List of the Sweet band members

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Sweet in 1975, 2006, 2015 and 2023

Sweet are a British glam rock band founded in 1968. Their best-known line-up included lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bassist Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott and drummer Mick Tucker. Currently, two versions of the band exist, one is led by Scott, and another was led by Priest until his death in 2020; they have since continued. Connolly also led a version of the band from 1984 until his death in 1997, Tucker was a part of Scott's version between 1985 and 1991.

Scott's version includes himself alongside drummer Bruce Bisland (since 1992), lead vocalist Paul Manzi, bassist Lee Small and keyboardist/guitarist Tom Cory (all since 2019). Priest's former version includes drummer Richie Onori (since 2008), bassist and former keyboardist Steve Stewart (since 2008, bassist since 2020, keyboardist until 2021), vocalist Paulie Z (since 2017), keyboardist Dave Schultz (since 2021) and guitarist Jimmy Burkard (since 2023).

History[edit]

In January 1968, Brian Connolly and Mick Tucker formed a band called The Sweetshop. They recruited bass guitarist and vocalist Steve Priest from a local band called The Army. Frank Torpey was recruited to play guitar. After releasing a few singles that failed the chart, the band were released from their recording contract and Frank Torpey left after a further year of fruitless toil. Guitarist Mick Stewart joined in 1969, although he was soon replaced by Andy Scott in September 1970.

In 1978, guitarist Nico Ramsden and keyboardist Gary Moberley joined the touring line-up. Connolly departed the band in 1979, after his alcoholism effected his live performances. In his absence Priest and Scott shared lead vocals. Ray McRiner also replaced Ramsden. The band dispanded in 1981.

In 1985, Scott and Tucker organised their own version of Sweet with Paul Mario Day (ex-Iron Maiden, More, Wildfire) on lead vocals, Phil Lanzon (ex-Grand Prix) on keyboards and Mal McNulty on bass. Day departed in 1989, McNulty moved onto lead vocals and Jeff Brown joined on bass. Lanzon joined Uriah Heep in 1986, he continued with The Sweet until 1988. Malcolm Pearson and then Ian Gibbons both filled in for Lanzon until Steve Mann arrived in December 1989.

Tucker departed after a show in Lochau, Austria, on 5 May 1991. Three drummers, Andy Hoyler, Bobby Andersen and Bruce Bisland, provided short-term relief before Bodo Schopf took over. in 1992, Bodo left and Bisland returned as permanent drummer. McNulty, departed in 1994, though he would return briefly that year to fill in for Jeff Brown on bass (as he would again in 1995 as lead singer for a few dates while Rocky Newton subbed on bass). Sweet's former keyboard men Gary Moberley and Ian Gibbons also did fill-in jaunts with the group that year, as did Chris Goulstone. Chad Brown (ex-Lionheart; no relation to Jeff) was the new front man.

In 1996 Mann left to take a job in television and Gibbons came back for a short time before Steve Grant (ex-The Animals) became the permanent keyboardist. When Chad Brown quit in 1998 after developing a throat infection, Jeff Brown assumed lead vocals and bass duties. After this, the band was stable again for the next five years.

The mid-2000s, Tony O'Hora (ex-Onslaught, Praying Mantis) replaced Brown as lead vocalist in 2003.

Original band[edit]

Classic line-up[edit]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Steve_Priest.jpg
Steve Priest 1968–1982 (died 2020)
  • bass
  • lead and backing vocals
all releases
Mick Tucker 1968–1982 (died 2002)
  • drums
  • backing vocals
  • occasional lead vocals (1979–1982)
Brian Connolly 1968–1979 (died 1997)
  • lead and backing vocals
  • occasional percussion, acoustic guitar and synthesizer
  • all releases from Slow Motion (1968) to Level Headed (1978)
  • Rock & Roll Disgrace – Live in Japan (1992)
  • Blockbuster – Live on Stage (1993)
  • Live in Denmark 1976 (1998)
  • Live at the Rainbow 1973 (1999)
Andy_Scott_-_Wacken_Open_Air_2018_03.jpg
Andy Scott 1970–1982
  • guitar
  • backing and lead vocals
  • keyboards (1974–1982)
all releases from Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be (1971) onwards

Early members[edit]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Frank Torpey 1968–1969 guitar "Slow Motion" (1968)
Mick Stewart 1969–1970
  • "The Lollipop Man" (1969)
  • "All You'll Ever Get from Me" (1970)
  • "Get on the Line" (1970)

Touring musicians[edit]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Gary Moberley 1978–1981 keyboards Cut Above the Rest • Water's Edge
Nico Ramsden 1978 guitar none
Ray McRiner 1979

Lineups[edit]

Period Members Releases
January 1968 – mid 1969
  • "Slow Motion" (1968)
Mid 1969 – Mid 1970
  • Brian Connolly – lead vocals
  • Mick Stewart – guitar
  • Steve Priest – bass, backing vocals
  • Mick Tucker – drums, backing vocals
  • "The Lollipop Man" (1969)
  • "All You'll Ever Get from Me" (1970)
  • "Get on the Line" (1970)
Mid 1970 – February 1979
  • Brian Connolly – lead and backing vocals
  • Andy Scott – guitars, backing and lead vocals, keyboards
  • Steve Priest – bass, backing and lead vocals
  • Mick Tucker – drums, backing vocals
February 1979 – late 1981
  • Steve Priest – lead and backing vocals, bass
  • Andy Scott – guitar, keyboards, lead and backing vocals
  • Mick Tucker – drums, backing and occasional lead vocals

Andy Scott's Sweet[edit]

Current members[edit]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
2023 Lieder am See - The Sweet - Andy Scott - by 2eight - 7DS5808.jpg
Andy Scott 1985–present
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • keyboards (1989–2005, 2006–present)
  • occasional lead vocals (1998–2019)
all releases
2023 Lieder am See - The Sweet - Bruce Bisland - by 2eight - 7DS5981.jpg
Bruce Bisland 1992–present (substitute 1991)
  • drums
  • backing vocals
  • occasional lead vocals (2011–2019)
all releases from The Answer (1995) onwards
2023 Lieder am See - The Sweet - Paul Manzi - by 2eight - 7DS5913.jpg
Paul Manzi 2019–present (substitute appearances in 2014, 2015 and 2019)
  • lead vocals
  • bass and backing vocals (2014, 2015, 2019)
  • keyboards, guitar, backing and lead vocals (2014)
Isolation Boulevard (2020)
2023 Lieder am See - The Sweet - Lee Small - by 2eight - 7DS6113.jpg
Lee Small 2019–present
  • bass
  • backing vocals
2023 Lieder am See - The Sweet - Tom Cory - by 2eight - 7DS5962.jpg
Tom TC Cory 2019–present[1][2]
  • keyboards
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • engineering

Former members[edit]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Mal McNulty - Slade.jpg
Mal McNulty 1985–1994 (substitute 1994, 1995)
  • bass and backing vocals (1985–1989, 1994)
  • lead vocals (1989–1994, 1995)
  • Live at the Marquee (1989)
  • Greatest Hits - Live (1994)
  • A (1992)
  • The Answer (1995)
Mick Tucker 1985–1991 (died 2002)
  • drums
  • backing vocals
  • Live at the Marquee (1989)
  • Greatest Hits - Live (1994)
Uriah Heep - 2018173210923 2018-06-22 Rock the Ring - 1D X MK II - 2116 - B70I0250.jpg
Phil Lanzon
  • 1985–1989
  • 2005
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
Paul Mario Day 1985–1989 lead vocals
Cats in Space - Jeff Brown bass.jpg
Jeff Brown 1989–2003
  • bass
  • vocals (lead 1998–2003, backing 1989–1998)
  • A (1992)
  • The Answer (1995)
  • Glitz, Blitz & Hitz (1996)
HF2022MichaelSchenker 2.jpg
Steve Mann 1989–1996 (substitute in 2006, 2019–2022)[3]
  • keyboards
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • A (1992)
  • The Answer (1995)
  • Isolation Boulevard (2020)
Michael Schenker Group au Hellfest 2022.jpg
Bodo Schopf 1991–1992
  • drums
  • backing vocals
A (1992)
Chad Brown 1995–1998 lead vocals Glitz, Blitz & Hitz (1996)
Steve Grant.jpg
Steve Grant 1996–2011
  • keyboards, guitar and backing vocals (1996–2005, 2006–2011)
  • lead vocals (2005–2006, occasionally 2006–2011)
  • bass (2005–2006)
  • Glitz, Blitz & Hitz (1996)
  • Sweetlife (2002)
2017 Lieder am See - The Sweet - Tony O Hora - by 2eight - 8SC7851.jpg
Tony O'Hora
  • 2003–2005
  • 2006
  • 2011–2019
  • lead vocals (2003–2005, 2006, 2015, occasionally 2011–2019)
  • bass (2003–2005, 2006, 2015)
  • keyboards, guitars and backing vocals (2011–2019)
  • New York Connection (2012)
  • Desolation Boulevard Revisited (2012)
  • Sweet Fanny Adams Revisited (2013)
2017 Lieder am See - The Sweet - Peter Lincoln - by 2eight - 8SC7728.jpg
Peter Lincoln 2006–2019
  • lead and backing vocals
  • bass

Temporary musicians[edit]

Image Name Years active Instruments Notes
Malcolm Pearson 1988 keyboards Pearson filled in for Lanzon until Steve Mann joined in December 1989.[4]
Ian Gibbons, keyboards.jpg
Ian Gibbons
  • 1989
  • 1994
  • 1996
  • 2005 (died 2019)
Gibbons filled in on keyboards several times, first in 1989 for Phil Lanzon, for Steve Mann in 1994 and 1996 and after Mann's departure and in 2005.[5][6]
Andy Hoyler 1991 drums Hoyler, Andersen and Bruce Bisland provided short-term relief for Mick Tucker before Bodo Schopf took over.[7]
Bobby Andersen
Gary Moberley[8] 1994 keyboards Moberley, Gibbons and Goulstone subbed in 1994.[7]
Chris Goulstone[7]
Rocky Newton 1995 bass Newton subbed on bass 1995 alongside the returning Mal McNulty on lead vocals.[9]
Jo Burt 2005 Thompson Smith and Burt performed with the band after O'Hora's first departure in November 2005 for some Swedish gigs.
Mark Thompson Smith lead vocals
TNT - Tony Mills @ Døgnvill 2009 03.jpg
Tony Mills 2006 (died 2019)
  • lead vocals
  • bass
[10]
Mills was slated to be Sweet's new singer/bassist in early 2006 but it failed to work out and he left after six shows in Denmark.[11][12]
Martin Mickels 2010 guitar Mickels subbed for Scott himself in March and April 2010 when he was absent from a couple of gigs due to ill health.[13]
Adam Booth
  • 2015
  • 2019
  • drums (2015)
  • bass (2019)
Andy Scott's guitar tech played drums at a show in 2015,[14] and bass at some shows in 2019.[1]

Line-ups[edit]

