Andy Scott's last conversation with Sweet Vocalist Brian Connolly Before He Died

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John Beaudin has been in major market radio (Edmonton, Vancouver & Calgary) for 38 years and a music journalist since 1989. He graduated from Broadcasting school as a newsman so he would have the skills to write about the artists that inspired him since he bought his first Elton John album as a teen. In the '80s Beaudin was the host of the syndicated radio show ‚”The Cross Canada Report‚” which had two versions (Rock and A/C). Beaudin was also asked to be a judge at the Juno Awards (Canada's answer to the Grammys) Twice. He has anchored every position in radio including morning and afternoon drive and was a Program and Music Director for The Breeze and California 103 in Calgary. He currently hosts the evening show at Move 103.5 (formerly QM-FM) in Vancouver and on iHeartRadio.

[gianpaolopelizzaro]

What a sad story. As an old SWEET fan these things are still very touching. One of the best band in Rock History ever. RIP Brian

[eadjh]

I guess we’ll never get the real truth! Brian was a fantastic frontman with a voice that was above the the rest! RIP Brian you wee the best ! Xx

[edwinsunde]

I was born in 65. I remember Loving those songs in my youth. Did not know who the hell they were but in hindsight, a great band.

[davidarthurwilliams-lowthe]

Very good to know that in the end, good terms prevailed on both sides, When I watch particularly, Love is Like Oxygen, on Youtube, like versions on Muskiladen, and Top of the Pops, I get upset because it is such a lovely song, and very well sung by Brian. Brian's passing is Very much for me, like what happened to Steve Marriott, a few years earlier, both tragic losses.

[glamdolly]

In most cases, a successful pop group is a hit because of all the elements that join together to make it appealing to millions. And because of the magic that emerges from the unique sum of its parts, the band is never as good when it loses even one member. Brian was very much the focal point of 'Sweet' - he really put the glamour into glam rock, and was a dynamic, unforgettable front man. When you thought of 'Sweet', you immediately thought of Brian, the blond angel who sang those fantastic hit songs.
The booze was catching up with him by the time of 'Love is Like Oxygen', he looked physically weaker though he still had his unique magic and it was a great song. How sad that marked the beginning of his unstoppable decline.
The Sweet WAS Brian Connolly - none of the offshoot versions of the group that followed could recapture the band's magic without him. The guys, Andy included, did their best. But inevitably the audience would always be aware of a big, blond space on stage, where Brian should have stood. His time in the spotlight was all too short. Addiction robs a person of so many beautiful, irreplaceable things - time, relationships and talent among them.

[bobbirge]

So sad life's hard some times.Bring back the good old days.

[dionst.michael]

Such a shame that Brian wasn’t well enough to reunite with the rest of his band mates just for one last hurrah before he passed on. Life can be somewhat cruel and unforgiving at times. One more reason to not take something for granted or procrastinate in regards to something or someone you truly love.

[celticvixen]

Brings up more questions in my head. I read that Mick didn’t want Brian to leave the band and supported him staying. Andy now claims it was unanimous. Is it true, or to deflect criticism from his part in sacking Brian? Was Brian still boozing right to the end of his life? I believed he gave it up after his heart attacks in ‘81. Whatever, we lost the best vocalist far too soon. Sweet wasn’t Sweet without Brian belting out the hits!

[luxdico]

thx for this one, i like how in the end Andy tried to help Brian. It's such a sad and tragic story, not just on a personal level, but also how "The Sweet" got ripped off by almost every other band.

[finnroohomebrewing]

Sweet have always been my band. Love my Sweet vinyl collection. They all have their all . Thanks Andy, history is history. Totally love Sweet. Regards from New Zealand 😎👍👍

[AdamLB]

Good to know they were on good terms before he died.

[t.lentjes]

I really enjoyed all the clips from this (complete) interview. Thanks for that, John!

