Vangelis dead: Iconic composer of Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner dies at 79

Musician considered one of the greatest music producers in Hollywood movie history – who has created legendary scores for films including Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner

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Vangelis discusses what made him happy in 2012

Legendary Hollywood composer, Vangelis has passed away after being treated in hospital for Covid-19.

The Greek musician – whose real name is Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou – is 79 years old.

The film composer – best known for writing the iconic score for 1981’s Chariots of Fire and the music for the 1982 film Blade Runner – died in a French hospital on Wednesday.

According to the Athens News Agency, Vangelis died in a French hospital while being treated for Covid-19.

The musician has achieved great success in his life, with the Chariots of Fire soundtrack earning him the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1982.

However, the musician refused to attend the ceremony in person for fear of flying.

Lord Puttnam, who won the Academy Award for Best Picture for Chariots of Fire as a producer, told the BBC: “I think Vangelis has created a new scene, a new musical scene, that many composers have others have taken advantage of”.

He added, “I had hair on the back of my neck” when he first heard the music for the movie.

While musician Daniel Pemberton told the magazine: “It’s hard to understand how groundbreaking Chariots of Fire is. A classic British film with a phenomenal synthesis score.”

American composer Austin Wintory took to Twitter to add online tribute songs related to Vangelis’ death.

He wrote: “Well, an icon has left us. Farewell to Vangelis, who changed an entire musical era, and then rediscovered a few decades later by an entirely new crop. What a legacy.”

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted: “Vangelis Papathanassiou is no longer with us. The world of music has lost the international Vangelis (artist).”

In addition to creating music for the film industry, Vangelis also releases solo electronic music.

Tom Lewis and Laura Monks, presidents of Decca Records, who released the musician’s track. said: “The world has lost a genius. Vangelis has created music with extraordinary power and originality, and provided the soundtrack to so much of our lives.

“We will miss him so much. His music will last forever.”

The musician is very private and rarely gives interviews.

However, in a rare 2005 interview with the Telegraph, he discussed his reasons for not being able to have children.

“Because I have to travel a lot and the music business makes no sense, I can’t take care of a child the way I think he should be taken care of,” he said.

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