"I looked out this morning and the sun was gone Turned on some music to start my day I lost myself in a familiar song I closed my eyes and I slipped away" Boston - More than a feeling
I was on an online music forum that I read and post on frequently, when I read that Brad Delp, the lead singer of the band Boston had passed away at 55.
Boston was one of my favorite bands. And Brad Delp was one of my favorite Rock Singers. He had one of those rare amazing voices (not to mention ranges) that few male singers can ever attain.
I read once where someone mentioned that he would have been a great replacement for Freddie Mercury of Queen (Another one of those rare and amazing rock vocalists to be sure). I couldn't have agreed more.
I know that Boston was not just Brad Delp, but I would guess that his contribution was was close to 50% of it. The other 50% being Tom Sholz. The bands lead guitarist, whose guitar sound and playing had a huge influence on my own.
Their first 3 albums (Boston, Don't Look Back, and Third Stage), are three albums that I never tire of. Their first album is still considered to be one of the best Rock albums ever recorded and (for me) the latter "3rd Stage" reaches near sonic perfection. It's one of those albums where: The more I listen to it, the more there is to hear.
Brad left the group after "Third Stage". The bands 4th album "Walk On" featured Fran Cosmo on lead vocals. I bought the CD; I liked a lot of the songs on it. Fran is an excellent singer, but (for me) it wasn't the same band anymore. When I read about his death, the first thing that entered my mind was "How"?
A few days later the news would come out that it was suicide. This is unfathomable to me. I struggle in relative obscurity trying to get my music out there. Working against a system that doesn't care about new music. I have no large Machine in place and have to do the work myself. I still have to work a part time day job to support myself, and every day I think to myself, if music was full time I would be the happiest person on earth.
I don't know why Brad Delp killed himself. And I don't want to come off as judgmental about his suicide either, because I don't know the man. There must have been some other greater pain in his life, or maybe he suffered from something uncontrollable like clinical depression....who knows? I just find it sad to think that someone who got to do what he wanted to do with his life, would also have to end it.
Brad Delp came back for Boston's 5th album and word was, that he and Tom Sholz where working on the 6th. That 5th album "Corporate America" was a mixed bag of 10 songs. In my review of it I said that half the songs where Awesome! And the other half Crap! But I still wanted to hear that 6th album.
I was at that dreaded day job, when I read the posting. After I got off work, I turned on my ipod and played those first three albums and listened to that amazing sound.
R.I.P. Brad Delp.
"So many people have come and gone Their faces fade as the years go by Yet I still recall as I wander on As clear as the sun in the summer sky"
