Aphrodite's Child
Aphrodite 's Child was a Greek progressive rock band that existed from 1968 to 1972 and represented with a few songs in the charts were ( Rain and Tears, End of the World, It's five o'clock ).
History
Demis Roussos was born on June 15, 1946 in Egypt as the son of Greek emigrants, living in Alexandria. After the turmoil of the Suez crisis in 1958, the family returned to Greece. Roussos learned the piano and guitar. In 1963 he formed his first band " The Idols ".
Vangelis Papathanassiou ( born March 29, 1943) also founded in 1963 with friends in Greece his first band Forminx, with some success, since they also occurred in Greek stadiums. However Vangelis wanted to evolve and moved, not only for political reasons (at that time there was still a military junta in the country ), 1968 to Paris. There he founded with Demis Roussos (bass, vocals), Lucas Sideras ( born December 5, 1944 drums, vocals ) and Silver Koulouris (guitar, percussion) Aphrodite 's Child. Vangelis played keyboards, flute and percussion, and most compositions also came from him. Even at this stage, his extraordinary talent became apparent, which is expected to continue until about the turn of the millennium. Their first single, Rain and Tears (May 1968) reached in most Western countries top places in the charts and was a great success. Their first LP End of the World was published in 1968, then a year later it's five o'clock.
In 1972, she completed a turn towards the progressive rock and released the concept album 666, a musical interpretation of the book of Revelation. Vangelis since 1970 worked on the album. The group had to deliver with the record company Mercury Records, a third LP, according to the contract. Those responsible were strong doubts as to whether such a progressive approach could sell. So they demanded only a new single and began after the arrival of Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall with the recordings of 666 The album was released then when specializing in progressive rock label Vertigo.
While Vangelis finished the work on this project, the other group members went live on without him. The group fell apart soon thereafter.
Demis Roussos released a solo album and became established later, especially in Germany, as a successful pop singer.
It is interesting that the album a late " appreciation " learned, because Michael Cretu took over from the plate a few places and integrated them into the 1990 released album MCMXC a D. Enigma.