Jonathan Graham Quinn[1] (born 26 February 1972) is a Northern Irish musician,[2] best known as the former drummer for alternative rock band Snow Patrol, and was previously a member of bands like The Mighty Fall, The New Brontes and Disraeli Gears. As drummer for Snow Patrol, he has played on all releases up until his departure from the band in 2023. He is married to industrial designer Mariane Quinn (née Røkke).
He attended Rockport School near Holywood and Campbell College Belfast both of which singer Gary Lightbody attended. He once used to work in the music store for Good Vibrations, the record label that first signed The Undertones.[3] In the early 1990s, he was a member of Mighty Fall, in which he had a bandmate in Iain Archer.[4][5] He was also a member of The New Brontes.[6] In the summer of 1992, he became a member of Disraeli Gears, which was formed by Iain's brother Paul.[7][8] In 1995, he completed a BTEC Diploma in Performing Arts.[9] In October 1996, he started a live music venue with Brendan McCauley, called The Crescent Arts Centre. Disraeli Gears played regular shows at the venue throughout the rest of the year.[9] In 1997, they recorded their first studio album, Pure Groove.[9]
In 2009, Quinn set up and launched the publishing company Polar Patrol Publishing. His first signing was Johnny McDaid who then went onto write with many artists including Ed Sheeran, Birdy and Robbie Williams. Jonny was also responsible for signing Belle & Sebastian to Polar Patrol in 2014.
In September 2023, Lightbody announced on Instagram that Quinn and Paul Wilson decided to leave Snow Patrol.[15]
He is the nephew of actress Patricia Quinn and the brother of Bradley Quinn, Snow Patrol's longtime photographer.[16] His cousin is Debbie Armstrong, wife of former Northern Ireland national football team, assistant manager Gerry Armstrong.[17] Quinn had a habit of stage-diving, which resulted in many fractured limbs. After the band signed to Fiction/Interscope, he was asked to curb it, lest he break his arm.[18]
He proposed to his longtime girlfriend, industrial designer Mariane Røkke at Snow Patrol's homecoming show at Ward Park in 2007. He wrote "Marry me Mariane" on his drum kit, which was shown on the screens beside the stage. They married in Mariane's hometown Oslo on 16 August 2008. Quinn's brother Bradley Quinn was the best man. Guests included the band, past Snow Patrol collaborator and bandmate Iain Archer and singer Declan O'Rourke. The couple went to Zanzibar for their honeymoon.[19] He lives in Crouch End, London with his wife and son, near former bandmate Nathan Connolly.[20][21]
^ ab"Snow Patrol in injury drama". Hot Press. 22 January 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2009. Appears as: "...drummer Jonny Quinn has confirmed he broke his arm on Monday January 15 whilst snowboarding in the French Alps." and "Jonny rang me up during the week to see if I could help them out, I was more than happy to. We've been friends for years, since their first album when they'd kip on my couch if they came down to Dublin."
