LFO, short for Lyte Funkie Ones, was a beloved American band that captured the hearts of many during the late 1990s, a time when boy bands dominated the music scene. As the frosted tips trend took off, these young musicians became icons for a generation of teenage fans. With catchy hits like "Summer Girls," LFO quickly rose to fame, but their journey was marred by tragedy and loss.
The band's success was punctuated by an unfortunate string of events that led many to believe they were cursed. From the heartbreaking loss of band members to personal battles with illness, the narrative surrounding LFO is both compelling and heart-wrenching. Today, only one member remains, and he continues to honor the legacy of his friends while navigating the complexities of their shared history.
As we delve into the timeline of LFO, we will uncover the highs and lows of their career, the personal struggles of its members, and the enduring impact they have had on pop culture. Join us as we explore the story behind this iconic band, marked by both triumph and tragedy.
Table of Contents
- Biography of LFO
- LFO Peaks in 1999
- Rich Cronin's Relationship with Jennifer Love Hewitt
- The Group Disbands in 2002
- Rich Cronin Dies from Cancer at the Age of 35
- Brad Fischetti and Devin Lima Write LFO's Last Song in 2017
- Devin Lima Dies from Cancer in 2018
- Founding LFO Member Brian Gillis Dies in 2023
- Brad Fischetti Says He's Not Afraid of the So-Called LFO Curse
Biography of LFO
| Member | Role | Birthdate | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Cronin | Lead Vocals | July 30, 1974 | Wrote "Summer Girls" |
| Devin Lima | Vocals | March 18, 1977 | Joined LFO before their rise to fame |
| Brad Fischetti | Vocals | September 15, 1975 | Last surviving member continuing the legacy |
| Brian Gillis | Founding Member | September 15, 1975 | Left before the band hit mainstream success |
LFO Peaks in 1999
By 1999, LFO was touring with the princess of pop herself, Britney Spears, who was also rising to stardom at the young age of 18. This gave LFO an opportunity to perform in front of large audiences and gain exposure to new fans, becoming even more of a household name. The tour was a massive success, selling out arenas across the USA, helping cement the boy band's place in the pop music scene.
This allowed them to contend with the likes of their competition — it was all about the boy bands! Their popular hit "Summer Girls" topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts at No. 3 in 1999, boasting unforgettable lyrics like "Chinese food makes me sick, you look like the girl from Abercrombie and Fitch." The song charted over singles from top artists like Destiny's Child, Jennifer Lopez, and the Backstreet Boys. Rich Cronin even got to flex his amazing rap and hip-hop skills, making all the teenage girls fall head over heels in love.
Following the 1999 tour, LFO released their self-titled debut album, which unsurprisingly also charted on Billboard. The album included the hit single "Summer Girls," of course. The single sold over 1.5 million copies in the U.S. and received a Billboard Music Award for top selling single of the year. The group's debut album also included hits such as "Girl on TV" and covers like "If I Can't Have You." Things were going amazingly well for the group.
Rich Cronin's Relationship with Jennifer Love Hewitt
Rich Cronin and popular '90s actor Jennifer Love Hewitt met backstage at an awards show in 1999, and began dating shortly thereafter. It was only a matter of time before Hewitt became the inspiration of LFO's hit single "Girl on TV." The lyrics included sweet rhymes like, "Met her at a counter affair, she wore a green dress and everybody was there, felt out of place, till she looked into my eyes." Awwwww, who could resist? Hewitt even made an appearance in the "Girl on TV" music video, which came in at No. 13 on the popular MTV show, "Total Request Live." Talk about a throwback– hi, Carson Daly!
Cronin and Hewitt eventually ended things. It appeared that it was Hewitt who wanted out, not Cronin. He told the San Francisco Gate, "It went from 'I love you' every day to, literally, within a week, 'I hate you, don't ever call me again.' The last time I talked to her, she said, 'I've got to go. You've hurt me too much. I don't want you to make me upset again." Cronin goes on to say that he left Hewitt many messages, which she never returned. He later learned that she made a few public appearances with actor Patrick Wilson, and the two were seemingly a new couple. The singer admitted to being jealous, thinking, "When I see him, I'm going to knock him out." Thankfully, Cronin and Wilson never crossed paths!
The Group Disbands in 2002
With every success story, there are always the pitfalls. There were some obvious issues within the pop group that ultimately led to their disbandment. Their second and final studio album, "Life is Good," was considered a flop. Brad Fischetti admits that perhaps they weren't being totally authentic to themselves. "We were so desperate to be respected by people who respected, like, Sugar Ray or 'All Star,'" Fischetti tells The Ringer. "We went a little too far on trying to be more rock-y, you know what I mean?" This appeared to be the main reason that led the band to take a break in 2002, with every intention of reuniting in the future. With that, the three singers went their separate ways.
Devin Lima went on to pick up some small acting roles in films like in "Longshot" and "American Pie Presents: Beta House." Brad Fischetti made headlines for his activism in participating in anti-abortion protests after tweeting about it himself (tweets have since been deleted), and continued to try and make music with Lima. Sadly, Rich Cronin was diagnosed with leukemia in 2005 as he began working on his first and only solo album, "Billion Dollar Sound," which was eventually released in May of 2008. Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees also recalls working with Cronin in 2007 and getting to know him on a "silly reality show" for VH1 called, "Mission Manband," which he exclusively shared with a Nicki Swift staffer.
Rich Cronin Dies from Cancer at the Age of 35
On March 28, 2005, Rich Cronin was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. Cronin first started experiencing symptoms like weight loss and fatigue, and thought he may have mononucleosis. It was his family that urged him to see a doctor after witnessing his gaunt appearance. ”I just know that four hours before I got that phone call, I was just some dude with mono, then all of a sudden I was a cancer patient," he told Boston.com. Cronin began chemotherapy shortly after receiving the diagnosis and was admittedly afraid.
For the next five years, Cronin would continue to perform, release his solo album, and work to the best of his ability. He even donated all the proceeds from his solo album to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "I'm scared to death at this point. It is a nightmare of a situation to
