Brian Connolly

Biography

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.

Early life

Connolly was born in 1945 in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. His mother, Frances Connolly, was a teenage waitress who left him in a Glasgow hospital as an infant. 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.

The Sweet

Connolly replaced singer Ian Gillan (later of Deep Purple fame) in a band called Wainwright's Gentlemen, which included drummer Mick Tucker.
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. On the eve of releasing their debut single, Slow Motion, in July 1968, the band shortened their name to the Sweet. They recorded a further three unsuccessful singles; Andy Scott joined the line-up in late 1970, just before the release of their first hit single "Funny, Funny." After this, Connolly was propelled into the limelight, with many appearances on Top of the Pops, with the other members of the Sweet.
In 1974, Connolly was badly beaten after leaving a nightclub in Staines where he received several kicks to his throat 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. Several songs on the Sweet Fanny Adams album had to be sung by other members of the band.
As time progressed, issues between Connolly and other members of Sweet developed and he would find the band excluding him from decisions. Connolly developed a significant problem with alcoholism in the mid-1970s. During 1977, when no tours were undertaken and two of Sweet's most successful albums were recorded, the power struggle within the band became even more apparent. Connolly's chronic alcohol abuse further compromised his role with the band as his voice began showing the impact in recordings and on stage during Sweet's 1978 US tour. He played his last British show with the classic Sweet line-up at Hammersmith Odeon, London on 24 February 1978. His final live performance with the band was in July 1978 in Florida, US, when they supported Alice Cooper. His departure was on 23 February 1979, and was made public the following month, March 1979.

After Sweet (1979–1983)

Connolly's next release was "Don't You Know a Lady", composed by Roger Greenaway. The song was recorded by British four-piece band Brooks shortly after Connolly's release. The track failed to make an impact. It was reported by UK music trade magazine Record Business, in their February 8 issue, that the single "Hypnotized" would be released in mid-March and that it was Connolly's first single in three years since he left the Sweet. 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.
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 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. 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 decided 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.
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.
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.
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.

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. In 1995, Jean succeeded in locating Connolly's biological family. An aunt in Ontario, Canada, revealed that Connolly's true birth mother had died in 1989. She also informed him that he had a living brother and sister.
On 2 November 1996, British TV network Channel 4 aired a programme Don't Leave Me This Way, which examined Connolly's time as a pop star with the Sweet, the subsequent decline in the band's popularity, and the impact on the band members. Connolly had suffered a series of heart attacks in 1981, and in the documentary was shaking constantly and walking with a limp. The show revealed Connolly's ill health, but also that he was continuing with his concert dates at Butlins, where Connolly and his band had appeared a number of times on tour during the early 1990s.
Connolly's final concert was at the Bristol Hippodrome on 5 December 1996.

Health

In 1981, Connolly was hospitalised due to severe bloating. That same year, He sustained multiple heart attacks.
His health was permanently affected with some paralysis on his left side which would later develop into a neurological disorder. These problems were most likely related to Connolly's excessive alcohol consumption and heavy smoking, coupled with the use of prescription diuretic medicine.

Personal life and death

Connolly was married and had two daughters, but the marriage was dissolved. He also had one son by Jean Dibble.

In January 1997, Connolly had a heart attack and was hospitalised in Slough. After a week in hospital, he discharged himself, but was readmitted the following week. Connolly died at Wexham Park Hospital on 10 February 1997. He was just 51.
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. He was also survived by his ex-wife, Marilyn, his girlfriend Jean and their one-year-old son Brian, born 26 May 1995.
In 2013, Connolly's son, Brian Jr., competed in the television talent show The X Factor.

Brian Connolly Band

Brian Connolly – lead vocals (1979–1984)
John Verity – guitar (1979–1984)
Chas Cronk – bass (1979–1982)
Tony Fernandez – drums, percussion (1979–1982)
Dave Lambert – guitar (1979–1982)
Brian Willoughby – guitar (1979–1982)
Clive Barrett – guitar (1982–1984)
Steve Rodford – drums, percussion (1982–1984)
Terry Uttley – bass (1982–1984)

Singles

"Take Away the Music×Take Away The MusicStudio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks5Hypnitised3:216Fade Away3:357Magic Circle (Demo 1)4:208Take Away The Music (Demo 1)4:059Alabama Man (Demo)3:2210Lady (Demo)4:1611Old Folks In Harmony (Demo)3:2312Fade Away (Demo)3:1813Jailbait (Demo)2:4314Phone You (Demo)2:5615Sunshine Days (Demo)3:0516Red Haired Rage (Demo)2:4917The Final Show (Demo)3:2918Bad Bad Line (Demo)0:2219Poppa Joe (Demo)3:0620Magic Circle (Demo 2)4:1921Take Away The Music (Demo 2)3:531Take Away The Music3:492Alabama Man3:473Don't You Know A Lady4:534Phone You3:07" 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×Take Away The MusicStudio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks5Hypnitised3:216Fade Away3:357Magic Circle (Demo 1)4:208Take Away The Music (Demo 1)4:059Alabama Man (Demo)3:2210Lady (Demo)4:1611Old Folks In Harmony (Demo)3:2312Fade Away (Demo)3:1813Jailbait (Demo)2:4314Phone You (Demo)2:5615Sunshine Days (Demo)3:0516Red Haired Rage (Demo)2:4917The Final Show (Demo)3:2918Bad Bad Line (Demo)0:2219Poppa Joe (Demo)3:0620Magic Circle (Demo 2)4:1921Take Away The Music (Demo 2)3:531Take Away The Music3:492Alabama Man3:473Don't You Know A Lady4:534Phone You3:07"
Sweeter (1998) by Frank Torpey, CD Album – Notable for Brian Connolly's 1997 lead vocal track, "Sharontina" – Frankie Dean Records

As Brian Connolly's Sweet

The "Old Sweet" material are new recordings.