LFO's Sole Survivor Brad Fischetti Reflects on Bandmates' Tragic Deaths
The last surviving member of American pop band LFO, Brad Fischetti, has emotionally recounted the devastating and premature deaths of all three of his former bandmates. The 50-year-old musician, one of the original members formed in 1995 alongside Rich Cronin and Brian 'Brizz' Gillis, shared his heartbreaking memories in a preview of ID's upcoming documentary Boy Band Confidential, set to premiere on April 13.
The Formation and Early Years
LFO, an acronym for Lyte Funky Ones, was established in Massachusetts in 1995 with founding members Brad Fischetti, Rich Cronin, and Brian 'Brizz' Gillis. The group achieved significant success with hits like Summer Girls and Girl On TV, selling over four million records worldwide. After Gillis departed in 1998, he was replaced by Harold 'Devin' Lima, completing the lineup that would become most recognized by fans.
The Tragic Losses Begin
The first devastating blow came in 2010 when Rich Cronin passed away at just 36 years old. Cronin had been battling acute myelogenous leukemia for five years before suffering a fatal stroke. Fischetti recalled receiving a phone call from Cronin's brother in 2005 revealing the leukemia diagnosis. "I had heard that Rich was having trouble with his legs," Fischetti remembered. "So I texted him like, 'Hey man, I heard you were having some trouble walking. I figure there's two ways to get you out of bed - one is a beautiful blonde, or a tour.'" Fischetti had invited Cronin to tour again but never received a response, learning of his death from a fan just weeks later.
Another Heartbreaking Departure
Eight years after Cronin's passing, tragedy struck again in 2018 when Harold 'Devin' Lima died at age 41 following a 13-month battle with stage four adrenal cancer. Fischetti had developed a close friendship with Lima, even becoming roommates at one point. "We just started making music together. So we did a tour, it's amazing," Fischetti expressed, noting they had plans for more shows. He recalled the moment he learned of Lima's illness: "I remember one day, I was at my office and Alan, who played acoustic guitar for us, he came in and goes, 'Can you talk? Devin's in the hospital.'"
Rushing to the hospital, Fischetti discovered Lima had been diagnosed with primary adrenal cancer, which had "engulfed his entire kidney." The singer became emotional describing how he "used to yell at God, like, 'Please don't take him. Please.' He passed away and he was not only my bandmate, but my best friend."
The Third and Most Recent Loss
In 2023, Fischetti faced another tragic loss when Brian 'Brizz' Gillis passed away at age 47. His manager delivered the heartbreaking news: "He goes, 'I don't think you're ready for this.' Then he goes, 'Brian's dead,'" Fischetti recalled. The cause of Gillis' death was not publicly disclosed. Fischetti described his reaction: "I cried like the way I did when Devin died... How could this happen? How is this possible, that these three guys under 50 are all dead?"
Addressing the 'Death Curse' Rumors
The series of premature deaths has led to speculation about an LFO "death curse," a label Fischetti addressed candidly. "If you look from the outside, people say, 'Oh, LFO is cursed.' I don't really believe in that kind of stuff. But who knows? Maybe by the time this airs, I'm gone," he reflected. In 2023, he told TMZ: "Is there an LFO curse? I hope not. I hope that I get to live a long life."
Fischetti revealed the tragedy extends beyond his bandmates, noting that LFO's keyboard player, choreographer, BMG/Logic Records representative Kelly Schweinsberg, and disgraced producer Lou Pearlman have also died. "It's very weird that so many pieces of the LFO story are dead - not just Brian and Rich and Devin," he observed.
Coping with Survivor's Guilt
The sole survivor admitted to struggling with survivor's guilt while trying to find meaning in the tragedies. "I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that I try to do my best to stay strong in my faith and try my best to do God's will and try to be a light in the darkness," Fischetti shared. He continued: "I have no idea why this thing has happened to LFO. Maybe I'm supposed to tell a story. Maybe I'm supposed to be there to help other people... I take it as a great responsibility to carry on the legacy."
As Fischetti prepares to share his story in the upcoming documentary, he remains the last living member of a band that brought joy to millions but has been marked by unimaginable loss.
