News | Entertainment
7 Jul 2025 16:56
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    The worlds of music and movies are in mourning following the death of composer Vangelis has died aged 79

    The Greek musician - who was born Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou near the city of Volos in central Greece - passed away on Wednesday (18.05.22) in a French hospital his lawyers' office confirmed. No cause of death has been given yet


    Vangelis was most famous for his synth style and his film soundtracks, which included 1981's 'Chariots of Fire' and 1982's 'Blade Runner', with him winning the Best Original Film Score Oscar for his work on the sports drama.

    French electronic musician Jean-Michel Jarre paid tribute to Vangelis praising him for his "moving melodies".

    He wrote on Instagram: "We will all remember your unique touch and your moving melodies forever.

    "You and I have always shared the same passion for synthesizers and electronic music since so long."

    Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren took to Twitter to remember his musical hero.

    He tweeted: "I had the privilege to meet him in Paris last year.

    "He was one of my heroes, a big inspiration and just a beautiful person.

    "I still listen to his albums a lot."

    Filmmaker Charles de Lauzirika - who acted as a producer on 'Blade Runner: The Final Cut', a restoration of Sir Ridley Scott's sci-fi classic - said: "His music, not just in 'Blade Runner', was otherworldly in beautiful and haunting ways I lack the words to describe.

    "He created lush dream states I still love getting lost in."

    Before he began scoring Hollywood films, Vangelis was a pop artist, forming his first band in 1963, named the Forminx. Once they split in 1966 Vangelis began writing and producing for other artists and began creating scores for Greek movies.

    He later formed prog rock quartet Aphrodite's Child with Greek singer Demis Roussos.

    In the 1970s, Vangelis moved to London and signed a solo record deal releasing the LPs 'Heaven and Hell' in 1975 and 'Albedo 0.39' in 1976 and then teamed up with Yes musician Jon Anderson as the duo Jon and Vangelis.

    In the 1980s he achieved his biggest success with his movie scores, also creating the music for 'Antarctica' and 'The Bounty' as well as 'Chariots of Fire' - which told the true story of British athletes Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams who both competed at the 1924 Olympics - and 'Blade Runner'.

    Explaining his creative process when writing music for movies, Vangelis said: "My music does not try to evoke emotions like joy, love, or pain from the audience. It just goes with the image, because I work in the moment."

    In his later years, Vangelis released his albums under the Decca record label banner.

    In a statement remembering the pioneering artist, Decca Presidents Tom Lewis and Laura Monks issued a statement that read: "The world has lost a genius. Vangelis created music of extraordinary originality and power, and provided the soundtrack to so many of our lives.

    "We will miss him enormously. His music will live on forever."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     07 Jul: Liam Gallagher's son Lennon Gallagher "can't wait" to see his dad back onstage with Oasis
     07 Jul: Emma Roberts would love to play the next murder victim on The White Lotus
     07 Jul: Scarlett Johansson's beauty brand The Outset has launched skin survival kits in collaboration with her new movie Jurassic World Rebirth
     07 Jul: Michael Madsen was reportedly struggling with alcohol addiction before his death
     07 Jul: Paul Simon has successfully undergone surgery for "chronic and intense back pain"
     07 Jul: Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom "have been shifting their relationship to focus on coparenting"
     07 Jul: Connie Francis has been hospitalised for "extreme pain" after suffering a pelvic fracture
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The All Blacks are confident Rieko Ioane will find his footing with his return to the wing ahead of the second test against France in Wellington More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The hard questions NZ must ask about the claimed economic benefits of fast-track mining projects More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Liam Gallagher's son Lennon Gallagher "can't wait" to see his dad back onstage with Oasis 16:36

    International:
    Hundreds of girls were 'living their best life' at Texas summer camp. Then disaster struck 16:27

    Law and Order:
    Wellington Police have revealed further details of serious injuries sustained by a young Hutt Valley baby 16:17

    Law and Order:
    In Australia - a jury has indicated it's reached verdicts in the fatal mushroom lunch trial - and is expected to reconvene shortly 16:07

    Entertainment:
    Emma Roberts would love to play the next murder victim on The White Lotus 16:06

    Politics:
    The Government says changes to child banking requirement - are one step in its new anti-money laundering regime 15:57

    Entertainment:
    Scarlett Johansson's beauty brand The Outset has launched skin survival kits in collaboration with her new movie Jurassic World Rebirth 15:36

    Entertainment:
    Michael Madsen was reportedly struggling with alcohol addiction before his death 15:06

    Health & Safety:
    Wellington Hospital's trialling cutting maternity and gynaecology beds, to ease ED pressure 14:57

    Entertainment:
    Paul Simon has successfully undergone surgery for "chronic and intense back pain" 14:36


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd