. More recently his family have taken in two Ukrainian sisters under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
Interestingly, of all the songs he performed and demo’d with The HeliumKidz/XTC, he would probably only recognise ‘Neon Shuffle’ of all the tracks which later made it onto vinyl.
2026 will mark fifty years since Steve left XTC and he freely admits to not having followed the band’s progress in the intervening years because of his busy work schedule.
But how does he now look back on his enforced departure?
‘Yes it is still painful for me, but I think the band were searching for another instrument to add to the group, which I agree with totally after Dave left.
"Having said that I still feel a dedicated lead vocalist adds an extra layer and different dimension to any band, so I think that is what was missing from the final lineup - and why in my opinion, the band did not achieve the major success they so richly deserved.’
Steve takes time to summarise his final thoughts: ‘All bands develop - often with changes in direction and personnel - and that is normal.
"But… I did not see my dismissal coming. My only regret is that I was not able to go on the journey with them and to this very day have no idea as to why we parted. Still, I had an amazing life after XTC and continue to value the time that I had with them.’
