Mind Octopus

Psychedelic Funk / Rock
Ashford
1991 to 1998
==Band Members==
*Paul Herwin (guitar, vocals)
*Sheldon Lunn (guitar)
*Ben Surman (saxophone, keyboards, later vocals)
*Mark Herwin (bass)
*Bruce Allen (drums)
Other members over the years were:
*Scott Parks (drums)
*Stuart Busby (vocals)
*Jamie Morrison (drums)
*John Pierce (bass)
==Info==
Influenced by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Ozric Tentacles and Funkadelic among others, Mind Octopus were major players on Ashford's local music scene, regularly organizing gigs, and generally giving support to local bands and musicians. Over the years, their sound progressed from hazy garage Psychedelia to solid Prog/Funk.
Dub/Reggae side-project Phat Numbha became their main band for a while, as Mind Octopus took a back-burner on several occasions.
==Related Bands==
*Phat Numbha - Paul, Sheldon, Bruce
*Intensified - Bruce
*Gnarly Pig Hair - John
*Anti-Nowhere League - John
*
==Recordings==
*1993 demo
#Running To The Sun
#Beach
#12 Weeks Gone
:: Recorded 12/09/93 at Astra Studios, Monks Horton
::
*1998? 'Music From The Black Smoker' album (unreleased?)
#Bush Frenzy
#Smooth Brew
#Reefless
#Microwave (The Audience)
#Future Shock
#Molne
#Pork Mundae
#Gloy
:: Recorded at (?) Abbey Road Studios, London.
==Gigs==
*19/04/93 - Ashford, County Hotel (1st gig)
*27/11/93 - Charing, The Swan (+ Innards )
*19/02/94 - Folkestone, Bottoms (supp. Stewed + The Love Family)
*26/02/94 - Kingsnorth, Village Hall (+ Redhouse)
*15/03/94 - Islington, The Powerhouse
*14/05/94 - Ashford, Newtown, Swan Centre (+ Mind River + Critical Confusion + Hierarchy + Rhythm Method )
*11/06/94 - Ashford, The Castle
*??/??/94 - London, The Marquee
*??/??/94 - London, The Marquee
*??/??/94 - London, The Marquee
*??/??/94 - London, Rock Garden
*??/??/94 - Camden, The Falcon
*??/??/94 - Slough, University
*??/??/94 - Hastings, The Crypt
*08/04/95 - Margate, The Lido
*21/04/95 - Ashford, The Castle (played as Codapus -- Mind Octopus + Coda members)
*28/04/95 - Margate, The Ship (supp. Seventythree )
*13/05/95 - Ashford, County Hotel (supp. Seventythree )
*06/12/96 - Ashford, The County
*13/06/97 - Folkestone, Harp Club (supp. Elemental , w. Eschatology ) 
*05/07/97 - Folkestone, Bottoms (supp. Five Fat Sheep)
*22/08/97 - Ashford, The Victoria
*29/08/97 - Folkestone, Harp Club
*11/10/97 - Ashford, Newtown, Swan Centre (+ Elemental + Jabba )
*01/11/97 - Folkestone, Bottoms (supp. Stewed + Perfect Blue Buildings)
*14/11/97 - Ashford, The Victoria
*28/11/97 - Canterbury, Penny Theatre (+ Blue)
*29/11/97 - Broadstairs, The Bradstow Mill
*03/12/97 - Dover, Aycliff, King Lear