BAND MEMBER BIOS
Mac McGovern
Born in Jersey City, Mac knew from an early age that singing was in his blood. That truth became unmistakable in seventh grade, when his class staged a production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Originally intended for a classroom, the performance was moved to the school auditorium to accommodate a much larger audience—an early sign of his presence and potential.
In high school, Mac began singing in hard rock cover bands. One night, while waiting to perform in Bayonne, he met Mark, and a lifelong friendship was forged through their shared passion for music. Countless nights in rehearsal studios with various musicians eventually led to the formation of Sneak Attack. Although he believed the band was exactly what he had been searching for, it eventually plateaued. He and Mark continued playing together in projects like Ether Breather, Manipulator, and Kingpin until it became clear it was time to move on.
Mac relocated briefly to Los Angeles before returning to New Jersey to pursue a more conventional path, taking a job with a major airline. Still, music remained a part of his life, as he reconnected with old friends and performed in small clubs and bars. At one of those shows, he met Lucy, beginning a new chapter filled with love and responsibility.
That chapter continued until 2018, when they moved to Las Vegas and he stepped away from singing. Lucy often told him he was wasting his talent, but the internal spark had faded.
In May 2025, Lucy passed away. In the wake of that loss, he reconnected with Mark, who insisted—on the afternoon of her funeral—that they had unfinished business. The following month, he performed at a union event, and when Mark saw a video of the performance, he knew it was time to move forward.
Lucy would have loved what her passing ultimately reignited. The fire within him had returned—and with it, Sneak Attack was reborn.
Jon ILaw
Jon picked up a guitar as a teenager in New Jersey, the youngest of six in a household filled with the sounds of Bowie, the Stones, Sabbath, Elton John, and Queen. His life changed the night he saw Ozzy Osbourne perform with Randy Rhoads—heavy metal became his compass from that moment on.
A childhood friend introduced him to Sneak Attack, a local band gaining real momentum. Their drummer, Mark, had a record collection that expanded his musical world. By nineteen, he had joined the band, contributing new material and helping shape their evolving sound. While the group showed promise, shifting directions and lineup changes eventually fractured their chemistry, prompting him to move on.
Jon next joined Jersey Dogs, recording both an EP and a full-length album while preparing for a national tour. On the night of their record release, Bobby Blitz from Overkill invited him to join—a remarkable opportunity. However, when the label collapsed, the tour and the offer disappeared. Disheartened, he returned to university and completed his BFA in Communication Design.
After graduating, Jon rode his motorcycle across the country to California. By day, he worked as a designer; he played sessions and formed Fishs Eddy, a funky, jazzy, and eclectic band that became a staple of the Los Angeles circuit until tragedy struck with the passing of their singer.
He continued writing and experimenting, collaborating with the artist featured on The Killers’ Sam’s Town cover, opening for the band in Las Vegas, and performing at a KROQ/Coachella event. More recently, he explored a Brazilian/French gypsy jazz project, further expanding his musical vocabulary.
Then came a call from his former bandmates in Sneak Attack. Picking up where they left off, he found himself reconnecting with the heavy metal fire that had started it all.
Frank Baron
Frank was heavily influenced by Rush, Iron Maiden, Raven, and nearly every heavy metal and progressive vinyl released throughout the 1980s. While metal became his defining genre, his musical influences have always been wide-ranging. Complex rhythms, sudden breaks, and shifting tempos were the elements that first drew him deeply into metal—and have kept him there ever since.
Creativity has always been central to his identity, shaping not only his life but especially his approach to composing music. Though some of his bandmates might jokingly dispute that, his early years—marked by experimentation and rule-breaking before fully understanding those rules—led to bold and unconventional musical ideas.
He never had much interest in simply playing other people’s music. While covers were enjoyable and part of his early experience, he always knew his true path lay in creating original material.
Frank's sound evolved out of necessity, built from whatever instruments he could afford, repair, or modify—often oversized and impractical by today’s standards. One of his earliest and most influential instruments was a 1976 Bicentennial Gibson Thunderbird bass, featuring a fast, slender neck. It became a key writing tool for many Sneak Attack songs, though it was eventually modified beyond usability. He also experimented with a whammy bar—an idea inspired by John Gallagher—on an urban camouflage Warlock bass, using it to create dramatic low-frequency dive bombs.
