Brian Connolly was a rock legend and the captivating frontman of the successful band The Sweet.
After the massive success of The Ballroom Blitz, his fame and fortune seemed limitless in the 1970s.
However, the final chapter of his life is a sorrowful tale that many are unaware of.
The delightful frontman
As the heartthrob lead vocalist of the chart-topping glam rock band The Sweet, Brian Connolly appeared to have everything. The band ruled the 1970s, playing to enormous audiences worldwide and enjoying the lavish lifestyle that came with being a superstar.
Fans loved them — both men and women — and their music continues to resonate even decades later. Mick Tucker was celebrated as one of the finest drummers of the time, and Brian’s singing could light up any stage.
The Sweet rose to fame in the mid-70s, a golden time for rock music. Bands like Queen, Led Zeppelin, and Aerosmith were dominating the scene. But Sweet had it all as well: talent, charm, and a series of hit songs. They were also among the few British acts to make a mark on the American charts.
Everyone is familiar with Ballroom Blitz — the wild energy, the memorable drum intro, the electrifying guitars — but Sweet was much more than just a glam rock band. They embodied the heaviness of Deep Purple, the attitude of The Rolling Stones, and the catchy hooks of The Beatles. Set Me Free could have seamlessly blended into a Judas Priest album, while Sweet F.A. showcased the raw power of early AC/DC.
At the peak of their popularity, Sweet astonishingly sold 50 million records globally.
At the heart of it all was Brian Connolly. The charismatic frontman, with his striking appearance and commanding stage presence, became the band’s face. He had the world at his feet, millions of fans, and a voice that defined a generation. However, as history reveals, fame and fortune could not protect him from the darker aspects of rock stardom.
Abandoned as an infant
Brian, originally named Brian MacManus until he turned eighteen, was born in Scotland in 1945.
From the start, Brian faced a challenging life — he was left behind as a baby and raised by a nurse and her husband. The identity of his biological father was never disclosed, but upon reaching adulthood, Brian learned he was the half-brother of the well-known Scottish actor Mark McManus, who portrayed Detective Taggart in one of the UK’s longest-running television dramas.
By the mid-1960s, Brian was establishing himself as a singer in the UK. A few years later, he co-founded the band Sweet, which went on to achieve remarkable success throughout the 1970s.
The band’s guitarist, Andy Scott, confirmed their tremendous success:
“A lot of money flowed through the bank accounts during that time. We reached millionaire status,” he remarked, highlighting that Sweet had 39 worldwide hits and 13 top-20 singles in the UK, including the number-one hit Block Buster!.
With his signature styled, swept-back blonde hair, Brian Connolly epitomized the glam rock scene of the 1970s — undeniably the face of Sweet.
However, his decline began in 1979 when he departed from The Sweet to chase a solo career. By that time, he was already grappling with alcohol issues, which began to jeopardize his standing in the band.
“Slowly, it just spiraled out of control. I always claimed that if I ever wanted to quit, I could — and I guess I’ll never know what might have happened if I had said to myself, ‘I’ve had enough,’” Connolly once reflected.
Even with a devoted fanbase, his solo releases struggled to gain traction, and his career never blossomed as he had envisioned.
Sold his house
In January 1983, he received a brief opportunity to support Pat Benatar for three performances in Birmingham, Newcastle, and London — but then financial ruin hit. The band faced a staggering multimillion-pound tax bill linked to their successful records, compelling Connolly to sell his home to settle it.
Around this period, his health began to deteriorate.
In 1981, he was admitted to the hospital due to severe bloating, endured several heart attacks, and was left with partial paralysis on his left side — a condition that would later develop into a chronic nervous system disorder.
Despite facing physical challenges, he persisted in touring the UK and Europe with his reformed band, the New Sweet, starting in 1984. However, his health prevented him from maintaining the rigorous schedule. During a tour in Australia in 1990, he was hospitalized due to dehydration, highlighting that he could no longer cope with the demands of touring.
Legal disputes regarding The Sweet’s name further drained his finances. Ultimately, the two factions separated: Brian’s band became Brian Connolly’s Sweet, while guitarist Andy Scott’s group was named Andy Scott’s Sweet.
Connolly continued to tour, but the fees he received were only a small fraction of what he had earned at the height of his career, and his health continued to decline.
Final interview
In 1995, he released a solo album titled Let’s Go, which only saw modest success. That same year, his partner Jean, who was 23 years old, gave birth to their son. In a 1996 Channel 4 documentary, Don’t Leave Me This Way, Connolly revealed that he had experienced six heart attacks and recognized that years of alcohol abuse had severely impacted his health.
By the mid-1990s, the once-celebrated glam rock star was hardly recognizable. He walked with a limp, visibly shook, and his performances reflected the toll of his decline.
In his last interview with journalist Jasper Rees, Brian stated that he had borne the heaviest burden when Sweet first achieved fame. He also openly discussed his heart attacks — according to his ex-wife, Connolly experienced 13 heart attacks in just 24 hours, although the singer himself mentioned it was closer to 12 over a period of about six weeks.
At that time, he was living alone in a quiet cul-de-sac within a dull neighborhood, his hands shaking and his once-mighty voice noticeably weakened.
His last concert occurred on December 5, 1996, at the Bristol Hippodrome, where he shared the stage with Slade II and John Rossall’s Glitter Band Experience.
Just a little over three months later, Brian Connolly passed away. The former teen idol died on February 9, 1997, at Wexham Park Hospital due to kidney and liver failure, worsened by several heart attacks.
Fans later gathered funds for a memorial plaque at Breakspear Crematorium, paying tribute to the singer who had once illuminated stadiums across the globe.
Do you remember The Sweet or Brian Connolly? Are you aware of his heartbreaking story? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
