Image Credit: Robb D. Cohen/Retna ltdLast night, news that LFO singer Rich Cronin had died at age 36 from leukemia hit the Web. Now his bandmates, Brad Fischetti, 34, and Devin Lima, 33, are sharing some memories of their fallen friend. “He was one of the funniest people on the planet,” Fischetti tells EW. “Nobody could tell a story like Rich. He used to say, ‘Never let a few facts get in the way of a good story.’”
Fischetti clearly remembers the day he found out Cronin had leukemia. “It was 2005,” he says. “I was walking down the street in St. Augustine, Fla., and his brother called me. I just dropped to the ground right there. I don’t think Rich thought he’d ever be on the stage again. None of us thought we’d ever be on the stage again as LFO. He fought hard, man. He beat leukemia twice. And beat a stroke. He was a fighter.”
After chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and a stroke that left him with severe pain in his leg, Cronin battled back to perform in a reunion tour with LFO last summer. Even though Lima and Fischetti had to tend to Cronin’s physical needs constantly, helping him get dressed before shows and literally carrying him on stage, it’s one of their fondest memories. “He was so happy,” Fischetti says. “We really became soulmates. Devin and I both realized how much we loved him, despite the differences we had in the past. In New York City at the Highline Ballroom, he thanked the crowd at the end of the show. I’ll always have that voice in my mind, because it was such a sincere thank you. Really, that’s the memory that’s sticking out in my brain.”
The last time Fischetti spoke to Cronin was through a text message two weeks ago. From a hospital bed, Cronin told him about how fans were sending him food and well wishes. In turn, Fischetti joked that since Cronin was having trouble walking, he’d schedule a tour because he had no problems performing on stage. “And he didn’t respond,” Fischetti says sadly. “Which I thought was really odd. Then his birthday came a little later. I texted him on his birthday and he didn’t respond. Something didn’t seem right. And here we are a week later and we find out that he’d taken a turn for the worse with his health.”
Fischetti, Lima, and Cronin hoped to tour this December, and the door had even been opened to possibly record another album. It won’t happen anymore, but Fischetti’s pleased with the body of work they have to offer, adding that Cronin was an underrated rapper. “I thought for quite some time that he was one of the best MCs that ever grabbed the mic,” he says. “I don’t think that people realized how great a rapper he was because when he became successful, our music was a mixture of rap and singing and went even further into a rock realm. We got lumped into that [boy band] category and at that time we used to fight it. But these days, I don’t really care. Call us the boy band, the man band, the rock band, whatever.”
“We were very hip-hop,” Lima adds. “Though most people don’t see it as that or say anything about it.”
“I had P. Diddy stop me at a hotel one time and thank me for wearing one of his hats in a video,” Fischetti says. “And we’d have real urban characters at airports stopping us saying ‘Yo, “Summer Girls” was my s—!’ We reached a lot of different people. We’re realizing over the course of the last several years that a song like ‘Summer Girls’ sort of defined summers for a lot of people when they were younger. We’re appreciative of the opportunity to make an impact. We lived extraordinary lives and did extraordinary things. The bond and the memories we created are unbreakable.”
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I don’t want to be a jerk, it’s sad the guy died so young and all, but why is his death getting so much coverage on EW? He was a guy from a one hit wonder band that had a hit 11 years ago. Whether it was even a hit I think questionable (I thought it was a dumb annoying song back then). Why is this a huge deal for anyone besides this no name dude’s friends and family?
trina, you ARE being a jerk.
rest in peace rich
Well, you do sound like one. Nobody is saying LFO were The Beatles, but EW is a magazine about pop culture and LFOm like it or not, is a part of it.
*LFO
I’d rather read about this than stupid celebrity gossip. It’s very sad that someone so young has died and it raises awareness to his illness. People need to wake up and see that cancer happens at all ages.
You are very rude alot of people loved that song i did it diff. explains my summers but if u didnt like him why are u commenting on it and don’t diss people that are dead! Rip Rich!
I am glad that they are giving him coverage. This was someone’s life and Leukemia is such a horrible thing. He deserves to be noted for his life and his work. LFO may not have been as big as the other boy bands of the time but they did leave their mark. I was a huge boybander in my teens and LFO were one of my favs. Rest in peace Rich. You will be missed by your fans.
I honestly had no idea who LFO was, had to read the article and did manage to remember the “Summer Girls” song – I didn’t like that song either, but they obviously had other hits and lots of fans who remember them fondly.
Very sad stuff that he died so young, leukemia’s a b1tch.