[jamcofec]

It's great to hear from Andy. HOWEVER, dead men don't tell tales. Whilst I do think Brian had to go when he was cut out of the band, at that point The Sweet effectively stopped. It was no band without Brian. I'm sure they all knew this in their hearts. Nothing lasts forever and their success (even though unheralded by music insider w$nkers), was stunning with hit after hit - they barely have a bad song in their collection. The sadness is the demon grog got a hold of Brian for a few key years and made him untenable with the band. I believe it probably led to his later bad health but the most reliable reports are that he wasn't a drinker past the early 80s. I'd probably favour Steve's view of things over Andy's and Mick over his too. Of course, Steve went to the USA and possibly didn't see much of Brian in that period. Again I that the author herein for the fabulous interview and I'm not knocking Andy - I think his longevity is outstanding. But I prefer to think of Brian as a nice guy who had some insecurity and troubles and was a bit lonely even perhaps. He just self-medicated at the wrong time. Doesn't change his greatness as a singer and frontman. They were 4 outstanding talented individuals and he was the main man. Rest in peace Brian, Mick and Steve.

[glamgal]

I remember that both Andy and Steve briefly spoke on the news at what was either Brian's funeral or memorial service. Mick couldn't make it because he was struggling with leukemia. Andy was wearing sunglasses as he said about Brian, "I'm going to miss him so much;" then he said, "I can't do this"--as he looked like he was going to burst in tears. I'd think that because they were a band for as long as they were, Sweet's band members must have grown close that when it came to business, they tried their best to be fair and open-minded.

[jh]

I still love listening to 'Identity Crisis' a very underrated album!

[thomasdoucettedoucette]

The sweet was one of the most complicated bands in the seventies. It's important to note, that during this era, in the early seventies, pop was mixed with harder rock, mixed in with teeny bop bubble gum music. Mid-seventies, a more punk rock, much harder rock sound, as rock progressed. By the mid-seventies, sweet had transformed from bubble gum to more mature-sounding music on give us a wink for example. Their best album, in my opinion, is followed very closely by Desolation Blvd. Then along came the disco era, and once again more transitions.

By this time, Brian had been severely affected by rockstar excess, like most musicians. Towards the end, only a few seventies bands like ELO for example had made the transition through the rocky shores, into the early eighties. Unlike many singles bands of the seventies that comprised of one-hit-wonder material, Sweet left their mark on the music industry. Zep, the Who, and the Stones were music rock gods with no comparison. But Sweet found their niche, and made a huge impact on teens who had other musical interests beyond the rock gods

[deborascott]

No one knew this until now. But it's probably good no one talked about Brian's problems in public while he was alive. Better to have let him deal with it in private. But I think Brian had a tormented soul because of his personal problems not knowing who his parents were until later in life and then not being able to deal with it when he did find out. It was so sad watching Brian deteriorate right before our eyes over the years. The public not knowing the full story back then needed someone to blame and unfortunately Andy had to take a lot of that blame & negativity. I'm glad the three guys treated Brian with the respect they did through those hard years when they could have turned on Brian very easily. So, thanks guys, you all were great human beings my eyes and of course still one of the best 1970's rock band. ❤👍👩‍🦳

[micknordstrom]

Well, that was nice to hear. But they should have written something on the sleeve to Cut Above The Rest, about Brian, thanking him for the past years or something.

[moodyblue]

I met Andy or rather bumped into him after a Toto concert in the Albert Hall. I couldn't believe my eyes. A hero of mine from childhood. I did talk to him and said how much of a fan I was as a child onwards. He defensively mentioned 'were still going' after it seemed I felt they were no more. (They weren't after Brian left in all honesty) I didn't say this of course, but I did feel Andy was rather defensive in some way. It was all rather bizarre. They say you should not meet your so called 'heroes' and in this instance, they're right. Not the most friendly of musicians I've met.

[arjakolehmainen]

This is very good. Thank you very much.