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Boston (band)

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Boston
Boston live in Hinckley, MN on June 13, 2008
Boston live in Hinckley, MN on June 13, 2008
Background information
OriginBoston, Massachusetts,
United States
GenresRock, hard rock
Years active1976–present
LabelsEpic, MCA, Artemis
MembersTom Scholz
Gary Pihl
Kimberley Dahme
Jeff Neal
Tommy DeCarlo
Past membersBrad Delp
Sib Hashian
Fran Sheehan
Barry Goudreau
Jim Masdea
David Sikes
Doug Huffman
Fran Cosmo
Curly Smith
Anthony Cosmo
Anthony Citrinite
Tom Hambridge
Michael Sweet
Websitewww.bandboston.com

Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists.[1] Boston's best-known works include the songs "More Than a Feeling", "Peace of Mind", "Foreplay/Long Time", "Rock and Roll Band", "Smokin'", "Don't Look Back" and "Amanda." They have sold over 31 million albums in the United States, of which 17 million are their self-titled debut album and 7 million are their second album, Don't Look Back.[2][3]

History

Before debut album

Tom Scholz first started writing music in 1969 while he was attending MIT, where he wrote an instrumental, titled "Foreplay".[4] While attending MIT, Scholz joined the band "Freehold," where he met guitarist Barry Goudreau and drummer Jim Masdea, who would later become members of Boston. Vocalist Brad Delp was added to the collective in 1970. After graduating with a master's degree in mechanical engineering, Scholz worked for Polaroid, where he used his salary to build a recording studio in his basement, and to finance demo tapes recorded in professional recording studios.[4] These early demo tapes were recorded with (at various times) Brad Delp on vocals, Barry Goudreau on guitar, Jim Masdea on drums, and Scholz on guitar, bass and keyboards . The demo tapes were sent to record companies, but received consistent rejections.[4] In 1973 Scholz formed the band Mother's Milk with Delp, Goudreau, and Masdea.[4] That group disbanded by 1974, but Scholz subsequently worked with Masdea and Delp to produce six new demos. Scholz played all the instruments on the demos, except for the drums, and used self-designed pedals to create the desired guitar sound.[4]

This final demo tape attracted the attention of promoters Paul Ahern and Charlie McKenzie. Masdea left the band around this time. According to Scholz, the managers insisted that Masdea had to be replaced before the band could get a recording deal.[4] Years later, Delp told journalist Chuck Miller: "[Jim] actually told me he was losing interest in playing drums. I know Tom felt very bad when the whole thing happened. And then, of course, we started getting some interest." [5][6] Scholz and Delp signed a deal with Epic Records after Masdea's departure, thanks to Ahern & McKenzie. Before the deal could be finalized, the band had to do a live audition for the record company executives. The duo quickly recruited Goudreau on guitar, bassist Fran Sheehan and drummer Sib Hashian to create a performing unit which could replicate Scholz's richly layered recordings on stage. The showcase was a success and the band agreed to put out 10 albums over the next six years.[4][5]

In addition to the firing of Masdea, the record label also insisted that Scholz re-record the demo tapes in a professional studio. However, Scholz wanted the record to be recorded in his basement studio, so that he could work at his own pace.[4] Upon request of Tom Scholz, Masdea played drums on the track "Rock and Roll Band," and the instrumentation was recorded in Scholz's studio.[4] The multitrack tapes were then brought to Los Angeles, where Brad Delp added vocals and the album was mixed by John Boylan. It was then that the band was officially named "Boston," by suggestion of Boylan and engineer Warren Dewey.[4]

Boston (1976)

Brad Delp, the original lead singer. Along with Scholz, Delp was the only other person signed to Epic Records as Boston.

The debut album, Boston, released on August 8, 1976, was an enormous success. The record ranks as the second best-selling debut album in U.S. history (after Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction) with over 17 million copies sold.[7]

During the summer and fall of 1976, Boston attracted much publicity due to the unprecedented record sales by an unknown act, its unique sound, and singer Brad Delp's vocal abilities. However, there was "a conscious effort to de-emphasize Scholz as the total mastermind behind Boston."[8] After opening for Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, Foghat and others, the band embarked on a headlining tour in the winter and spring of 1977 to support the album.[9] This helped establish Boston as one of rock's top acts within a short time, being nominated for a Grammy award as a "Best New Artist".[9][10] Boston was the first band in history to make their New York City debut at Madison Square Garden.[8]

The album spawned three singles, "More Than a Feeling", "Long Time" and "Peace of Mind", all of which made the national charts.[9] Additionally, the album peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the charts for 132 weeks.[11]

Don't Look Back (1978)

Despite having problems with manager Paul Ahern, being caught in the middle of a fight between Ahern and his business partner Charles McKenzie, and doing most of the recording work alone,[8] Scholz completed the second Boston album two years after the debut album's release. The second album, Don't Look Back, was officially released by Epic in August 1978.