Over time, Frank has transitioned from four-string to five-string basses to achieve a deeper low-end presence. His collection has included two Music Man Bongos, an Ibanez SR5 used in recording, a Steinberger, and even a fretless bass he now recalls with some amusement. He also incorporated keyboards and Taurus pedals into various side projects, reflecting a strong influence from Rush.
From time to time, the urge to create returns—whether through an unexpected call to play or an idea, riff, or melody he can’t shake. No matter how resistant he may feel, these moments serve as a clear signal to begin again.
Wherever that inspiration comes from, it ultimately brings him back to the bass—laughing with his bandmates, driving the rhythm, and fully immersed in the music. And in those moments, he knows with certainty that he is exactly where he is meant to be.
Mark Mari
Mark's love for music was, in many ways, born from his love of pizza. His grandfather owned the first pizzeria in Bayonne, New Jersey, where a jukebox filled with hits from the late ’60s and early ’70s became an unexpected gateway into music. Each time the jukebox was restocked, he would inherit the removed records—everything from Motown to The Beatles and beyond—sparking a lifelong passion.
By Mark's early teens, his tastes had shifted toward hard rock and heavy metal, drawing inspiration from bands like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Rush, and early Judas Priest. In 1979, he began playing drums after being completely inspired by a local Bayonne band, PuncFusion. He soon befriended their guitarist, Gordon Gaines, and became closely connected with drummer Phil Romano and vocalist, Mac. After witnessing their powerful live performances, he decided to buy a drum kit and study under Phil, marking a turning point in his musical journey.
As the New Wave of British Heavy Metal gained momentum, Mark sought to channel that energy into his own playing. He began jamming and performing covers with friends Frank Baron and Frank Curcio. In need of a vocalist, they reached out to Mac, and soon after, Sneak Attack was formed.
From 1980 to 1989, he played with Sneak Attack, followed by shorter stints with several Hudson County original acts, including Ether Breather, Kingpin, Manipulator, and Doc Rat. Entering the 1990s, he spent time with New Jersey hardcore band Dog Eat Dog, performing live and recording a demo that would eventually help the band secure a record deal.
For the next three decades, life took priority, and music moved into the background as Mark focused on family. Still, he occasionally returned to playing through cover projects for fun.
In 2023, he reemerged, joining the New Jersey thrash band Bastard Skull, reigniting his passion for original heavy music. With the band, he recorded both an LP and an EP at Bandmother Studios in Jersey City alongside longtime friend Mike Sabatini.
By 2025, Mark departed Bastard Skull and, through unexpected circumstances, reconnected with Mac. Conversations with Jon Ilaw and Frank Baron brought everything full circle. After decades apart—and plenty of laughter, sarcasm, and shared history—the idea of reviving Sneak Attack became reality.
Nearly 40 years later, Sneak Attack returned to the studio with Mike Sabatini at Bandmother, finally bringing their music back to life for a new era.
Over the years, Mark has played Ludwig drums and now performs on Yamaha kits. His cymbal history is marked by well-worn Zildjian pieces, with occasional Sabian and Meinl additions. Vic Firth wooden-tip sticks have remained his consistent choice.
Mark's influences include iconic drummers such as Ian Paice, Neil Peart, John Bonham, Clive Burr, and Rob Hunter, along with more recent inspirations like Gavin Harrison, Baard Kolstad, and Ray Hearne—a list that continues to grow.
Frank Curcio
Frank is the band’s original guitarist. He studied classical guitar in New York City and was influenced by 1960s and 1970s R&B, gypsy jazz, 1970s jazz fusion, and NWOBHM.
His playing has been shaped by guitarists such as Gary Moore, Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth, Eddie Van Halen, and Allan Holdsworth, and he has combined these influences to create a style of his own.
He has also worked as a session guitarist on projects for film and television. Frank uses Charvel guitars, EVH amplifiers, and numerous synthesizers to create his sound.
He currently lives in Florida, where he writes film music and performs with a variety band on weekends.