Brian Francis Connolly (5 October 1945 – 9 February 1997) was a Scottish singer-songwriter, musician and actor, best known as the lead singer of glam rock band Sweet between 1968 and 1979 and known for his charismatic stage presence and distinctive voice. The identity of his biological father was never made public. Connolly was fostered at the age of two by Jim and Helen McManus of Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, and took their family name (as he was never adopted by them, his surname legally remained Connolly). The McManuses were the family of Mark McManus, of Taggart fame. Both men saw a resemblance between themselves and some supposed McManus's father to have also been Connolly's, particularly given the "desperation" perceived by other relatives and family friends that Jim McManus had to adopt his foster son.
Brian was known as Brian McManus until the age of eighteen when he found out that he had not been adopted and reverted to his biological mother's surname of 'Connolly'.
Connolly studied to become an engineer.
Tucker and Connolly left Wainwright's Gentlemen in late 1967 and recruited guitarist Frank Torpey, and bassist Steve Priest, naming their new band the Sweetshop. resulting in his being unable to sing for some time and permanently losing some of his previously wide vocal range. This incident also meant the band missed out on supporting The Who at Charlton Athletic Football Ground. Carrere then released the hard-rock single "Hypnotized", written by Joe Lynn Turner. A Fandango cover, the track was released in Europe with wide distribution by RCA but failed to chart. During this time Connolly recorded several new tracks for an album scheduled for release in August 1983, however the album was not released.
In January 1983, Connolly supported Pat Benatar for three shows in Birmingham, Newcastle and the Hammersmith Odeon, London. Connolly's band Encore, included most of the members of Verity, fronted by ex-Argent guitarist John Verity, and Terry Uttley, the bass player from Smokie. Songs played included "Windy City", "Fox on the Run", "Hypnotized" and new numbers, "Sick and Tired", "Red Hair Rage" and "Burning the Candle". The new tracks were made available on a bootleg 7" single and CD.
The Inland Revenue served Connolly and the other members of the Sweet with a multimillion-pound tax assessment for the income earned from their hit records. Connolly sold his house to pay his share of the tax bill.
New Sweet and reunions
From early 1984 onward, despite recurrent ill health, Connolly toured the UK and Europe with his band the New Sweet. His most successful concerts were annual appearances in West Germany, before and after Germany's reunification. He visited other countries including Denmark, and continued to perform sporadically in the UK. In 1985, Connolly had reportedly stopped. The same year he separated from his wife Marilyn, with the divorce finalised in 1986.
During 1987, Connolly again encountered Frank Torpey, the original Sweet lead guitarist from 1968 to 1969. According to Torpey, Connolly was seeking a German recording deal. Torpey subsequently invited Connolly to record with him, as an informal project. Running late, Connolly turned up and the track "Sharontina" was recorded, but would not be released until Torpey's 1998 album, Sweeter.
In 1988, the producer Mike Chapman arranged for Connolly and former band members Mick Tucker, Steve Priest and Andy Scott to reunite in Los Angeles, California, and rework studio versions of "Action" and "The Ballroom Blitz". The reunion was with a view to producing a new album for MCA Records, however due to problems with Connolly's voice, the project failed and Connolly returned to the New Sweet.
In 1990, he reunited with the original Sweet line-up for the promotion of a music video documentary at Tower Records, London.
By July 1990, plans were made for Connolly and the New Sweet to tour Australia. A number of dates were planned, with the tour starting in Adelaide, and proceeded during November. However, during the long flight to Australia, Connolly's suffered health issues and he was hospitalised in Adelaide Hospital for dehydration and related problems. The band played a show in Adelaide without Connolly. Other shows included one at the Dingley Powerhouse, with the final Australian show at Melbourne's Old Greek Theatre. It was felt at the time that Connolly's health was sufficient reason for the tour not to be extended, and some of the later planned dates were abandoned. Connolly returned to England and his band appeared on The Bob Downe Christmas Show, on 18 December 1990.
During the early 1990s, Connolly played the European "oldies" circuit and occasional outdoor festivals in Europe with the band.
On 22 March 1992, a heavy-duty tape recorder was stolen from the band's van while they were performing the Bristol Hippodrome with Mud. The tape recorder contained demos of four new songs and approximately 20 mixes.
