Ozric Tentacles

Ozric Tentacles
Ozric Tentacles live in Zagreb, 2004
Background information
Origin	Somerset, England
Genres	Psychedelic rock, neo-psychedelia, space rock, progressive rock, jazz fusion, instrumental rock, electronica, psytrance, dub, world music, livetronica, ambient music
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Dovetail, Snapper, Stretchy, Magna Carta, Madfish
Associated acts	Eat Static, Nodens Ictus, Here & Now, Invisible System
Website	ozrics.com
Members	Ed Wynne Brandi Wynne Silas Wynne Balázs Szende

Ozric Tentacles are an English instrumental rock band, whose music can loosely be described as a mixture of progressive rock, psychedelic rock and space rock. Formed in Somerset in 1983, the band has released over 30 albums selling over a million copies worldwide despite never having signed to a major recording label. Throughout many line-up changes over the years, co-founder and guitarist Ed Wynne has remained the only original member of the band.

Ozric Tentacles formed at the Stonehenge Free Festival in 1983, where the brothers Ed and Roly Wynne, along with drummer Nick "Tig" Van Gelder and keyboardist Joie Hinton, performed as a group originally known as Bolshem People. While playing at a jam session, the group was asked as to the name of their band, to which Ed Wynne replied "Ozric Tentacles".

Ozric Tentacles (or The Ozrics, as they are also known) gained attention for their style of psychedelic rock, which makes prominent use of synthesizers, guitars, and samplers. The band is now credited as one of the major influences of the UK festival scene's re-emergence, becoming particularly associated with the Glastonbury Festival and their handmade series of cassette releases, sold at gigs and through a fan club.

In 1989, the band started their own label, Dovetail Records, with its first release Pungent Effulgent. This was followed by Erpland in 1990, a double album. Next year the band reached their first #1 recognition in the UK Indie Chart with their single "Sploosh!" from Strangeitude. By 1993, Jurassic Shift album reached the Top 20 of the UK Albums Chart and #1 in the UK Indie Chart, spending a total of three months in the charts.

The band has gone through myriad line-up changes, with Ed Wynne being the only constant presence since the beginning. In early years, many members left to pursue similar musical projects. Nevertheless, throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the band has released albums with a prolific rate, continues to tour extensively and has maintained its identity and trademark sound. The band is famous for their live performances, in which they have long taken an audiovisual approach with elaborate lighting and projections. Currently, the band features Ed Wynne with his wife Brandi on bass guitar, their son Silas Neptune on keyboards and Hungarian drummer Balázs Szende on drums and percussion.