RIP Roye Albrighton

The Cleopatra Records family has lost one of its closest friends and brightest stars. Nektar vocalist/guitarist Roye Albrighton passed away peacefully at the age of 67. Albrighton had just recently completed the text for a full-length book (co-written by Dave Thompson) about the group he founded and led, prog rock heroes Nektar. The book chronicles the rise of Nektar from their formation in Hamburg, Germany 1970 through their early releases that culminated in the now classic Remember The Future album (1973). Later albums found the band collaborating with Peter Gabriel keyboardist Larry Fast on Recycled (recorded by famed Beatles engineer Geoff Emerich). Albrighton left the band in 1977 before returning to the fold two years later for Man In The Moon. Though the group officially disbanded in 1980, they reformed stronger than ever with a new album in 2000, Prodigal, and followed that with 2004’s Evolution and 2006’s Book Of Days.

Cleopatra’s relationship with Nektar dates back to 1998 when the label released The Dream Nebula, a best of compilation album. Years later, in 2011, Roye Albrighton collaborated with the label on an in-depth 2CD collection called Retrospektive, which contained two very rare tracks from Albrighton’s pre-Nektar band, Rainbows. This led to the label purchasing the rights to the entire Nektar catalog of albums, which it began reissuing and putting back in print for a whole new generation of Nektar fans to enjoy. Albrighton also participated in other projects for the label including A Classic Rock Salute To The Doors and Songs Of The Century: An All-Star Tribute To Supertramp. In 2012, Albrighton and founding drummer Ron Howden released A Spooful Of Time, the first ever covers album from Nektar, which featured guest appearances by members of Yes, King Crimson, Symphony X, Dream Theater, Tangerine Dream and more! Finally, the label was proud to release Nektar’s next original studio album Time Machine in June of 2013. The album featured Yes bassist Billy Sherwood who both played and produced the album. As the years have passed, it seems that Nektar’s reputation only continues to grow, even inspiring hip hop artist Riff Raff who sampled “It’s All In The Mind” on the track “Lava Glaciers” feat Childish Gambino in 2014.

Cleopatra Records extends its deepest sympathies to Roye’s family and friends.

The Nektar biography written by Roye Albrighton and Dave Thompson, finished just weeks before Roye’s passing, will be published and released by Cleopatra later this year.

The band releaed a statement saying: “It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our friend, comrade, rock legend and father, Roye Albrighton, who passed away peacefully last night. May his six fingered chords and the warmth of his smile last eternal.”