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Lyres' Jeff Conolly: A Fiery Force in Garage Rock
23 Aug
Summary
- Lyres frontman Jeff Conolly, known as Monoman, died at 70.
- The band was a staple of the 1980s garage-rock revival.
- Conolly's raw vocals and explosive stage presence defined Lyres.
Jeff Conolly, the energetic frontman and songwriter for the influential Boston band Lyres, passed away on July 31 at his home in Lynn, Massachusetts. He was 70 years old, and the cause was bladder cancer. Conolly, widely known as Monoman for his deep devotion to 1960s mono records, led Lyres as a torchbearer for punkish garage rock.
The band, which Conolly insisted be called simply Lyres, became a cornerstone of the 1980s garage-rock revival. Though they never achieved mainstream Billboard success, Lyres were a fixture on college radio, propelled by Conolly's passionate, desperate vocals reminiscent of Them-era Van Morrison.
Fans recall Conolly's electrifying live shows, where he would thrash about with a Vox Continental organ and a tambourine, delivering searing originals and obscure covers from his extensive vinyl collection. He was known for his uncompromising artistic vision and a personality as fiery as his performances, profoundly impacting the Boston music scene and beyond.
