The Dukes of Stratosphear
L-R: The Red Curtain, Lord Cornelius Plum, Sir John Johns, E.I.E.I. Owen
Background information
Origin	UK
Genre(s)	Neo-Psychedelia
Years active	1984 to 1987
Label(s)	Virgin
Associated acts	XTC
Former members
The Red Curtain Lord Cornelius Plum Sir John Johns E.I.E.I. Owen

The Dukes of Stratosphear was a pseudonym used by the British rock band XTC in the late 1980s. The band released two albums, 25 O'Clock (1985) and Psonic Psunspot (1987), which drew upon influences of 1960s psychedelic music such as the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and the Pretty Things. The two albums were released on a single CD under the title Chips from the Chocolate Fireball: An Anthology simultaneous with the release of the second vinyl album. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... Neo-Psychedelia (a. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ... XTC are an influential new wave band from Swindon, England. ... XTC are an influential new wave band from Swindon, England. ... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Psonic Psunspot is the second release of the Dukes of Stratosphear, a band formed by members of XTC. The album, like the previous 25 OClock, is inspired by the 60s psychedelia. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Psychedelic music may refer to: Psychedelic rock, a subgenre of rock Psychedelic trance, a subgenre of trance Psychedelic folk, a subgenre of folk Psychedelic pop, a subgenre of pop Psychedelic soul, a subgenre of soul See also Acid breaks Acid house Acid jazz Acid punk Acid rap Acid rock Acid... The Beatles were an English rock band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. ... Pink Floyd are an English rock band that earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their avant-garde progressive rock music. ... The Pretty Things is a 1960s and 1970s rock and roll band from London. ...

In the credits to the Skylarking album, XTC thanked the Dukes of Stratosphear for the loan of their guitars. Skylarking is a 1986 album by XTC. Considered by many to be their finest album, Skylarking displayed songwriting and arranging heavily influenced by The Beatles of Revolver and Sgt. ... XTC are an influential new wave band from Swindon, England. ...

The Dukes of Stratosphear reformed in 2003 to record the track "Open A Can (Of Human Beans)" for the MS Society charity compilation album The Wish List. The track was later included on Andy Partridges' album Fuzzy Warbles Volume 7 (2006). Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain is a British medical research charity dedicated to the curing of the multiple sclerosis. ... Fuzzy Warbles Volume 7 is the seventh volume in the Fuzzy Warbles series released in September 2006. ...

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

Andy Partridge (born November 11, 1953 in Malta) is a founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter of the new wave group XTC. He lives in Swindon, Wiltshire, where he was raised. ... Colin Moulding (born August 17, 1955, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England) is a founding member of the new wave rock/pop group XTC, its second songwriter, vocalist, and bassist. ... Dave Gregory Dave Gregory Dave Gregory (born September 21, 1952, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England) was the lead guitarist of the new wave rock/pop group XTC from immediately prior to the recording of the Drums and Wires LP in 1979 to his leaving the band in 1999. ...

Trivia

It seems that hearing Nick Nicely's "Hilly Fields (1982)" inspired Andy Partridge et al. to form The Dukes of Stratosphear. Nick Nicely is a British musician. ...

Discography

25 O'Clock 1985 (Vinyl only 12" EP)

Psonic Psunspot 1987 (Vinyl only Album)

Chips from the Chocolate Fireball 1987 (CD compilation of 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot)