John Connelly

• Name — John Connelly • Birthplace — New York City, U.S. • Born — 28 July 1962 • Died — YYYY MM DD • Instrument — * Vocals • guitar • Genre — * Heavy metal • thrash metal • crossover thrash • Occupation — Musician • Years Active — 1981−present • Associated Acts — * Anthrax • Nuclear Assault • Website — nuclearassault.us

Connelly started as a roadie for thrash metal band Anthrax where he became a close friend of Anthrax bassist Danny Lilker. He formed the band Nuclear Assault in 1983, and Lilker, having left Anthrax, joined him soon after. In 1986, Connelly was a guest vocalist on Immaculate Deception, the first album by New York hardcore band Ludichrist and again on a track called "Goodbye Freedom, Hello Mom" from the 1990 Scatterbrain album Here Comes Trouble. Around 1991, Connelly saw fit to take a break from Nuclear Assault, and released a low profile solo record under the name John Connelly Theory, entitled Back to Basics. The differences between his solo project and Nuclear Assault was mostly found in the more rock oriented song structures and occasional humor..

He formed a 3-piece line-up called Rite Bastards. The line up consisted of John on guitar and lead vocals. Bass player Tony O'Brian sang back up vocals and Tom Maynard played drums. Tom left the band and was replaced by Jim Villano. During this time they recorded a demo CD with songs titled, "Carmen", "Oh Why", "Other Man's Song" and 3 others. They played in Boston at a club with Overkill. John had played a reunion show with Nuclear Assault and when he came back to Rite Bastards he asked the band if they would like to form a reformed version of Nuclear Assault. Tony and Jim declined. Shortly after this John reformed Nuclear Assault.

In early 2002 the band was approached by a mutual friend to reform for a couple of shows. Their first reunion show was 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 well-received performance at the 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 São Paulo, Brazil, where they had played back in 1989 with the then fledgling Sepultura opening. The band released a live album Alive Again in 2003, and a studio album Third World Genocide in 2005. Lyrical themes on that album include broad criticisms of holy war, and the song "Price of Freedom" is specifically about the response of the United States after September 11, 2001. Nuclear Assault remained active sporadically before the band broke up once again in 2022.

In 2012 Municipal Waste released a track called 'The Fatal Feast'. It features John Connelly on guest vocals. He can be heard singing the chorus.