Brian Francis Connolly

 Brian Francis Connolly (October 5, 1945 – February 9, 1997)

Connolly was a Scottish singer-songwriter, musician and actor, best known as the lead singer of the band Sweet between 1968 and 1979. Formed in 1970, the band's managers and songwriters, got them a contract with RCA, they wrote the single "Funny, Funny" which reached number 13 on the charts in March, 1971. Their second single "Co Co" reached number 2 on the charts and they released the albums "Gimmee Dat Ding" (1971) "Sweet Fanny Adams" (1974) and "Desolation Boulevard" (1974). They had a worldwide hit with "Love is like Oxygen" (1978). The band also had three consecutive number two hits in “Hell Raiser”, “The Ballroom Blitz” and “Teenage Rampage“. Their first self-written and produced single “Fox on the Run” also reached No.2 on the UK charts. In the mid 1970s, 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 in February 1978. His final live performance with the band was in July 1978 in Florida, US, when they supported Alice Cooper. His departure from the band was made public in March 1979.

Connolly pursued a solo career to get into country music, and released the album "Let's Go", which was only semi successful. In 1981, Brian was admitted to hospital with illness and bloating. Whilst in hospital, he had several heart attacks in one day. He survived but his health was permanently affected with some paralysis on his left side, which would later develop into a nervous system condition. Despite his ill health, Brian would tour the UK, Europe and Australia with his band, now under the name of The New Sweet till his death. Even though he also had a few reunions with the original Sweet, in the UK and the USA, they never actually reunited. In the 1990s, Connolly’s health worsened, and he suffered another heart attack in January of 1997. He checked himself out of the hospital and died of renal failure the following month, on February 9th at the age of 51. Connolly has a marker at the Breakspear Crematorium in Ruislip, London Borough of Hillingdon, Greater London.