The death of the legendary artist Nicu Covaci, the founder and leader of the band Phoenix, produced a wave of emotion and sadness throughout Romania. The band Phoenix is one of the most loved Romanian bands of all time.
Cristi Gram with Nicu Covaci PHOTO Facebook/Cristi Gram
“Adevărul” talked about the great Nicu Covaci with Cristi Gram, guitarist of the band Phoenix for over 19 years and a good friend of the late artist.
“All my memories related to Nicu are special. The fact that we have played together for so long proves in addition to artistic compatibility and loyalty and a brotherly friendship, although in these moments I feel that I have lost my father ĩonce more…”Cristi Gram declared exclusively for “Adevărul”.
Nicu Covaci, aged 77, underwent brain surgery on March 22, 2024, at the Timişoara County Hospital. Nicu Covaci, the leader of the band Phoenix felt sick in the months before the operation, he complained of dizziness, that he could no longer stand, that his face was numb and that his vision was affected.
In the last months, Nicu Covaci’s health had worsened.
One of the most appreciated guitarists in Romania, Cristi Gram was active between April 2001 and March 2003 in Talisman, a band with which he made one studio album and one recorded in concert. In April 2004, Nicu Covaci, the leader of the legendary group Phoenix, co-opted him into the band. Together with Phoenix, Cristi Gram participated in the creation of the Baba Novak album, released in October 2005, and the following year he supported a national tour and appears on the Live at Sala Palatului concert DVD. In 2008 he contributed to a new material signed Phoenix, Back to the Future.
In February 2014 he left the band Phoenix, after ten years in which he was the band’s main guitarist, joining in March 2014 the supergroup Pasărea Rock, founded by three former Phoenix members: Mircea Baniciu, Josef Kappl and Ovidiu Lipan. His last appearance together with Pasărea Rock was on August 1, 2015, during the Folk You! Festival, organized at Vama Veche. In the same year, Cristi Gram returned to the band Phoenix.
