The Band
A Family Unit. A Creative Fortress.
To understand The Stardust Engine, you must first understand that they are not a "band" in the traditional sense; they are a true family. The O'Connell members (Ryan, Cassidy, and Holly) are siblings, and the Wright members (Evan and Tyler) are their identical twin cousins.
Their name was a tribute to their shared passion for astronomy: the "Stardust" (the cosmos) and the "Engine" (the rockets to get there). Their label, Apex Records, twisted this scientific passion into a marketable gimmick, forcing reductive nicknames on them that the band despised.
Their close-knit bond is their defining feature. They are famously affectionate, often found piled on a single motel bed (the O'Connells on one, the Wrights on the other) or cuddling on a tour bus sofa. This family bond was their "Fortress" against an industry that tried to tear them apart.
Ryan O'Connell
Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar
As the oldest sibling (Age 23 in 1987), Ryan is fiercely protective of his family. He famously delayed his own college entry so he could attend CPI with his sisters and cousins at the same time, solidifying the bond that would define their future. On stage, he is the voice of raw rock energy and angst-filled anthems.
This made him an easy target for Apex Records, who branded him as "The Engine"—a nickname he hated. The label actively suppressed his heavy, industrial-inspired sound to fit their pop mold. This suppression fueled his "malicious compliance" tracks and his explosive, cathartic performances on the "Freedom Era" albums.
Cassidy O'Connell
Lead Vocals, Piano, Synthesizers
Cassidy (Age 20 in 1987) is the band's classical heart and the voice of its most emotional synth-pop anthems. Her musical sophistication provides the complex melodies and atmospheric pads that balance Ryan's raw guitar.
She is the creative core, but also the emotional core. While the studio tried to pit her "Stardust" persona against Ryan's "Engine", the band's reality was the opposite. Her greatest anthems were often written while cuddled up with Holly and Ryan, the three of them sharing a single bed in a cramped motel room.
Holly O'Connell
Manager (CEO, Engine Room Records, LLC)
The "Anchor". Holly (Age 18 in 1987) is the most formidable member of The Stardust Engine, and she has never played a note on stage. A child prodigy who accelerated her education to start college at 16, Holly is the band's manager, legal shield, and emotional peacemaker.
While Ryan and Cassidy would famously argue over song direction, it was always Holly who would step in, cut through the tension, and say: "You're both right. And you're both idiots. Come here!" She would then pull them both into a three-way hug to reset their creative energy. It was her legal acumen as a law student that ultimately nuked the Apex contract, founded Engine Room Records, LLC, and finally gave the band their freedom.
Evan Wright
Bass Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
The "Texture" of the band, Evan (Age 20 in 1987) is the secret weapon that makes their sound so full. As the cousin of the O'Connells and the identical twin brother of Tyler, his role is to provide the rich, melodic basslines and atmospheric rhythm guitar that form the foundation for Ryan's solos.
On tour, Evan and his twin brother Tyler are inseparable, famously taking one of the two motel beds while the O'Connell siblings pile into the other. He is the quiet, steady presence in the "engine room," locking in with his brother's drums to create the band's signature driving groove.
Tyler Wright
Drums, Percussion
Tyler (Age 20 in 1987) is a percussion legend, renowned in the industry as "The Human Metronome" for his superhuman, clock-like timing. His custom-built drum kit is legendary for its massive, complex, 360-degree setup, dwarfing even the most extravagant kits of the prog-rock era. He is the source of the band's iconic, explosive, massive 80s gated reverb snare sound.
As Evan's identical twin, he shares a near-psychic connection with his brother, forming the tightest rhythm section in 80s rock.