Period Members Releases
Early 1985 – July 1989
  • Paul Mario Day – lead vocals
  • Andy Scott – guitar, backing vocals
  • Mal McNulty – bass, backing vocals
  • Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mick Tucker – drums, backing vocals
  • Live at the Marquee (1989)
  • Greatest Hits - Live (1994)
July 1989 – November 1990
  • Mal McNulty – lead vocals
  • Andy Scott – guitar, backing vocals
  • Jeff Brown – bass, backing vocals
  • Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mick Tucker – drums, backing vocals
November 1990 – 1991
  • Mal McNulty – lead vocals
  • Andy Scott – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jeff Brown – bass, backing vocals
  • Steve Mann – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Tucker – drums, backing vocals
1991 – early 1992
  • Mal McNulty – lead vocals
  • Andy Scott – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jeff Brown – bass, backing vocals
  • Steve Mann – keyboards, guitars, backing vocals
  • Bodo Schopf – drums, backing vocals
  • A (1992) (Re-released in 1995 as The Answer)
1992–1995
  • Mal McNulty – lead vocals
  • Andy Scott – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jeff Brown – bass, backing vocals
  • Steve Mann – keyboards, guitars, backing vocals
  • Bruce Bisland – drums, backing vocals
none
1995 – January 1996
  • Chad Brown – lead vocals
  • Andy Scott – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jeff Brown – bass, backing vocals
  • Steve Mann – keyboards, guitars, backing vocals
  • Bruce Bisland – drums, backing vocals
none
January 1996 – early 1998
  • Chad Brown – lead vocals
  • Andy Scott – guitar, keyboards backing vocals
  • Jeff Brown – bass, backing vocals
  • Steve Grant – keyboards, guitars, backing vocals
  • Bruce Bisland – drums, backing vocals
  • Glitz, Blitz & Hitz (1996)
Early 1998 – early 2003
  • Jeff Brown – lead and backing vocals, bass
  • Andy Scott – guitars, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • Steve Grant – keyboards, guitars, backing vocals
  • Bruce Bisland – drums, backing vocals
  • Sweetlife (2002)
2003–2005
  • Tony O'Hora – lead and backing vocals, bass
  • Andy Scott – guitars, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • Steve Grant – keyboards, guitars, backing vocals
  • Bruce Bisland – drums, backing vocals
none
2005 – January 2006
  • Steve Grant – lead and backing vocals, bass
  • Andy Scott – guitars, backing and lead vocals
  • Phil Lanzon – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Bruce Bisland – drums, backing vocals
January–August 2006
  • Tony O'Hora – lead vocals and backing vocals, bass
  • Andy Scott – guitars, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • Steve Grant – keyboards, guitars, backing and occasional lead vocals
  • Bruce Bisland – drums, backing vocals
August 2006 – early 2011
  • Peter Lincoln – lead and backing vocals, bass
  • Andy Scott – guitars, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • Steve Grant – keyboards, guitars, backing and occasional lead vocals
  • Bruce Bisland – drums, backing vocals
Early 2011 – June 2019
  • Peter Lincoln – lead and backing vocals, bass
  • Andy Scott – guitars, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • Tony O'Hora – keyboards, guitars, backing and lead vocals
  • Bruce Bisland – drums, backing and occasional lead vocals
  • New York Connection (2012)
  • Desolation Boulevard Revisited (2012)
  • Sweet Fanny Adams Revisited (2013)
June–October 2019
  • Paul Manzi – lead and backing vocals, bass
  • Andy Scott – guitars, keyboards, backing and lead vocals
  • Tony O'Hora – keyboards, guitars, backing and lead vocals
  • Bruce Bisland – drums, backing and occasional lead vocals
none
October 2019 – present
  • Paul Manzi – lead vocals
  • Andy Scott – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Lee Small – bass, backing vocals
  • Tom Cory – keyboards, guitars, backing vocals
  • Bruce Bisland – drums, backing vocals
  • Isolation Boulevard (2020)

Brian Connolly's Sweet[edit]

Image Name Years active Instruments
Brian Connolly 1984–1997 (until his death) lead vocals
Phil Ridden
  • 1984–1986
  • 1993
drums
Brian Rawson 1984 guitar
Geoff Roots bass
Gary Farmer
  • 1984–1990
  • 1990–1993
Steve Turner guitar
Michael Williams
  • 1984–1990
  • 1990–1992
Steve Berry 1990 bass
Neale Haywood guitar
Martin Saunders drums
Dave Farmer
  • 1990–1993
  • 1994–1996
Steve Mulvey 1993–1997 keyboards
Bjorn Hurrel 1993–1994 bass
Mel Johnson guitar
Glenn Williams 1994–1997
Drew Murphy 1994–1995 drums
Martin Cook bass
Dave Glover 1995–1997
Russ Mahoney 1995–1996 drums
Jeff King 1996–1997

Line-ups[edit]

1984

The New Sweet

1984–1990 1990 1990–1992
  • Brian Connolly – lead vocals
  • Brian Rawson – guitar
  • Phil Ridden – drums, percussion
  • Geoff Roots – bass
  • Brian Connolly – lead vocals
  • Phil Ridden – drums, percussion
  • Gary Farmer – bass
  • Steve Turner – guitar
  • Michael Williams – guitar
  • Brian Connolly – lead vocals
  • Steve Berry – bass
  • Neale Haywood – guitar
  • Martin Saunders – drums
  • Brian Connolly – lead vocals
  • Dave Farmer – drums, percussion
  • Gary Farmer – bass
  • Steve Turner – guitar
  • Michael Williams – guitar
1992–1993 1993–1994

