Farewell Brad Delp

Brad Delp died yesterday. The 55-year-old singer for Boston was alone at home when he passed away.

You need two things for a great rock and roll song. One, of course, is the song itself. Two, you need a voice. This is why The Funions are happily mired in small town rock and roll mire. If we ever get a singer ....

Boston is often criticized for its arena rock album oriented songs. But the first album is one of the best ever made and still sounds great more than 30 years later. Tom Scholz revolutionized guitar rock and maybe he is right to be so methodical about putting out his music.

Brad Delp made the songs sing. To Be A Man from Third Stage is haunting and Holly Ann sends chills up your spine. On the last album, Corporate America, Fran Cosmo and Kimberley Dahme did more singing, and Delp didn't have quite the range when they toured the next year. Dr. Brei and I saw them in Springfield and the band was in fine form. Delp looked like he was having a blast as always. He even joked about not being able to hit the high notes and wisely let the younger singers do much of the higher end vocals.

From what I read he was also one of the nicest guys in rock and roll (www.bandboston.com, www.boston.org). He did a lot of charity work and was tinkering with various projects.

Scholz apparently is always making Boston music. I wonder what's out there with Delp on vocals, but knowing Scholz, it might never get out. And this may spell the end for Boston, which wouldn't be the same without Delp — Foreigner and Journey are good examples.

Farewell, Brad Delp. I loved your voice and your music. My iPod is full of Boston songs, and I'll keep listening.