Katana VentraIP

Brian Connolly

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 the Sweet between 1968 and 1979 and renowned for his charismatic stage presence and distinctive voice.[1]

For the British comedian, see Brian Conley. For the Canadian guitarist, see Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet.

Brian Connolly

Brian Francis Connolly

(1945-10-05)5 October 1945
Hamilton, Scotland

9 February 1997(1997-02-09) (aged 51)[1]
Slough, England

  • Musician
  • singer-songwriter
  • actor

Vocals, guitar, keyboards

1963–1997

The Sweet

Early life[edit]

Connolly was born in 1945 in Hamilton. His mother was a teenage waitress, Frances Connolly, who left him in a Glasgow hospital as an infant whilst he was possibly suffering from meningitis. 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. After inadvertently discovering his lineage, he eventually reverted to the name Connolly.[2] The McManuses were the family of Mark McManus, of Taggart fame. Both men perceived a resemblance between them, and supposed McManus's father to have also been Connolly's.[3]


In a radio interview, Connolly reported that singing was a large part of growing up since there was no television, and that he was regularly called upon to sing for family and friends. Connolly has credited the Everly Brothers as being his earliest musical influence.

Brian Connolly's Sweet

New Sweet (1984–1987)

United Kingdom

Glam rock
Hard rock

1984–1997

Brian Connolly
Phil Ridden
Brian Rawson
Geoff Roots
Gary Farmer
Steve Turner
Michael Williams
Steve Berry
Neale Haywood
Martin Saunders
Dave Farmer
Steve Mulvey
Bjorn Hurrel
Mel Johnson
Glenn Williams
Martin Cook
Drew Murphy
Dave Glover
Russ Mahoney
Jeff King

Official webpage

Brian Connolly – lead vocals (1979–1984)

– guitar (1979–1984)

John Verity

– bass (1979–1982)

Chas Cronk

– drums, percussion (1979–1982)

Tony Fernandez

– guitar (1979–1982)

Dave Lambert

– guitar (1979–1982)

Brian Willoughby

Clive Barrett – guitar (1982–1984)

– drums, percussion (1982–1984)

Steve Rodford

Terry Uttley – bass (1982–1984)

"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) – , RCA Records

Carrere Records

Richards, Jane (28 October 1996). "Wrecked by rock 'n' roll". The Guardian. London. pp. A10–A11.  0261-3077. ProQuest 187833607. (subscription required)

ISSN

Donegan, Lawrence (11 February 1997). "Glam rock singer dies". The Guardian. London. p. 5.  0261-3077. ProQuest 187941799. (subscription required)

ISSN

"Rape Head: Jim Shellyn and the hopelessly devoted". The Guardian. London. 2 November 1996. p. D73.  0261-3077. ProQuest 187774910. (subscription required)

ISSN

. Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford Music Online. (subscription required)

"Sweet"

"Brian Connolly". The Times. No. 65810. London. 11 February 1997. p. 19.

Riegel, Richard (May 1977). . Creem. (subscription required)

"Sweet: Give Us A Wink (Capitol)"

Kent, Nick (10 February 1973). . NME. (subscription required)

"Sweet: The Sweet Soft Underbelly of Rock"

Frith, Simon (November 1973). . Creem. (subscription required)

"Sweet: Sweet Notes"

Ross, Ron (August 1974). . Phonograph Record. (subscription required)

"Sparks vs. Sweet: The Battle for Britain"

Sperrazza, Gary (11 September 1974). . Shakin' Street Gazette. (subscription required)

"The Sweet: Sweet Fanny Adams (RCA)"

Sperrazza, Gary (February 1975). . Phonograph Record. (subscription required)

"Sweet: Desolation Boulevard"

Bell, Max (26 April 1975). . NME. (subscription required)

"The Sweet: No Longer Unfashionable"

Barnes, Ken (October 1975). . Phonograph Record. (subscription required)

"Sweet: Glitter Relics in America"

Salewicz, Chris (31 January 1976). . NME. (subscription required)

"The Sweet: Top of the Pops"

Charone, Barbara (28 February 1976). . Sounds. (subscription required)

"Sweet: Give Us A Wink (RCA)"

Tobler, John; Grundy, Stuart (1982). . (subscription required)

The Record Producers

Thompson, Dave (28 February 1997). . Goldmine. (subscription required)

"The Sweet: As Sweet As It Was"

Biography at Hot Shot Digital

Brian Connolly in themusicsover.com

.

Brian Connolly in last.fm

Brian Connolly in thedeadrockstarsclub.com