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, one version of the band is led by Scott and included Tucker between 1985 and 1991, while the other was led was Priest until his death in 2020 and is still touring. Connolly also led a version of the band from 1984 until his death in 1997.
Scott's version includes lead vocalist Paul Manzi, bassist Lee Small, keyboardist/guitarist Tom Cory (all who joined in 2019) and drummer Adam Booth (since 2024). The final lineup of Priest's version, which ended with his death in 2020, included drummer Richie Onori and keyboardist Steve Stewart (both from 2008), guitarist Mitch Perry (from 2014) and vocalist Paulie Z (from 2017).
History
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 to 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 affected his live performances. In his absence, Priest and Scott shared lead vocals. Ray McRiner also replaced Ramsden. The band disbanded in 1981.
In 1985, Scott and Tucker organised their own version of Sweet with Paul Mario Day (previously played with Iron Maiden, More, and Wildfire) on lead vocals, Phil Lanzon of the band 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 the band Uriah Heep in 1986, though he continued with The Sweet until 1988. Malcolm Pearson and Ian Gibbons 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 a permanent drummer. McNulty departed in 1994, though he would briefly return that year to fill in for Jeff Brown on bass. In 1995, he similarly rejoined the band as lead singer while Rocky Newton substituted on bass). Chris Goulstone and Sweet's former keyboard players Gary Moberley and Ian Gibbons also filled-in for other players during 1995. Chad Brown of the band Lionheart was chosen as 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 of the band 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. In 2003, Tony O'Hora (previously played with Onslaught and Praying Mantis) replaced Brown as lead vocalist and bassist. O'Hora briefly left and was replaced for some gigs by singer Mark Thompson Smith and bassist Jo Burt. Grant also handled lead vocals and bass briefly with Phil Lanzon returning on keyboards in his place. In 2006, Shy singer Tony Mills was briefly slated to be the Sweet's new singer/bassist but he departed after six shows in Denmark.[1][2]
O'Hora returned in 2006 but had departed by the end of the year. Pete Lincoln subsequently joined as new singer/bassist. This line-up stayed constant until 2010 when Scott missed some shows due to health issues, he was temporarily replaced by Martin Mickels.[3] Steve Grant departed in 2011, and O'Hora returned in this place. This line-up stayed the same until 2019, save for when Lincoln had to miss some shows in 2014 and 2015. In this case O'Hora moved back to lead vocals and bass and Paul Manzi played keyboards and guitar.
Pete Lincoln left in 2019 and was quickly replaced by O'Hora on bass and Manzi on keyboards and guitar, before O'Hora departed and Manzi did vocals/bass. Steve Mann returned on keyboards and guitar as a guest member, Tom Cory also handled keyboards and guitar and soon became permanent. Lee Small became new bassist and backing vocalist in 2019, with Manzi focusing on lead vocals only. In 2024, Bruce Bisland was replaced by tech Adam Booth, who had previously played drums in 2015 and bass in 2019. In 2025 FM guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick toured with The Sweet as backup guitarist for Scott.[4]
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.[10][11]
Andy Hoyler
1991
drums
Hoyler, Andersen and Bruce Bisland provided short-term relief for Mick Tucker before Bodo Schopf took over.[12]
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