IT’S 20 years since Kula Shaker first exploded onto the UK Britpop scene with their smash hit debut album K.

The band’s eclectic blend of rock, psychedelic riffs and hint of Eastern mysticism, made them one of the most unique (some would say eccentric) bands of the nineties.

Now they are back and are playing at Bournemouth’s O2 Academy tonight as part of their new K2 20th anniversary tour.

The band’s forever youthful frontman Crispian Mills (vocals and guitar) promises there will be a few surprises in store when the show kicks off at 7pm.

“We have a fixed set but we always like to leave ourselves a bit of room for some surprises, “ he explains.

“If you have to do the same set every night, you need to keep it fresh, not just for us, we have some people who follow us around and see lots of shows - so we have to keep it different for them too.”

The band comprises of original members including Alonza Bevan (bass), Paul Winterhart (drums) and newer addition Harry Broadbent on keyboards.

“It’s important that that band engages with what they are doing otherwise it is a very dull show so yes I’m looking forward to being in Bournemouth.

“I think we might like to play, Oh We Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside!”

At this point Crispian starts to sing a few lines of the old British musical hall song before bursting into laughter.

“We will work into the set somehow,” he chuckles. “It is going to be a bit of a pantomime to be honest.

“A bit of a mash up of 20 years - past, present and future - but it is nearly Christmas so we’re going to have some fun.”

The band is already well into its 20th anniversary tour which kicked off last month in Japan.

“We haven’t played K as a whole piece before,” Crispian continues. “It’s been great to do it as it was one of those albums that was always meant to be played from beginning to end before the days of Spotify, shuffle and all that.

“To be fair though, these style of albums are coming back now with the resurgence of vinyl. But our music seems to have stood up very well over the years.”

Crispian admits they were just as surprised as some of their fans that two decades have passed since they performed together.

“We couldn’t believe it had been 20 years,” he agrees. “It was a bit of shock when it was pointed out to us 18 months ago but we wanted to mark the occasion by recording another record as we hadn’t made a new record for five years.

“It was a big deal, but it all came together in the end and the focus of a deadline helped us to channel our productivity.

“It has also been interesting doing press interviews and hearing our music on the radio again.”

When most bands reform there’s usually a sense, deep down, that it’s a marriage of convenience. Not for Kula Shaker.

“I think what many people like about the band is that we never treated it as a career,” says Crispian.

“For us it was always a calling, and that came across at gigs. We can only do this when the timing is right.”

And making the decision to reunite and head back out on the road for a new global tour, was not one that was taken lightly by any of the band members.

“It is a big commitment,” says Crispian. “You have to clear the decks and everything else in your life is put on hold, so there has to be many good reasons to do that.

“Yes paying the bills is one of them, but you also have to be inspired to do it, you have to have something new to say.

“You can’t be a travelling musician just for the money because there isn’t as much money in it as there used to be. You have to be driven and really passionate as well.”

One of the reasons the band has survived the test of time is the fact that they are life long friends.

“We have a connection that goes beyond the work aspect because we have been friends since we were kids,” Crispian explains.

“Now we’ve got kids ourselves so it’s like we have an extended family - and that keeps the band together and that’s the reason we are still going.”

Crispian sounds as passionate as ever about performing live - Kula Shaker was known for its full tilt performances - and says he is still inspired to write music.

“Any kind of passion, whether it’s cooking, music or a new girlfriend - it has to overwhelm you so there is an element of free will when you write because you are propelled by this passion so the music almost has a life of its own.”

Although Crispian says he has some great memories of the nineties - he doesn’t want to turn back the clock.

“This is a fairly exciting time to be around. The world is right on the precipice of seismic change - it can go into the abyss or it can be reborn.

“Everyone needs to understand each other - we need to see ourselves as more of a global community rather than individual countries and try to work together.”

In spite of what is happening in the world around him, Crispian seems comfortable in his own skin and appears to have no regrets about his life. He says he is happily married with kids.

“I always loved music. I loved singing in the choir when I was a kid - I think I sounded like a little angel even though I wasn’t - quite the opposite of that.

“I became a guitar worshipper and that’s something that happens to some boys at about the age of 11 to 12 - the guitar becomes an extension of their interest in the adult world!

“I was obsessed with the guitar. I became a singer and a songwriter later in my teens.”

He adds: “I still love what we do.

“The band has got a life of its own and continues to surprise me - and the fans continue to surprise me too. The fact they they have sustained us for 20 years is the biggest surprise of all.”

Kula Shaker plays at the O2 Academy in Bournemouth tonight at 7pm. To book tickets, visit ticketweb.co.uk.