Boston Rock Frontman Jeff Connolly dies at 69 after battle with cancer

Jeff “Monoman” Conolly, best known as the frontman of The Lyres and DMZ, has died at the age of 69.

According to BrooklynVegan.com, Jeff Connolly died after a battle with bladder cancer.

The site labeled him a “Boston music legend,” and comments across social media indicated that he was greatly appreciated.

“It’s not the biggest shock, but, yet, it is: Lyres, singer-songwriter-keyboardist Jeff Conolly has left the planet earth at age 69,” wrote Jim Sullivan on Facebook.

“Conolly had been a part of the Boston rock scene for decades, long before I met her in 1978. And it was revealed earlier this year that cancer had come knocking. He nicknamed himself ‘Monoman’ — a devotee of mono, pre-stereo music — and I will always have pictures of his blonde hair flying as he one-handedly hammered his Vox Continental organ. “Garage rock heaven.”

“RIP Jeff Conolly, an incredible musician, performer, songwriter, and rock historian!” posted Thalia Zedek on Facebook.

“As legendary, if not more so, in Europe as in his birthplace, he was a true international ambassador of Boston rock & roll, right alongside the Modern Lovers and the Real Kids. I didn’t know Jeff very well, although we shared a rehearsal space with him and his ex-wife Priscilla in the 1990s, and I worked some shits with him at Mystery Train when I was stepping in for my friend Tammy Bonn. He was amusing and always pleasant to me. Rest in peace, Rocker!!!”

Conolly created the Lyres in 1979, and the band remained active until 2026.

Boston Magazine named the band’s 1983 smash “Help You Ann” as the thirteenth greatest Boston song of all time.

The Lyres produced eleven albums. The first was “On Fyre” in 1984, and the last was “On Fyre at the Rusty Nail 1985” in 2025.