The Dukes Of Stratosphear

Psychedelic Rock Revivalists

The Dukes of Stratosphear was a pseudonymous side project formed by the members of the British rock band XTC in the mid-1980s. The group was composed of Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Dave Gregory, and Ian Gregory (under the pseudonym E.I.E.I. Owen). They created music that was a homage to the psychedelic sounds of the 1960s, drawing inspiration from bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Beach Boys. Their debut release, "25 O'Clock" (1985), was initially presented as a long-lost collection of recordings by a forgotten band from the '60s, but it was later revealed to be the work of XTC. This was followed by "Psonic Psunspot" in 1987. Both albums were well-received by critics and fans for their authentic recreation of the psychedelic era's sound and sensibility. The Dukes did not perform live and remained a studio-based project. In 2009, their work was compiled and reissued under the title "Psurroundabout Ride," which included remastered versions of their two albums along with bonus tracks.