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Classic Rock News And Views
August 16, 2011
New Boston Album Said To Be 85 Percent Complete
This one’s a bit hard to quantify. Hearing that a new album from Boston is 85% complete might indicate that it will be another year or three before fans get a chance to hear it. It may have a lot to do with Boston honcho Tom Scholz and his well-known penchant for perfection. Scholz himself reported in 2010 that the album was “progressing at an agonizingly slow rate – like that would be news – but it is progressing.”
I suppose a guy can’t be blamed for wanting everything just right, so as long as fans have that straight, there won’t be any unrealistic expectations about when the album will actually be completed and ready to be released. To put it plainly, be patient. Perhaps very patient.
Boston, which is one of those groups that has seen a massive change in personnel over the years has just just one original member left in the line-up, and that, is of course, Tom Scholz. Having released their last studio album, Corporate America, in 2002, with Brad Delp still singing lead, one might wonder if the new album will sound much like the Boston of the past. According to new singer Tommy DeCarlo, it will.
The fact that Delp, who died tragically in 2007, will be featured on the new album certainly lends a measure of credibility to DeCarlo’s observation. It’s not entirely clear how Delp’s voice will be included on the album, but I suppose it’s reasonable to conclude that Scholz has in his possession some recordings of Delp working on new material prior to his death. A statement from the group includes the following:
“The lead vocals for Boston’s soon-to-be-released studio album include Brad Delp’s singing on many songs, along with several excellent performances by our other three lead vocalists. The album reflects an intentional effort by principal songwriter and producer Tom Scholz to capture the recognizable sound and energy of his original releases, combined with the musical sophistication expected from exceptional players and vocalists all performing within the traditional framework of the well-known Boston sound.”
At the same time, the group announced the departure of Michael Sweet who is returning to his long-time role as part of Stryper, who are planning a new album of their own. Sweet was not involved in the making of the forthcoming Boston album.
We’ve certainly seen Boston and certain people involved with the band embroiled in controversy over the last few years, but this transitional period that marks Sweet’s departure from the band appears to be happening without any of that, with both Sweet and Boston having good things to say about the time he spent with the group.
Although it’s hard to imagine Boston recapturing that old magic – especially considering how the band has evolved through the years – I see no reason to doubt that they may come out with something quite good. Beyond the news that Brad Delp will be heard on it, part of the group’s statement gives me some hope as well.
The part about the “intentional effort by principal songwriter and producer Tom Scholz to capture the recognizable sound and energy of his original releases,” sounds promising.
As a long-time fan, I’m looking forward to hearing what they’ve come up with.
August 17, 2010
Clash of the Egos at Aerosmith-J Geils Show at Fenway Park
Perhaps the headline might be more accurate if it started with “Clash of the Ego,” since it appears that one oversized ego seems to be at the heart of the matter. As reported by numerous media sources, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler started a heated argument with J. Geils frontman Peter Wolf over the use of a portion of the stage that extended into the audience.
Tyler is said to have approached Wolf the night before the show and informed him that he did not want him to step foot on that particular part of the stage. The argument, as reported by the Boston Globe, took place on the Fenway outfield as crews were finishing up work on the stage and accompanying equipment.
Presumably, Wolf didn’t back down and Tyler offered somewhat of a compromise and informed Wolf that if Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry had no problem with Wolf using that part of the stage, it would be OK with him as well. Unfortunately for Tyler, Perry decided on the high road and told Wolf he had no problem with him using that portion of the stage.
Lord knows what kind of new tensions this may have created between Tyler and Perry and what that means for the future of the band, which has already endured more than its share of trials and tribulations in recent years. Accidents, injuries, disagreements and substance abuse problems seem to have taken their toll on the group – particularly Perry who tends to be outspoken, and perhaps less willing than the other members of the band to tolerate nonsense.
The Globe reports, however, that at least on the surface, things between Tyler and Perry seemed just fine as they were observed talking quietly backstage before Saturday’s show. Maybe Perry is accustomed to this kind of behavior on the part of Tyler. The iconic frontman’s reluctance to let Wolf use what he apparently perceives as the premium on-stage real estate is not a new problem. He has apparently restricted other supporting acts like Sammy Hagar from using the coveted catwalk during their opening set.
It was surely an historic night given the fact that these two bands had never played together and neither one of them had ever played at the famous Boston ballpark. Although it was expected by some that the two groups would unite on stage for a special performance, that moment never came – due most likely to the bad blood between Tyler and Wolf.
With regard to the recent news that Tyler was being considered to feel a judge’s seat on American Idol, the story seems to be playing itself out in typical on-again-off-again Tyler fashion. One report quotes Tyler as saying he had decided to go ahead and take the Idol gig, while a story from TMZ quoted him saying that no official offer had been extended yet and that they would have to “lay out the bread for me.”
May 28, 2010
Boston Herald Ramps up Coverage of Tom Scholz Lawsuit
Suing a newspaper sounds as if it could be a rather sticky endeavor. That’s not to say that it should never be done. Especially if something was printed that isn’t factual. There are cases on the books where newspapers (particularly the ones with the sensational headlines lining supermarket checkout aisles) have paid out huge settlements after finding themselves on the losing end of a celebrity lawsuit.
Tom Scholz’s lawsuit against The Boston Herald seems to have progressed to the point where some of the statements that are contained in the suit are making their way onto the pages of the very newspaper that’s been placed in Scholz’s crosshairs.
