| Cleopatra Records | |
| Founder: | Brian Perera |
| Genre: | Gothic rock, deathrock, hard rock, industrial music, heavy metal |
| Country: | United States |
| Location: | Los Angeles, California |
| Url: | http://www.cleorecs.com/ |
Cleopatra Records[1] is a Los Angeles-based independent record label that has the sub-labels Hypnotic Records,[2] Goldenlane, Stardust, Purple Pyramid, Deadline[3] and X-Ray Records.[4]
Founded in January 1992 by Brian Perera,[5] it specializes in gothic rock, deathrock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music. It is known for its compilations, usually collections of cover songs performed by bands signed to the label.
In the mid-1990s, Cleopatra released tribute albums of goth, industrial bands covering artists such as The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Sisters of Mercy, Fields of the Nephilim, Christian Death, Alien Sex Fiend, Specimen, Sex Gang Children and New Order. Other goth and industrial acts were compiled to cover songs by AC/DC, Pink Floyd, The Smashing Pumpkins (see: A Gothic-Industrial Tribute to The Smashing Pumpkins), Guns N' Roses, Dead Can Dance and Skinny Puppy.
Current and previous notable artists include:Gary Numan,Kat Parsons,[6] Electric Hellfire Club,Switchblade Symphony,Leæther Strip,X Marks the Pedwalk,Mephisto Walz,Kill Switch...Klick,Information Society,Heaven 17,Genitorturers,Download,Rozz Williams,Missing Persons,Razed In Black andBlackburner.
Today, Cleopatra is largely funded by its sub-labels (Hypnotic Records, Deadline Music, Stardust Records, Master Classics, Magick Records, Purple Pyramid and Goldenlane Records), which between them offer prog rock reissues, metal and techno acts, as well as pop and easy-listening tributes. Having relegated the tribute albums largely elsewhere, the Cleopatra brand itself is now focusing again on non-cover-oriented compilations and on digging up out-of-print gems of the goth/industrial scene.