Brad Delp, the lead singer of the 70s and 80s rock band Boston was found dead on Friday at his home in Atkinson, New Hampshire.
Delp, 55, is believed to have been home alone and there was no indication of found play according to Atkinson, New Hampshire police. The death remains under investigation by local police and the New Hampshire medical examiner’s office. A report is scheduled to be released on Monday.
Delp, a native of Danvers, Mass., formed the band Boston with guitarist Tom Scholz, drummer Sib Hashian, guitarist Barry Goudreau, and bassist Fran Sheehan in the early 1970s.
The group released their self-titled debut album in 1976. The album, which sold more than 17 million copies, was one of the fastest selling in rock and roll history and included songs such as “More Than a Feeling” and “Rock and Roll Band.
Boston’s debut album has appeared on many “best of” lists and was voted as one of the top 50 essential albums for rock fans as part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “Definitive 200.
Boston’s next album was released two years later and titled “Don’t Look Back.” The next album, “Third Stage,” took eight year’s to release. Only Scholz and Delp remained with the band by that time. All three albums went to number one on the charts.
Boston kept a low profile after the release of “Third Stage.” Delp spent some time playing in the band RTZ and rejoined Boston in time to tour with the band in support of Boston’s 1994 album “Walk On.”
Steve Simon, the band’s business manager from 1983 to 2003, remembered Brad Delp as the band’s go to guy, making himself available for things like autorgraphs, interviews, and charity appearances.
He noted a charity even the band did in the 1990s at the House of Blues in Cambridge, Mass. where Delp lost his voice.
“He could have stayed away, pouted, not shown up, but he was there,” said Simon. “He croaked out a couple of words with a smile. In all ways someone could nonverbally communicate with the audience, he did.”
Delp had recently been the front man for a Beatles cover band called Beatlejuice.
Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry said the following in a statement last night. “The few times I did meet him, he was very down-to-earth and seemed like a great guy, without any of the ego baggage,” Perry said. “He had one incredible, amazing set of pipes. He is going to be sorely missed in this city and the music-loving world.”
Delp had recently proposed to his longtime girlfriend and were expected to wed this summer.
The band’s website featured a blank screen on Friday that featured these words:
We’ve just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll.”
Sources:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/10/AR2007031000516.html
http://www.cbs47.tv/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=95fb7355-eed5-4145-af04-a59f772f0388
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2007/03/10/brad_delp_55_lead_singer_for_bestselling_70s_band_boston/?p1=MEWell_Pos3
