Milli Vanilli's Rob Pilatus: Age 32

                       by Marcus Errico
                       April 5, 1998

                       Rob Pilatus, one-half of lip-synching duo Milli
                       Vanilli, has died apparently of a booze-and-pill
                       overdose, a German newspaper reports.

                       The performer was found alone in a Frankfurt hotel
                       room on Thursday night, blood oozing from his nose
                       and mouth. He was 32.

                       Former Milli Vanilli partner Fabrice "Fab" Morvan
                       said Monday: "I'm feeling tremendous pain and
                       sorrow upon hearing the news of my friend and
                       brother Rob. He will always be a part of me. We
                       grew up struggling, then succeeding. The only
                       thing we wanted was a chance to sing and perform."

                       "Milli Vanilli was not a disgrace," Morvan added.
                       "The only disgrace is how Rob died--all alone,
                       internally destroyed from the rapid rise then
                       sudden fall."

                       News of Pilatus' death first circulated Sunday in
                       the newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

                       Frankfurt police have refused comment. An autopsy
                       was scheduled to determine exact cause of death,
                       the paper said.

                       Milli Vanilli producer Frank Farian told the
                       German newspaper that Pilatus was drinking
                       Thursday. "[But] we didn't know...that he was
                       taking tablets that are very dangerous with
                       alcohol," Farian was quoted as saying.

                       With Morvan, Pilatus scaled the heights of the
                       music industry and plumbed its depths.

                       The long-haired, model-handsome duo were recruited
                       by Farian to front a pop group. The formula was a
                       success--"Girl You Know It's True," "Girl I'm
                       Gonna Miss You," "Baby Don't Forget My Number" and
                       "Blame It on the Rain" topped the pop charts. From
                       1988-89, the pair sold 30 million singles and 14
                       million albums worldwide. Then in January 1990:
                       The Grammy for Best New Artist.

                       Eleven months later, amid industry-wide
                       speculation, Farian blew the whistle on the scam:
                       Rob and Fab never sang a note on their records, or
                       in their stage shows.

                       Farian said he was forced to go public with the
                       news after Rob and Fab insisted on doing vocals on
                       a follow-up album. The scandal ended Milli Vanilli
                       and forced the guys to return their Grammy.

                       The pair tried a comeback--billing themselves as
                       Rob and Fab--releasing an album in 1993 and even
                       going on the talk-show circuit to prove they could
                       really sing. But nobody listened.

                       After the fall, Pilatus had the tougher time of
                       the two. In 1991, under the influence of alcohol
                       and prescription pills, be slashed a wrist and
                       threatened to jump from a West Hollywood hotel
                       balcony. Various stints in rehab and therapy
                       followed, along with several run-ins with police.

                       Still, Farian said he was "totally shocked" by
                       Pilatus' death.

                       "Rob looked really good again after his therapy,
                       and was full of optimism," the producer told the
                       German newspaper

                       Pilatus was a native New Yorker, but he grew up in
                       Munich and is expected to be buried there.

                       He is survived by his son and his sister.

   Terms of use | Copyright © 1998 E! Online. All rights reserved.

    German police have said they found no evidence of
    suicide or foul play in the last week's death of Milli
    Vanilli member Rob Pilatus. However, German
    newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported that Pilatus had
    been drinking and taking pills on the night of his death.
    Former Milli Vanilli producer Frank Farian said he
    suspected Pilatus died accidentally after consuming
    alcohol and prescription medication he was taking
    while undergoing drug treatment.

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