XTC - Towers of London

What this video is

Released in 1980 as the second single from XTC's critically acclaimed Black Sea album on Virgin Records, 'Towers of London' arrived at a pivotal moment when British post-punk was crystallising into new wave. The song peaked at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart. The track carried strong Anglophilic themes — its title referencing the iconic London landmark — and was noted by Andy Partridge as a deliberate nod to the…

Why it matters

A canonical document of early British new wave promotional video culture. XTC's angular guitar work and Partridge's rhythmically complex songwriting are foregrounded through fast performance editing, reflecting the genre's rejection of stadium-rock excess. The video's raw, functional aesthetic…

The director

British music video and television director and producer. Began career as a cameraman in the 1970s before transitioning to directing. Co-founded MGMM Productions with Scott Millaney, Russell Mulcahy, and David Mallet — the most successful UK music video…