Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label established in 1979 by Dead Kennedys vocalist Jello Biafra and guitarist East Bay Ray in San Francisco, California, with the intention to release the Dead Kennedys' self-produced single "California Über Alles". After realizing the potential for an independent label, they released records for other bands as well. They would go on to release albums by artists such as Dead Kennedys, NoMeansNo, D.O.A., Alice Donut, Lard, the Dicks, Butthole Surfers, 7 Seconds, Neurosis, Wesley Willis, Half Japanese, Blowfly, Subhumans (Canada), the Crucifucks, Victims Family, Pansy Division, Zolar X, Culture Shock, World/Inferno Friendship Society, Itchy-O, ArnoCorps, the Darts, Tsunami Bomb, and many more. In the mid-1980s Jello Biafra became the sole owner of Alternative Tentacles.

The origins of Alternative Tentacles trace back to June 1979. The name Alternative Tentacles was used as the label name on Dead Kennedys' self-produced debut single, "California Uber Alles". In true independent spirit, the band had saved their gig money for a year to produce their own record instead of waiting for an established label to sign them. The single would do better than anyone expected, garnering considerable attention throughout the U.S. and Europe. At the same time, lead singer Jello Biafra's 1979 mayoral campaign in San Francisco helped kick-start interest from the British music press that culminated in a very successful British and European tour in the fall of 1980, upon the release of their full-length debut, Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables.

The original idea was for Alternative Tentacles to be based in Europe only, and concentrate on European releases and exposure for then-unknown American bands after Biafra found many Dead Kennedys fans were far more interested in the American underground than the overseas labels and press were.

The result was the Let Them Eat Jellybeans! compilation album. This was quickly followed with singles by D.O.A., Bad Brains, Black Flag, Flipper, TSOL, Voice Far, Husker Du, and more. But the impact of Jellybeans and Alternative Tentacles turned out to be even greater outside Great Britain. Jellybeans and Dead Kennedys' follow-up '81 European tour is credited with breaking open the still strong underground scenes in Finland, Italy, Germany, and even behind the Iron Curtain.

Meanwhile, Jellybeans was also gaining steam in America. Many Americans were picking up import copies as a way of tuning in to the ongoing underground explosion in the States. Alternative Tentacles U.S. was off and running with domestic releases of new albums by D.O.A., TSOL, Dead Kennedys, Butthole Surfers, the Dicks, the Crucifucks and many more.

At the same time a friend in San Francisco, Ruth Schwartz, was starting Mordam Records label and distribution. They partnered with Alternative Tentacles Records to handle global distribution in 1983.

As the label progressed, an increasing divide between Biafra and Ray developed, stemming from a combination of personal, financial, and philosophical differences over the direction of the label. Biafra had a strong vision for the label's direction, focusing on politically charged and experimental acts prioritizing a more avant-garde and activist-focused roster and Ray was feeling that was increasingly too narrow of a direction. Also feeling that there was an increasing conflict of interest between the interest of Dead Kennedys and the label, Ray sold his stake in the mid-1980s, allowing Jello Biafra to maintain full creative control over Alternative Tentacles, while Ray focused on the running of the band’s partnership.

In addition to musical acts, Alternative Tentacles has also published spoken word albums, many by Jello Biafra himself. Another common theme of Alternative Tentacles records over the years has been the artwork of Winston Smith, which has appeared on many of their records, catalogs, posters and shirts. Smith also designed the original Alternative Tentacles logo in 1981.