Nathan Connolly
Encyclopedia
Nathan Connolly is a Northern Irish
musician, who is best known as the lead guitar
ist and backing vocalist for alternative rock
band Snow Patrol
.
, Northern Ireland
, sang for a gospel church choir when he was 16, and the experience, he says, is what inspired him to be a musician.
He is a former pupil of Grosvenor Grammar School.
(or F.U.E.L), who were managed by BBC Radio 1
DJ Colin Murray
. The band consisted of Nathan, vocalist Aaron Ditty, Dave Magee and Peter Comfort. Unfortunately, it did not last long; the single "Closure/Dryform" was F.U.E.L.'s first and only release.
While working at the record store HMV
in Belfast
, Nathan was introduced to the band Snow Patrol
. He reluctantly agreed to join, despite the fact that the band had no record deal at the time. He jokingly recalls his mother thinking he "was being kidnapped by rock stars."
Connolly became a permanent member of the band near the end of 2002. His recruitment played a large role in shaping the band's new sound. With Nathan as a composer of the band's new material, Snow Patrol garnered a new record deal and released Final Straw
in 2003. The album proved to be the band's breakthrough and helped introduce them to a wide audience.
In late 2006, he talked about plans to record a solo album, which he said would be "melodic and tuneful".
He uses Jim Dunlop
Tortex
.60mm picks
TC Electronics D Two (for delay)
TC Electronics G Major (for modulation, pitch shifting and compression)
TC Electronics M One XL (for reverb and layered delay sounds)
Voodoo Labs GCX Audio Switcher
He uses various pedals for his overdrive and boost sounds. They change from time to time, but his consistent setup includes the following:
Ibanez TS9 Tubescreamer
MXR/Dunlop Micro Amp (for boost)
Boss Super Overdrive
Boss Blues Driver
He uses a Voodoo Labs Ground Control Pro controller to bring up presets for each of the band's songs, and has the ability to add/remove different pedals and changes in sound.
He also uses a function in the TC Electronics G Major that allows him to switch the channels on his Marshall Jubilee amp heads for his heaviest sounds.
he also has a small pedalboard containing his ground control for the rack and various Boss pedals including a TU-2, PS-5, DD3, and RC-2.
, whom he met before joining Snow Patrol. He lives in Crouch End
, London, nearby band mate Jonny Quinn
.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
musician, who is best known as the lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist and backing vocalist for alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
.
Early life
Connolly, who was born in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, sang for a gospel church choir when he was 16, and the experience, he says, is what inspired him to be a musician.
He is a former pupil of Grosvenor Grammar School.
Music career
Prior to joining Snow Patrol, Connolly was a member of a band called File Under Easy ListeningFile Under Easy Listening
File Under Easy Listening was a short-lived Alternative rock band formed in Belfast in 1998 and were named after the 1994 album by Sugar.The band consisted of Nathan Connolly, Aaron Ditty, Dave Magee and Peter Comfort...
(or F.U.E.L), who were managed by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Colin Murray
Colin Murray
Colin Murray is a Northern Irish sports and music radio and television presenter. He is the current host of the BBC Television show Match of the Day 2 on BBC Two, and the BBC Radio 5 Live shows 5 Live Sport and Fighting Talk, as well as a show on BBC Radio Ulster. He has previously hosted regular...
. The band consisted of Nathan, vocalist Aaron Ditty, Dave Magee and Peter Comfort. Unfortunately, it did not last long; the single "Closure/Dryform" was F.U.E.L.'s first and only release.
While working at the record store HMV
HMV Group
HMV is a British global entertainment retail chain and is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company also operates in Hong Kong and Singapore. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE Fledgling Index...
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Nathan was introduced to the band Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
. He reluctantly agreed to join, despite the fact that the band had no record deal at the time. He jokingly recalls his mother thinking he "was being kidnapped by rock stars."
Connolly became a permanent member of the band near the end of 2002. His recruitment played a large role in shaping the band's new sound. With Nathan as a composer of the band's new material, Snow Patrol garnered a new record deal and released Final Straw
Final Straw
UK re-release bonus tracks*The AOL sessions feature frontman Gary Lightbody & lead guitarist Nathan Connolly being interviewed, and performing an acoustic rendition of "Run".*The dualdisc version does not include the UK bonus tracks....
in 2003. The album proved to be the band's breakthrough and helped introduce them to a wide audience.
In late 2006, he talked about plans to record a solo album, which he said would be "melodic and tuneful".
Guitars
- Gibson Les PaulGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
Custom - Tobacco 1979 - Gibson Les PaulGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
Custom - Ebony (appears in the video for Take Back the CityTake Back the City"Take Back the City" is a song from alternative rock band Snow Patrol's fifth album A Hundred Million Suns. It was released as the lead single from the album on different dates in October 2008, depending on the region. The lyrics were written by Gary Lightbody and the music was composed by Snow...