The Boston Herald reports that they will begin “excerpting court papers relevant to the case and posting complete documents online on bostonherald.com.” The paper states that they intend to run this type of content as a series for the week.
The excerpts provide a glimpse into the details of what is alleged in the lawsuit, and some of statements that were made during a deposition with the ex-wife of Boston singer Brad Delp.
One must consider that the details of the lawsuit that are being printed by the Herald – the newspaper that is the defendant in the lawsuit. Whether or not that has any influence on what’s printed is not known to me, but it’s probably safe to assume that the Herald is treading carefully under these circumstances.
In glancing at the lawsuit coverage in the online version of The Boston Herald, I see that a number of related stories have also been printed, including stories entitled “Ex-Boston members, Scholz sparred in court” and “Scholz’s many lawsuits.”
One thing is clear to the casual observer, and that’s the appearance that Tom Scholz is not the kind of guy who takes things lying down. He’s a vigorous defender of his reputation, something that everyone is (or should be) entitled to do.
We’re bound to hear more from the Herald as this case progresses. Unfortunately, the most recent lawsuit involved the tragic death of Brad Delp, and I believe it’s safe to say that the real reason he did what he did was known beyond a shadow of a doubt only to him.
March 18, 2010
Boston’s Tom Scholz In New Legal Battle
It’s been a while since we’ve heard any Boston news, and unfortunately this latest development isn’t something for fans to be excited about, like the announcement of a new album release or something. Even so, news is news, and it is clear that founder Tom Scholz does not care much for people saying things about him that he says are not true.
In a new lawsuit that has been filed in Suffolk County Superior Court, Scholz and his legal team are accusing Beantown newspaper The Boston Herald of libel. According to court documents, Scholz is accusing Herald reporters Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa “falsely reported that Mr. Delp’s ex-wife blamed his suicide on Mr. Scholz.”
The suit goes on to say that Delp’s ex-wife stated under oath that she did not make any statements blaming Scholz for Brad Delp’s suicide.
Legal documents usually make for pretty boring reading, but often contain tidbits of information that may not have been widely disseminated before. Like all lawsuits, the content of this one is based on what the plaintiff claims is true, and it is up to the court to sort it out and and decide what the truth actually is.
The first portion of the suit lays out the evidence that Scholz and his attorneys are using to build their case upon, while the second portion describes the damage they say has been inflicted on Scholz. This is described in part as “…emotional stress, embarrassment and humiliation, the nature of which no reasonable person could be expected to endure and for which Mr. Scholz is entitled to recover.”
No specific amount is mentioned in the lawsuit, instead, it states that Scholz is asking the court to “…award him damages against the Defendants in the amount determined by the jury, plus statutory interest.” The suit does indeed state that a trial by jury is “demanded,” which I can only presume is the usual way such things are stated within the context of a lawsuit.
Perhaps the outcome of this lawsuit will signal the end of the drama that resulted from disputes among some of the original members of the group, and have dragged on for years. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking, but it would be nice to be able to talk about something positive regarding Boston, a group that earned its place as one of the most successful rock acts to ever emerge from the region.
The entire lawsuit can be viewed on the Boston Globe website.
July 2, 2009
Tommy DeCarlo Audio Interview
From the way Tommy DeCarlo talks about his experience as the lead vocalist for legendary rock group Boston, the appreciation he has for the opportunity has not diminished at all. The former Home Depot employee recently talked to the folks at Melodicrockconcerts.com for about 36 minutes and shared some of his memories from the amazing journey has been on since he was discovered after posting some of his vocal performances on the internet.
You can tell that talking to DeCarlo is not like talking to a veteran rock star, and that’s kind of cool, since he sounds more like the guy next door than the guy on stage in front of screaming fans. Originally from Utica, New York, it’s easy to tell from his accent that he’s not native to the North Carolina home he shares with his wife and wife and two kids.
Although it’s not entirely clear what DeCarlo’s future with wind up being, he’s enormously grateful for the experience he had working with the band while touring with Styx last year. Spending time on the road with them evolved into a friendship with the guys from Styx that continues today. DeCarlo described his recent reunion with Styx at one of their shows as like seeing family.
Boston founder Tom Scholz is said to be working on new material, something DeCarlo would surely be interested in if he is invited to participate. Asked whether he would be willing to go on tour with Boston again, he jokingly says “Let me see. Let me think about that,” and then delivers a very decisive “Yes, I would love to.”
Despite the uncertainty of his future with Boston, DeCarlo is not sitting just around his house waiting for the phone to ring. He has involved himself in some of his own projects and reveals that he has been working with some writers and producers and doing jingles, which gives him some valuable experience in the studio. He describes it as a “great little gig,” and is something that probably allows him to continue to enjoy freedom from his old job at Home Depot.
Although I don’t know the exact details of Tommy DeCarlo’s employment status today and whether or not his musical endeavors earn him enough to pay the bills, I think the thought of returning to Home Depot after touring with Boston would be pretty tough on just about anyone. However, if it had to be done, DeCarlo strikes me as the kind of guy that has the humble, unassuming attitude that would allow him to put that orange apron right back on again and go back to helping customers navigate around the store.
I really kind of doubt that’s something he’s going to have to worry about though.
There’s a lot more in the interview which can be listened to at Melodicrockconcerts.com.