At the time this was considered a long gap between albums, but Scholz still considered Don't Look Back to be a rush job and was unhappy with the album's second side in particular.[12] Overall Don't Look Back sold about half as well as the debut album, eventually selling over 7 million records.[13]

Another tour followed, and the album's title track became a Top 5 hit. Additionally, two other singles, "A Man I'll Never Be", and "Feelin' Satisfied" went Top 40 and Top 50 respectively.[9] Despite the success, Scholz's relationship with Ahern completely deteriorated.[14] Delayed by technical renovations to his studio, Scholz eventually began the process of working on Boston's third album, determined to complete the album at his own pace and up to his demanding standard.

Solo projects and CBS lawsuit (1979–1985)

In late 1979, Scholz began writing new material, but Boston's former co-manager, Paul Ahern, argued that, according to an agreement Scholz had signed years earlier with Ahern, Ahern owned a percentage of all songs Scholz wrote from that point on.[14] Delayed further by the dispute, Scholz suggested, in the meantime, the individual members should work on whatever other projects they might be considering. Goudreau then decided to record a solo album which featured Boston members Delp and Hashian, and which was recorded with the help of an engineer and producer [who?] familiar with Scholz' studio techniques.[9] The album, released in 1980, was titled Barry Goudreau and featured a minor charting single "Dreams". There was tension when CBS's marketing connected the album to Boston's signature guitar sound, despite Scholz playing most of the guitar tracks on the Boston albums.[12][15] Scholz objected to the ad copy, but it became irrelevant when Epic dropped promotion on Goudreau's album citing lack of interest. Goudreau ended up leaving the band in 1981, and forming the band Orion the Hunter. Delp contributed vocals and co-wrote songs on their debut album, but returned to Boston and recorded vocals on the third album.[9]

While Scholz and Delp were recording new material for the third Boston album, CBS filed a 60 million dollar lawsuit against Scholz, alleging breach of contract for failing to deliver a new Boston album on time.[9]

During this same period, Scholz founded his successful high-tech company Scholz Research & Development (SR&D), which made amplifiers and other musical electronic equipment. Its most famous product, the Rockman amplifier, was introduced in 1982 [16]

The legal trouble slowed progress toward the completion of the next album, which took six years to record and produce. Joining Scholz in the album's development again were Delp and Jim Masdea.[17] In 1985, guitarist Gary Pihl left Sammy Hagar's touring band to work with Scholz as both a musician and an SR&D executive. As CBS v. Scholz played out in court, CBS opted to withhold royalty payments to Scholz, hoping to force him to settle on unfavorable terms.[9]

The lawsuit's first round was eventually decided in Scholz' favor, and Scholz moved the band to MCA Records.[9]

Third Stage (1986–1988)

Despite the adversity, progress continued to be made on the third Boston album. A tape of one of the songs, "Amanda", leaked out of the studio in 1984. The song became the lead single when Third Stage was finally released on September 23, 1986.[18]

The album and lead single "Amanda" both went to #1 on Billboard, and subsequent singles, "We're Ready" and "Can'tcha Say" were Top 10 and Top 30 respectively.[9]

The group headed off on tour to promote Third Stage in 1987 and 1988. Third Stage was played in sequence in its entirety during the shows, with expanded arrangements of some cuts. For the tour the group was joined by Doug Huffman and David Sikes, both of whom stayed with the band into the mid-1990s.[9]

The CBS case took seven years to run its course, and in April 1990 Scholz won.[9] A jury awarded him millions in unpaid royalties and punitive damages.

