XTC were an English rock band formed in Swindon in 1972 and active until 2006. Led by songwriters Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding, the band emerged from the late 1970s punk and new wave explosion, later playing in a variety of styles that ranged from angular guitar riffs to elaborately arranged pop. The band failed to maintain popular success in the UK and US, partly because they did not fit into contemporary trends. They nevertheless earned a devoted cult following.