Demfis Fyssicopulos, a well-known concert lighting designer and programmer reportedly died while surfing near his California home.
A native of Venezuela, Fyssicopulos studied engineering, then attended film/theatre school. He worked as an intern at Bash Lighting, then started touring as a freelance lighting programmer and lighting director. His clients included Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Elton John, Maxwell, Carrie Underwood, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, and The Black Eyed Peas. He programmed Michael Jackson’s This is It tour, which was tragically aborted by the singer’s death. He worked especially closely with Prince, providing production design and artistic direction services. He was responsible for using the famous hologram of Tupac Shakur seen during Dr. Dre and Snoop’s performance at Coachella in 2012. He also provided creative direction and lighting design for the last two Maroon 5 tours.
Other non-concert-touring credits include associate lighting design for Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, media server programing for a national tour of the Broadway musical Wicked, programming for the Cirque du Soleil show Criss Angel Believe, lighting direction and programming for WWE Hall of Fame 2009, Disney Live! Winnie the Pooh, and Disney on Ice: Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey.
Shocked members of the industry have filled Fyssicopulos’ Facebook page with heartfelt farewells. Lighting&Sound America will provide additional details as they become available.
Demfis was 41 and is survived by a sister and a daughter.
