Brian “Brizz” Gillis, one of the founding members of the ’90s group LFO, died Wednesday.
Former bandmate Brad Fischetti announced the sad news Thursday via LFO’s official Facebook page.
Gillis is reportedly in her late 40s.
“Every story is made up of chapters. Some develop naturally. Some of them you have to cut in your mind,” Fischetti wrote.
“The first two episodes of the LFO story lost a main character yesterday. Brian ‘Brizz’ Gillis has passed away.”
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Fischetti, 47, told fans he “doesn’t have the details” of what led to his friend’s death and admitted it “will not die”. [his] place to share if any [he] I did,” he added, “I am really struggling to process this tragic loss.”
Fischetti admitted that his relationship with Gillis, who left the boy group a few years after his debut in 1995, was “complicated”.
“It contained moments of great distress but also great joy,” he wrote, adding that he “learned a lot from it.” [Gillis] about the music business and how to put together and rock a show.
Fischetti continued, emphasizing “what Brian means to LFO” and continued, “It wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for his hard work and dedication at LFO in the first two episodes, in the early days of LFO, which you know and (hopefully) love.”
He also said he had “prayed for Brian every day for years” and “will continue to pray for him”.
Gillis’ death marks the group’s third loss, as fellow original member Rich Cronin died in 2010, a week before his 36th birthday, after a long battle with leukemia.
The trio formed LFO, short for Lyte Funkie Ones. After Gillis left to pursue a solo career, Devin Lima stepped in to replace her.
In 1999, the band released a platinum-selling self-titled album featuring some of Gillis’ vocals and featuring the group’s biggest hit, “Summer Girls.”
But in November 2018, Lima died at the age of 41 after battling stage 4 adrenal cancer.
The LFO has disbanded and reunited several times over the years, with the deaths of Cronin and Lima being major contributing factors.
“Soon, or maybe already, I know Brizz will be greeted by Rich and Devin,” Fischetti concluded. “And I hope they make some sweet sounds together. I would really love that.
“Rest in the east, brother. The rest is easy.”