Brad Delp, RIP Age 55, Boston Vocalist

ATKINSON, N.H. —AP- Brad Delp, the lead singer for the band Boston, was found dead Friday in his home in southern New Hampshire. He was 55. Atkinson police responded to a call for help at 1:20 p.m. and found Delp dead. Police Lt. William Baldwin said in a statement the death was “untimely” and that there was no indication of foul play.

Sad. Back when they played here in 1978, when they were touring, promoting “Don’t look Back”, I had an opportunity to meet with some of the band.  Never did meet Delp, though. Luck of the draw, I guess…  Sad, because as I understand it, he was as the website says one of the nicest guys on the planet.

Talented, as well.

If you look closely you’ll notice that I didn’t say “lead vocalist” I merely said “vocalist”.  There’s a reason for that; he did all their vocals all the harmonies.  All the leads.  All of it. Really quite something , given the technology of the time, and given that their first album, arguably their best, was recorded in the studio built in Tom Sholz’ basement. (Yes, that’s what Foxglove Studios was, gang)

In terms of how that studio performance translated into a live performance, I can only speak for the one concert of theirs that I attended; they covered the recordings surprisingly well.

I was not a fan of the band the way some folks live and breathe a particular band.  Like most people of the time, I have their first two albums committed to memory ; Given the number of sales that they made you can hardly avoid it, particularly in the business I was in at the time. Their later albums, seemed lackluster by comparison.  Which is sad because taken in their own light, the later albums were actually quite good.

But even with that slight detachment, I can’t help but feel a bit of loss, this evening.  Perhaps, it’s because they were such a large part of the musical scene, back in the day.  And thus, part of my history, too.  So it was with so much of America , that there was hardly a household in the ‘states that did not copy of that least the first album stuffed into a record cabinet, someplace.
Boston’s website has a nice tribute up.

55? Too early, man, way too early.
If I remember rightly, Delp was a vegetarian.  It wouldn’t surprise me much, if that had something to do with this untimely demise .  It wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened.  Anyone remember Jim Henson, for example? Cause of death will not be released until Monday; I suppose we’ll all find out what the story was, then.

Not that it’ll help much.

Addendum:

Added comments from Captain Ed, and from Right Celebrity