John Connolly (musician)

John Connolly
John Connolly (right) with Sonny Mayo after a show in 2006
Background information
Born	October 21, 1967 (1967-10-21)
Genres	Alternative metal, heavy metal, nu metal, thrash metal, power metal
Occupations	Musician, guitarist, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, drums, backing vocals
Years active	1988-present
Labels	Warner Bros., 7 Bros.
Associated acts	Sevendust, Piece Dogs, Projected
Notable instruments
Epiphone signature John Connolly Les Paul guitar Dean Soltero

John Connolly was born on October 21, 1967 in New Jersey. Connolly was a drummer for the band Piece Dogs. He then joined Sevendust for Rhythm Guitar and has recorded with them on all their releases to date. Connolly is also one of the primary songwriters for Sevendust. He is known for his fire designed custom made Les Paul guitar designed by Epiphone, but has since switched to Dean Guitars. He is (by far) the most tattooed member of the band.

John married with Lori Kirkley on March 24, 2001. They have a daughter born in 2006.

History

Piece Dogs

In 1988, John Connlly with vocalist Greg Anderson, guitarist Mike Grimmett, bassist Kyle Sanders start a new band called Piece Dogs in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1992 Connolly with the band released a LP album titled "Exes for Eyes" through Energy Records. He was in the band as an original drummer. The band genre was power and thrash metal. Piece Dogs disbanded several months after releasing the album.

Sevendust

After Piece Dogs, Connolly joined the American heavy metal band Sevendust as a rhythm guitarist. His new band released the self-titled Sevendust in 1997. Two years later they released the album Home. Their third studio album was titled Animosity, and their fourth was titled Seasons. In 2004, for the first time in the band's career, they released a live album on a CD–DVD double-disk package titled Southside Double-Wide: Acoustic Live. Since guitarist Clint Lowery left in 2004 and returned in 2008 (Sonny Mayo was Clint Lowery's replacement), John Connolly had been the lead guitarist. In 2005, the band released their fifth studio album Next which included the single "Ugly." Alpha was the sixth album released by the band. Their seventh studio release was Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow, which was released on April 1, 2008. The bands most recent album titled Cold Day Memory was released on April 20, 2010. Cold Day Memory is the band's eighth studio album, and is the highest charted album for the band in their career.

Discography

Piece Dogs

• Exes for Eyes

Sevendust

• Sevendust (1997)
• Home (1999)
• Animosity (2001)
• Seasons (2003)
• Next (2005)
• Alpha (2007)
• Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow (2008)
• Cold Day Memory (2010)

Gear

Guitars

Current

• Dean Soltero (USA Custom Shop for John)
• Dean Soltero (Japanese Custom Shop)
• Dean Black Gold Z
• Dean Z '79 Silverback reissue
• Dean Z
• Dean Stealth Two Tone

Past

• Epiphone signature John Connolly Les Paul guitar
• Gibson Les Paul Customs (78' and 79')
• Gibson Explorer
• Gibson Les Paul Studios (83', 91')

Not Sure

• 12 string Epiphone Les Paul
• Yahama acoustic

Effects and more

• Digitech XP-100 Whammy II Wah
• Dunlop Uni-Vibe / Wah Controller Pedal
• Dunlop DCR-ISR Crybaby Rack Wah
• Korg DTR-2 Rack Tuner
• Mesa/Boogie Amp Switcher
• Rocktron Hush IICX Noise Gate
• Shure Wireless
• MXR Phase 90
• TC Electronic's pedals (studio)
• Electro-Harmonix (studio)
• Dimebag Wah (Dunlop DB01)
• Vox Tonelab

Strings

• Dean Markley Blue Steel strings

External links

• Sevendust - Official Sevendust website
• IMDB.com