Vangelis Papathanassiou says he’s never been comfortable with being branded a celebrity.
From his days with Aphrodite’s Child through to solo success, Vangelis’ career has spanned five decades.
And while his immense body of work covers various musical genres and styles, he admits he was uncomfortable being thrust into the spotlight in the 80s when he enjoyed chart success with former Yes vocalist Jon Anderson.
He exclusively tells Prog magazine: “I never understood the phenomenon of celebrity. I wasn’t interested in being photographed or reading about myself in the newspapers.
“Although there were hit singles and so on, I was very uncomfortable about participating in all the promotion that such success demanded,
“I didn’t enjoy appearing on shows like Top Of The Pops. I was very uneasy with it. At the same time I am fond of pieces such as Horizon.”
Vangelis has written soundtracks for various films throughout his career, including scores for Blade Runner and Chariots Of Fire – with the latter netting him an Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1981.
He continues: “It’s very rewarding for me to know that through the years, the music for Chariots Of Fire seems to have given, and still does, so much pleasure and a feeling of optimism to so many people around the world.”
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Vangelis’ latest album was this year’s Rosetta – which he composed in conjunction with the European Space Agency to celebrate the Rosetta space mission.
And Vangelis says he was happy to get involved as the worlds of science and music are intrinsically linked.
He adds: “My first encounter with space projects was when I met Carl Sagan. He used some of my music in his television series Cosmos.
My relationships with both NASA and the European Space Agency have been long ones. For me, it was inevitable that I would one day join this scientific world. I have always considered that music is science. Period.”
Rosetta has been nominated for Best New Age Album at the 59th Grammy Awards which will take place at The Staples Center, Los Angeles, on February 12.
Vangelis is the cover star of the new issue of Prog magazine, out now in print and via TeamRock+.
