I just found out today that Tommy DeCarlo died last month. Tommy who, you might ask? Tommy DeCarlo, lead singer of the American popular beat combo outfit Boston. He died last month of brain cancer. I was very sad to read that. And it’s the second time I have been sad at the death of the lead singer of Boston.
In 2007, Brad Delp, the band’s original lead singer, who used to provide all the vocals on their songs, tragically committed suicide. He was a truly great singer and was a major reason I loved Boston, right from More Than A Feeling onwards.
While these days, I am essentially ravenous in my desire to listen to new music, AKA music I haven’t heard before, I have not left behind the bands I grew up with. And Boston were one of them. The fiery guitars of Tom Scholz singled them out from many other rock bands and they effortlessly married serious hard rock with some decent tunes. While they faded from the very top of the music scene, they were always around.
Many felt Delp’s death would signal the end of Boston. His vocals were such an integral part of the sound and yet, later in 2007, Scholz got to hear a tape of long time fan Tommy DeCarlo singing the band’s songs. To cut a short story even shorter, DeCarlo was invited to sing with the band who were so impressed, they offered him the lead singer’s gig and he accepted.
Although the later line-up bore little resemblance to the original band, the presence of Scholz and the brilliance of DeCarlo sustained them. In 2013, they even released an album called Life, Love & Hope, which would turn out to be the only Boston record DeCarlo ever sung on. It was by no means a classic, but it wasn’t bad. Well, I bought it, anyway.
Boston have not played live since 2017 but there was talk about them touring this year in order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their self-titled debut album. The untimely death of DeCarlo has likely scuppered that, as well as a new album Scholz has been working on.
That’s an unseen hero of mine gone before his time – he was only 60. Who knows whether we will see another incarnation of Boston? Even if we don’t, they’ve left an impressive legacy for rock fans. RIP Tommy. You did the impossible.