Delp departs; Walk On (1989–1996)

By Spring 1990, Scholz was back in the studio working on the band's fourth studio album.[9] Later that year, Delp told Scholz he wanted to concentrate on other projects, and might not be available for some time.[19] With Delp's departure, Scholz was now the last remaining original member. Before he left, Delp co-wrote the song "Walk On" with Scholz and David Sikes, which eventually became the title track of the new album.[20]

Delp subsequently joined Barry Goudreau's new band, RTZ.[9] Scholz eventually replaced him with Fran Cosmo, who had previously been in Goudreau's previous band Orion the Hunter.

For the second album in a row, and for the second time in a decade, Scholz's work was delayed by renovations to his studio. In the end, eight years passed between Third Stage and Walk On, which was released in June 1994. Walk On was certified platinum by the RIAA, but only reached #7 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.[9] It failed to chart in the Top 5 like all their previous albums. It produced one hit single, "I Need Your Love" which was widely played on some rock radio stations.[9] Delp reunited with Boston at the end of 1994. Their first appearance was for two benefit shows at the House of Blues on December 12 & 13, 1994 in Cambridge.[9] The band also handed a check of $5,000 to Globe Santa and another check of $5,000 to Operation Christmas in Fall River.[21]

The group, with Delp now back in the band, toured in the summer of 1995 with both Cosmo and Delp combining vocals. By this time drummer Huffman had been replaced by Curly Smith, who was previously with Jo Jo Gunne.[9] Following the conclusion of the "Livin' For You" tour in 1995, Scholz announced that a greatest hits album would be released.[9] Initially planned for release in August 1996, the album was pushed back to a 1997 release date.[9]

Greatest Hits and Corporate America (1997–2006)

Boston released a compilation album in 1997, titled simply Boston: Greatest Hits. The album featured all of the band's hit singles except "We're Ready", along with three new songs, "Higher Power", "Tell Me", and an instrumental version of the "Star Spangled Banner". Smith and Sikes left the band in late 1997 and recorded an album together.[22]

Tom Scholz, the band's founder and lead guitarist

Scholz headed back to the studio in 1998 to begin work on a fifth album, which eventually turned out to be Corporate America. The title track of "Corporate America" was uploaded by Tom Scholz to MP3.com under the pseudonym of "Downer's Revenge" in early 2002 in order to test the album's appeal to a younger demographic.[23] The song reached #2 on the progressive rock charts on the website for two weeks.[23]

November 2002 marked the official release of Corporate America on the independent label Artemis Records. This album featured the largest Boston lineup ever; returning members included Delp and Cosmo on guitar and lead vocals, Scholz on lead guitar and organ, and Gary Pihl on guitar, along with new members Anthony Cosmo on rhythm guitar, Jeff Neal on drums and Kimberley Dahme on bass and vocals. Dahme, Delp and Cosmo all contributed lead vocals to the album. The group embarked on a national tour in support of the album in 2003 and 2004.[9] In 2006, the first two Boston albums appeared in remastered form.

Death of Brad Delp (2007)

On March 9, 2007, lead singer Brad Delp committed suicide at his home in Atkinson, New Hampshire.[24] Police found Delp dead in his bathroom, along with several notes for whomever would find him.[24] In the bathroom where Delp committed suicide, two charcoal grills were found on the bathroom fixtures, and the door sealed.[24] Police Lt. William Baldwin called the death "untimely" and said that no foul play was indicated.[25] Delp was alone at the time of his death according to the police report. Delp was found by his fiancée, who saw a dryer hose attached to his car.[24] According to the New Hampshire medical examiner, Delp's death was the result of suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning as evidenced by carboxyhemoglobin.[24] Delp's last concert with Boston was performed at Boston Symphony Hall on November 13, 2006 at a concert honoring Doug Flutie.

A concert in honor of Delp named Come Together: A Tribute to Brad Delp occurred on August 19, 2007 at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston. The concert included, in order of appearance, Ernie and the Automatics, Beatlejuice, Farrenheit, Extreme, Godsmack, RTZ, Orion the Hunter, and finally the current version of Boston.[26]

All of the living members of Boston were invited to perform in the concert. The singers for Boston included Michael Sweet of Stryper, former band member Curly Smith, band member Kimberley Dahme, and a Boston fan from North Carolina named Tommy DeCarlo, who was chosen to sing based on his performances of Boston cover songs on his MySpace page.[27][28] Another former Boston vocalist, Fran Cosmo, was unable to sing because of a ruptured blood vessel in his throat but did play guitar. Jim Masdea, Fran Sheehan and even Barry Goudreau joined Scholz and the rest of the band on stage for the finale, "Don't Look Back". Curly Smith and Kimberley Dahme split the lead vocal on the finale.