) - Fender TelecasterFender TelecasterThe Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
Custom - Sunburst 1974 - Fender Telecaster Custom - Blonde 1977
- GretschGretschThe Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
Countryman - Brown 1962 - Gretsch Duo Jet - Black
- Fender JaguarFender JaguarThe Fender Jaguar is an electric guitar introduced in 1962. A descendant of the Jazzmaster, the Jaguar quickly caught on in the emerging Surf music scene...
- Sunburst 1965 - Fender Telecaster Custom - Black '72 reissue
- Fender Telecaster Nashville - Sunburst
- GuildGuildA guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
Electro/Acoustic - Rickenbacker 360 - Jetglo
- Hutchins Memphis - Black
He uses Jim Dunlop
Dunlop Manufacturing
Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc., known colloquially as Jim Dunlop, is a manufacturer of musical accessories based in Benicia, California. Originally founded in 1965 by Jim Dunlop, Sr., the company has grown from a small home operation to being a large manufacturer of music gear for over 40 years.- Way...
Tortex
Dunlop Manufacturing
Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc., known colloquially as Jim Dunlop, is a manufacturer of musical accessories based in Benicia, California. Originally founded in 1965 by Jim Dunlop, Sr., the company has grown from a small home operation to being a large manufacturer of music gear for over 40 years.- Way...
.60mm picks
Amps
- Diamond Amplification Spitfire I Head with Spitfire 4x12 Cabinet
- Vox AC30Vox AC30The Vox AC30 is a guitar amplifier manufactured by Vox and known for its "jangly" high-end sound. First introduced in 1958 due to the growing demand for higher-wattage amplifiers, it became an iconic amplifier for British musicians and soon for others....
(Used at Mandela Hall SG#3) - MarshallMarshall AmplificationMarshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
JCM800 2203 Jubilees - MarshallMarshall AmplificationMarshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
3315 Transistor (Used on Final Straw Tours) - Fender Twin Reverb (Also Used on Final Straw Tours)
Effects
Connolly uses a setup that is primarily rack based. His rack consists of the following:TC Electronics D Two (for delay)
TC Electronics G Major (for modulation, pitch shifting and compression)
TC Electronics M One XL (for reverb and layered delay sounds)
Voodoo Labs GCX Audio Switcher
He uses various pedals for his overdrive and boost sounds. They change from time to time, but his consistent setup includes the following:
Ibanez TS9 Tubescreamer
MXR/Dunlop Micro Amp (for boost)
Boss Super Overdrive
Boss Blues Driver
He uses a Voodoo Labs Ground Control Pro controller to bring up presets for each of the band's songs, and has the ability to add/remove different pedals and changes in sound.
He also uses a function in the TC Electronics G Major that allows him to switch the channels on his Marshall Jubilee amp heads for his heaviest sounds.
he also has a small pedalboard containing his ground control for the rack and various Boss pedals including a TU-2, PS-5, DD3, and RC-2.
Personal life
Nathan is the long-term boyfriend of Laura DonnellyLaura Donnelly (actress)
Laura Donnelly is an actress from Northern Ireland. She made her on-screen debut in 2005 in the Channel 4 drama Sugar Rush, where she featured as a love interest of the female protagonist in two episodes. She is also known for appearing in Casualty, Hex, and as a main character in the Irish film...
, whom he met before joining Snow Patrol. He lives in Crouch End
Crouch End
Crouch End is an area of north London, in the London Borough of Haringey.- Location :Crouch End is in a valley between Harringay to the east, Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green to the north, Finsbury Park and Archway to the south and Highgate to the west...
, London, nearby band mate Jonny Quinn
Jonny Quinn
Jonathan Graham "Jonny" Quinn is a Northern Irish drummer, born in Bangor. He is best known as the drummer for alternative rock band Snow Patrol, and was previously a member of bands like The Mighty Fall, The New Brontes and Disraeli Gears. As drummer for Snow Patrol, he has played on all releases...
.
Trivia
- Nathan earned a National Diploma in Popular Music.
- Nathan is a huge Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
fan. He says, "The first toy I ever got as a kid was a Boba FettBoba FettBoba Fett is a character in Star Wars. A bounty hunter hired by Darth Vader to find the Millennium Falcon, he is a minor villain in both Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi....
action figure. And later my granddad bought me an AT-AT. I'm still obsessed with Star Wars! I collect a lot of Star Wars stuff that I keep partly at my house and some at my parents' house." - He is an avid U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
fan. In recounting an encounter with BonoBonoPaul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
, he says, "I waited outside the Europa Hotel all day when I was 16 to get my cassette copy of ZooropaZooropaZooropa Based on the pronunciations of "zoo" and "Europa". is the eighth studio album by rock band U2. Produced by Flood, Brian Eno, and The Edge, it was released on 5 July 1993 on Island Records. Inspired by the band's experiences on the Zoo TV Tour, Zooropa expanded on many of the tour's themes...
signed by Bono, which he very kindly did. To be on a level that’s not the same, but close to your heroes is a very bizarre experience."