Tony Sly came into this world on November 4, 1970. He left us on July 31, 2012, only 41 years old. During that time he inspired countless lives, through his melodic harmonies and deep philosophical lyrics, touching our hearts and connecting to people through the gift of music.

 

Beginnings

Anthony J. Sly was born on November 4, 1970 to parents John and Pauline Sly at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, California. He grew up in Los Altos, California, with his two older brothers, Mike and Jon, and attended local schools eventually graduating from Homestead High School in 1989. After his school days, Tony pursued his musical passion. Tony came from a tight-knit family that was always very supportive of his musical pursuits, allowing Tony and band members to practice in the family garage at all hours of the day and night and showing up to support Tony on stages all over the world.

 

Musical Ingenuity

Tony was involved in bands from an early age. At 15 he was lead guitar and occasional singer for Anxiety which also featured neighborhood friend Jeff Maser. Anxiety played shows all over the Bay Area including the world famous Gilman Street Project in Berkeley. While Tony was in the band, Anxiety had one full length release, Instruments of the Passion. In 1987, at the age of 17, Tony joined No Use For A Name. He immediately proved to be an essential part of the band because of his songwriting skills. He helped the band release its full-length debut, Incognito (1990), produced by Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion/Epitaph Records, and released by Bay Area record label, New Red Archives.

No Use For A Name went on to sign with Fat Wreck Chords for their third album, The Daily Grind, in 1993. The band’s popularity rose with the release of Leche Con Carne in 1995. This album featured the song 'Soulmate' which was the first Fat Wreck Chords single to ever get played on MTV. Tony recorded 9 studio and live albums with No Use For A Name, and spent 23 years extensively touring the world, including five Warped Tour stints, and countless music festivals throughout America, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America.

 

In 2008, Tony started recording demos for what he announced would be a solo acoustic project. this became the 2010 release 12 Song Program. In 2011 Tony followed up 12 Song Program with the aptly named melancholy record Sad Bear. These records highlighted Tony's depth as a songwriter as he tackled adulthood, friendship, family, love, loss and seemingly all of life's trials and tribulations. Also in 2011 Tony collaborated with Lagwagon front man Joey Cape and fellow buddies Jon Snodgrass and Brian Wahlstrom to form the acoustic quartet Scorpios. Scorpios put out an eponymous record that year and toured extensively in the US, Europe and Australia to great critical review. The last Tony Sly release was a split album with Joey Cape released June of 2012, aptly titled, Acoustic Volume 2.

 

Love of his life

Tony met the love of his life, Brigitte, in their teen years. They were married in 1998 and their first daughter, Fiona, was born in 2004. Four years later their second daughter, Keira, was born. Tony will live on in our hearts and memories, and also, eternally through his music and his children.