Present day (since 2008)

The ongoing conflicts between the surviving band members spilled over to the 2008 Presidential campaign. Barry Goudreau appeared with Mike Huckabee and played with him at some rallies in New Hampshire.[29] Huckabee used "More than a Feeling" as a campaign theme song.[29]

Scholz, a self-described "Obama supporter",[30] sent an open letter to Huckabee in February 2008 stating that the band had never endorsed any candidate, and that he had never authorized the use of "More Than a Feeling" as Huckabee's theme song.[29] Scholz made a point of saying that he, and not Goudreau or Sheehan, actually played all the guitars on "More Than a Feeling" as well as most of Boston’s songs.[30] Huckabee did stop using "More than a Feeling" as a theme song.

In the spring of 2008, Scholz and Sweet introduced a new Boston lineup, which subsequently did a North American summer tour, playing 53 dates in 12 weeks (on a double bill with Styx). Scholz was the only founding member of Boston to play on the tour, although longtime member Gary Pihl was also part of the band. In addition to Scholz, Sweet and Pihl, the new lineup also featured Tommy DeCarlo, Kimberley Dahme and Jeff Neal.

In January 2009, Greatest Hits was re-released as a remastered disc.

An update was posted to the official Boston website revealing progress on a new studio album, which is "progressing at an agonizingly slow rate."[31] As of August 13, 2011, according to publicist Gail Parenteau, the new album is 85% complete.[32] Michael Sweet left the band in August 2011 in order to focus on Stryper.[33]

Spaceship

One of the themes of Boston's albums is the presence of a guitar shaped spaceship, ostensibly a colony ship bearing the city of Boston, with the city's name emblazoned across the front

Appearances

  • Boston - Two long lines of guitar shaped starships flee a planet that is breaking up. The ships all have blue flames coming out of the bottom.
  • Don't Look Back - The Boston ship is flying low or perhaps hovering over a grassy, crystalline planet. The ship has searchlights on.
  • Third Stage - The Boston ship is either headed towards, or perhaps has just undocked from, a large flat spaceship resembling a bank of pipe organ pipes.
  • Walk On - The Boston ship is shown crashing through a rock outcropping.
  • Greatest Hits - The Boston ship flying low over a planet with turquoise rocks and a turquoise tower in the distance.
  • Corporate America - The Boston ship flying towards an Earth-like planet

Their space ship also appeared on their late 80's and early 90's tours in the form of a giant lighting rig and accompanied on stage by their giant pipe organ set piece which is known to Boston insiders as Bertha, because of its sheer size.

Innovations and style

Boston's genre is considered by most to be hard rock, while combining elements of progressive rock into their music.[23][34] Former singer Brad Delp was well known for his extended vocal ranges, shown on hits such as "More Than a Feeling".[35]

Guitarist and primary song writer Tom Scholz' blend of musical styles, ranging from classical to 1960s English pop, has resulted in a unique sound, most consistently realized on the first two albums (Boston and Don't Look Back). This sound is characterized by multiple lead and blended harmonies guitar work (usually harmonized in thirds), often alternating between and then mixing electric and acoustic guitars. Scholz and Brian May are well regarded for the development of complex, multi-tracked guitar harmonies. Another contributing factor is the use of handmade, high tech equipment, such as the Rockman, used by artists such as Journey guitarist Neal Schon, the band ZZ Top, and Ted Nugent. Def Leppard's album Hysteria was created using only Rockman technology. Scholz' production style combines deep, aggressive, comparatively short guitar riffing and nearly ethereal, generally longer note vocal harmonies. A heavier, lower and darker overall approach came in the next two albums (Third Stage and Walk On). The original track, "Higher Power," on the Greatest Hits album exhibits a near Germanic, almost techno influence with its sequencer-sounding keyboards, a sound most fully realized on Corporate America's title track.

Singer Brad Delp, who was strongly influenced by The Beatles,[36] is also credited for helping to create Boston's sound with his signature vocal sound.

