Cleopatra began in 1992, founded by Brian Perera, and started operations in Los Angeles. The label’s first release was Motörhead’s previously shelved album On Parole. It has bases in Hollywood, while its headquarters are in Austin, Texas. Cleopatra’s output covers gothic rock, deathrock, hard rock, industrial, punk and tribute records, reissues of out-of-print music and work by 1980s Hollywood rock acts, alongside a strand of drum and bass. It signed Christian Death and recorded the band in-house, including material involving Rozz Williams.
In 1997 Cleopatra issued the drum and bass collections Galaxy Tribe: A Drum & Bass Odyssey, Earth Ritual: A Journey into Drum ’N’ Bass and Drum ’N’ Bass & Beyond. It established Hypnotic Records in 1996 and Deadline Music in 1998, and its other imprints include Goldenlane, Stardust, Purple Pyramid and X-Ray Records. The label acquired Kung Fu Records and New Red Archives, along with part of Suburban Noise Records. Its releases include General Levy’s 2025 album Jah Jah Guide And Protect (Re-Recorded) and the 2020 single Commemorate by Grendel, Witch of the Vale and Zardonic.
