* En anglais uniquement
The neo-psychedelic group
Opal formed in the mid-'80s, featuring former
Rain Parade guitarist
David Roback and former
Dream Syndicate bassist
Kendra Smith. Initially, the group was called Clay Allison, but they dropped the name after one single;
Roback,
Smith, and drummer Keith Mitchell released the remaining Clay Allison tracks under their own name in 1984 on the Fell from the Sun EP. After its release, the group adopted the name
Opal and released an EP, Northern Line, in 1985. Happy Nightmare Baby, their first full-length album, followed in 1987.
Smith left the group during the Happy Nightmare tour, effectively putting an end to the band.
Roback continued with vocalist
Hope Sandoval; the group then metamorphosed into
Mazzy Star.
David Roback died on February 25, 2020 at the age of 61. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine