Brian ‘Brizz’ Gillis was behind hits including Summer Girl (Picture: Wireimage)
LFO member Brian ‘Brizz’ Gillis, who was one of the founders of the ’90s boy band, has died aged 47.
The musician’s bandmate Brad Fischetti was among the first to pay tribute to Gillis, while sources also confirmed his death to Variety.
No cause of death has been announced, with Fischetti writing on Instagram: ‘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,’ he added.
Fischetti, Gillis and Rich Cronin founded the hip-hop band in Massachusetts in 1995 and enjoyed marginal success with the remarks of the Yvonne Elliman song, If I Can’t Have You.
They later released a cover of the 1990 New Kids on the Block hit Step By Step in 1997.
Fischetti said he was ‘struggling to process this tragic loss’ (Picture: Instagram)
Two years after the single was released, Gillis left LFO to pursue a solo career before working in the music industry in a radio promotion position with record label BMG.
Hardware store worker Devin Lima replaced Gillis and the group signed a new deal, working with members of New Kids on the Block on new music.
The collaboration produced the hit Summer Girls, which hit number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Their debut album, LFO, sold over 2.5million copies worldwide and also featured single Girl on TV.
In 2000, LFO performed all over the world and were Britney Spears’ opening act for some of her dates and co-headlined Nickelodeon’s All That Music & More summer tour.
More to follow.
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LFO were behind hits including Summer Girls.