Tom Scholz probably never imagined in his wildest dreams that a recording project he started with a few fellow musicians would become one of the fastest selling albums of all time upon its release in 1976. It would shift more than 17 million copies and feature a track, 'More Than A Feeling', that would be recognised as one of the most enduring of Melodic Hard Rock songs and also be a staple of almost every Rock compilation album ever released. BOSTON's mentor and driving force was born in Toledo, Ohio on 10th March 1947 and began a degree course in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1965, receiving both Batchelor and Masters degrees.

In his leisure time Scholz began playing in local club bands and eventually met up with vocalist Brad Delp, who had first hit the stage in a group called THE MONKS, playing nothing but THE BEATLES covers, and guitarist Barry Goudreau in the band MOTHER'S MILK. Demos followed as Scholz involved himself almost obsessively in his recording studio engineering drafting in drummer Jim Masdea and reacquainting himself with Delp, who was earning a living working in a factory manufacturing fridges. It was during these sessions that material later to make the debut album was first laid down. The origins of the huge 1976 radio hit 'More Than A Feeling' lay in an initial recording billed as 'Ninety Days' in 1972 and album cut 'Hitch A Ride' was originally rooted in a song titled 'San Francisco Days'.

The first set of tapes were rejected by all the major labels, including Epic Records, until manager Jim Ahern found avid interest at Epic based on anonymous tapes that did not reveal any band name. The label agreed to sign the band on condition the sound on tape could be reproduced live. In haste Scholz pulled in Goudreau and former COOL RAY & THE POLAROIDS and REVOLTING TONES REVIEW rhythm section bassist Fran Sheehan and drummer Sib Hashian, the latter from FORTRESS- not one of the multitude of Rock acts in America under that handle but a Disco band.

The band set about recording, but were still without a band name. Epic suggested BOSTON and work began with a record company chosen producer John Boylan. Scholz in fact gave the record company finished tapes which were very nearly entirely recorded at his home studio, Foxglove Studios in Watertown, with only really Delp, recording his vocals in Los Angeles under the guidance of Boylan, assisting. The assembled bandworked with the producer on studio arrangements in order to create a smokescreen for Scholz's home endeavours. Of the final tracks, Goudreau and Sheehan only featured on 'Foreplay/Long Time' and 'Let Me Take You Home Tonight'. Jim Masdea cut the drums for 'Rock & Roll Band' with Sib Hashian handling percussion on all other tracks.

With an August 1976 release the lead single 'More Than A Feeling' became a radio staple with frightening speed eventually reaching number 5 in the American singles charts. The album, the fastest selling debut for any American group, earned an RIAA Gold Record Award for half a million sales in two months and sailing past the platinum marker in just three months, scaled its way to the no. 3 position and stayed in the top ten for well over a year.

All during this period of adulation Scholz remarkably held down a day job in Research & Development at the local Polaroid plant, becoming involved in the development of one of the world's first video cameras. When Epic and Ahern put the pressure on for BOSTON to tour Scholz asked permission for temporary leave.

The band stepped out onto the live circuit gingerly with a series of low key club gigs until Scholz was convinced the studio sound could be reproduced live. From then on BOSTON performed arena dates with such artists as FOGHAT, BLACK SABBATH, in October 1976, and JEFF BECK. As album sales grew however BOSTON switched positions to headliner and toured America in early 1977 with support from SAMMY HAGAR and ACE.

The tour ground to a halt in May and Scholz immediately set about reconstructing his home studio in order to complete BOSTON's second album. What happened next was to instigate the drawn out legal battle with Epic Records. Scholz believing that the record company was putting undue muscle on him to deliver a follow up. 'Don't Look Back' was eventually released in August 1978. Scholz claimed the whole project was unduly rushed and disowned it. With no support from Scholz, and BOSTON's management team in disarray, 'Don't Look Back' nonetheless sold more than three million copies, but it was forever to skulk in the shadow of it's illustrious predecessor.

BOSTON geared up for roadwork once more as the winter of 1978 set in. The band could now afford elaborate stage sets and a $100'000 pipe organ (nicknamed 'Bernie') was to dominate centre stage. Demand was such that it was to be mid 1979 before BOSTON could take a break following which further American shows were followed by Japanese dates and shows in Europe with support act TRICKSTER. The shows in Britain were to be the last live gigs the 'original' line-up of BOSTON that they would ever play.

Scholz retired into seclusion allying himself with former SAMMY HAGAR road manager Jeff Dorenfield as work began on a projected third album. Fran Sheehan meantime tried out unsuccessfully for the bass position in BLACK SABBATH. Epic began to get impatient, as Scholz's notorious lengthy recording schedule seemed to drag on forever. Fours years passed before, losing all patience, Epic began a law suit against Scholz claiming breach of contract in that BOSTON were bound to deliver five albums in ten years and Scholz was clearly way off target.

