Silver Koulouris

Last updated

Anargyros "Silver" Koulouris (born 26 January 1947) [1] is a Greek musician best known for his membership in the band Aphrodite's Child, in which he played lead guitar. [2] He has also performed session work on a plethora of albums by other artists, including those of his former Aphrodite's Child bandmates, throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and in recent decades he has released solo recordings under his own name.

Contents

Early life and musical beginnings

Born in Piraeus, Greece, [1] Koulouris acquired the nickname "Silver" due to his birth name's similarity to the Greek word for the element silver. [2] In converting his given name from the Greek alphabet, many different spellings of his name have emerged, such as Anargyros, Argyris, Argiris, Anarchyris, Anachyros, and Agyrilos. [3]

In his late teenage years, Koulouris met Demis Roussos, who played bass guitar, and Lucas Sideras, a drummer, with whom he went on to play guitar in a band called The Idols in and around Athens, Greece. [4] Because he was in the Greek Army at the time, Koulouris was able to play with The Idols only occasionally, [4] but he maintained a connection with Roussos and Sideras that would prove to be key to his future musical career.

With Aphrodite's Child

In 1966, Roussos and Sideras met keyboardist and composer Vangelis Papathanassiou, [4] and in 1968, the three decided to form a band, inviting Koulouris to join as their guitarist. That same year, the foursome recorded one single, "Plastics Nevermore" b/w "The Other People," [5] [6] under the name Aphrodite's Child. As the band prepared to travel to England to find greater success, Koulouris' military obligations once again impeded his musical career, and he had to stay in Greece while the remaining three established Aphrodite's Child further west. [2]

By 1970, Koulouris was out of the military and free to rejoin the band. He provided lead guitar and assorted percussion on the group's third LP, 666 . [7] Due to conflict within the band and tensions with their record label, Aphrodite's Child had broken up by the time the album was released, [4] so Koulouris was left to find a new musical direction for himself.

Collaborations and session work

Following Aphrodite's Child's demise, Koulouris became a session musician for his former bandmates as they embarked on solo careers. He co-wrote tracks and played bass, rhythm, and lead guitars as well as additional percussion on Sideras' debut LP, One Day; [8] he co-wrote songs and played bass, lead guitar, and laouto on Roussos' debut album, Fire and Ice (also known as On the Greek Side of My Mind ); [9] and on Vangelis' 1973 album Earth , Koulouris provided guitar, lute, and backing vocals. [10]

Koulouris did session work on additional solo albums by Roussos and Vangelis [11] and also played for fellow Greek musician Harris Chalkitis, [11] who had assisted in the completion of 666. [7] In 1975, Koulouris worked with Vangelis in a band-like setting once again, along with Michael Haubrich and F.R. David, and together they released one single, "Bird of Love" b/w "The Pawn," under the name Humanity (sometimes spelled Umanity). [12]

After further session work for various artists, Koulouris collaborated with Magic Power, an electronic funk band, on two LPs and a single: Lady Midnight in 1979, "A Lot to Learn" b/w "The Waiting Game" in 1980 (Koulouris appeared on the original single cover sleeve), and the group's self-titled second album, also in 1980. [11] Most of his contribution to the Magic Power sound was through rhythm guitar.

Solo works

In 1997, Koulouris finally released an album of his own, titled Αργιριδιαδρομές [3] (which transliterates to English as "Argiridiadromes"). In addition, he issued another solo album, City Lights, in early 2015. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vangelis</span> Greek composer (1943–2022)

Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou, known professionally as Vangelis, was a Greek musician, composer, songwriter and producer of electronic, progressive, ambient, and classical orchestral music. He was best known for his Academy Award-winning score to Chariots of Fire (1981), as well as for composing scores to the films Blade Runner (1982), Missing (1982), Antarctica (1983), The Bounty (1984), 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992), and Alexander (2004), and for the use of his music in the 1980 PBS documentary series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage by Carl Sagan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aphrodite's Child</span> Greek rock band

Aphrodite's Child was a Greek rock and pop band formed in 1967, by Vangelis Papathanassiou, Demis Roussos, Loukas Sideras, and Silver Koulouris (guitar). They initially found success in Europe with hit singles like "Rain and Tears", "End of the World", "I Want to Live", and "It's Five O'Clock", before pivoting to progressive rock with their third and final album, 666 (1972). An ambitious concept album inspired by the Book of Revelation, it later gained critical acclaim and has appeared on a number of lists of the top progressive and psychedelic albums of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demis Roussos</span> Greek singer, songwriter and musician, record producer and actor (1946–2015)

Artemios "Demis" Ventouris-Roussos was a Greek singer, songwriter and musician. As a band member he is best remembered for his work in the progressive rock music act Aphrodite's Child, but as a vocal soloist, his repertoire included hit songs like "Goodbye, My Love, Goodbye", "From Souvenirs to Souvenirs" and "Forever and Ever".

