Ophiuchus are a folk/roots rock group from Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England, formed in 1986 by twin brothers - guitarist Jon and bassist Simon Cousins, with saxophonist Pat D'Arcy and photographer, graphic designer Martin Tom Sawyer.

The main line-up (1987–1989) was: Jon Cousins (lead vocals/guitar/tin whistle) and Pat D'Arcy (saxophones), with Pete Causer (melodeon/flute/bodhrán), Xavier Tutein (bass), and Myke Vince (drums) The band released the double A-side, "Serpent And The Bearded King"/"Song For Pym" (produced by Climax Blues Band guitarist Pete Haycock) on their own label, Ophiuchvs Recordvs, and an album on Liverpool's Probe Plus label.

From their initial garage sound, Random Gender drew on their rural Wiltshire surroundings, folklore, and the influence of the Stonehenge Free Festival, to develop a distinctive progressive/folk rockstyle.

Commenting on the group's unusual name in an early press interview, Jon Cousins stated: "The name Ophiuchus was taken from the ancient thirteenth sign of the zodiac, also known as Serpentarius, which has not been used (astrologically) since the time before Christ.

from NME 'Ophiuchus Biography' [3] Recruiting French bassist Xavier Tutein in February 1987, Jon Cousins and Pat D'Arcy enlisted the ex-Gender drummer Myke Vince and sound engineer Glenn Wardle (now 'front-of-house' on hammered dulcimer and bagpipes) - completing the Ophiuchus line-up with the melodeonist Pete Causer.

[3] In the summer of 1987 Cousins and D'Arcy approached Pete Haycock to produce Ophiuchus's debut double A-side single "The Serpent & the Bearded King" / "Song for Pym".

"[2] During the winter of 1987/spring 1988 group toured heavily throughout UK, attracting the attention of both national and independent record companies - and a growing reputation for live performances, and 'crusty' image.

"[9] At concerts, although the group often performed without Glenn Wardle, they were generally accompanied by The Cruel Driver and Dick - two characters from the Lacock Ragged Heroes Mummers - who would introduce the show.

An Ophiuchus concert would end with the distribution of cow-bells and percussion instruments - "The Bashy Bits" - to the audience, to enable the crowd to play along with the group's closing numbers.

Although the line-up had disbanded during the summer of 1989, an album of this concert, entitled Pronounced Offee-ick Cuss, was released on the Probe Plus label in October[11] of that year, and again reviews were favourable: "Ophiuchus return to give character forming shows like the one preserved here.

"[8] With the release of Pronounced Offee-ick Cuss in 1989, original members Jon Cousins and Glenn Wardle formed a new Ophiuchus line-up to promote the album - featuring Dave Woodward (guitar), Andy Hargreaves (bass) and Pagan Fringe drummer Steve Carvey.

The group's line-up for these concerts was: Cousins (guitar), Laidlaw (drums), ex-Whiskey Priest - Gary Price (cittern), and Paul 'Wil' Wilson (bass).

Si Cousins commenting to Merseyside journalist Nick Cook, stated "The band creates a magical sound - playing unusual instruments such as melodeon and hammered dulcimer.