LFO: They're Lyte. They're Funky. They're Back.
July 2009
They like girls that wear Abercrombie & Fitch.
At least, they did back in 1999 when Rich Cronin, Devin Lima, and Brad Fischetti of LFO saw their smash single "Summer Girls" soar to the top of the Billboard charts, becoming the unofficial summertime anthem.
Success came again with "Girl on TV" as well as “Every Other Time,” a single from their 2001 sophomore release, Life is Good. However, within a year, LFO disbanded, and we haven’t heard from then since…until now.
As their tour promotions announce,
"The Boys of Summer are Back!" With a brand new song, fittingly titled, "The Summer of My Life," LFO has reunited, performing on tour since July.
Fischetti spoke candidly with WaldenPonders, discussing the truths behind break-up, the make-up, and the future of LFO.
Why did LFO disband?
We didn’t really end on good terms, to be honest. When we walked out of that room in 2002, it was like a weight was lifted off of our shoulders. We had worked together for so long…basically nonstop. When you live and work so closely with people, you’re bound to develop boundaries and barriers, and if you don’t break ‘em down, if you don’t work on ‘em, they just continue to grow. Before you know it, the only time you’re actually corresponding with each other is for the 45 minutes you’re on stage, and that’s pretty much where it got to.
What has each member been doing since the hiatus?
Rich went on and worked on a couple of solo projects. In 2005, Rich was diagnosed with Leukemia, so battling [that] has sort of been his top priority over the last four years. Devin spent about five years really holed up in his apt just studying music, writing, recording…the kid even read the dictionary. He came out an entirely new man. Myself, I started plans for a record label called 111 Records. That’s what I still do today. I’ve got a couple of bands that have done pretty well on the label like The Spill Canvas and Rookie of the Year.
Why reunite now?
I don’t know that there’s a definitive answer for it. I certainly never thought it would happen. I think I got to a point where I spent so many hours trying to break these baby bands and then at some point I sat down and thought, “Wow, I’ve got a name already built.” We spent a lot of time building that name, and it just seemed like a complete waste for us to let it go. Late last year, I put together a concept for a reunion. I flew up to Massachusetts, the three of us sat together in a room for the first time in 6 or 7 years, and we decided we’ll go for it. Timing seemed right in terms of where each of us were in our own lives, and the music industry at the time seemed pretty solid too. We’ve all grown a lot as people and artists…and I think that the opportunity is here now for us to actually be stronger than we ever were, not only as a group, but as friends. I didn’t think there would be much more to it than just a couple reunion tours, a few new songs, then everybody moves on. After spending time rehearsing, it seems like this is actually the start of something new.
LFO has been described as a boy band. Is it true that you rejected that label in the past?
I think at the time, we fought it pretty hard. When I look back at our very early days, we were very clearly that, although we were different. When I look back at our height, I don’t think we were.
Do you feel pressure to equal or best your previous successes?
No, none whatsoever. We’re taking a completely different route this time around. We’re not using a label. We’re not promoting through radio. We’re kinda starting over, doing things from the grassroots level. You don’t need to sell a million records to make a living, make your music. Now, we’re just trying to make it as low budget as possible. If we have the opportunity to work with a company again, we’re open to it.
Do you have any plans to record new music?
I’m assuming there’s a pretty good chance of seeing an album. Whether it’s released in the traditional sort of way as an album remains to be seen. I’d be more inclined to release an album’s worth of material over several months. Any music that we record and release will be used as a promotional tool more than anything. I have no plans on selling any of our music at this point in time. I’d like to go out there and play shows, and I’d like people to come out and see us play.
During this reunion tour, you play fan favorites, a couple of new songs, and both Devin and Rich feature their solo work. How would you describe the concert experience as a whole?
It’s probably the longest set we’ve ever played - probably an hour and fifteen minutes. There will certainly be a lot of energy. That’s pretty much what we try for, to really make people happy for a short period of time.
Are summer girls the same as they were 10 years ago?
I don’t know. We’ll find out. It seems like a lot of them are still out there. Although, most of them say they don’t really wear Abercrombie & Fitch anymore, and we’ve told them that that’s just fine.
