I just heard about the passing of Brad Delp this afternoon and it came as quite a shock. I’ve spent the last hour or so listening to the first two Boston albums. And reminiscing about my high school years and good times and happy places…..
I know that now a lot of snooty music critics like to lump Boston and a bunch of other bands from that era into one category and call them “arena rock” and say it in a tone which implies that arena rock is a bad thing. But as one who was there - and loving every minute of it - arena rock was a good thing!
Disco was ruling the air waves, southern rock was in a bad way after the Skynyrd plane crash and Duane Allman’s motorcycle crash. And rock and roll needed a breath of fresh air. And then, along came Boston…
Contrary to one of their song lyrics, they were much more than “just another band out of Boston.” They brought a new sound to rock and roll. Guitars were alive again. And in contrast to a lot of mid-70’s hard rock, this rock and roll made you feel good. And part of that sound was the unmistakable voice of Brad Delp.
No, it wasn’t a ‘perfect’ voice and I’m sure that voice ‘experts’ could have found much to criticize, but, it was the right voice for Boston, and that made it all good. And unlike a lot of his contemporaries, Brad could still hit those high notes 30 years later.
I’d heard an interview with Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon not too long ago, and he was talking about REO and Boston going out on tour together this summer. Even though I don’t hit many concerts any more, that is one that I was looking forward to.
I know this is all just a rambling mess; I wish I could write like what I feel, but I can never get words to come out exactly right. But I know I’m deeply saddened today as another piece of my good memories has passed on.
Posted on March 13th, 2007 by Paul
Filed under: Music
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