The Story Behind The Song: XTC’s ‘Making Plans for Nigel’
For a band that rose to prominence in the early punk scene, XTC lasted much longer than many of their contemporaries. With a discography spanning over 20 years, the band were much more than a flash-in-the-pan punk outfit. As the years went on, Swindon’s finest export became more and more experimental, incorporating elements of psychedelia and even progressive rock, yet they never managed to eclipse 1979’s ‘Making Plans for Nigel’.
The lead single to be released from the seminal album Drums and Wires, ‘Making Plans for Nigel’ was a smash hit for the band, spending 11 weeks in the UK singles charts. As opposed to a great deal of XTC tracks, which guitarist and frontman Andy Partridge wrote, this single was penned by bassist Colin Moulding – which is perhaps why the bassline for the track is so addictive.
‘Making Plans for Nigel’ is told from the perspective of overbearing parents discussing the future of their son Nigel. Like many kids of the 1970s, young Nigel appears to have his whole life decided for him by the powers that be. According to Moulding, the lyrics to the track were inspired by his father, “He wanted a university future for me and was very overpowering in trying to persuade me to get my haircut and stay on at school.”
It is an undoubtedly relatable tale for audience members, even today, but Moulding had his heart set on musical stardom. Forming XTC in 1972, the songwriter had a huge impact on alternative music in the 20th century. Blending styles of punk, avant-garde, ska and early synth-pop, the band achieved greatness that most ordinary people could only dream of, despite the efforts of Moulding’s father. “It got to the point where he almost tried to drag me down the barber’s shop by my hair,” the bassist revealed, “I know the song tells of a slightly different situation, but it all boils down to the same thing – parental domination.”
One of the most recognisable lyrics in the song namedrops British Steel: “We’re only making plans for Nigel, he has his future in a British Steel”. Although the songwriter has since attested that “it was an organisation [he] chose at random”, the line aged like a fine wine. During the 1970s, the main policy of British Steel was to keep employment high, so many people like Nigel had a future in the company, but during the 1980s, under Thatcher, the company was privatised, and many people lost their jobs. So, though it might have been unintentional, the lyric had since taken on a new meaning; people are pushed into careers they have no interest in, only for the rug to be swept from under their feet by authority, leaving them penniless without any prospects.
Musically, the song takes a darker approach than some of the other tracks on Drums and Wires. This industrial atmosphere is created largely through the drums of Terry Chambers. Apparently inspired by American new wave heroes Devo and their cover of The Rolling Stones’ ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’. “I wanted to make the beat a bit more industrial,” Chambers said, “So instead of keeping the rhythm on the hi-hat, I played it on the floor tom and used the hi-hat for the accents. It was the opposite to what drummers usually do, but it gave it a juddering, production-line feel.”
Fittingly, for one of the most enduring groups of 1970s alternative music, XTC’s ‘Making Plans for Nigel’ remains a definitive track of the post-punk period. The industrial feel and lyrics discussing parental control and authority still ring true today.