Links: Facebook | Twitter
At least, they did back in 1999 when Rich Cronin, Devin Lima, and Brad Fischetti of LFO saw their smash single "Summer Girls" soar to the top of the Billboard charts, becoming the unofficial summertime anthem.
Success came again with "Girl on TV" as well as “Every Other Time,” a single from their 2001 sophomore release, Life is Good. However, within a year, LFO disbanded, and we haven’t heard from then since…until now.
As their tour promotions announce,
"The Boys of Summer are Back!" With a brand new song, fittingly titled, "The Summer of My Life," LFO has reunited, performing on tour since July.
Fischetti spoke candidly with WaldenPonders, discussing the truths behind break-up, the make-up, and the future of LFO.
Why did LFO disband?
We didn’t really end on good terms, to be honest. When we walked out of that room in 2002, it was like a weight was lifted off of our shoulders. We had worked together for so long…basically nonstop. When you live and work so closely with people, you’re bound to develop boundaries and barriers, and if you don’t break ‘em down, if you don’t work on ‘em, they just continue to grow. Before you know it, the only time you’re actually corresponding with each other is for the 45 minutes you’re on stage, and that’s pretty much where it got to.
What has each member been doing since the hiatus?
Rich went on and worked on a couple of solo projects. In 2005, Rich was diagnosed with Leukemia, so battling [that] has sort of been his top priority over the last four years. Devin spent about five years really holed up in his apt just studying music, writing, recording…the kid even read the dictionary. He came out an entirely new man. Myself, I started plans for a record label called 111 Records. That’s what I still do today. I’ve got a couple of bands that have done pretty well on the label like The Spill Canvas and Rookie of the Year.
Why reunite now?
I don’t know that there’s a definitive answer for it. I certainly never thought it would happen. I think I got to a point where I spent so many hours trying to break these baby bands and then at some point I sat down and thought, “Wow, I’ve got a name already built.” We spent a lot of time building that name, and it just seemed like a complete waste for us to let it go. Late last year, I put together a concept for a reunion. I flew up to Massachusetts, the three of us sat together in a room for the first time in 6 or 7 years, and we decided we’ll go for it. Timing seemed right in terms of where each of us were in our own lives, and the music industry at the time seemed pretty solid too. We’ve all grown a lot as people and artists…and I think that the opportunity is here now for us to actually be stronger than we ever were, not only as a group, but as friends. I didn’t think there would be much more to it than just a couple reunion tours, a few new songs, then everybody moves on. After spending time rehearsing, it seems like this is actually the start of something new.
LFO has been described as a boy band. Is it true that you rejected that label in the past?
I think at the time, we fought it pretty hard. When I look back at our very early days, we were very clearly that, although we were different. When I look back at our height, I don’t think we were.
Do you feel pressure to equal or best your previous successes?
No, none whatsoever. We’re taking a completely different route this time around. We’re not using a label. We’re not promoting through radio. We’re kinda starting over, doing things from the grassroots level. You don’t need to sell a million records to make a living, make your music. Now, we’re just trying to make it as low budget as possible. If we have the opportunity to work with a company again, we’re open to it.
Do you have any plans to record new music?
I’m assuming there’s a pretty good chance of seeing an album. Whether it’s released in the traditional sort of way as an album remains to be seen. I’d be more inclined to release an album’s worth of material over several months. Any music that we record and release will be used as a promotional tool more than anything. I have no plans on selling any of our music at this point in time. I’d like to go out there and play shows, and I’d like people to come out and see us play.
During this reunion tour, you play fan favorites, a couple of new songs, and both Devin and Rich feature their solo work. How would you describe the concert experience as a whole?
It’s probably the longest set we’ve ever played - probably an hour and fifteen minutes. There will certainly be a lot of energy. That’s pretty much what we try for, to really make people happy for a short period of time.
Are summer girls the same as they were 10 years ago?
I don’t know. We’ll find out. It seems like a lot of them are still out there. Although, most of them say they don’t really wear Abercrombie & Fitch anymore, and we’ve told them that that’s just fine.
Links: Facebook | Twitter
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