The Dukes of Stratosphear
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| The Dukes of Stratosphear | |
|---|---|
| Origin | UK |
| Genre(s) | Neo-Psychedelia |
| Years active | 1984 to 2003 |
| Label(s) | Virgin |
| Associated acts | XTC |
| Former members | |
| The Red Curtain Lord Cornelius Plum Sir John Johns E.I.E.I. Owen |
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The Dukes of Stratosphear was a pseudonym used by the British rock band XTC in the mid to late 1980s, concurrently with XTC's continued musical activities. The project was intended as a homage to 1960s pop and psychedelic music by groups such as The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Beach Boys, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd and The Pretty Things.
The band released two records under this pseudonym, the mini-album 25 O'Clock (1985), and the full-length album Psonic Psunspot (1987). The two releases were compiled onto a single CD under the title Chips from the Chocolate Fireball: An Anthology, which was released simultaneously with the vinyl issue of Psonic Psunspot. The Dukes were also mentioned in the credits of XTC's 1986 album Skylarking, where they were thanked for the loan of their guitars.
The band briefly reformed in 2003, to record the track "Open A Can (Of Human Beans)" for the MS Society charity compilation album The Wish List.
On 20 April 2009 both records were released on CD for the first time in their own right - along with demo recordings, bonus tracks and brand new sleeve notes from the band. These editions are credited to "XTC as The Dukes of Stratosphear" and were released on Andy Partridge's Ape House record label (they are also the first XTC recordings that Virgin Records have relinquished the rights to).
[edit] Members
The pseudonymous personnel included:
- Sir John Johns (Andy Partridge) - singing, guitar, brain buds
- The Red Curtain (Colin Moulding) - electric bass, song stuff
- Lord Cornelius Plum (Dave Gregory) - mellotron, piano, organ, fuzz-tone guitar
- E.I.E.I. Owen (Ian Gregory) - drum set
Both 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot were produced by John Leckie, whose adopted pseudonym was Swami Anand Nagara.
[edit] Discography
- 25 O'Clock (1985, Vinyl only 12" EP; 2009 CD)
- Psonic Psunspot (1987, Vinyl only Album; 2009 CD)
- Chips from the Chocolate Fireball (1987, CD compilation of 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot)
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