666: Demis Roussos and Aphrodite’s Child created rock’s first concept album

Famous Greek singer Demis Roussos has died on Sunday, January 25, at the age of 68.

Demis Roussos’ first musical endeavor was in the 1960s band Aphrodite’s Child, a Greek trio which also featured Vangelis Papathanassiou, the composer who later scored Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner.

The final release of Aphrodite’s Child, 666, was a double album based on the Book of Revelation.

Demis Roussos’ excitable, operatic wail lends the music an escalating sense of panic, while the extended instrumentals and improvisations presage the progressive rock movement.

666 is it viewed as one rock’s first concept albums.

After Aphrodite’s Child disbanded, Demis Roussos continued to record with Vangelis, even during his successful easy listening years.

Demis Roussos and Vangelis’ most successful collaboration was Race to the End – a vocal adaption of the theme to Chariots of Fire.

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