Brian Connolly's Sweet

1994–1995 1995–1996
  • Brian Connolly – lead vocals
  • Dave Farmer – drums, percussion
  • Gary Farmer – bass
  • Steve Turner – guitar
  • Brian Connolly – lead vocals
  • Bjorn Hurrel – bass
  • Mel Johnson – guitar
  • Steve Mulvey – keyboards
  • Phil Ridden – drums, percussion
  • Brian Connolly – lead vocals
  • Steve Mulvey – keyboards
  • Martin Cook – bass
  • Dave Farmer – drums, percussion
  • Drew Murphy – drums, percussion
  • Glenn Williams – guitar
  • Brian Connolly – lead vocals
  • Steve Mulvey – keyboards
  • Dave Farmer – drums, percussion
  • Glenn Williams – guitar
  • Dave Glover – bass
  • Russ Mahoney – drums, percussion
1996–1997
  • Brian Connolly – lead vocals
  • Steve Mulvey – keyboards
  • Glenn Williams – guitar
  • Dave Glover – bass
  • Jeff King – drums, percussion

Steve Priest's Sweet[edit]

Image Name Years active Instruments
Steve_Priest.jpg
Steve Priest 2008–2020 (until his death)
  • bass
  • vocals
Richie Onori 2008–present drums
Stevie Stewart
  • bass (2020–present)[15]
  • keyboards (2008–2021)
  • vocals
Joe Retta.jpg
Joe Retta
  • 2008–2013
  • 2013–2017
[16][17]
vocals
Stuart smith.jpg
Stuart Smith 2008–2012 guitar
Ricky Z. 2012–2013
Chas West.png
Chas West 2013 (substitute) vocals
Asia Featuring John Payne.JPG
Mitch Perry 2014–2023 guitar
Paulie Z.png
Paulie Z. 2017–present[16][17] vocals
Dave Schultz 2021–present[18] keyboards
Jimmy Burkard.png
Jimmy Burkard 2023–present[19] guitar

Timeline[edit]

The Sweet/Andy Scott's Sweet[edit]

Brian Connolly's/Steve Priest's Sweet[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "The Sweet - Official Website". The Sweet. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  2. ^ Colothan, Scott (17 April 2023). "Pre-sale: Sweet announce December 2023 Full Circle UK Tour". Planet Radio. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  3. ^ Selena (7 December 2022). "Sweet live at Islington Assembly Hall in London 2022 | Grande Rock webzine". grande-rock.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Line Ups". The Ultimate Sweet Fan Site. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  5. ^ "The Sweet( Sweet ) Singer Intro ※ Mojim.com". mojim.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  6. ^ Sweet. "Radio Swiss Pop - Music database - Band". www.radioswisspop.ch. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Unknown. "Today's Featured Artist..October 23, 2017...The Sweet (video + blog + links)". Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  8. ^ Molympus (3 November 2010). "Gary Moberley (keyboards)". The Musicians' Olympus. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Rocky Newton Interview on 97.2 Gravity FM or online at www.gravityfm.net 20-0..." Podomatic. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Sweet". tonymills77.tripod.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  11. ^ BraveWords. "SHY Frontman Tony Mills Joins A S SWEET". bravewords.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Tony Mills, på egne bein - Heavymetal.no". www.heavymetal.no. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Martin Mickels - Bio". martinmickels.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  14. ^ Young, Graham (16 November 2015). "Why Sweet guitarist Andy Scott has changed his mind about Birmingham rock fans". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  15. ^ "The Sweet Band". 22 October 2021. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Sonic Mag - Sweet 50th Anniversary Tour with Paulie Z". Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  17. ^ a b "The Sweet - Official Website (North America) - The Sweet". Thesweetband.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  18. ^ "Sweet is proud to announce Sweet's new incredible keyboardist "Dave Schulz" Check out his creds! – The Sweet Band". Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  19. ^ "The Sweet is in New York on Facebook". www.facebook.com. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023. @jimmyburkard captured by @amy_klemme_518 in New York