John Francis McNearney

Who is John Francis McNearney?

Rock musician John Francis McNerney was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 22, 1966 to John and Maryanne McNerney, and, he was the youngest of their six children. He was raised in Brooklyn until the age of 8 when the family relocated to New Jersey to get away from the growing crime in their Brooklyn neighborhood. Less than a year later, tragedy struck, when John's mother Maryanne died in a violent car accident that nearly claimed the life of his sister Susan. Fortunately Susan survived. His Father raised all six children alone from that point forward. (His Father never remarried.)

The move to New Jersey proved to be good for John. Overall, he was popular student who excelled in sports and he managed to maintain good grades at the same time. John's high school career had football scouts from nearly every major university vying for his attendance at their schools during his junior and senior years. As fate had it, John had accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of California, but, relinquished it when his leg completely shattered during a football game his senior year of high school. The doctors told John he'd be lucky to walk normal again and that football was no longer in his future.

Depressed and uncertain of his career path after his shot on the grid-iron was lost forever, John turned to music, and, he learned to play the guitar and bass guitar with great proficiency. Since he had to work to put help put himself through college, John stayed closed to home and attended college in New Jersey. It was then fate stepped in again, and, he met his future band-mates Danny D'Angelo, Mike Selantano, and, Sam Evans. It was during college that John met the love of is life, Tina Rinaldi.

The band when through many metamorphosis during its early years, but, continued to plug along and they began getting bookings in New York City at major clubs throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. John had begun writing his own music, and, the band was approached with a recording contract by the now defunct Bertelsmann Music Group.

It was due to the loss of the recording contract (due to the closing of the Bertelsmann Music Group) that John couldn't take anything else, and, turned to drinking and drugs to try to ease the pain of yet another loss. It was also a very turbulent time regarding his long term on-again, off-again relationship with Tina Rinaldi, and, the two made a final split in 1995. Not long after John moved to Southern California with his Father for a few months. He returned to New York City in early 1996 determined to reconcile with Tina. John overdosed on drugs and died on December 26, 1996. He was just 30 years old.

Siblings:

Susan

Mary

Matthew

Mark

Richard

Nieces and Nephews

Sean

Bill

Claire

Parents:

John McNerney

Maryanne Cunningham McNerney

Notable Friends:

Danny D'Angelo

Manny Rodriguez

Tina Rinaldi

Mike Selantano

Sam Evans

Dave Blackwell

Band Mates

Danny D'Angelo

Mike Selantano

Sam Evans

Musical Influences:

Bruce Springsteen

U2 - Bono

Jon Bon Jovi