John Connelly (musician)
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| John Connelly | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Connelly |
| Genre(s) | Heavy metal Thrash metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician Songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Lead guitar, Vocals |
| Voice type(s) | Harsh |
| Years active | 1980−present |
| Associated acts | Anthrax Nuclear Assault |
| Website | www.nuclearassault.us/ |
John Connelly is the front man, guitarist and principal composer of the thrash metal band from New York Nuclear Assault. His voice is known for being aggressive but with high notes.
[Anthrax 1981]
He was formerly a roadie of the thrash metal band Anthrax and was a close buddy of Dan Lilker so he jammed with the band a few times, but never actually joined the band since he was not a qualified enough singer to sing their Iron Maiden style music at the time. He formed (in 1983) the band Nuclear Assault, soon to join him the bassist Danny Lilker (formerly guitar of Anthrax).
[Nuclear Assault 1983-86]
Nuclear Assault were formed originally as a side project of John Connelly and Danny Lilker, after leaving Anthrax. While Nuclear Assault never received the recognition of the big four (Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica), they were one of the first to successfully fuse speed metal with hardcore, long before it was popular to do so. Glen Evans was formerly of TT Quick.
Nuclear Assault were among thrash metal's most socially aware groups, making room for serious subject matter (and occasional goofs) in their careening speed metal riffing. They also remained closer to the world of hardcore than most of their peers, and at their late-'80s peak released some of the most uncompromising thrash metal offerings of the time. After performing on Anthrax' 1984 debut Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker was fired by Scott Ian Rosenfeld who was one of his best friends. It was a terrrible conflict of interest for Scott because he still wanted their friendship to be the same, but Dan Lilker was not pulling his weight in Anthrax anymore. He was late or didn't pay rehearsal rent, was shabbily dressed, played sloppily, was late and would show up to video shoots wearing a gas station attendants jumpsuit like in the Satan's Wheels video in 1982 for Unique Cable TV with Liz Derringer. Dan took 30 takes to record I'm Eighteen on Bass Guitar (2 days of studio time) on Fistful Of Metal. One of the reasons there was not enough time to properly get a good mix of the album according to Pyramid Studios. Lilker formed Nuclear Assault with vocalist and guitarist John Connelly in 1985. Guitarist Mike Bogush and drummer Scott Duboys only lasted a few months before being replaced by guitarist Anthony Bramante and ex-T.T. Quick powerhouse drummer Glenn Evans. One of the Big Apple's few challengers (along with Anthrax and Overkill) to the Bay Area dominance of all things thrash metal, Nuclear Assault became immediate contenders due to the cumulative sum of its parts — not to mention, their extreme nature and their ability to back it up with solid musicianship. Produced by metal stalwart Alex Perialas, their first album, 1986's Game Over, was regarded as a breath of fresh air with its potent speed metal tinged with hardcore overtones. In the process, fans and critics alike instantly accepted it and the band was quickly off to the races.
[Ludichrist 1986]
In 1986, he was a special vocal guest on first album of the NYHC hardcore band Ludichrist, called Immaculated Deception and again on a track called "Goodbye Freedom, Hello Mom" from their album Here Comes Trouble, after they change their name to Scatterbrain in 1989.
[Nuclear Assault II 1986-1993]
The following year The Plague E.P. was an even more intense aural experience, but also managed to introduce Nuclear Assault's dark sense of humor with an ode to Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil (fresh off his vehicular manslaughter rap) on "Butt Fuck" (later retitled "You Figure It Out"). With constant touring making up for their obvious commercial limitations, the band continued to hone their craft in the studio, beginning with 1988's greatly improved Survive and culminating in 1989 the outstanding Handle With Care. In the lates 1980s John received his most media attention as Nuclear Assault became one of the most popular Thrash Metal bands of the 80s. The album "Handle with Care" released by Nuclear Assault in 1989 is regarded as one of the best Thrash Metal albums ever. The latter proved that the group could refine their political speed metal and songwriting without compromising their anti-establishment stance, and was supported by successful Euro tours with thrash titans Exodus, and later U.S. jaunts with Testament and Savatage. 1990s Live at Hammersmith Odeon video celebrated this great phase, and the band came off the road having won a healthy dose of new believers.
[Split & John Connelly Theory 1991]
Around 1991, John Connelly saw fit to take a break from Nuclear Assault and release a low profile solo record under the name John Connelly Theory. We are never privy to what that theory may have been, but we do know that the solo album wasn't exactly the most exciting release of 1991. Although Connelly surrounded himself with three different musicians, the tendency to sound a bit like his main band was unavoidable, particularly since he has one of those singing voices that is quite unmistakable. However, the differences between his solo project and Nuclear Assault was mostly found in the more rock oriented song structures, timid adventurism (the band sounds like they want to really go into left field but never make it past the short stop), and occasional humor.Nuclear Assault would split up in 1993, John released his solo project called John Connelly's Theory.
[Nuclear Assault III 2002-07]
In early 2002 the band was approached by a mutual friend to reform for a couple of shows. Their first reunion show was a the Metal Meltdown in April and there they found out that there was a demand for the band to continue. They played the classic NYC venue CBGB in May along with a show in Massachusetts that was recorded for a live album to be released on Screaming Ferret Wreckords in early 2003. After a triumphant performance at the infamous Wacken Open Air festival in Germany in August, original guitarist Anthony Bramante left the band due to commitments at home and was replaced by Erik Burke. In September 2002 the band returned to Sao Paolo, Brazil, where they had played back in 1989 with the then fledging Sepultura opening.
Since then the band has released two new albums Alive Again in 2003 & Third World Genocide in 2005. Both albums did poorly and received harsh criticism from fans. It is not know if John Connelly will produce another album with Nuclear Assault.
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