Legal problems continued over use of the Sweet name between Connolly and Andy Scott. In something of a truce, both parties agreed to distinguish their group's name to help promoters and fans. The New Sweet became Brian Connolly's Sweet and Andy Scott's band became Andy Scott's Sweet. Connolly and the New Sweet continued to tour UK and Europe.
In 1994, the New Sweet played in Dubai, and appeared at the Galleria Theatre, Hyatt Regency and Bahrain. By this time, Connolly had healed the differences with Steve Priest and Mick Tucker, and was invited to the wedding of Priest's eldest daughter, Lisa. At the private function, for which Priest specially flew back to England, Priest and Connolly performed together.
Let's Go and solo work (1995–1996)
In 1995, Connolly released a new album, Let's Go, backed up with merchandising. His partner Jean, whom he had met a few years earlier, gave birth to a son that year.
On 17 February 1997, Connolly was cremated after a ceremony at Most Holy Name Roman Catholic Church at Old Mill Road, Denham, Buckinghamshire. His ashes were scattered over the water by his daughters Nicola and Michelle.
Band members
Personnel
Brian Connolly Band
- Brian Connolly – lead vocals <small>(1979–1984)</small>
- John Verity – guitar <small>(1979–1984)</small>
- Chas Cronk – bass <small>(1979–1982)</small>
- Tony Fernandez – drums, percussion <small>(1979–1982)</small>
- Dave Lambert – guitar <small>(1979–1982)</small>
- Brian Willoughby – guitar <small>(1979–1982)</small>
- Clive Barrett – guitar <small>(1982–1984)</small>
- Steve Rodford – drums, percussion <small>(1982–1984)</small>
- Terry Uttley – bass <small>(1982–1984)</small>
The New Sweet / Brian Connolly's Sweet
Discography
With Sweet
As Brian Connolly
Singles
- "Take Away the Music" b/w "Alabama Man" (1980) – Polydor Records
- "Don't You Know a Lady" b/w "Phone You"(1980) – Polydor Records
- "Hypnotized" b/w "Fade Away" (1982) – Carrere Records, RCA Records
Albums
- Brian Connolly and the Sweet – Greatest Hits (1986) – new recordings of Sweet singles – Success Records
- Let's Go (1995) – Sweet re-recordings and three new post-Sweet tracks – Bam Records
- Take Away the Music (2004) – compilation of solo singles and demos – Malibu Records
Appears on
- Closed (Belgian psychedelic band) – guide vocals on "My Little Girl From Kentucky" and "Spider"
- "Remember December" by Paper Dolls – backing vocals (1970)
- High Life 20 Original Top Hits (1980) Polydor Germany – Features "Take Away the Music"
- Sweeter (1998) by Frank Torpey, CD Album – Notable for Brian Connolly's 1997 lead vocal track, "Sharontina" – Frankie Dean Records
List of songs
"Generation X" (aka the Troop)
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:0.5em auto; clear: both; text-align: left; width:100%"
! Song
! Writer(s)
! Time
! Producer
! Album
! Year
! Other
|-
| My Opinion || Connolly || 1.09
| unknown || The Sweet – From the Vaults Volume 12
| || Early 1960s
|-
| On the spotlight || Connolly/Christopher Eldridge || 1.29
| unknown || The Sweet – From the Vaults Volume 12
| || Early 1960s
|-
| You'll Call My Name || Eddie Hill/Jean Branch || 1.12
| unknown || The Sweet – From the Vaults Volume 12 <br /> Various – Rare Mod Volume 5
| <br />2013 || Early 1960s
|-
|}
"Wainwright's Gentlemen"
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:0.5em auto; clear: both; text-align: left; width:100%"
! Song
! Writer(s)
! Time
! Producer
! Album
! Year
! Other
|-
| Ain't That Just Like Me || Billy Guy, Earl Carroll || 2.40
| unknown || Various – Rare Mod Volume 3
| 2011 || produced in 1965
|-
|}
As Brian Connolly
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:0.5em auto; clear: both; text-align: left; width:100%"
! Song
! Writer(s)
! Time
! Producer
