XTC
XTC were a new wave rock band from Swindon, England, led by songwriters Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding and active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" (1979) and "Senses Working Overtime" (1982). In 1982, the group stopped concert touring and became a studio-based project centred on Partridge, Moulding, and guitarist Dave Gregory with various session musicians. (More from Wikipedia)
I am reminded once again of the late, great Peter Ivers and the crazed interviews he used to do with punk rock musicians on the New Wave Theatre show. When someone was starting to act like a smartass, Peter would get them to turn to the camera and give the answer again; and invariably, they would change their tune. In almost every case, no matter what anti-religious screed a rock musician is trying to perform, the idea that they are sending their bare ideas out into the universe gives them pause; and they back off from showing a completely disrespectful attitude – that is true I think even of XTC's notorious "Dear God", for example.
(December 2012)
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The less reverent tone of Jesus Christ Superstar heralded a more casual attitude toward the Bible and Christianity in popular music during the 1970's that has accelerated somewhat since that time. Although there are a handful of rock songs having a mocking tone – "Dear God" by XTC and the Bed of Eyes song "Smart Religion" (". . . is no religion") from their album Crimp in the Facts are the only two that come to mind in my own collection – I see it mostly in band names.
(October 2014)
