Hashemian Blog: Boston, A Tribute to Brad Delp

To state that Brad Delp deprived his fans from his voice by committing suicide would be selfish. But at the risk of sounding self-centric I am going to declare that Brad Delp deprived me of his amazing voice by taking his own life.

Back in 1976 when Boston's self-titled first album was released, I was a kid living far away from America and couldn't even speak English. My only knowledge of Boston was that of a city somewhere in the US. But all that changed when I arrived in the US as a student and was introduced to the band through friends and dorm residents in college. It was love at first hear and to this day I have never looked back.

On November 2nd, 1987 I actually got to experience Boston in concert at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut. That's almost 20 years ago and my memory of the act is hazy, but I can confidently say that it was the best concert I ever saw. In fact it remains the only concert I have ever been to.

Some may dismiss Boston as an opening act to the hair band era of the 80's. Be that as it may, that doesn’t change the fact that for me Boston has always been one of the most admired bands, right up there with Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and The Doors. I realize that to some comparing Boston with those rock legends is akin to heresy. I can appreciate the sentiment, but that's their opinion and this is mine.

I didn’t know much about Brad Delp other than his voice delivery, and now, the way he died. Judging by what I've read in the media about the fact that he posted notes warning people of carbon monoxide, I can only infer that he was as dignified as he was talented.

As I write this I am listening to the song "Hitch a Ride" from Boston's first album. It is one of favorite cuts from their work. The music is still as fresh as the first time I heard it. I don’t really care why Brad decided to take his own life. I can only assume that he must have had a good reason. A man's entitled to do what he wants with his life, including ending it. In the end he might have deprived me from his voice, but he lives forever as the unmistakable sound of Boston.

Rest in peace, Brad.
boston,boston music,brad delp,rock music
Labels: music
<Boston, A Tribute to Brad Delp>

// posted by rh

9 comments |

9 Comments:

By Anonymous, at 15/3/07 9:34 PM

You know absolutely nothing about depression! He obviously didn't want to die! He wanted the pain to stop. He obviously felt like dying was his only option. If you're that down you're not thinking straight. He didn't owe you anything. He already gave you enough...obviously!!!

By Anonymous, at 15/3/07 10:34 PM

anonymus- you don't understand what he is talking about. He says clear enough that Brad must have had his reasons. But as a persoanlity in the entertainmnet industry, your fans always want to know why you would end it, if you got that far. sure enought Robert got a whole lot from the guy who did not owe him anything. Most of all the memory of still being able to recall their concert. And to your forst comment that he does not know anything about depression: he does, one of his close relatives just took his life as well.

By matthew, at 15/3/07 11:13 PM

Wow. All I can say is WOW. Not about his passing, but about his Living!! This man's voice..(We've ALL tried to sing it... mostly not well.. be honest! :)) the soul of his spirit lifted me many times in my life to places I couldn't know I would reach. The songs and his voice made me float in happiness and yet reality all at the same time. In his voice... I know everyone reading this (obviously BOSTON fans) agrees, he IS and will always be a legend in rock and roll!! If you can tell me ANYONE who could perhaps come close to 'More than a feeling' or 'Long time', or any one of the best and greatest BOSTON songs please let me know..... because as I have lived for 36 years and I have never heard a voice more amazing or recognizable as Brad's... We just lost a legend... Please rest in peace....
-matthew

By Steve, at 16/3/07 1:27 AM

Brad Delp, the lead singer of "Boston" was a legend to me, as was Paul McCartney was to Brad Delp. Im 41 years old now and back in the year 1976, Boston was my first love of rock roll music.
I was 11 years old, living in Canada,and everyone including my Father loved "Boston's" music.

Boston was my first love of Rock&Roll music and my heart and soul is truly Broken hearted when I first heard about Brad's death!

Dear Brad,...God bless your soul.,I wish and hope one day we meet at the Pearly Gates of Heaven My Dear Brother.

Fact: Brad Delp had one of the greatest Voices in Rock n Roll History.

By Anonymous, at 5/4/07 5:35 PM

Amen to the blogger.

Amen to Boston being legendary.

Amen to Bradley wanting Peace of Mind.

Amen to understanding depression.

Amen to Boston and bradley pulling ME out of depression.

Amen to being a mother of 3 small children who is passing MY culture of rock and roll which includes boston and led zeppelin (and that is NOT heresey) onto my children!!

thank you for your blog, i recieved it from someone who works at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame so you are doing something very right!!

Rock on brother!!

By Greg, at 24/7/07 2:46 PM

I can relate to why Brad decided to leave us. I think he's alot like me. A soft heart in a cruel world. Money, fame doesn't matter. What matters is inner peace. Lately, life to me has been a bitch too. Maybe suicide isn't such a bad choice. It's all about preserving a legacy. Greg

By rh, at 24/7/07 9:54 PM

everyone at one time or another thinks about suicide. true, that life is over-rated, but we're all gonna be dead anyways. in relation to the cosmos our lives is not even a blink of an eye.

might as well do the best we can to make things as enjoyable as possible while we're here. a 100 years from now most people living today will be gone. at least we're lucky enough to have had had the music before we kick the proverbial bucket.

By Anonymous, at 3/8/07 6:36 AM

It must be said that Tom Scholz caused the death of Brad Delp. How? By being a selfish, lawsuit-happy, arrogant son-of-a-bitch to any and all around Brad and the band. To read any Boston liner notes, you'd think Tom was a great guy, when in effect, the opposite was true!

By adopt1, at 5/2/08 12:40 PM

"at the risk of sounding self-centric I am going to declare that Brad Delp deprived me of his amazing voice by taking his own life" - maybe not completely, check out these video clips of 2 songs off Brad's unreleased solo project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SuiZKEavXc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qZ_QTnx2mI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkkMpCKkL1s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxer03Gkuy8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp2pLb1yLks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNnfLvBmCPc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evfuhDNQnCM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d879t9rPSb8

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Thursday, March 15, 2007

Boston, A Tribute to Brad Delp

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