Band members

Main article: List of musicians in the band Boston

Current members

Past members

  • Brad Delp (deceased): lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, percussion (1976–1989, 1994–2007)
  • Sib Hashian: drums, percussion, backing vocals (1976–1983)
  • Fran Sheehan: bass (1976–1983)
  • Barry Goudreau: guitars, backing vocals (1976–1981)
  • Jim Masdea: drums, percussion, keyboards (1983–1988)
  • David Sikes: vocals, bass, keyboards (1987–1997)
  • Doug Huffman: drums, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals (1987–1994)
  • Fran Cosmo: lead vocals, guitar (1993–2006)
  • Curly Smith: drums, percussion, harmonica, backing vocals (1994–1997)
  • Anthony Cosmo (also known as Anton Cosmo): guitar, backing vocals, songwriter (1997–2006)
  • Anthony Citrinite: drums (2001–2002)
  • Tom Hambridge: drums (2002)
  • Michael Sweet: lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2008–2011)

Discography

Main article: Boston discography

Studio albums

Year Album U.S.[37] UK[38] RIAA Certification[39] BPI[40]
1976 Boston 3 11 17× Platinum Gold
1978 Don't Look Back 1 9 7× Platinum Silver
1986 Third Stage 1 37 4× Platinum —
1994 Walk On 7 56 Platinum —
2002 Corporate America 42 - — —
2012 TBA 2012 - - — —

References

  1. ^ "allmusic ((( Boston - Overview )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  2. ^ "RIAA Best Selling Artists - Boston". RIAA. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  3. ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum". RIAA. 20 November 2003. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Official Boston Website - History". Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  5. ^ a b "The Chuck Miller Creative Writing Service: Boston". Chuckthewriter.com. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  6. ^ "Musician Magazine 1987". Gonnahitcharide.com. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  7. ^ "Biography". NME. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  8. ^ a b c Crowe, Cameron. "The Band from the Platinum Basement". Rolling Stone. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "SECTION 1: HISTORY OF BOSTON v2.01". Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  10. ^ Rockwell, Jorn (February 12, 1977). Rock: Boston Heads a Triple Bill. New York Times.
  11. ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts Billboard.com". Billboard.com. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  12. ^ a b Wild, David. "Official Boston Website - Don't Look Back - 1978". Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  13. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - August 17, 2009". RIAA. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  14. ^ a b "Ahern vs. Scholz". Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  15. ^ Scholz, Tom. "Official Boston Website - Boston". Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  16. ^ "SR&D Rockman products list". Rockman.fr. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  17. ^ Scholz, Tom. "Official Boston Website - Third Stage - 1986". Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  18. ^ "Boston". The New Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Inc. 1995. 0-684-81044-1.
  19. ^ (2007)Limelight Magazine.
  20. ^ Scholz, Tom. "Official Boston Website - Walk On - 1994". Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  21. ^ Morse, Steve (13 December 1994). "SCHOLZ AND BOSTON ROCK TO PERFECTION FOR A CAUSE". Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  22. ^ "Official Boston Website - David Sikes". Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  23. ^ a b c Simon, Bruce (18 September 2002). "Boston's New Song Popular--Just Not Under The Band's Name". Yahoo!. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  24. ^ a b c d e "Brad Delp: Details Emerge About His Tragic Suicide". Guitar World. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  25. ^ Benson, Jessica (10 March 2007). "Brad Delp, lead singer for band Boston and Merrimack Valley resident, dies". Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  26. ^ Rodman, Sarah (2 July 2007). "Brad Delp-Boston Tribute Take Two". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  27. ^ "Tommy DeCarlo :: Home". Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  28. ^ "Boston find new lead singer - on MySpace". MusicRadar.com. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  29. ^ a b c Ramer, Holly (15 February 2008). "Rocker Tells Huckabee to Lay Off Song". Fox News. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  30. ^ a b ""More Than a Feeling" Writer Says Mike Huckabee Has Caused Him "Damage"". Rolling Stone. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  31. ^ "Official Boston website". Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  32. ^ "New BOSTON Album Is '85% Complete'". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  33. ^ "Michael Sweet Departs Boston | Rock News | News". Planet Rock. 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  34. ^ Nicholson, Kris (7 October 1976). "Boston: Boston Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  35. ^ "RIP Brad Delp (1951-2007)". Pittsburg Post-Gazette. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  36. ^ "Brad Delp interview by Par Winberg". Gonnahitcharide.com. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  37. ^ "Boston". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  38. ^ http://www.everyhit.com/searchsec.php
  39. ^ "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  40. ^ "Home". BPI. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
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