Composer, arranger, and drummer Nikos Antypas, one of the most iconic figures in contemporary Greek music, has passed away.
He was a longtime member of Socrates and collaborated with prominent Greek artists and singers, such as Haris and Panos Katsimichas, Nana Mouskouri, Lina Nikolakopoulou, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Haroula Alexiou, Alkistis Protopsalti, and others.
He made his debut in the Greek music scene as a drummer, first with Ionathan, then with the band Sunset, and later with the famous Socrates (Drank the Conium).
In 1985, the Katsimicha brothers« album *Zesta Potá* was released, arranged by Nikos Antypas, with a contribution from Yannis Spathas, who had been the guitarist for Socrates until then. In 1991, Nikos Antypas took on the orchestration of Eleftheria Arvanitaki’s album »I Stay Outside.«.
The work, however, that defined his career was the 1997 album «Like a Volcano Awakening,» with lyrics by Lina Nikolakopoulou and performed by Protopsalti. The album was a huge success, and in 1998 it was also presented as a musical performance directed by Dimitris Papaioannou.
This was preceded, in 1992, by the equally successful ’Di’ euchon,” again with lyrics by Lina Nikolakopoulou, this time performed by Haroula Alexiou.
This was followed in 1994 by «Ei!» featuring Haroula Alexiou, with lyrics by Lefteris Papadopoulos, Aris Davarakis, and Alexiou herself.
His first solo album, titled «Theatis,» was released in 1998, featuring Yiannis Kotsiras and Elli Paspala on two of the album’s three songs. In 2001, he covered Sting’s «Mad About You» for Giorgos Dalaras’s album «The Asphalt That Runs.» In late 2002, he also released «Oposdite Parathiro» («Definitely a Window»), a collaborative project with Yiannis Spathas, based on their show *Neapolis* and featuring lyrics by L. Nikolakopoulou. In 2006, he contributed compositions to Nana Mouskouri’s first solo album, titled «I Walk Alone.» In 2008, he wrote the album “A New Me” for Kaiti Garbi.
Throughout his career, he collaborated—either as a composer or as an arranger—with some of the biggest names in the Greek music industry, including Thanos Mikroutsikos, Giorgos Dalaras, Nana Mouskouri, Marinella, Dimitris Basis, Eleonora Zouganeli, and others.
Discography as a musician, arranger, or band member
1971 – Ionathan – “At the Circus” / “Recognition” (7″ single) [drums]
1977 – Sunset – (LP) [drums]
1980 – Socrates Drank the Conium – Waiting for Something [drums]
1981 – Socrates Drank the Conium – Breaking Through [drums]
1985 – Haris & Panos Katsimichas – Hot Drinks [arrangement]
1986 – Giorgos Dalaras – Madmen and Angels [drums]
1986 – Giorgos Dalaras – Live Recording from «Peroke» [arrangement]
1986 – Anna Vissi – The Next Move [drums]
1987 – Giorgos Dalaras [Special Guests: Paco De Lucía, Eleni Dimou, Haris & Panos Katsimichas] - Live Recordings [arrangement]
1988 – Thanos Mikroutsikos, Kostas Tripolitis, Vasilis Papakonstantinou – *Ola Apo Cheri Kameni* [drums, keyboard, orchestration]
1988 – Anna Vissi – Now [drums]
1991 – Haris Alexiou – Kostas Hatzis – Alexiou Sings Hatzis (Live + Studio) [drums]
1991 – Eleftheria Arvanitaki – I Stay Out [arrangement]
1998 – Various – Songs I Wrote for Friends – A Tribute to Dionysis Savvopoulos [arrangement]
2001 – Giorgos Dalaras – *The Asphalt That Runs* [arrangement]
Discography as a composer and solo discography
1992 – Haris Alexiou, Lina Nikolakopoulou, Nikos Antypas – ’Di’ Efchon”
1994 – Haris Alexiou, Nikos Antypas, Lefteris Papadopoulos – Ei
1997 – Alkistis Protopsalti, Nikos Antypas, Lina Nikolakopoulou – Like a Volcano Awakening
1998 – Spectator
2000 – Alkistis Protopsalti, Nikos Antypas, Lina Nikolakopoulou – Earthly Spheres
2001 – Just Before the Words (Promo CD)
2002 – Nikos Antypas, Lina Nikolakopoulou, Giannis Spathas – *Definitely a Window*
2002 – Nikos Antypas, Lina Nikolakopoulou – Below the Acropolis
2003 – Nikos Antypas, Myrto Kontova, Tania Nassibian – Eclipse
2004 – Marinella, Nikos Antypas, Lina Nikolakopoulou – “It Was Sand…”
2004 – Dimitris Basis – A Difficult Heart
2007 – Nikos Antypas, Eleana Vrachali, Olga Venetsianou – Tell Me to Stay Here
2008 – Kaiti Garbi, Nikos Antypas – A New Me
2009 – Nina Lotsari, Nikos Antypas – Wherever I Go, My Heart Takes Me
2012 – Giorgos Dalaras, Nikos Antypas – What Does “That’s How It Is” Mean?
2012 – Eleftheria Arvanitaki – *To Aroma* (promo single)
2014 – Alkistis Protopsalti, Nikos Antypas – A View of Paradise
2014 – Giorgos Dalaras, Eleni Vitali & Glykeria – I Owe You Some Songs (single)
2015 – Eleftheria Arvanitaki – Don't Leave, Don't Stay (single)
2017 – Salina Gavala – Temporary Amnesia (single)
2018 – Fiona – You Heal My Heart
2018 – Ironina – Let's Dance (single)
2019 – Ironina – Kites (single)
Credits as a composer
2000 – Haris Alexiou – Strange Light
2001 – Alannah Myles – Myles & More: The Very Best Of
2006 – Sakis Rouvas – There Is Love Here
2006 – Nana Mouskouri – I Walk Alone
2007 – Peggy Zina – Run
2010 – Eleonora Zouganeli – Exit 2
2013 – Elena Paparizou – What Time Shall We Go Out?
2018 – Theodoros Nikolaou – Umbrella
Condolence message from the leadership of the Ministry of Culture and Sports
Lina Mendoni, Minister of Culture and Sports, said the following as soon as she learned of the passing of Nikos Antypas:
«Throughout his long, rich, and multifaceted career as a musician, arranger, and composer, Nikos Antypas has been one of the most unassuming yet most successful creators in contemporary Greek music. From the days of «Socrates» and throughout his long career, Nikos Antypas succeeded in creating his own distinctive, recognizable musical style. He also succeeded in breathing new life into the repertoire of already successful artists, giving it a different sound and essentially renewing it—often in unexpected ways. His songs will continue to live on in the voices and hearts of the Greek people. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and his many friends.».
Deputy Minister of Culture Nikolas Giatromanolakis made the following statement:
«For a work of art to move people beyond its own era and stand the test of time is both rare and remarkable. The music of Nikos Antypas, as expressed through significant collaborations over the years, is an example of such a rare and remarkable phenomenon.».
