Demis Roussos poses with his Rolls-Royce around 1976. Nine years later, he was among the hostages aboard the TWA Flight 847 hijacking, where the hijackers reportedly recognized him, asked him to sing, and even celebrated his birthday during the ordeal. Born in Alexandria, Egypt, to Greek parents, Demis Roussos first gained international recognition as the lead singer of the progressive rock band Aphrodite’s Child before launching a hugely successful solo career in the 1970s. Known for his soaring falsetto and flamboyant stage presence, he became one of Europe’s best-selling recording artists, with more than 60 million records sold worldwide. On June 14, 1985, Roussos was among the passengers aboard the TWA Flight 847 hijacking after the flight was seized en route from Athens to Rome. He and his wife, American model Pamela Smith, were released after five days along with four other Greek passengers, while many of the remaining hostages endured the full 17-day ordeal before being freed.