I wasn’t a fan of Summer Girls, although I did love Girl On TV. And I have forgotten LFO over the years, but that doesn’t mean EW can’t blow the site up in regards to Rich Cronins memory. He was a part of pop culture whether you listened to him or not or whether you liked him or not. And this is an appropriate site to do so since this IS a pop culture site, is it not? I smell a jerk. RIP, he sounded like a strong and wonderful person.
Summer Girls made the summer of 1999 the most memorable in my mind. In fact, 1999 was probably best year of my life, the music was so much a part of that. I have a playlist in iTunes with all my favorite summer songs from ’99 and it just brings back a feel good, no care, no worries feeling you want to experience every now and then. LFO was a part of that, even if they maybe a one hit wonder to some, they made their mark and connected with so many people around the world through that one song.
TO TRINA: What a sorry POS you are for even posting such as you did! What have you done in your life that you will be remembered by???? What’s your legacy Trina?????? I hope I am around come the almighty day you are called back to Hell so I too can post a blog stating “What’s the big deal? She was a BIG POS! The world is a better place without another loser in it!”
Overreact much?
Not one-hit-wonders. If you listened to Pop music they were all over it for at least 2 years. They had two albums and at least 4 singles. Whether you liked their music or not (it was kinda cheesey) he was actually a talented writer and musician.
Trina….U stupid B*tch! how dare you be so cold and heartless writing something like that. Obviously your parents sucked at the job they did trying to bring u up as a normal, compassionate human being. Im sure that if it was someone you liked you would have never wrote something like that. you are a pathetic, disgusting excuse for a human being.
As a cancer survivor, I am interested in his passing and his illness. If you don’t like it….don’t READ IT.
@ Trina – You began with “I don’t want to be a jerk”…well, you are! Enough said.
For your info..u do sound like a jerk. Since when is anyones death not a big deal? He had a lot of fans..myself included. I met him years ago and he was the nicest person. Their music was great despite not having a lot of attention and fame
Thank You and well said , seems the day and age of respect are also over.. they were very underrated and I personally loved his album pity alot of people havent gotten a chance to hear it..
Rip rich cronin
well LFO wasnt a one hit wonder , and yes “Summer Girls” was a hit HUGE hit actually and so was there song “Girl on TV” and they had minor success with “Every Other time” he actually wrote songs for the Jonas Brothers , and obviously he isnt some No name guy since he’s getting so much coverage
His “soul mates” sound super shady!!
With that attitude, I doubt anyone would even bother to text you if you had a terminal illness
PS: Teach me about these STEAM cells please.
Ok, the comment I replied to has been deleted. Not crazy.
Anyways, RIP to Rich. Maybe they were a novelty act at best, but sometimes, we need those.
Trina you are mean. I am absolutely heartbroken over the loss of Rich Cronin and took the day off work to mourn! I have been a fan since childhood. I have had the pleasure of meeting LFO and see them perform. RIP Rich Nice <3
Not mean, meant no disrespect, just didn’t think he or his band were all that popular other than that one song. Did you really take the day off work to mourn? If your joking, you should be the one that feels bad.
No one cares about you or your opinion, Trina. Deal with it.
You took the DAY OFF to mourn?
God forbid a relative of yours passes away, sounds like you’ll be off for months.
Rich being interviewed on Howard Stern a while back was one of the best interviews I’ve ever heard. Never cared much for LFO, but the guy was hilarious and really did have some great stories. R.I.P.
I was diagnosed with acute myologenous leukemia on March 9th this past year. I am saddened by the death of a fellow fighter and thankful for the organization he started to raise awareness of the need for bone marrow doners. I hope he had a great life and at least now his struggles are over.
If that’s true then how do you jusify all the horrible, disrespectful comments you make when other celebrities die? Or are you just being stupid and trying to get some sympathy or something?
RIP dude. But come on, they’re band bites. Their music sucks. Someone from the band dying doesn’t change that. They were boyband garbage!
I am a mean, heartless person. I’m sorry.
You’re right for the wrong reasons. A troll who thinks people on the internet don’t matter IS every bit as much of an *ss as s/he thinks s/he’s only ACTING like.
@ Trina – you forgot to add that you are a fat slob.
He has cancer but he died from complications of chemotherapy.
Maybe I’m one of the few LFO fans out there. I loved ‘Summer Girls’, but actually I still love much of their two albums (Life is Good is my absolute fav), and their lyrics always bring a smile to my face when one of their songs pops up on my Ipod’s shuffle. RIP Rich
So sad.
May he rest in peace.
for all those who seem to have useless and unwarrented rude comments, sad just very very sad…. To have left even the littlest footprint in life is wonderful, to bad for those who air rudeness in public forums for the only footprints they will see are of the rest of us stepping on or over them…… RIP