LFO (American band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1995 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Founder | Brad Fischetti, Rich Cronin, Brian "Brizz" Gillis |
| Defunct | 2018 (final disbandment) |
| Headquarters | New Bedford , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
LFO (Lyte Funkie Ones) is a U.S.-based pop and hip hop group that originated in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1995. The founding members were Brad Fischetti, Rich Cronin, and Brian "Brizz" Gillis. In 1998, Gillis departed and Harold "Devin" Lima took his place. After Cronin passed away in 2010, the band ceased activities but briefly reformed as a duo with Fischetti and Lima in 2017, until Lima’s death in 2018.
Their hit single "Summer Girls" climbed to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold more than four million copies globally.
1995–1998: Formation and Gillis’s exit
The trio of Rich Cronin, Brad Fischetti, and Brian "Brizz" Gillis met in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1995. LFO achieved moderate recognition with their rendition of "If I Can't Have You", which reached No. 54 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1997, they released a cover version of "Step By Step". Gillis left the group in 1999 to pursue solo endeavors and passed away on March 29, 2023, at age 48.
2000–2002: Life Is Good release and disbandment
LFO’s second and final album, Life Is Good, was released in 2001 and included the singles "Life Is Good" and "Every Other Time". Due to disappointing sales figures and the waning popularity of boy bands, LFO dissolved in February 2002. Brad Fischetti later described the breakup as a relief.
2002–2009: Hiatus period
Following the split, Cronin formed Bad Mood Mike in 2003; however, the project ended without releasing any albums. He also joined Loose Cannons and appeared on VH1’s Mission: Man Band. Diagnosed with leukemia in 2005, Cronin underwent chemotherapy and entered remission by early 2006. He launched his solo album Billion Dollar Sound in 2008.
Devin Lima pursued solo work starting in 2006, contributing a cover to the tribute compilation Different Strokes by Different Folks and performing at the Grammy Awards that year alongside prominent musicians. He established The Cadbury Diesel, releasing their debut album Mozart Popart in 2008; their track "Rocky Road" was featured in the movie American Pie Presents Beta House (2007). Lima also performed under the stage name Live From Orlando.
Brad Fischetti became involved as an anti-abortion activist and served as a church music director. In 2012, he was involved in controversy over tweets made during a protest at an abortion clinic; he denied allegations of harassment while standing firm on his beliefs.
2009–2010: Brief reunion and Cronin’s passing
On June 3, 2009, LFO announced their comeback via their unofficial MySpace page and planned participation in the Malcolm Douglas Tribute tour beginning September 23, 2009, alongside Rookie of the Year, Go Crash Audio, and Kiernan McMullan. They also debuted a new track titled "Summer of My Life."
This reunion was short-lived; Rich Cronin succumbed to leukemia at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston on September 8, 2010, aged 36. Subsequently, on September 28, 2009, LFO declared their permanent disbandment through their YouTube channel LFOVIDEOS. The remaining members continued with various individual projects.
2017–2018: Second reunion, new single, and Lima's passing
Towards the end of 2013, Devin Lima collaborated with electronic musicians DJ Shakka and Ayj to establish The Mack Pack, which produced two singles in 2014. This ensemble eventually evolved into Rogue Cherry with the addition of Alexandra Foster, releasing the posthumous album Harold Lima: Rockwell.
In July 2017, LFO unveiled "Perfect 10," marking their first new release in 15 years and the sole track recorded as a duo without Cronin, featuring Lima alongside Fischetti. Fischetti conveyed appreciation for upholding the band's heritage despite Cronin’s absence.
By October 2017, Lima received a diagnosis of stage four adrenal cancer and underwent surgery to remove a kidney. He died on November 21, 2018, at the age of 41.
2019–present: O-Town reunion and Y2K Tour
Brad Fischetti, as the last surviving member, joined pop group O-Town on their Y2K tour. During performances, he included LFO songs as tributes to both Cronin and Lima, dedicating himself to maintaining the LFO legacy.
Current
- Brad Fischetti (1995–2002, 2009, 2017–2018; 2024–present)
Former
- Rich Cronin (1995–2002, 2009; deceased 2010)
- Brian Gillis (1995–1998; deceased 2023)
- Devin Lima (1999–2002, 2009, 2017–2018; deceased 2018)
Albums
| Year | Album | Highest chart rankings | Certifications (sales thresholds) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | UK | |||
| 1999 | LFO
|
21 | 62 | |
| 2001 | Life Is Good
|
75 | — | |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart rankings | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | AUS | CAN | GER | NZ | UK | |||
| 1997 | "(Sex U Up) The Way You Like It" | —Template:Ref label | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "Step by Step" | — | — | — | — | 79 | — | ||
| 1998 | "Can't Have You" (featuring Kayo) | 70 | — | — | — | — | 54 | LFO |
| 1999 | "Summer Girls" | 3 | 71 | 18 | 56 | 14 | 16 | |
| "Girl on TV" | 10 | — | 39 | 80 | — | 6 | ||
| 2000 | "I Don't Wanna Kiss You Goodnight" | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "West Side Story" | 84 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001 | "Every Other Time" | 44 | — | — | 98 | 18 | 24 | Life is Good |
| 2002 | "Life Is Good" (featuring M.O.P.) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2017 | "Perfect 10" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "(Sex U up) The Way You Like It" | None | First single released |
| "Step by Step" | Unknown | Cover version of New Kids On The Block track | |
| 1998 | "Can't Have You" (feat. Kayo) | Unknown | Cover of Yvonne Elliman song; last video featuring Brian Gillis |
| 1999 | "Summer Girls" | Marcus Raboy | Debut video including Devin Lima |
| "Girl on TV" | Gregory Dark | Includes cameo by Jennifer Love Hewitt | |
| 2000 | "I Don't Wanna Kiss You Goodnight" | Gregory Dark | |
| "West Side Story" | None | ||
| 2001 | "Every Other Time" | Marcus Raboy | |
| 2002 | "Life Is Good" | Unknown |
Notes
- A The single "(Sex U Up) The Way You Like It" reached number 3 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which serves as an extension to the Billboard Hot 100.
External links
- Articles with short description
- American boy bands
- American pop music groups
- Vocal trios
- Pop-rap groups
- Musical groups established in 1995
- Musical groups disestablished in 2002
- Musical groups reestablished in 2009
- Musical groups disestablished in 2010
- Musical groups reestablished in 2017
- Musical groups disestablished in 2018
- Arista Records artists
- J Records artists
- 1995 establishments in Massachusetts
- 2018 disestablishments in Massachusetts