John Connelly (musician) - Nuclear Assault 1983-86

Nuclear Assault 1983-86

Nuclear Assault were formed originally as a side project of John Connelly and Danny Lilker, after leaving Anthrax. While Nuclear Assault never received the recognition of the big four (Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica), they were one of the first to successfully fuse speed metal with hardcore, long before it was popular to do so. Glen Evans was formerly of TT Quick.

Nuclear Assault were among thrash metal's most socially aware groups, making room for serious subject matter (and occasional goofs) in their careening speed metal riffing. They also remained closer to the world of hardcore than most of their peers, and at their late-'80s peak released some of the most uncompromising thrash metal offerings of the time. After performing on Anthrax' 1984 debut Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker was fired by Scott Ian Rosenfeld who was one of his best friends. It was a terrible conflict of interest for Scott because he still wanted their friendship to be the same, but Dan Lilker was not pulling his weight in Anthrax anymore. He was late or didn't pay rehearsal rent, was shabbily dressed, played sloppily, and would show up to video shoots wearing a gas station attendants jumpsuit like in the Satan's Wheels video in 1982 for Unique Cable TV with Liz Derringer. Dan took 30 takes to record I'm Eighteen on Bass Guitar (2 days of studio time) on Fistful Of Metal. One of the reasons there was not enough time to properly get a good mix of the album according to Pyramid Studios. Scott and Danny remained friends and formed together the crossover band S.O.D. in 1985. After being fired, Lilker formed Nuclear Assault with vocalist and guitarist John Connelly in 1985. Guitarist Mike Bogush and drummer Scott Duboys only lasted a few months before being replaced by guitarist Anthony Bramante and ex-T.T. Quick powerhouse drummer Glenn Evans. One of the Big Apple's few challengers (along with Anthrax and Overkill) to the Bay Area dominance of all things thrash metal, Nuclear Assault became immediate contenders due to the cumulative sum of its parts — not to mention, their extreme nature and their ability to back it up with solid musicianship. Produced by metal stalwart Alex Perialas, their first album, 1986's Game Over, was regarded as a breath of fresh air with its potent speed metal tinged with hardcore overtones. In the process, fans and critics alike instantly accepted it and the band was quickly off to the races.