ATKINSON, N.H.—Brad Delp, the lead singer for Boston, a huge rock sensation in the 1970s, was found dead Friday in his home, police said. He was 55.
For a number of reasons, some of which it would be best not to go into here, I remember the summer of 1976 very fondly. That was the summer a couple of friends and I stole the giant picture of Randy White from behind the bar at the Italian Gardens in College Park, MD, and put it up in the living room of one of the crew’s houses. For all intents and purposes, the first Boston album was the soundtrack of that summer.
Boston burst on the scene that year with what is still the best-selling debut album in American music history. The technical expertise of guitarist and band leader Tom Scholz tended to overshadow the players, which was a shame. The album had a revolutionary sound that still holds up today in terms of production values. The fact that seven of the eight tracks were recorded in Scholz’s home studio with the analog technology available at the time is nothing short of amazing.
Brad Delp’s soaring vocals and stupefying range were hallmarks of Boston’s signature sound, and it’s still something of a mystery to me that he didn’t become a household name. I’d be willing to bet that even today, very few people could come up with the answer if you asked them who the lead singer of Boston was.
My wife and I saw them a couple of years ago, and I was not impressed. The sound was horrible, mainly because the stage sound was ridiculously over-amped, and also because they wandered all over the place musically. The players were excellent though, and even though Delp got some help on the really high notes, he still had most of his range, and sounded as good as ever. It just goes to show you that you never know when a particular show is the last time you’ll see someone. I’ll keep that in mind when we see Clapton next week.
One of my favorites from the ‘70’s as well. Luckily I saw Boston twice, in ‘77 and ‘79 I believe, so there was no letdown given the new expectations of modern technology (or to the dropoff due to aging of the performers). Brad’s vocal range would be almost unattainable, for peoples over 30…just ask Jon Anderson, or David Lee Roth.
standard86 No, ‘76….
“A Man I’ll Never Be” is so underappreciated.
First we lost DJ a while back and now the estimable Mister Delp. Beantown icons both.
Couldn’t agree more with the comments about Brad Delp’s chops or the band’s place in the 70’s
hierarchy of experiences. I’ll never forget hearing More Than a Feeling for the first time while living on Cape Cod in 76. Or wearing out the album for the rest of the year.
One the few albums I have owned in every format 8 track, cassette, lp & CD. Another piece of the soundtrack of my childhood has been chipped away.
Chowdah –
Hardings Beach soundtrack: “Gonna hitch a ride…”
Parking cars and bussing tables @ Thompson’s Clam Bar: “Let me take you home tonight…” (heh)
Oh, and Bobby Orr is Gawd. Damn.
Having been the singer in any number of cover bands, tackling Brad Delp invoked a fear in me second only to Steve Perry. While Scholz was the technical wizard, I was keyed into Brad through some very formative years, and his work on “Let Me Take You Home Tonight” got me laid more times than I care to mention.
Thanks for the memories, Brad. Godspeed.
Yes indeed. Long Time comes to mind as well, though I suppose it’s a minor hit on an album full of smashes.
Also poignant is the Boston website. Apparently a summer reunion was in the works. Damn.
Everytime I hear “More Than a Feeling” I get chills up and down my spine. And it’s been 30 years now. That is one of the most extraordinary vocal tracks I’ve ever encountered. My wife is something of a music snob (she performed herself for years and used to have an extraordinary range as well), but fully appreciates the absolute rarity that Delp was. It wasn’t just the range–it was the power. A lot of people can hit that high note, but the strength he possessed at the top was preternatural.
Truly a loss.
“A Man I’ll Never Be” was always one of my very favorite Boston songs. This is such a shame.
Boston couldn’t have been the tour de force it was without him. One of a kind indeed.
There was a really, really good reason why virtually no cover band ever did Boston songs.
Of course the sound would never be as lush as Scholz’s recordings (wasn’t he working as an engineer for Polaroid?) but what singer in their right mind would attempt to sing like Brad?
Not me, man. Didn’t even bother to try.
As someone who grew up on Cape Cod (honing ground for Boston and Orleans) I just want to say; fair thee well, Brad.
I’d do Smokin, Let Me Take You Home and Rock and Roll Band serviceably a half a million Marlboros ago. But More than a Feeling or Hitch a Ride or Don’t Look Back?