! Album
! Year
! Other
|-
| Alabama Man || Brian Connolly, Mick Angus || 3.46
| Pip Williams || Take Away the Music
| 1980 ||
|-
| Burning the Candle || ? || 5.06
| unknown || none
| 1983 ||
|-
| Don't You Know A Lady (When You See One) || Roger Greenaway, Mike Leander || 4.56
| Pip Williams || Take Away the Music
| 1980 || First sung by Brooks (1980)
|-
| Fade Away || Brian Connolly, Brian Willoughby || 3.24
| John Verity || Take Away the Music
| 1982 ||
|-
| Hypnotized || Rick Blakemore, Bob Danyls, Dennis La Rue, Joe Lynn Turner || 3.09
| John Verity || Take Away the Music
| 1982 || First sung by Fandango (1980), Not Fragile (2003) cover
|-
| Red Hair Rage || ? || 4.23
| unknown || none
| 1983 ||
|-
| Phone You || Brian Connolly, Mick Angus || 3.08
| Brian Connolly || Take Away the Music
| 1980 ||
|-
| Sick And Tired || ? || 3.53
| unknown || none
| 1983 ||
|-
| Take Away the Music || Brian Connolly, Mick Angus || 3.47
| Pip Williams || Take Away the Music
| 1980 ||
|-
|}
As Brian Connolly's Sweet
The "Old Sweet" material are new recordings.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:0.5em auto; clear: both; text-align: left; width:100%"
! Song
! Writer(s)
! Time
! Producer
! Album
! Year
! Other
|-
| Action || Connolly, Priest, Scott, Tucker || 3.19
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986 ||
|-
| Block Buster || Chapman, Chinn || 3.10
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986 ||
|-
| Burn on the Flame || Connolly, Priest, Scott, Tucker || 4.14
| unknown || Let's Go
| 1995 ||
|-
| Co-Co || Chapman, Chinn || 2.28
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986/1997 ||
|-
| Do It Again || Brian Connolly, Johnny Earle || 3.31
| unknown || Let's Go
| 1995 ||
|-
| Elavita || ? || ?
| unknown || Home Demos
| 2002 ||
|-
| Fox on the Run || Connolly, Priest, Scott, Tucker || 3.33
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986 ||
|-
| Hell Raiser || Chapman, Chinn || 3.14
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986 ||
|-
| Jailbait Fade Away || ? || 2.45
| unknown || Take Away the Music
| 2002 ||
|-
| Lady || ? || 3.57
| unknown || Take Away the Music
| 2002 ||
|-
| Let's go || Brian Connolly, Johnny Earle || 4.25
| unknown || Let's Go
| 1995 ||
|-
| Little Willie || Chapman, Chinn || 3.13
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986 ||
|-
| Love Is Like Oxygen || Andy Scott, Trevor Griffin || 3.53
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986 ||
|-
| Magic Circle || Brian Connolly, Trevor Griffin || 4.12
| unknown || The Definitive Brian Connolly's Sweet
| 2001 ||
|-
| Old Folks || ? || 3.12
| unknown || Take Away the Music
| 2002 ||
|-
| Poppa Joe || Chapman, Chinn || 3.13
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986/1997 ||
|-
| Rock & Roll Disgrace || Connolly, Priest, Scott, Tucker || 3.46
| unknown || The Definitive Brian Connolly's Sweet
| 2001 ||
|-
| Sunshine Days || ? || 3.07
| unknown || Take Away the Music
| 2002 ||
|-
| Teenage Rampage || Chapman, Chinn || 3.26
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986 ||
|-
| The Ballroom Blitz || Chapman, Chinn || 4.09
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986 ||
|-
| The Final Show || ? || 3.25
| unknown || Take Away the Music
| 2002 ||
|-
| The Sixteens || Chapman, Chinn || 4.19
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986 ||
|-
| Wait 'Til the Morning Comes || Brian Connolly, Glen Williams || 4.33
| unknown || Let's Go
| 1995 ||
|-
| Wig-Wam Bam || Chapman, Chinn || 3.34
| unknown || Greatest Hits
| 1986 ||
|-
|}
References
Further reading
External links
- Biography at Hot Shot Digital
- Brian Connolly in themusicsover.com
- Brian Connolly in last.fm.
- Brian Connolly in thedeadrockstarsclub.com