Boston
Biography
The arena rock group behind one of the fastest-selling debut albums in history, Boston was essentially the vehicle of studio wizard Tom Scholz, born March 10, 1947, in Toledo, OH. A rock fan throughout his teen years, he began writing songs while earning a master's degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After graduation, he began work for Polaroid, and set about constructing his own 12-track recording studio in the basement of his home, where demos were recorded that earned Scholz and vocalist Brad Delp a contract with Epic in 1975. Although some recording and overdubs were later done in Los Angeles, the 1976 release of Boston consisted largely of tapes recorded in Scholz's basement. (By then, the lineup had coalesced around Scholz, Delp, guitarist Barry Goudreau, bassist Fran Sheehan, and drummer John "Sib" Hashian.) Boston spawned three hit singles ("More Than a Feeling," "Long Time," and "Peace of Mind"), and shot immediately to the top of the charts, remaining the best-selling pop debut effort in history before it was supplanted by Whitney Houston's first album in 1986.
Despite the record's overwhelming success, Scholz spent over two years working on the follow-up, 1978's number one hit Don't Look Back; a perfectionist, he only then released the album because of intense label pressure for product. Unsatisfied with the results, he swore to produce the next album at his own pace; as a result, the chart-topping Third Stage did not appear until 1986, at which time only Scholz and Delp remained from the original lineup.
Scholz spent the next several years in the courtroom: eventually, he won a seven-year battle against Epic, which claimed Boston had reneged on its contract by taking so long between releases. When the band resurfaced again in 1994 with Walk On, Scholz was the lone remaining member; Delp and Goudreau had reunited in 1992 as RTZ, releasing the album Return to Zero. Unlike previous returns, Walk On was a commercial failure. Radio and MTV ignored any attempts at singles or videos, and the minimalist approach taken by the popular alternative artists of the era made the crystalline production and lengthy recording time seem anachronistic.
Taking another eight years to work on the next record, he targeted the Internet crowd first by releasing a single to www.MP3.com in the summer of 2002. The track became the site's number one download, and word of their new album spread quickly. (Delp's return to the group also helped matters.) Secondly, Scholz set his lyrical sights on political targets, going so far as to title the record Corporate America as he emphasized his disdain for the system he had been a vital part of at one time. After releasing the record in the fall of that year, Boston embarked on a tour that took them into 2004. In March of 2007, however, Delp passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.
In addition to his fame as a musician, Scholz also found success as an inventor and businessman. In 1981, he formed Scholz Research & Design, Inc., a company founded to create high-tech music equipment. After first developing the Power Soak, a volume-control device, SR&D introduced the Rockman, a small and inexpensive guitar amplifier with headphones. The Rockman proved phenomenally popular with other musicians, and the capital generated from its sales helped fund Scholz's further musical ambitions. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
Realz, you're an idiot. 1) "they suck"...clea r l y they don't 2) "this band is so gay"...I don't even care to figure out what the hell that means. If being catchy as hell, melodic and using harmonies is what you mean by gay, then your too young to appreciate this music or know what you're talking about. Enjoy the grunge/slack e r crap you seem to be into.
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This IS what QUALITY music IS...not WAS.. Cause it still rocks today .... R.I.P Brad Delp. you will be missed
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Boston will always be one of my favorite bands of all time. RIP Brad Delp.
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Look at the big brain on realz. Took you 2 posts to say nothing. If this is the best you've got, go back to cluelessmeat h e a d s . c o m where you will be among friends.
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I Love these guys! Their music not only rocks but it has a spiritual quality that reaches my soul. I'm 46 years old and I have been rocking to Boston since I was 13!
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I'm going to see them at The NY State Fair. I saw them 4 years ago at the same venue. Can't wait......Th e y ' r e awesome!
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I love this music - Classic rock.... what memories of growing up to these songs! This summers concert was a flash to the past... awesome!
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Great music that bridges the generations. My 16 year old son took me to see Boston and Styx in Roanoke Rapids, NC on Aug. 16 for my 45th birthday. Both bands were great and we both knew all the words to all the songs. How cool is that?!
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Boston and Styx was great in Big Flats, NY. on Aug 1,2008. Lead singer did a great job as well as the new girl on bass.
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One of my favorite rock bands as a teen.Still enjoy listening to them here and there.
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saw them twice in the last week... i miss Brad Delp, but they did an AMAZING JOB! i love their monumental sound. tom scholz is a genius!
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One of my all-time favorite bands. They have their own style of music and its the best. My favorite: Long Time!!!!
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As the bio says: "the minimalist approach taken by the popular alternative artists of the era made the crystalline production and lengthy recording time seem anachronisti c . " Well, minimalist is not my cup of tea. Gimme BIG sounds like Boston! It's always the best.
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Was a good show. Female bassist did a great job. Vocalist wasn't very stage present.
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saw in concert july27...... . . . . . . . n e w lead singer is awsome. sounds almost
identical to Brad Delp. RIP BRAD |
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jhawk33, there are songs and music that etch into our memories, and when heard again invoke those same strong feelings and taste of the moment when we first heard them, whether joyous or sad boston still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up even 32 years after the first time i heard "more than a feeling"
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Boston is one of the greatest bands ever Tom Scholz is a genius the band might be diffrent without Brad Delp but we will see hw Tommy does on tour this summer July 11th here in Boise,Id
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It will interesting to hear their sound without Brad. It wont be the same but Im gald that they are still together! ~ SLD
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This guy has some serious dedication to his music, which is to be admired. But I strongly suspect that ol' Sholzy here has OCD. But I love Boston me.
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I myself love listening to Boston. Ever sence they came out in the 70's they have been rocken.
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well what can i say that hasn't been said,i too have seen them afew times,they are my favorite band ever,i can relate to the music,that was my life in the 80's and part of the 70's,the music tells its own story and ya know you can relate to your own life.god bless the band and its new members who will be touring this summer,brad will be be missed but remember this...hes watching over us and the band.enjoy the music of boston forever..pea c e
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Boston was one of the first albums I bought and I still listen to it all the time. No one will ever sound like Boston and that's the way it should be. Also, I met them all when they stayed at the hotel I was working at - great bunch of guys, too! It was pleasure to meet them (especially when they gave me 5th row tickets and back stage passes!!) The heavens are rockin' a little bit now - bye Brad!
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I cant imagine spending 8 years on one alblum. If I were doing that, I would get dead sick of the music I was writting.
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