Jeff Connolly, leader of popular 1980s Boston-based band The Liars and its predecessor group DMZ, has been diagnosed with bladder cancer and needs financial assistance to help pay his medical bills. Connolly, also known as Monoman, has launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for chemotherapy and “pre-surgery” medications.
By March 3, the campaign had earned more than $49,000, 90 percent of Connolly’s goal of $55,000. Contributors to the initiative include members of Wilco, The Cars, The Dictators, The Smithereens and Nada Surf.
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In a message posted on Liars’ social media pages and Connolly’s GoFundMe page in late January, the musician lamented the high cost of his prescriptions, and thanked those who contributed to the fund.
He added: “Without your support and (contributions) to the GoFundMe, I would not have been able to reach the true endpoint of being cancer-free in 2026!”
A concert in support of Connolly is also scheduled for Thursday, March 12 at popular Boston club Middle East. The show, called “Jeff Connolly Cancer Battle of the Bands,” will feature a variety of local groups. The concert will include performances from Mission of Burma, Classic Ruins, Unnatural
Tickets cost $38.07 and can be purchased through Ticketweb.
More about Jeff Connolly
Connolly has been a volatile and eccentric presence in the garage rock scene since the formation of DMZ in 1976. The band’s initial lineup included future drummer David Robinson. After releasing a self-titled EP in 1977 and a self-titled album in 1978, DMZ broke up.
Connolly then formed Lyres with two other DMZ members. The Liars released several acclaimed albums during the 1980s, including on fire (1984)، lyre lyre (1986), and A promise is a promise (1988).
Among the group’s most popular tunes are “Don’t Give Up Now” and “I’ll Help You, Ann.”
Connolly continues to lead the band to this day, with an ever-changing roster of musicians. The Lyres recently played in Austin, Texas on February 13 and in San Antonio the following night. The band was scheduled to perform in Medford, Massachusetts on March 28. This was the concert that was canceled due to Jeff’s illness.
(Photo by Jeff Coyobamba)
