Table of Contents
Demis Roussos’s legacy lives on in his unforgettable music and unique vocal style which touched the hearts of millions around the world
In today’s article, we will be taking a look at his life as we explore the cause of his death and how he lived his life before death.
Demis Roussos Biography
Artemios “Demis” Ventouris-Roussos, known simply as Demis Roussos, was a Greek singer, songwriter, and musician who achieved international success with his unique vocal style.
Roussos, a Greek-American, was exposed to a wide variety of musical influences from an early age.
He was born on June 15, 1946, in Alexandria, Egypt. His mother, Olga, was passionate about amateur theatre productions, while his father, George Roussos, was a classical guitarist and engineer.
Early on, Roussos developed a love for music, and he enrolled in music classes and joined the Greek Church Byzantine chorus in Alexandria.
In the multicultural environment of the old port city where Roussos was raised, he gained a profound respect for jazz as well as for classical Arabic and Greek Orthodox music.
Due to the loss of his parents’ belongings during the Suez Crisis, the family decided to relocate to Greece in order to start over.
Greece was where Roussos started his musical career. He met his future bandmates Evgelos Papathanassou (later known as Vangelis) and Loukas Sideras when he joined the Idols at the age of 17.
Aphrodite’s Child, a progressive rock group, was founded by the original trio. Initially joining as a singer, Roussos eventually added the position of bass guitarist. From 1968 to 1972, the band enjoyed financial success in France and other parts of Europe.
In 1967, Roussos and Aphrodite’s Child travelled to London in an effort to gain recognition in the world of music. At Dover, though, they ran into visa issues and had to flee to Paris.
They made the decision to remain in Paris, where they also agreed to a record deal with Philips Records. The band eventually published their popular song “Rain and Tears” in 1968, despite enduring delays brought on by the national strike in May of that year.
Their success spread throughout Europe thanks to the song, which was written by Vangelis and featured Roussos’ distinctive high tenor.
The band’s sound grew to be known for Roussos’ operatic vocal style, which was especially audible on their final album, 666, which was inspired by passages from the Book of Revelation.
The progressive rock genre’s cult masterpiece, the album. Following the breakup of Aphrodite’s Child in 1972, Roussos carried on with his solo career.
With his successful songs “Goodbye, My Love, Goodbye,” “From Souvenirs to Souvenirs,” and “Forever and Ever,” Roussos expanded his fan base as a solo performer.
He became an unexpected sex icon wearing a kaftan and sold more than 60 million CDs globally. The 1970s and 1980s saw Roussos continue to have success as a solo artist.
Roussos battled his weight throughout his career. He weighed 147 kilogrammes (324 pounds) or 23 stone in 1980.
He started a strict diet because he was determined to alter his life, and in just 10 months, he shed 50 kilogrammes (8 stone; 110 pounds). In the book “A Question of Weight,” which he co-wrote with his close friend Veronique Skawinska, Roussos chronicled his struggle with weight loss.
At the tragically young age of 68, Demis Roussos passed away on January 25, 2015.
He battled liver, pancreas, and stomach cancers while receiving treatment at Ygeia Hospital in Athens, Greece. The next day, journalist Nikos Aliagas and his daughter both confirmed his death.
Demis Roussos Cause Of Death
Demis Roussos died from stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer which caused him to lose his life at the age of 68 years.