<i>666</i> (Aphrodites Child album) 1972 studio album by Aphrodites Child

666 is the third and final studio album and only double album by Greek progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child, released in June 1972 by Vertigo Records. Ostensibly an adaptation of Biblical passages from the Book of Revelation, it is the group's most critically acclaimed project. Due to internal tensions during the recording process and conflict with the record company, by the time it was released the band had already disbanded and its members had begun work on solo projects.

<i>Earth</i> (Vangelis album) 1973 studio album by Vangelis

Earth is the first official solo album by the Greek artist Vangelis, released in 1973. In contrast to Heaven and Hell (1975) and some soundtracks by Vangelis from this period, Earth was not released on compact disc in the 1980s — it was not until 1996 that a CD version was made available, and then only in Greece.

<i>Its Five OClock</i> 1969 studio album by Aphrodites Child

It's Five O'Clock is the second studio album by Greek progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child.

<i>End of the World</i> (album) 1968 studio album by Aphrodites Child

End of the World is the debut studio album by Greek progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child. It features the UK top 30 hit "Rain and Tears".

<i>Reflection</i> (Demis Roussos album) 1984 studio album by Demis Roussos

Reflection is an album released in 1984 by Demis Roussos.

Lucas Sideras is the former drummer of the Greek progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vangelis discography</span>

Vangelis was a Greek musician, composer, and producer. He began his music career in the 1960s with the Greek progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child and in the 1970s began composing electronic music. He gained wide mainstream popularity after composing soundtracks to film Chariots of Fire (1981) and Blade Runner (1982). His solo career discography consists of 23 studio albums, 26 compilation albums, 12 soundtrack albums, and roughly 29 singles. The majority of his film, documentary, theatre, and ballet & dance scores weren't released or officially released. He also collaborated with Jon Anderson and as a duo Jon and Vangelis released 4 studio albums, 2 compilations, and 13 singles, and with Irene Papas released two studio albums.

<i>The Dragon</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Vangelis

The Dragon is a studio album by the Greek electronic composer Vangelis, unofficially released in 1978.

Giati Fovase is a Greek-language song performed by Greek recording artist Despina Vandi from her live album Despina Vandi Live. It was released as a promotional cd-single from the album in 2004. The song was recorded from her sold-out live concert in Lycabettus theatre in Athens in 2003.

<i>The Demis Roussos Magic</i> 1977 studio album by Demis Roussos

The Demis Roussos Magic is a studio album by Greek singer Demis Roussos, released in 1977 on Philips Records.

"Because" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos. It was released as a single in 1977.

"From Souvenirs to Souvenirs" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos from his 1975 album Souvenirs. It was also released as a single.

<i>The Story of Demis Roussos</i> 1987 compilation album by Demis Roussos

The Story of ... Demis Roussos is a double LP by Greek singer Demis Roussos, released in 1987 on the label BR Music.

The Phenomenon 1968–1998 is a double-CD greatest hits album by Greek singer Demis Roussos, released in 1998 on the label BR Music.

"Rain and Tears" is a song by the Greek band Aphrodite's Child. The song was included on the band's 1968 debut studio album End of the World, and was released as a single in July 1968 on Mercury. It became a major hit across Europe, reaching number one in France, number two in several other countries, and entering the top 30 in the United Kingdom and West Germany.

"It's Five O'clock" is a song by the Greek band Aphrodite's Child from their 1969 studio album It's Five O'Clock. It was also released as a single, in February 1970, on Mercury Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Four Horsemen (Aphrodite's Child song)</span> 1972 single by Aphrodites Child

"The Four Horsemen" is the hit single and most famous song on the concept album 666 by the psychedelic rock band Aphrodite's Child. It has received regular airplay on AOR stations since its release in 1972. Like its album, the song is based on The Book of Revelation.

References

  1. 1 2 "Silver Koulouris: Relationships" . Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Silver Koulouris" . Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Argiris Koulouris". Discogs. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Roussos, Demis; Skawinska, Veronique (1982). A Question of Weight . Michel Lafon. pp.  23, 25, 31. ISBN   2-86804-008-X.
  5. ↑ "Aphrodite's Child - Plastics Nevermore/The Other People". Discogs. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Aphrodite's Child". LPCDreissues. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  7. 1 2 666 (Liner notes). Aphrodite's Child. Vertigo. 1972.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ One Day (Liner notes). Lucas Sideras. Polydor. 1972.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ Fire and Ice (Liner notes). Demis Roussos. Philips. 1971.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ Earth (Liner notes). Vangelis O. Papathanassiou. Vertigo. 1973.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. 1 2 3 "Argiris Koulouris Discography". Discogs. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Humanity(2)". Discogs. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "City Lights by Silver Koulouris". cdbaby. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.