'90s Boy Band LFO Loses Third Member: Brian 'Brizz' Gillis Has Died At Age 47

Brad Fischetti recently shared a tribute to Brian 'Brizz' Gillis, revealing that the former LFO member has died. Gillis was an original member of the famous boyband but left the group in 1999.

Gillis' death is about five years after his former bandmate, David Lima, died during surgery to remove a tumor. Another bandmate, Rich Cronin, died from leukemia in 2010, and Fischetti mentioned them both in his tribute.

Fischetti also praised Gillis' "hard work and dedication" and said it was a time of great tribulation and joy. Before LFO split in 2002, they'd released several hits, such as "Summer Girls" and "Step by Step."

Read on to find out more.

Former LFO bandmate Brad Fischetti recently revealed in a tribute post on Instagram that original band member, Brian 'Brizz' Gillis, is dead. Gillis was one of the three original members of the famous boyband, which started in 1995, but left three years later, in 1998.

Fischetti posted a photo of the Late Gillis in the tribute post and revealed that he'd died on Wednesday. He wrote, "Every story is made up of chapters. Some develop naturally. Some you have to cut up in your mind. The first two chapters of the LFO story lost a main character yesterday. Brian 'Brizz' Gillis passed away."

Fischetti further shared that he doesn't have many details about Gillis' passing and knows it isn't his place to share. He added, "I am really struggling to process this tragic loss. I've said it before and 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 to find redemption in pain and suffering. Trying to honor the legacy."

By calling the "LFO story" a tragedy, Fischetti might have been referencing the deaths of several former band members. Gillis' passing is about five years after former bandmate David Lima died during surgery to remove a large tumor. The tumor had been developed due to his stage-four adrenal cancer and was reportedly as large as a football.

In 2010, LFO founder Rich Cronin died at age 36 from a stroke during his treatment for leukemia. He was first diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in 2005 and fought his cancer for many years. Shortly after his remission in 2007, the singer started the Rich Cronin Hope Foundation to raise awareness for leukemia.

In his tribute, Fischetti mentioned Lima and Cronin, saying all the original bandmates would be together soon. He wrote, "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 like that."

In the tribute, Fischetti also praised the Late Gillis for his "hard work and dedication in the early days of LFO," writing that the band's success would never have happened without him. He also wrote about his relationship with Gillis, stating that it had its "moments of great tribulation but also great joy."

Fischetti said he learned much from Gillis about the music industry, how to run a band, and how to "rock a show." He wrapped his tribute with, "I've prayed for Brian daily for many years. And I will continue to pray for him, his beloved father, his friends, his family, and those who loved him."

Before Gillis left the band in 1999, LFO released two popular songs in 1997, including "Step by Step," a cover of the New Kids on the Block. The second hit single was "(Sex U Up) The Way You Like It."

After that, the band boosted its popularity with 1999s "Summer Girls," which reached number 3 on the Billboard music charts. In total, LFC sold more than four million of its records worldwide before the members chose to split.

After Cronin's death from cancer in 2010, the boyband disbanded and briefly reunited in 2017. However, the second reunion featured only Fischetti and Devin Lima as a duo until Lima died about a year later.