Interview: Cyril and Emily Roussos on Aphrodite’s Child’s Masterpiece 666 and…

Cyril Roussos: It’s a pleasure to be here; thank you for having us. Well, the idea for 666 came about in a rather organic way. Aphrodite’s Child had already achieved some success with their earlier records, but there was a sense that we needed to push boundaries and do something more ambitious, something that would define us. We were all fascinated by the idea of conceptual albums, but 666 wasn’t just a concept record in the way people typically think about it—it was an exploration of ideas that were quite radical at the time. It was a melding of music, philosophy, and even spirituality.

Emily Roussos: Yes, I remember the conversations about the themes and the direction the album would take. There was a strong desire to break away from the conventional pop formulas that had worked for the band. The music became a canvas for exploring deeper, more complex ideas—everything from the mysticism of the ancient world to contemporary socio-political concerns. We were influenced by many artists, not just within rock music but also from the world of classical, jazz, and even avant-garde movements. It felt like the perfect time for a shift.