Not on a bet. A man has to know his limitations, and Brad’s were well beyond most mere mortals’. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread and all.
I still have the Boston elpee I bought in ‘76, and I never play it. Nor have I bought the cd, or downloaded any tunes from the album. Why? Because dang near all the songs are still in heavy rotation on the radio, and have been my entire adult life. 1976 was the year zero for punk, so it’s a testament to the Boston debut album’s greatness that it overshadows everything else from that year. (Listened to Led Zep’s Presence much, lately?)
Well said, CraigC. Another tribute to Delp is at the website of bandmate Barry Goudreau. Click around in there for video and photos of him, too.
Sign of the times, that spaceship–remember when it was everywhere? Like the Frampton cover or the Farrah poster (not to be confused with the poorly received Farah poster)
That music’s so powerfully unique. Those guitars, that voice–holy shit. RIP Brad Delp.
I hear you, Pablo. Delp, Steve Perry, Dennis DeYoung. Don’t even try it.
I can do a pretty decent Tommy Shaw, though.
Haaaaaa. Hell, I can do Tommy Shaw. What is this, a reunion of broken-down old rock singers? I’m also in the “Wouldn’t Try Brad Delp On a Bet” club. Another guy who used to piss me off to no end was Lou Gramm. Almost every single song in the Foreigner catalog was right in my wheelhouse vocally, but there was always one moment when he would soar up into the stratosphere.
Bastard.
And Jeff, how dare you mention Dennis De Fucking Young in such exalted company? Who’s next, Billy Joel?
Stevesh: No, Phil Lesh is God.
Nukem: Another guy who had that power in the far upper range was Mickey Thomas. Too bad his talent was wasted in the “Gotta Have a Hit a Minute” ear candy that was Starship.
The Delp family has released a statement. Heart attack would be a fair assumption given the charity designation.
Also the first two albums have been remastered by the wizard himself after some corporate arm twisting. Gonna have to grab those.
Mickey Thomas should have retired after “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” with EB. Gonna break out the vinyl today and listen to the Boston catalog.
With the volume pumped to 11 of course.
RE: Thompson’s Clam Bar.
Oh my gawd, the memories come rushing back. I was more of a Mildred’s Chowder House guy myself.
So you have one of those special Spinal Tap amps, Kevin? Did you take a pair of pliers and twist the knob, or just write “11” on it with a magic marker?
Factory installed mate. If I crank it up to 12,
the drummer explodes! Exit, stage left, breaking like the wind…
Gentlemen! If you feel as strongly about the depth and magnitude of Brad and Boston as your posts seem to indicate, may I direct your attention back to the focus: the respect for his passing. And for those who wish to spend profanity where it justly should be; harken ye to the following url and read the ‘article’ therein purporting to comment on Brad’s passing; but is in actuality the author’s critique of Boston. “A Band About Nothing” I found it rude, callus and meritless. If you agree, alert your cronies and let us attempt to censure this kind of tripe. Thank you.
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/03/a_band_about_no.html
The Sanity Inspector:
Yes, I listen to “Presence” every once in awhile. It’s Led Zepplin’s most underrated album.
Back on topic, it’s too bad Boston didn’t make more music, they had the talent and creativity to do so much more. We’ll just have to appreciate what they have done.
R.I.P., Mr. Delp.
I caught the band on the Third Stage tour back in ‘86-’87 and they sounded great. It was my understanding that the original line-up was mostly made up of unhappy hired guns since Sholz did most or all of the parts on the albums while Mr. Delp did all the vocals. For those of you who did manage to catch them live in the late-1970’s, how did they sound? Just curious.
R.I.P Mr. Delp.
Brad Delp was an incredible vocalist- just listen to “Rock & Roll Band” as he kicks up the vocals an octave. He had what I refer to as “mutant vocal chords”, props I give to Robert Plant, Steven Tyler, Steve Perry and Lou Gramm. All truly great vocalists, and Brad Delp should be as much a household name as these other guys.
May Brad Rest In Peace, and hopefully he’ll see Terry Kath in rock & roll heaven.