What followed was a virtual drought for BOSTON fans of over six years during which time Scholz embroiled himself in a lengthy legal battle with Epic Records. During this time it was alleged that new recordings had been destroyed in a freak accident and that Scholz, driven by a supposed all consuming zeal for perfection was committed to a mental institution. All these stories only served to fuel the anticipation for the next release.

In the interim, guitarist Barry Goudreau had signed a solo deal with Portrait and released a self-titled album in 1981which many fans took to consider to be the third BOSTON album, if only because it contained appearances from Goudreau's band colleagues Brad Delp and Sib Hashian.

Frustrated by the mothership's inactivity Goudreau quit BOSTON in 1983 to form ORION THE HUNTER, although its alleged that Scholz always considered anyone but Delp to be hired hands anyway.

'Third Stage' took America by surprise, mainly due to a shrewd marketing campaign by new label MCA Records and both the album and accompanying single, 'Amanda', raced to the number one position. Within a matter of months 'Third Stage' had surpassed the four million sales mark, and its impact had pulled both previous releases back into the album charts.

Naturally, Scholz now had to put a brand new band together in order to take 'Third Stage' on the road. Scholz and Delp alone had essentially recorded the album, although Jim Masdea helped out on drums and erstwhile SAMMY HAGAR guitarist Gary Pihl was added during recording to contribute to the project as well. The touring band found ex-ALDO NOVA and GIUFFRIA bassist David Sikes taking his place in a rhythm section that also included Masdea. Pihl remained in place to complement Scholz on guitar as Delp took centre stage.

Although Scholz was ready to begin work on the fourth BOSTON album almost immediately after completing 'Third Stage', the urgent need to build a new recording studio inevitably delayed the project. And the studio re-build proved to be a much greater undertaking than Scholz had anticipated, taking two years to complete and another to develop new equipment for use in the studio and for stage work. It wasn't until November 1990 before Tom began work on new material. It would eventually emerge that Brad Delp was no longer involved and that his position had been taken by Fran Cosmo (a.k.a. Francis Migliacco) who, ironically enough, had first come to the fore fronting former BOSTON guitarist Barry Goudreau's ORION solo project in 1984.

Oddly enough, Delp had last been heard fronting Goudreau's latest band, RTZ, on their self-titled album released through Giant in 1991. The singer had begun working with Goudreau on the project before work on 'Third Stage' had commenced. Once Delp had completed his commitments to Scholz by touring on the back of 'Third Stage', Brad had been finally able to cut the RTZ record with Barry. Joining Scholz and Cosmo in the recording of the fourth album were Gary Pihl and Sikes.

A switch in lead vocalists for 1994's 'Walk On', another US top ten album, saw the inclusion of TOMMY FUNDERBURK, a man who had carved a reputation as a singer of note fronting outfits such as AIPLAY during 1979, THE FRONT in 1984, WHAT IF? in 1987 and in the KING OF HEARTS duo with BRUCE GAITSCH. As an in demand session singer Funderburk has featured on albums by the likes of MȪTLEY CRÜE, YES, WHITESNAKE, REO SPEEDWAGON, COVERDALE / PAGE, STARSHIP and RICHARD MARX amongst many others.

In 1997 BOSTON's former label, Epic, issued 'Greatest Hits', a compilation of tracks culled from all four albums plus the surprising inclusion of three brand new recordings. Whilst the opening track, 'Tell Me', features David Sikes on vocals, the anti-drug statement 'Higher Power' features the triumvirate of Fran Cosmo, Brad Delp and Tom Scholz all contributing lead vocals. The third new cut is actually a Scholz guitar instrumental, a rendition of the 'Star Spangled Banner'. The album also boasted a second version of 'Higher Power' 'edited' by A&R guru John Kalodner.

Sikes would create INNOCENT for a self titled album in 1997. The following year Scholz embarked on fresh BOSTON album recordings. Two songs would be leaked online in 1999.

During 2000 the band found themselves the subject of a left field tribute when Bluegrass versions of their songs were covered for the tribute album 'Smokin'- A Bluegrass Tribute To Boston'.

Scholz and Gary Pihl re-built the band during 2000, locating female bassist Kimberley Dahme. The revised band first performing on 1st January 2001. BOSTON would finally break a lengthy silence in June of 2002, revealing the band was in the final stages of recording a new studio album entitled 'Corporate America' with Dahme, Delp and Cosmo all contributing lead vocals. The title track was made available online, but strangely under the pseudonym of 'Downer's Revenge'. The record, issued in November, debuted at a lowly no. 42 in the US charts. A brand new BOSTON line-up incorporating Scholz, Delp, guitarists Fran Cosmo and Anthony Cosmo, bass player Kimberley Dahme, keyboard player Gary Pihl and drummer Jeff Neal took this album out on the road in North America during 2003.

