
Heartbreak for 90s boy band as sole survivor pays moving tribute
They may not have reached the heights of *NSYNC or Backstreet Boys, but in the late '90s, LFO made their mark with the infectiously catchy hit Summer Girls .
The song, packed with pop culture references and teen nostalgia, became an anthem of its era. Its music video, filmed at Coney Island's beach and boardwalk in 1999, captured the carefree vibe of youth. But behind the scenes, no one could have foreseen the heartbreak that would eventually shadow the band's legacy.
Of the original members, only one remains. Brad Fischetti, now 49, continues to perform in memory of his fallen bandmates through a tribute project called The LFO Story . Recently, he moved audiences in Celebration, Florida, with a powerful performance honoring the band's legacy, reports the Mirror.
LFO — short for Lyte Funkie Ones — was formed in 1995 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, when Brad and Rich Cronin teamed up with Brian "Brizz" Gillis. The group struggled to find its footing until a turning point in 1999, when Brizz left and Devin Lima joined. That year, they soared to fame with Summer Girls , which hit No. 1 in the U.S. and climbed to No. 16 in the UK charts.
The song became iconic for its quirky lyrics referencing everything from Cherry Coke and Abercrombie & Fitch to Macaulay Culkin and New Kids on the Block. Their popularity peaked in 2000 when LFO won a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Group, performed more than 230 shows, opened for Britney Spears, and even launched a line of dolls in 2001.
But like many pop acts of the era, their second album failed to capture the same magic, and they disbanded in 2002.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Rich Cronin later faced a fierce battle with leukemia. After undergoing treatment, he expressed gratitude for his time in the spotlight, saying, 'I am truly thankful for the success I had. And if it happens again, that'd be really nice.' He added with a touch of humor, 'I still only like girls in Abercrombie and Fitch.'
In 2009, LFO briefly reunited. Though their bond had been tested in the past, Rich, Brad, and Devin found renewed closeness. 'He was so happy,' Brad recalled in 2010. 'Devin and I both realized how much we loved him.' Tragically, Rich's health declined once more, and he passed away in September 2010 at the age of 36.
In 2017, Brad and Devin released a new LFO song—their first in 15 years—in Rich's memory. But just months later, more devastating news came. Devin was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer. Despite undergoing surgery to remove a massive tumor and one of his kidneys, he died a year later in 2018 at the age of 41, leaving behind a partner and six children.
The tragedies didn't end there. In March 2023, original member Brizz passed away at 48. His family chose not to disclose the cause of death.
Now, Brad Fischetti stands alone as the last living member of LFO. But he remains determined to keep their story alive. After a recent LFO Story show, he shared on Instagram: "We honored the boys in a big way. The LFO Story show last week was beautiful and epic. Thank you for the love and support. The biggest thanks to Rich and Devin for leaving a beautiful legacy behind. We will nurture it and honor you for as long as the people will allow us to."
Fans were quick to express their emotions online. One wrote, 'Devin and Rich are there in spirit and are proud of you @thereallfo.' Another commented, 'Those guys are extremely missed.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Strictly's Punam Krishan opens brand new luxury spa experience 'unlike anything else'
Gary Hollywood and Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren joined Dr Punam to open the spa Strictly Come Dancing's Dr Punam Krishan joined fellow celebrities and dignitaries in Renfrewshire to unveil the new multi-million pound Imperia Spa at Gleddoch Hotel. The glamorous event on Thursday, July 24, marked the official opening of the luxury wellness facility, following six months of extensive refurbishment at the Langbank hotel. Guests included Mrs Brown's Boys actor Gary Hollywood and Glasgow's Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren, who joined Dr Punam in cutting the ribbon. The TV doctor, who recently appeared on Strictly's Christmas special, praised the spa's tranquil setting but admitted one feature wouldn't tempt her. 'The spa is absolutely beautiful, the views are stunning and I am feeling very tranquil. It's Scotland at its best,' said Punam, 42. 'The ice plunge pool is the only thing that I will not be trying. "You couldn't pay me to jump into that. Gorka would love it. He does ice water baths every day, but I cannot do it. I respect anybody who can do ice water immersions but it's definitely not for me.' The new Imperia Spa now boasts one of the largest outdoor saunas in the UK, offering panoramic views over the Clyde and the surrounding countryside, including Ben Lomond. Visitors can also enjoy a wide range of thermal facilities, including a salt steam room, aroma steam room, pink Himalayan salt sauna, hydrotherapy pool, cold plunge pool, and an ice fountain. The spa's design draws inspiration from the estate's past and the glamour of the golden age of travel, with luxurious finishes including black marble, antique gold touches, crystal detailing, and plush quilted textures. Hotel manager James Anderson said the new space had been carefully crafted to combine indulgence, heritage and modern wellness. 'Every detail of Imperia has been designed to surprise and delight, creating an escape unlike anything else in Scotland,' he said. 'This is not just a spa; it's an experience where indulgence, heritage, and contemporary wellness meet. It really is breathtaking and has to be seen to be believed. We're thrilled to show it off.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Actor Gary Hollywood, who played Dino Doyle in the BAFTA-winning sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys, attended the launch with his wife Cherylanne. The couple were all smiles as they mingled with fans and praised the hotel as a personal favourite. 'Gleddoch is our happy place and the new spa is spectacular,' he said. 'We've been coming here to relax and unwind as a family for five years. It's on our doorstep but you quite literally enter another world. My son Ollie, who's now five, thinks it's his second home. His shoes are kicked off the second he arrives.' The spa also features a wellbeing studio, a modern fitness suite, and seven treatment rooms offering therapies using luxury products from leading brands including Natura Bissé, Elemis, Temple Spa and Tri-Dosha. An on-site restaurant adds to the overall experience. Situated just 20 minutes from Glasgow, Gleddoch Hotel sits on a 350-acre estate once owned by shipbuilding magnate Baron Lithgow. The new spa officially opened its doors on June 16.


Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Angry mum leaves Butlin's after 'beds wet' and daughter had 'poo on hands'
Mum Jasmine took to TikTok to share her disappointment with the accommodation at the Skegness holiday park. Butlin's has apologised after a family checked in to a "grimy" and "damp" room which was "in need of a massive deep clean". Mum Jasmine took to TikTok to share her disappointment with the accommodation at the Skegness holiday park. Sharing clips of the filthy room with her 19,000 followers, she said: "I could make a 10-minute video on all of the issues in here but here's some of them." Jasmine, who went on to give a tour of the room, added: "Even walking up to the room I felt grimy. This is the Butlin's comfort room. This is my sign to not blindly book something hahaha." As reported by the Mirro r, she said they couldn't stand to sleep in the room for more than one night as she showed dirt throughout, including in the shower and the bin. In her voiceover, Jasmine said: "I was meant to book the apartment but I didn't realise. When I first walked in there and I saw there's only two rooms and one bathroom in the middle, I thought, 'Where's the rest of it?'. "I am going to emphasise that was not Butlin's fault at all though to be fair - it was my fault. So anyway I don't know if the videos can do it justice because the smell when I walked in there was just absolutely wild. "This isn't the cleaner's fault or anything like that - it's the turnover rate is the issue. These rooms need massive deep cleans because a quick once over is not going to help." "I didn't even want to shower in there - in fact, I didn't shower in there. I ended up going to the swimming pools to have a shower. "We spent one night in this room and the beds were so damp - my daughter even woke up asking why the bed was so wet. "I can't explain the smell. I know I keep saying it but it was horrific. The mould was over the windows, there were cobwebs up the walls... This was a dead bug on our bed and then our daughter got poo on her hand walking out and I was like 'nah, that's it, 100% I am going.' "The stuff kids can do here is amazing though - I will not fault Butlins for that. It is just a shame about the room." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. A spokesperson for the holiday park said: 'We're sorry and disappointed to see the cleanliness issues the guest experienced with their accommodation. This certainly isn't the high standards we expect our guests to receive when they holiday with us. We carried out a full reclean and offered a gesture of goodwill which was accepted.' Others shared similar experiences in the comments, with one person writing: "This looks so much cleaner than our room [laughing emoji]." Another person said: "Skegness I had the most horrible room haven't ever gone back. It was a hot year window broke couldn't open it, bedding didn't get changed stuff left under the bed etc was horrible." However, another visitor insisted they had only ever had positive experiences at the holiday park, writing: "Which Butlin's is this?? We've always been to skeg one and never had a room like this. That's grim."


Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Daily Record
Oasis fans thank Noel Gallagher Scots ex-wife Sara McDonald for reunion after £20M divorce
Oasis fans have thanked Noel's Edinburgh born ex-wife Sara for 'rinsing' him in their divorce settlement and getting the band back together which they believe is the 'real reason' behind their reunion. Scots Oasis fans are now counting down the days until the Oasis Live 25' reunion tour comes to Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium in less than two weeks time. The band abruptly split in 2009 after a fiery fall-out between Liam and Noel Gallagher, which raged on for over 15-years before the two brothers finally announced they'd made peace with one another last year. The feuding siblings are said to have finally made up over a late night phone call but fans have their own theory for why they eventually put their rift to bed and announced an Oasis comeback. After Oasis announced their reunion tour last August, fans took to social media to credit one unexpected person for their reunion despite that same person previously being suggested as the sole reason the band would never return. The credit all goes to Noel Gallagher's ex wife, Sara McDonald. The Scots music PR was married to the High Flying Birds frontman for twelve years before they announced they were going their separate ways in 2023, the year before Oasis announced their return. Noel and Sara, who share kids Donovan, 17, and Sonny, 15, together, made their separation public in January 2023. Whilst being married to Noel, Sara, found herself embroiled in the Oasis feud and was known to not have a good relationship with Liam Gallagher. She was also known to not be too keen on Oasis' music in general as Noel previously admitted she's "not the biggest fan of anything I've ever done". Liam previously stirred the pot on X, formerly known as Twitter, when he suggested that Sara may be the sole reason why an Oasis reunion would never happen. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Replying to a fan who asked why Noel was so against reuniting, he replied: "I've told you before he's rite up for it but you know who won't let him as she doesn't like Oasis music." However, in an ironic twist of events, fans now believe Sara McDonald is the exact reason why an Oasis reunion is happening due to the £20m pay out she received from Noel as a result of their divorce. The Scots PR also forced Noel to relinquish their lavish £8m Hampshire home. TikTok user @lottieaesthetic took to the platform to upload a picture of the former couple with the Oasis track Don't Look Back in Anger playing in the background. The photo was captioned: "I'd like to thank Sara McDonald for rinsing Noel that badly in the divorce. Without you this wouldn't be possible." The TikTok, which was uploaded in 2024, raked in millions of views, with fans agreeing that money is the real reason why Oasis have made a return. One person replied: "Oasis only getting back together to make a few quid, they hate each other." Someone else chimed in: "Finally someone said it." A third echoed: "Sara, you're a legend babes x." It seems that Liam was not the only one who wasn't keen on his brother's ex-wife as fans also seem to have a very clear opinion on Sara. One comment read: "Only positive thing Sara contributed to Oasis." A second agreed: "Sara FINALLY did something good." Oasis are currently in the midst of their UK and Ireland 2025 reunion tour with Edinburgh set to be their next stop after their five shows at London's Wembley Stadium. The band will play in the Scots capital at Murrayfield Stadium for three nights on August 8, August 9 and August 12.