Mános Xydoús was a Greek record company executive and artist (producer, composer, lyricist, guitarist & singer). Born on May 15th, 1953, in Ághii Anarghyri, Athens, Greece - Died on April 13th, 2010, in Néo Fáliro, Piraeus, Greece, by heart attack during the filming of a broadcast on Σκαϊ. He originated from Milos Island (his father) and Crete (his mother).
While studying economics, he worked as a DJ at "Καρυάτιδες" (= Caryatides) club in Pláka, Athens. In 1974, he started working as an usher, "the errand boy" as he himself called it, at the Columbia Graphophone Company Of Greece Limited facilities. In 1976, he found himself in Crete working as a salesman for two/three years, on behalf of Columbia-EMI Greece S.A., until Θόδωρος Σαραντής took him on as one of his three assistants. He continued as engineer (assistant at first), coordinating the production of the album Φλου in 1978. Having the ability to detect talented artists and help them, he produced albums for distinguished artists such as Μουσικές Ταξιαρχίες, Ο Λάκης Με Τα Ψηλά Ρεβέρ and many more. He also collaborated with Ian Gillan and Violent Femmes. He was a founding member of Dreamer and the Full Moon (1984-1986). In 1986, he was appointed Managing Director of EMI Greece S.A.'s international repertoire.
1989 was a pivotal year; he met Pyx-Lax members Φίλιππος Πλιάτσικας & Μπάμπης Στόκας and produced their early albums. In 1993, he joined the band officially. Apart from production duties, he also contributed to songwriting. Following the disbandment of Pyx Lax in 2004, he embarked on a prolific solo career, releasing a series of personal albums while engaging in numerous collaborations and production projects.
Upon his death, Pyx Lax went on a final tour in his honor, their last live performance at Olympic Stadium, Athens selling out with more than 75.000 attendees. That performance was recorded and released as Ήμουν Κι Εγώ Εκεί.
The name ''Μάνος Ξυδούς'' was given in his honor to the open-air theater located in the cultural park of Aghii Anarghyri.
He was father of Κατερίνα Ξυδούς and Νέλλη Ξυδούς (both from his first marriage), brother-in-law of Filippos Pliatsikas & Νάντια Σπηλιωτοπούλου (Manos' 2nd wife was Maria Spiliotopoúlou/Maria Xydous, Nadia's sister; their best man was Babis Stokas), & uncle of Κωνσταντίνα Πλιάτσικα (Filippos' & Nadia's daughter).
Grécia