Brian Scott O'Connor is an American musician. Primarily a bassist, he is best known as a touring and recording member of rock band

Eagles of Death Metal Eagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998. Founded by Jesse Hughes (vocals, guitar) and Josh Homme (drums), the band also includes a wide range of other musicians who perform both on the band's ...

. He has also appeared on recordings by

The Desert Sessions The Desert Sessions are a musical collective series, founded by Josh Homme in 1997. Artists such as Brant Bjork, PJ Harvey, Twiggy Ramirez, Dave Catching, Nick Oliveri, Mark Lanegan, John McBain, Ben Shepherd, Josh Freese, Chris Goss, Al ...

Masters of Reality Masters of Reality is an American rock band formed in 1981 by frontman Chris Goss and guitarist Tim Harrington in Syracuse, New York, United States. They took the name for the band from a misprinted label of the third Black Sabbath album, '' ...

Peaches The peach (''Prunus persica'') is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and the glossy-skinned, non-fuzzy varieties called nectarines. Peac ...

Unkle Unkle (often stylised as U.N.K.L.E. or UNKLE, occasionally known as UNKLE Sounds) is a British musical outfit founded in 1992 by James Lavelle. Originally categorised as trip hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a ...

, Axis of Justice and

Sweethead Sweethead is an American alternative rock band formed in 2008. The group's lineup consists of singer Serrina Sims and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Troy Van Leeuwen (of Queens of the Stone Age, formerly of A Perfect Circle, Enemy and Failure) ...

Biography

O'Connor grew up in the rural community of Carrolls between

Kalama Kalama Hakaleleponi Kapakuhaili (1817 – September 20, 1870) was a Queen consort of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi alongside her husband, Kauikeaouli, who reigned as King Kamehameha III. She chose the baptismal name Hakaleleponi after the Biblical f ...

and Kelso-

Longview, Washington Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, Cowlitz County, Washington (state), Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longvie ...

. As a child, he played in a band named Shanna and the Country Bugs with his father and siblings. He worked for many years in construction before joining

. In June 2010, it was announced that O'Connor had been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer, for which he would be undergoing chemotherapy. A statement from O'Connor in regard to his diagnosis said: "In regards to my current health situation, with the remarkable support and love from my amazing friends and family, I am receiving the best medical and moral attention one could ask for. I cannot thank everyone enough for their continued support and involvement. I am excited for my full recovery and look forward to getting back to what I love most, melting face with my bass. I'm feeling great, after all, I am half unicorn. Keep ya posted." During his cancer treatment,

Dean Fertita Dean Anthony Fertita (born September 6, 1970) is an American rock multi-instrumentalist.Brian McColluMetro Detroit musician Dean Fertita moves to the front lines with the Dead Weatherfreep.com Retrieved: 2009-07-25 He is best known as a keyboard ...

Queens of the Stone Age Queens of the Stone Age (commonly abbreviated as QOTSA or QotSA) is an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1996. The band was founded by vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme shortly before he returned to his native Palm Desert, California. ...

and

The Dead Weather The Dead Weather is an American rock supergroup formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2009. Composed of Alison Mosshart (of the Kills and Discount), Jack White (of the White Stripes and the Raconteurs), Dean Fertita (of Queens of the Stone Age ...

filled in on bass. Long-time friend and collaborator

Josh Homme Joshua Michael Homme ( ; born May 17, 1973) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is best known as the founder and only continuous member of the rock band Queens of the Stone Age, which he for ...

, along with

Dave Grohl David Eric Grohl (; born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He founded the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and only consistent member. From 1990 to 1994, he was the drummer of th ...

and

John Paul Jones John Paul Jones (born John Paul; July 6, 1747 – July 18, 1792) was a Scottish-born naval officer who served in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War. Often referred to as the "Father of the American Navy", Jones is regard ...

Them Crooked Vultures Them Crooked Vultures is an American rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 2009 with American musician Josh Homme on lead vocals and guitar, English musician John Paul Jones on bass and keyboards, and American musician Dave Grohl on drums a ...

, announced a concert at the

Brixton Academy Brixton Academy (originally known as the Astoria Variety Cinema, previously known as Carling Academy Brixton, currently named O2 Academy Brixton as part of a sponsorship deal with the O2 brand) is a mid-sized concert venue located in South Lon ...

in London to raise money for O'Connor's treatment. On August 12, 2010, Queens of The Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal,

The Last Shadow Puppets The Last Shadow Puppets are an English supergroup consisting of Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), Miles Kane ( the Little Flames, the Rascals), James Ford (Simian, Simian Mobile Disco), and Zach Dawes ( Mini Mansions). The Last Shadow Puppe ...

and

Alain Johannes Alain Johannes Mociulski (born May 2, 1962) is a Chilean-American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, whose primary instruments are guitar and bass. He is a founding member of several bands, including the alternative rock group Eleven, and has ...

performed a benefit show at the Nokia Club in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

to raise funds for O'Connor. Former Queens of the Stone Age member

Mark Lanegan Mark William Lanegan (November 25, 1964 – February 22, 2022) was an American singer and songwriter. First becoming prominent as the lead singer for the early grunge band Screaming Trees, he was also known as a member of Queens of the Stone Age ...

sang four encore songs with the band. In 2013, O'Connor played the character Talan Gwynek in the horror movie Wer. He left Eagles of Death Metal in 2014 after nine years with the band.

Equipment

With

, O'Connor used a worn

Fender Precision Bass The Fender Precision Bass (or "P-Bass") is a model of bass guitar, electric bass guitar manufactured by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. In its standard, post-1957 configuration, the Precision Bass is a solid body, four-stringed instrument ...

Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower ** Orange juice *Orange (colour), the color of an orange fruit, occurs between red and yellow in the vi ...

and

Ampeg Ampeg ("amplified peg") is a manufacturer best known for its bass amplifiers. Originally established in 1946 in Linden, New Jersey by Everett Hull and Stanley Michaels as "Michael-Hull Electronic Labs," today Ampeg is part of the Yamaha Guit ...

SVT bass amplifiers, and Orange bass cabinets. He also uses the ProCo Rat distortion pedal in addition to other pedals.

Discography

;With

*''

Death by Sexy ''Death by Sexy'' is the second album by the American rock group Eagles of Death Metal. It was rumoured to be released in summer 2005 but was pushed back to be released in the United States on April 11, 2006. It was released in Europe on July 3, ...

'' (2006) *'' Heart On'' (2008) ;With

*''Nights Temper EP'' (2007) *'' War Stories'' (2007) ;With

*'' Pine Cross Dover'' (2009) With Mojave Lords * ''Unfuckwithable'' (2014) ;Other appearances *

– Volumes 9 & 10 (2003) * Axis of Justice – '' Concert Series - Volume 1'' (2004) *

– '' Impeach My Bush'' (2006) *

Earthlings? Peter Marc Stahl is an American musician best known for fronting the Virginia-based punk/ hardcore band Scream with his brother Franz. Early on, Scream also featured Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl on drums who credited P ...

– ''Humalian'' (EP) (2009) *

– Descent To The Surface (2016)

References

External links

Official Eagles of Death Metal Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oconnor, Brian Year of birth missing (living people) Living people American bass guitarists American male singers Singers from Washington (state) American rock musicians People from Cowlitz County, Washington American male bass guitarists Eagles of Death Metal members