Colin Moulding
| Colin Moulding | |
|---|---|
 Moulding (second from left) with XTC | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Red Curtain, The Colonel |
| Born |
17 August 1955 Swindon, Wiltshire, England |
| Genres | Rock, pop |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter, singer |
| Instruments | Bass |
| Years active | 1977–2007 |
| Labels | Cooking Vinyl, Geffen, Idea, Virgin |
| Associated acts | XTC, The Dukes of Stratosphear |
Colin Ivor Moulding (born 17 August 1955, Swindon, Wiltshire, England)[1] is a bassist, songwriter and vocalist. He is a founding member of the band XTC. Though less prolific than bandmate Andy Partridge, Moulding wrote many of the group's most popular songs, including their first three UK hit singles: "Life Begins At The Hop", "Making Plans For Nigel", and "Generals and Majors". "Making Plans For Nigel" was also a Top 20 hit in Canada, and "Generals and Majors" was the band's first U.S. chart entry, peaking at #104 in 1980. Moulding's songs tend to differ from that of Partridge, in some cases having more political overtones.
Life and career
Moulding's bass playing is self-taught, learning 1970s rock riffs at 15 years old. He cites Andy Fraser of Free as an early musical influence and has stated a preference for an intuitive approach to writing and playing rather than study.[2]
Outside his work with XTC (and their alter-ego side project The Dukes of Stratosphear), Moulding released a non-charting solo single ("Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen" b/w "I Need Protection") in 1980 under the pseudonym "The Colonel". He later played bass and co-produced one track on the 1994 Sam Phillips album Martinis and Bikinis, and in 2005, he contributed to Billy Sherwood's Pink Floyd tribute album Return to the Dark Side of the Moon, playing bass and singing lead vocal on "Brain Damage." It has also been announced that Moulding will be appearing on Sherwood's next album.[3]
In February 2007, Partridge told music website Pitchfork Media that Moulding was "not interested in music any more, and doesn't want to write."[4] Moulding concurred in having a recent loss of interest in music.[2] In November 2008 Moulding emerged for an interview about "Making Plans For Nigel" for an instalment in the series of interviews by Todd Bernhardt. He also gave a two-hour interview in December 2008 on the Todd Rundgren fansite, Rundgren Radio.[2]
Moulding made vocal contributions to a Billy Sherwood Progressive Rock album (The Prog Collective, August 2012), combining forces with Rick Wakeman on "Check Point Karma". He performed a lead vocal for the song "The Man Who Died Two Times" by the Progressive Rock band Days Between Stations (released 15 May 2013).
Discography
Studio albums
White Music (1978)
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Go 2 (1978)
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Drums and Wires (1979)
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Black Sea (1980)
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English Settlement (1982)
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Mummer (1983)
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The Big Express (1984)
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25 O'Clock (1985)
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Skylarking (1986)
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Psonic Psunspot (1987)
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Oranges and Lemons (1989)
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Nonsuch (1992)
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Apple Venus Volume 1 (1999)
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Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) (2000)
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A Tribute To Pink Floyd - Return To The Dark Side Of The Moon (2006)
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Songs of the Century - An All-Star Tribute to Supertramp (2012)
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The Prog Collective (2012)
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In Extremis by Days Between Stations (2013)
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Compilation albums
Rag and Bone Buffet: Rare Cuts and Leftovers (1990)
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