John F. McNerney

Rock musician John Francis McNerney (1966-1996) 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.)
Early life
The move to New Jersey proved to be good for John. Overall, he was popular student who excelled in sports and 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, Los Angeles, 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.
University
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.
Career - Available At Any Cost (Band)
The band McNerney helped form (Available At Any Cost) 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. The band's self-titled first album "Available At Any Cost" received mediocre reviews and poor sales. As a result, they were dropped by the label. Additionally, McNerney had made a connection with Chuck Greenburg but the two never followed up on the collaboration project they had discussed leaving McNerney bitter and disgruntled.
In the meantime, McNerney and several friends found themselves caught up in a legal matter that turned their world upside down. The case was settled in favor of McNerney and the other plaintiffs, but, not before lives were torn apart and destroyed. A gag order remains and place and terms of the settlement, along with the case, remain sealed. McNerney never saw any of the money from the lawsuit since it took over 20 years for restitution to finally be made, and, McNerney had already passed away.

It was due to the loss of the contract and the lawsuit John 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 1996 determined to reconcile with Tina. John overdosed on drugs and died on December 26, 1996.

Parents
*John McNerney
*Maryanne Cunningham McNerney

Notable Friends
*Danny D'Angelo
*Manny Rodriguez
*Tina Rinaldi
*Mike Selantano
*Sam Evans
*Dave Blackwell

Available At Any Cost (Band Mates)
*Danny D'Angelo
*Mike Selantano
*Sam Evans

Musical Influences
*Bruce Springsteen
*U2
*Bon Jovi

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