In an extraordinary move Scholz then took his new label Artemis Records to court citing breach of contract. The BOSTON mentor claimed the label had renaged on promises of promotion by sacking key staff members and assigning unexperiencec A&R personnel, resulting in less than expected sales for the record.

Erstwhile BOSTON associates revealed plans for an all new musical collaboration centred on vocalist Brad Delp and Barry Goudreau on guitar, bass and keyboards. This new band venture, dubbed DELP AND GOUDREAU, also included Tim Archibald on bass, Brian Maes on keyboards and drummer David Stefanelli.

BOSTON, seeing Scholz reunited with Brad Delp and announcing plans for the filming of a concert DVD, embarked upon Summer 2004 US dates commencing 13th July at the Civic Center in Glens Falls, New York. The duo would be joined by guitarists Anthony Cosmo and Fran Cosmo, bass player Kimberley Dahme, keyboard player / guitarist Gary Pihl and drummer Jeff Neal.

Meantime, former BOSTON singer TOMMY FUNDERBURK, working with producer Fabrizio V.Zee Grossi, cut a debut solo album 'Anything For You' for the Italian Frontiers label in 2004.

In June 2005 the Recording Industry Association of America revealed BOSTON had sold over 31 million albums in the USA. BOSTON set to work on a new studio album in early 2006. Fran Cosmo and Antonio Cosmo re-assembled their COSMO band with a fresh cast involving BOSTON bassist Bill Carman, keyboard player Mick Brooks and drummer Pat Orlowski. The 'Alien' album was issued in December 2006 through the Italian label Frontiers Records. BOSTON's final live appearance of the year was held in November at Boston's Symphony Hall.

Brad Delp was found dead at his home in New Hampshire on March 9th 2007. The singer was 55. The official BOSTON Web site was taken down and replaced with the statement: "We just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll." An initial police statement describing the death as "untimely" was expanded on subsequently. Toxicology tests conducted by the state medical examiner's office demonstrated that Delp had in fact committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. Police revealed Delp had sealed himself inside a bathroom with two charcoal grills sometime between 11:30 p.m. March 8 and the next afternoon, when he was found by fiancée Pamela Sullivan. The singer's body was found on the floor of the bathroom, with his head on a pillow and a suicide note paper-clipped to the neck of his shirt reading "Mr. Brad Delp. J'ai une ame solitaire. I am a lonely soul."

Sullivan had called the police after noticing a dryer vent tube connected to the exhaust pipe of Delp's car. In the garage, police found a further note taped to the door leading into the house. "To whoever finds this I have hopefully committed suicide. Plan B was to asphyxiate myself in my car." In a third note on a door at the top of the stairs, Delp had cautioned that there was carbon monoxide inside. "I take complete and sole responsibility for my present situation. I have lost my desire to live," he wrote. There was a photograph of Delp and Sullivan in the bathroom.

To honour Delp's memory a tribute concert billed 'Come Together: A Tribute to Brad Delp' took place on 19th August 2007 at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston. Featured bands included ERNIE AND THE AUTOMATICS, BEATLEJUICE, FARRENHEIT, EXTREME, GODSMACK, RTZ and BOSTON. Singers included Michael Sweet of STRYPER and band member Kimberley Dahme. Making media waves would also be the inclusion of North Carolina fan and daytime credit manager Tommy DeCarlo, chosen due to his performances of BOSTON cover versions on his MySpace page. Due to a ruptured blood vessel in his throat, Fran Cosmo was unable to sing but did play guitar. Ex-members Curly Smith, Jim Masdea, Fran Sheehan and Barry Goudreau joined Scholz and the rest of the band on stage for the finale of 'Don't Look Back', fronted by Curly Smith and Kimberley Dahme. Sib Hashian was conspicuous by his absence.

The public infighting between the surviving band members was once again highlighted during the 2008 US Presidential campaign. Barry Goudreau and Fran Sheehan endorsed politician Mike Huckabee, performing with him at rallies in New Hampshire. Huckabee used 'More Than A Feeling' as a campaign theme song, which incurred the wrath of Tom Scholz.

BOSTON's mentor , an open supporter of Barack Obama, sent an open letter to 'Rolling Stone' magazine in February 2008 stating that the band had never endorsed any candidate, and that the use of 'More Than A Feeling' by Huckabee was unauthorised. Scholz also pointed out that only he had actually played the guitar tracks on the song, not Goudreau or Sheehan. Laura Huckabee, Governor Huckabee's daughter-in-law, subsequently apologized to Tom Scholz.

Scholz and Sweet introduced a new look BOSTON in the Spring of 2008 to perform a 53 date North American tour as a double co-headline bill with STYX. This touring unit featured Scholz, Michael Sweet, longtime member Gary Pihl, singer Tommy DeCarlo, Kimberley Dahme and Jeff Neal.

Garry Sharpe-Young