He was married to Denise and Marilyn Walsh. Money was raised for a plaque dedicated to Connolly at Breakspear Crematorium, Breakspear Road, Ruislip, Middlesex. He was cremated after a ceremony at Most Holy Name Roman Catholic Church at Old Mill Road, Denham, Buckinghamshire, on 17 February 1997, and his ashes were scattered over the water by his daughters Nicola and Michelle. Connolly had reportedly stopped drinking in 1985, but separated from his wife Marilyn, divorcing in 1986. He died on February 9, 1997 in Slough, Berkshire, England. Connolly went back to England and his band appeared on The Bob Downe Christmas Show, on 18 December 1990. This event also meant the band missed out on supporting The Who at Charlton Athletic Football Ground.
According to Torpey, Connolly was seeking a German recording deal. In something of a truce, both parties agreed to distinguish their group's name to help promoters and fans. Best of C.D. His departure was not made public until March 1979. 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. His health was permanently affected with some paralysis on his left side which would later develop into a nervous system condition. He was married to Denise and Marilyn Walsh. His final live performance with the band was in July 1978 in Florida, US, when they supported Alice Cooper. It contained demos of four new songs, totaling about 20 mixes. During 1987, Connolly again encountered Frank Torpey, the original Sweet lead guitarist from 1968 to 1969. After news of his leaving Sweet broke, Connolly was interviewed by the German music magazine Bravo, in which he said he was taking time off to be with his family, and considering a new musical direction (countrified rock). The New Sweet became Brian Connolly's Sweet and Andy Scott's version became Andy Scott's Sweet. Brian Francis Connolly (5 October 1945 – 9 or 10 February 1997) was a Scottish-born singer-songwriter, musician and actor, best known as the lead singer between 1968 and 1979 of the British glam rock band The Sweet. He was married to Denise and Marilyn Walsh. She also informed him that he had a living brother and sister, whom he met up with in England. These three tracks are available on a bootleg 7" single and CD. In 1982 with his Polydor contract having expired, Connolly signed with French independent label, Carrere Records. [1], Connolly was born in 1945 in Govanhill, Glasgow. The rest of the band played a show in Adelaide without him, so as not to disappoint the waiting fans. On his discharge from the Merchant Navy in 1963 he returned to Harefield and played in a number of local bands, including Generation X (not to be confused with the punk rock band from the late 70s, fronted by Billy Idol) from mid-1965 until about October 1966. The band and Connolly also played two other dates for the Benatar tour in Birmingham and Newcastle. | In his mid-teens he joined the Merchant Navy, and got a tiger's head tattooed on his right arm during his Navy service. He played his last British show with the classic Sweet line-up at Hammersmith Odeon, London on 24 February 1978.
Connolly's Encore, included most of the members of Verity (fronted by ex-Argent guitarist John Verity) and Terry Uttley, bass player from Smokie.
After this, Connolly was propelled into the limelight, with many appearances on Top of the Pops, with the other members of the Sweet. In 1995, Connolly released a new album, Let's Go, backed up with merchandising. The lineup featured Connolly on vocals, Chris Eldridge and Lee Mordecai on guitars, Mark Conway (bass) and drummer Martin Lass. He also performed in Bahrain. February 9, 1997 – Brian Connolly was born on October 5th 1945 in Govanhill, Glasgow. [4] This single is also included on the Polydor Germany "High Life" compilation album from 1980. Official Sites, View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, (1972 - | In 1995, Jean succeeded in locating Connolly's biological family. Contribute. In 1988, Connolly reunited in Los Angeles, California, with former band members Mick Tucker, Steve Priest and Andy Scott, to rework studio versions of "Action" and "The Ballroom Blitz". Connolly had reportedly stopped drinking in 1985, but separated from his wife Marilyn, divorcing in 1986. Connolly was fostered at the age of two by Jim and Helen McManus of Blantyre and took their family name. As time progressed issues between Connolly and other members of Sweet developed and he would find the band excluding him from decisions.
From early 1984 onward, despite recurrent ill health, Connolly toured the UK and Europe with his band, now under the name of The New Sweet. After inadvertently discovering his lineage, he eventually reverted to the name Connolly. Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films, The Best TV Shows About Being in Your 30s. Several songs on the Sweet Fanny Adams album had to be sung by other members of the band. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Looking for something to watch? 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. 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." Running very late, Connolly turned up and the track "Sharontina" was recorded, but would not be released until Torpey's 1998 album, "Sweeter". The original plan was to have a completed album out by August 1983, but this never materialised. He died on February 9, 1997 in Slough, Berkshire, England. He died on February 9, … Other Works Songs played included "Windy City", "Fox on the Run", "Hypnotized" and new numbers, "Sick and Tired", "Red Hair Rage" and "Burning The Candle". Ten thousand people heard Connolly perform a sneak peek of his first solo Polydor single: "Take Away The Music". Brian Connolly was born on October 5, 1945 in Govanhill, Glasgow, Scotland as Brian Francis Connolly. Connolly sold his house to pay his share of the tax bill. A number of dates were planned, with the tour starting in Adelaide, and proceeded during November.
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 vocal range. Carrere then released the hard-rock single "Hypnotized", written by Joe Lynn Turner. Again the track failed to make an impact. During this time Connolly recorded a dozen or so new tracks.
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. By mid- to late 1979 he had recorded a few new tracks at Chipping Norton Recording Studios, in Oxfordshire, with the assistance of friend and producer Mick Angus. Publicity Listings These problems were most likely related to Connolly's excessive alcohol consumption and heavy smoking, coupled with the use of prescription diuretic medicine. After a week in hospital, he discharged himself, but had to be readmitted the following week.
Torpey subsequently invited Connolly to go into the recording studio with him, as an informal project. After several other shows, including one at the Dingley Powerhouse, Connolly and the band played the final Australian date of the tour at Melbourne's Old Greek Theatre. Connolly developed a significant problem with alcoholism in the mid-1970s. He was married to Denise and Marilyn Walsh.
In 2013, Connolly's son, Brian Jr., competed in the television talent show The X Factor. During the early 1990s, Connolly played the European "oldies" circuit and occasional outdoor festivals in Europe with his band. 1986) ( divorced) ( 2 children). On the eve of releasing their debut single, Slow Motion, in July 1968, the band shortened their name to The Sweet.