Artemios "Demis" Ventouris-Roussos, a renowned Greek singer, songwriter, and musician, was born on June 15, 1946, in Alexandria, Egypt, to a Greek family. His father, George (Yorgos) Roussos, was a classical guitarist and engineer, while his mother, Olga, was an amateur theatrical performer. Demis was raised in a cosmopolitan environment, influenced by jazz, traditional Arab, and Greek Orthodox music. His early years were marked by a passion for music, as he studied music and joined the Greek Church Byzantine choir in Alexandria.
After the Suez Crisis, Demis's family lost their possessions and relocated to Greece. He began his musical journey in Greece, participating in various bands, including the Idols, where he met future bandmates Evángelos Papathanassíou (Vangelis) and Loukas Sideras. He later joined the Athens-based band We Five, a cover band with limited success in Greece.
Demis's breakthrough came in 1967 when he joined the progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child, alongside Vangelis and Sideras. Initially, he sang, but later also played bass guitar, achieving commercial success in France and Europe from 1968 to 1972. The band's first recording sessions were delayed due to the May 1968 general strike, but they eventually released the song "Rain and Tears" across Europe. This song, composed by Vangelis and French lyricist Boris Bergman, featured Demis's unique high tenor and became a minor hit in Britain but successful in many other countries.
Demis's operatic vocal style contributed significantly to Aphrodite's Child's international success, particularly on their final album 666, based on passages from the Book of Revelation, which became a progressive rock cult classic. Throughout his career, Demis sold over 60 million albums worldwide and became an unlikely kaftan-wearing sex symbol.
