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As you probably guessed from Bostonist's comment thread, there are many fans of the late Boston singer Brad Delp, who died last Friday.
Non-Boston papers are offering their evaluation of Delp's contribution to music. The LA Weekly offered a perfect analysis of Delp's skills, which somehow managed to be distinct and anonymous at the same time:
Most of us wouldn’t recognize Delp from a photo, yet his vocal frequencies have been burned into the American eardrum. Seared. There’s just no mistaking his piercing, deceptively boyish falsetto the moment it hits the jukebox, as it does every minute of every night of every week in bars across the country.
Tom Scholz, the MIT brain behind Boston, has posted another kind message on the band's website: "My heart goes out to his wonderful fiance Pamela, his two children and other family members, his close friends and band mates, and to the millions of people whose lives were made a little brighter by the sound of his voice. He will be dearly missed."
Delp died relatively young (though old in rock-star years), which is probably why police are still investigating his death. In the latest news about Delp, police bent over backwards to say that there's nothing suspicious about Delp's death, but they're still investigating: "No autopsy is planned, but toxicology tests are being performed, said Kim Fallon, an investigator for the medical examiner's office."
It's oddly refreshing to see a rock figure who, as far as we know, didn't leave behind a seamy Behind the Music and a bunch of burned bridges. There's a note we came across on a cached page of Boston's official website that says, "VH1's 'Behind the Music' on Boston has been cancelled." We're not surprised. Boston had some squabbles and splits about its direction, but, all in all, Delp left behind a solid public and private legacy.
Boston album cover from Wikipedia.
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The man has brought a real sence of what Rock and Roll really is, His angelic voice was second to none!
I must admit when I heard about Brad's passing I was heart broken, as you can tell I referred to him as Brad not Brad Delp that is the closeness I feel that I have generated over the years with him his music and the contributions he has made to the musical world, both with and with out Boston. It is Boston’s music that made me pick up a guitar, and while I learned what I felt were that staples of the time Smoke on the Water and Takin' care of business, it was not until I learned Peace of Mind and More than a feeling that I feel I'd really learned how to play rock and roll! I cannot sing to save my life and it's all I have ever wanted to do it is unexplainable how envious I am of Brad and his voice, the highs lows and harmony he could do, I still dream about to this day and I have been a Boston fan since that fateful day in 1976 when we cranked up the eight track to Peace of mind as loud as we possibly could without going to jail! My hear goes out to his wife to be, his children, his friends and his family that is BOSTON, we have all lost a beautiful voice and wonderful person and we'll be hard pressed to find a replacement! No his successor because he’ll never be replaced, not as long as we remember him and listen to those high notes in more than a feeling and all of the dynamic range of his voice!
As someone said to me back when, "More Than A Feeling" is the sound of your older brother washing his car in the driveway on a summer's day".
Thanks Brad.
I will never forget the Amanda song I broke up with my girlfriend and it was very hard it was the first time I ever cried. And now I here the news of Brad Delp dying its as if all of my teen age memories died with him and Boston. I will never forget the group it helped me relize it was ok to cry amd show my feelings. And as I sit here with tears slowly rolling down my cheek it hard for me to imagine he is dead to Brad Delp a true rock n roll legend may you find peace on the other side. People think its cowardly to comitt suicide but they do not understand it takes total guts to know you are never going to take another breath again and do the unthinkable. Brad you will be missed.
For someone who gave so many people so much joy (his voice was my escape from a horrible childhood) to have committed suicide and to have died alone is even more heartbreaking.
How could someone so loved be left alone to the point where he felt there was no other way for him?
Bradley thanks for everything and I wish I could have spoken to you for just five minutes before you made your decision.
I have tears in my eyes as I write this. Whatever divine blessings are out there may your fiancee and children be blessed with them a thousand times over. I hope you found peace.
Tell the 3 angels of Rock N Roll (Jimi, Jimbo and Janis) that I say hi....