I WAS KINDA SURPRISED THAT SOMEONE WITH BRAD’S TALENT HE WASN’T MORE PROMINENT IN HIS PLACE IN ROCK N ROLL ,EVEN TO THE POINT THAT WHILE WE WERE LISTENING TO SPEACHES ABOUT VAN HALEN AND REM NOONE TOOK TIME TO EVEN ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR BRAD AT THE R N R HALL OF FAME GIG .KINDA SAD CONSIDERING HE PROBABLY HAD SOME OF THE BEST PIPES IN ROCK N ROLL
I saw Boston (opened by Stanky Brown) at a tune-up performance at Rutgers, the night before they played Madison Square Garden, in the Spring of ‘77. It was a blistering show, with alot of music in addition to the first album (’though little of it seemed to be on the 2nd disc when it came out).
What I do recall, besides Scholz’ pyrotechnic guitar-interplay with Barry Goudreau, was the happy romping of Brad all over the stage, connecting with everyone in the joint. His banter with the audience, passing contraband back & forth, was as much a highlight as his sky-scraping vocals. Great show, and he was the connection!
Brad Delp…R.I.P. I had the chance to meet Brad last year, while he was doing yet andother charity show with Beatlejuice. What a great man.
You will be greatly missed.
The memories of our youth, our childhood, the soundtrack of our lives, the times we remember before “the thrill of living was gone”, Brad Delp’s vocals and Boston’s music NEVER fail to bring back the memories and moreover the feelings of a happier simpler time in my life. A time when all we need was to gather with a few friends, food, drink, and music, maybe a little time at the beach. Wow, time flies. I pray that Mr. Delp will spend eternity in Heaven. He certainly shared his God given gifts with all of us and succeeded in making our time here on earth much happier and much more fun. Brad, thanks for the memories of you and your music and thanks for the memories of my life that your music is a part of.
I can remember vividly the release of The Boston debut album (stiil have the LP, cassette, and 8 Track) I can’t say how many CD’s I’ve owned maybe half a dozen. I also remember the day I bought ‘Third stage’ and most particularly Brad hitting possibly the highest note he recorded on any record in ‘My Destination’. (Have a listen to that song and see what im saying)I can remember the hair standing up on the back of my neck and to be totally truthful it still does every time I hear it. The reflections offered to the fans from Brads friends and family have emphasized his kindness and generosity. Let me stop here and make an observation about why Delp was not known by name to the millions who could otherwise pick out his voice in a song they were listening to. Brad was an extremely talented Singer, song writer and musician. He never made the headlines for drug addiction, or assaulting some fan in a bar or a ‘Bigger than God’ complex that prevented him from signing autographs or anything else he felt necessary to fill the hole that alot of musicians have in place of where talent should be. He was and will always be remembered for his talent. As far as kindness and concern, allow me to close with this: I was at the “Living for you” show in Pensacola Fl. in 1997 when Brad put a guitar pick in the Boston ball cap I had bought at the concert. A lady snatched the pick out of my cap and Brad saw her do it. He turned right around and got another pick and personally handed it to me. WOW what a nice guy. To be gifted with such talent, admired by millions of fans and still be an all around nice guy is well… I can’t say unheard of ANYMORE…
BRAD DELP is my “great” uncle.. he is my Grandfathers brother and he was a “great” singer and a really good guy. i only seem him about 3 or 4 times a year but it was a pleasure. and it was so unpredictable to me and the family a very sad moment and hell always be remembered by us, and many of his fans…R.I.P uncle brad!!!
no matter how bad my day is going…If I put on ‘MORE THAN A FEELING” it just makes me smile and makes me feel at peace.
no matter how bad my day is going…If I put on ‘MORE THAN A FEELING” it just makes me smile and makes me feel at peace. I will always keep your songs in my heart.
Brad, was a magic at vocals, no one can ever replace him.I think Tom Shuztl, had a lot to do with brads death! Brad wanted to tour and tom said f u . Im 45 years old and love brad delps voice. Saw him @ Rocky point R.I. Brad will live with me forever in a voice that can never be repeated. P.S miss U Brad!!!!!!!!!!!
To this day it breaks my heart, we lost someone so talented, cause of TOM U really SUCK!!!!!!!!!hope your life is better now ASSHOLE111111