As a result of home-made demos recorded by the enterprising Tom Scholz (b. 10 March 1947, Toledo, Ohio, USA), one of the finest AOR albums of all time was created. The tapes impressed Epic Records and Scholz joined with friends Fran Sheehan (b. 26 March 1949, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; bass), Brad Delp (b. 12 June 1951, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; guitar, vocals), Barry Goudreau (b. 29 November 1951, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; guitar) and Sib Hashian (b. 17 August 1949, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; drums). Adopting the name Boston, their first release was a US Top 3 album that eventually sold 16 million copies in the USA alone, and spent two years in the US charts. The memorable single, "More Than A Feeling", was an instant classic, containing all the key ingredients of adult-orientated rock: upfront guitar, powerful lead vocal with immaculate harmonies, and heavy bass and drums. Two years later they repeated the formula virtually note for note with Don't Look Back, which also topped the US charts. Scholz then became involved in a long-running court battle against CBS Records and manager Paul Ahern over delays in fulfilling his contract. During this time, Scholz, formerly a product designer for the Polaroid Company, invented a mini-amplifier marketed as the Rockman. Goudreau grew tired of the band's lengthy sabbatical, releasing a solo album before quitting to form Orion The Hunter with Fran Cosmo. Hashian and Sheehan had also left by the mid-80s, by which time Scholz had regained the right to record under the Boston moniker (he would later be sued by all three ex-band members). The band, in the guise of Scholz and Delp, returned in 1986 with Third Stage, which spawned two further US hit singles, "Amanda" (which reached number 1) and "We're Ready" . Fans wishing to replace worn copies of the previous albums had only to purchase this one, so similar was it to their previous output. It, too, went straight to number 1 in the US, giving Boston a record in rock history, by combining the biggest-selling debut album with three number 1 albums and total sales of over 50 million. Scholz toured Third Stage with a new line-up comprising Delp, guitarist Gary Phil, bassist David Sikes and drummers Doug Huffman and Jim Masdea. In 1990, a jury ruled in Scholz's favour against CBS in the court case. Delp left to join Goudreau in his new band Return To Zero before Scholz began work on a new album, enlisting Goudreau's sparring partner Cosmo as vocalist. The ensuing Walk On, with Scholz the sole remaining member of the original line-up, was a disappointment, although it still reached the Top 5 in the US charts. However, Scholz lost his long-running lawsuit with Ahern and was directed to pay over $1.5 million in court awards and damages, although the case went to appeal. He also closed down his Research & Development company and left MCA Records.
-VH1.com |
