Brian “Brizz” Gillis, one of many founders of LFO, has died. Bandmate Brad Fischetti confirmed the information in an Instagram publish paying tribute to Gillis, who handed away on Wednesday. “Today I honor my former bandmate and friend, Brizz,” Fischetti writes. “If you watched the LFO Story livestream or have seen the band and me play it live, you know what Brian meant to LFO. If it wasn’t for his hard work and dedication in the early days of LFO, the first two chapters, the LFO you came to know and (hopefully) love would not exist.” Gillis was 47.
Here is Fischetti’s full assertion:
Every story is made up of chapters. Some develop naturally. Some you must minimize up in your thoughts. The first two chapters of the LFO story misplaced a foremost character yesterday. Brian ‘Brizz’ Gillis handed away. I don’t have particulars and it wouldn’t be my place to share them if I did. I’m actually struggling to course of this tragic loss. I’ve mentioned it earlier than and I’ll proceed to say it; the LFO Story is a tragedy. If you realize what I’ve been doing, you realize I’m making an attempt to carry gentle into the darkness. Trying discover redemption in ache and struggling. Trying to honor the legacy.
Today I honor my former bandmate and pal, Brizz. If you watched the LFO Story livestream or have seen the band and me play it dwell, you realize what Brian meant to LFO. If it wasn’t for his arduous work and dedication within the early days of LFO, the primary two chapters, the LFO you got here to know and (hopefully) love wouldn’t exist.
My relationship with Brian was advanced. It contained moments of nice tribulation but in addition of nice pleasure. I realized lots from him in regards to the enterprise of music and put collectively and rock a present. And it’s these optimistic points of our relationship that I’ll lean on now and eternally.
I’ve prayed for Brian on daily basis for a few years. And I’ll proceed to wish for him, for his beloved father, for his associates, his household, and those that cherished him. Special prayers for Pistol Pete and Terry Edwards; two males who maintain a particular place in my coronary heart and undoubtedly held a particular place in Brian’s coronary heart.
I do know that quickly or perhaps already, Brizz shall be greeted by Rich and Devin. And I hope that collectively, they’ll make some candy sounds. I would like that.
Rest east bro. Rest straightforward.
A staple of the ’90s boy-band scene, LFO (or, Lyte Funkie Ones) initially consisted of Rich Cronin, Fischetti, and Gillis, who launched the group in Massachusetts in 1995. After simply lacking the Top 40 with a 1998 cowl of Yvonne Elliman’s “If I Can’t Have You,” Gillis left the band in 1999 to pursue a solo profession. Devin Lima took his place, and the group launched their self-titled debut album in 1999. They quickly hit #1 with 1999’s Abercrombie & Fitch-referencing “Summer Girls.” They earned one other Top 10 music with “Girl On TV.” LFO’s self-titled debut album featured a variety of authentic vocals from Gillis, together with his lead on “Can’t Have You.” In 2000, LFO opened for Britney Spears and gained the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite Group Of The Year.
Lima, Fischetti, and Cronin launched yet one more album as LFO in 2001: Life Is Good.
Unfortunately, Fischetti is just not being hyperbolic by calling “the LFO Story… a tragedy.” In 2010, Rich Cronin died at 36 after struggling a stroke amid a battle with leukemia. Likewise, Devin Lima was identified with stage 4 adrenal most cancers in 2017 and in the end handed away in 2018 on the age of 41.