LFO Singer Brian “Brizz” Gillis Dies at 47

Gillis co-founded the Massachusetts boy band, who became widely known for their 1999 hit “Summer Girls”

March 30, 2023

Vocalist Brian “Brizz” Gillis—co-founder of the Massachusetts boy band LFO—has died. Gillis’s former bandmate Brad Fischetti announced the news in an Instagram post today (March 30), and Variety further confirmed Gillis’ death, however the cause has not been revealed. Gillis was 47 years old.

“The first two chapters of the LFO story lost a main character yesterday,” Fischetti wrote on Instagram. He continued: “Brian ‘Brizz’ Gillis passed away. I don’t have details and it wouldn’t be my place to share them if I did. I am really struggling to process this tragic loss. I’ve said it before and I will continue to say it; the LFO Story is a tragedy. If you know what I’ve been doing, you know I’m trying to bring light into the darkness. Trying find redemption in pain and suffering. Trying to honor the legacy.” You can find Fischetti’s full statement below.

Gillis formed LFO (an acronym for “Lyte Funkie Ones”) alongside Fischetti and the late Rich Cronin in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1995. Their self-titled debut arrived in 1999; the 13-track LP included “Summer Girls,” which catapulted the trio to fame. The single scaled the charts while the music video went on heavy rotation at MTV. It is the band’s defining track, sometimes referred to as “The Abercrombie & Fitch” song due to the chorus line: “I like girls that wear Abercrombie & Fitch.”

Gillis left LFO in the late ’90s and was replaced by Devon Lima. The trio released one more album in 2001 (Life Is Good) before a 2002 hiatus. Rich Cronin died in 2010, following a brief reunion with LFO in 2009. In 2017, Lima and Fischetti reunited for the LFO song “Perfect 10.” Lima died from cancer the following year.

In his Instagram statement, Fischetti wrote: “My relationship with Brian was complex. It contained moments of great tribulation but also of great joy. I learned a lot from him about the business of music and how to put together and rock a show. And it’s those positive aspects of our relationship that I will lean on now and forever.”

He added: “I know that soon or maybe already, Brizz will be greeted by Rich and Devin. And I hope that together, they will make some sweet sounds. I would really like that.”