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The Brad Delp story continues. Delp's family announced today that his death wasn't as quiet as it first appeared. Delp killed himself last week.
According to the Herald, toxicology tests revealed that Delp killed himself with carbon monoxide poisoning. He left two notes behind, but the contents haven't been released.
Just a few days ago, we praised Delp for not being a Behind the Music kind of guy.
And he still isn't. But his suicide is a tragedy. Who knows why he did it? People are mysteries. But we wish he'd had an inkling that so many people would grieve for him. And they had respect not only for his music but also for his character. Just read all the comments left on this site about his death! We're talking constant, almost gushing words of praise.
Bandmate Tom Scholz published a note that responded to a Rolling Stone reporter's inquiries on the death. In it, he praised Delp's "down-to-earth personality" and his "bionic accuracy" as a singer. But he closes the letter with this dark line: "Brad and I have been used and abused throughout our adult life by the music business. It continues even in his death. Please do the right thing with this."
Whether or not the music industry finally steamrolled him, Delp really had an impact on people's lives. It seems that he just didn't know it.
Image of Brad Delp from Boston's official site.
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What a true talent!! Most importantly, what a good person. It's a shame he took his life and didn't see any other way deal with his problems. One of the best!!!
What a waste. Certainly a permanent solution to temporary problems. I'm sure that we will probably never be able to understand this, but I only wish Brad had stopped to think of the grief and suffering his death has brought, not only to millions of fans, but to his children and other loved ones. RIP brother. You will live on forever in the Boston legacy and the one you created by being such a wonderful person.
Boston was the first concert i ever went to. And have always been my favorite band. I will miss the comminig tours. I work at the Atlantis hotel in Reno , NV. And would love to do a tribute to brad, and to
Boston the band, and all the years you were together,please contact me when you are ready , we will all miss brad, but i believe he would want his music to play on for ever and for us to remember the early years. So please let us keep his music alive.
Thank You, And OUR heart goes out to his family and friends and all he loved. Erin Porter
Radio guy from Phoenix again...For those of you who sent me notes about Brad, thank you. I have posted my thoughts about these developments on my stations web page again. Go to kez999.com and click Kevin Lewis under On-Air Staff. If you care to share your thoughts, I will post them there too.
We'll miss you Brad.
You never know how people are internalizing thier pain, and to what extent that pain really is.
I'm a pro session musician here in Nashville via Connecticut. I was lucky enough to meet my hero, Brad Delp in a small North Hampton Mass club when RTZ toured. I got to sit right in front of Brad. As he passed me to get on stage, he saw the huge smile on my face. As the intro music started, he stopped and shook my hand and smiled. After the gig I saw Brad in the kitchen area of the club through a crack in the door. I popped it open and said, "great show"!. Brad Brad said, "Come on in man". He talked to me for more than a half hour. He struck me as a very very nice man. So down to eart, and so NOT the ego headed rock star.
As a kid, I sang "Man I'll Never Be" a billion times in my bedroom mirror. Carefully trying to mimic every wonderful vocal inflection that Brad brought to every song he sang. I learned every harmony part and practiced with a cheap multi-track cassette recorder. Now I'm a pro. What do I get hired to do??? Tight stack hamony vocals with interesting suspensions and turns. Thank you Brad for giving me a great career, and mostly for showing me how a real rockstar should act.
You will be greatly missed by many, who like me were very much influenced by you in thier musical careers and in life.
I hope you can be at peace and your internal pain has ended.
RIP my friend and mentor...
You will live on in my own music. A gift you gave me for which I can never repay you.
Danny
ON AN APRIL MORNING IN 1976, I WAS LISTENING TO WMMR IN PHILADELPHIA, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THIS MELODY. IT WAS THE SOUND OF AN ANGEL COMING THROUGH MY STEREO. IT WAS BRAD DELP SINGING, MORE THAN A FEELING. IT IS NOW 31 YEARS LATER, AND I STILL LISTEN TO BOSTON, MORE THAN ANY OTHER BAND, AND MY 17 YEAR OLD SON HAS JUST STARTED TO GET INTO THE BAND. WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SUMMER TOUR. BRAD I WILL ALWAYS LUV YA MAN..YOU WERE WONDERFUL EVERY TIME I SAW YOU, THE LAST TIME BEING IN ATLANTIC CITY IN JULY OF 2004. YOU WILL BE MISSED AND THOUGHT OF BY ME ALWAYS..GOOD BYE
Caroline,
Good article, but as a person in the know and in the 'inner circle' for many years, the music industry did NOT finally steamroll him... Tom Scholz did... over 30+ years. Refer to the Herald's most recent article and read between the lines of Micki Delp's words.
Dig deeper into this story, it may get you a Pulitzer.
PS... don't believe what Scholz is publicizing.
I AM A 70'S CHILD, BOSTON AND BRAD DELP ARE ONE IN THE SAME, HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING MUSICIAN AND SINGER. I LISTENED TO BOSTON EVERYDAY WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. I AM NOW 45 YEARS OLD AND HAVE A NIECE THAT LISTENS TO THEM NOW, SHE IS A SEMIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, SO BELIEVE IT OR NOT BOSTON AND BRAD DELP WILL LIVE FOREVER.
Most of us 35 on up, were very lucky that we were able to turn on the radio (unlike the crap that the music industry is coming out with today), and listen to the current rock of our era that was influenced and kicked up a few notches from the definers of the industry (Beatles, Stones, Who, Zepplin, Beach Boys, Doors, etc....) From a combination of hearing what our older brothers, sisters, cousins and even parents were listening to, or just by turning on the radio we heard Elton John, Billy Joel, Floyd, Eagles, Chicago, McCartney, Steely Dan, Aerosmith, Rush, Supertramp, Bad Company, Journey, Foreigner, REO... and this band out of Boston who came up with such a unique (never to be equaled "sound") that they sold 17 million copies of their Debut album, the most in the history of Rock and Roll. I've been lucky enough, as I know others have to see them in concert a number of times. I will say that their 1st two albums are is testament to some of the coolest sounding rock and roll ever. The special effects guitars of Sholz and Goudreau were incredibly original and created that unique sound that got my attention, but it was the amazing pipes and great voice of Brad Delp that got everyone's attention. G-d rest his rock and roll soul, -- we lost one of our guys....
Rest in peace now, you 'carried on, my wayward son, now that you are done, there is peace for you, I hope.
Your voice is, and always will be truly amazing, beautiful ! I m listening to 'Amanda', as I write,
it till gives me goose bumps(your voice) !
I'm intrigued, "John Doe," about your real identity; someone "in the know," and how it is you actually hold a place in the Boston "inner circle." Not only are you a person who's a part of Tom's and Brad's "inner circle," but one "for many years" too ?
Maybe you are rather an *industry insider,* and not really a behind the scenes witness to the malicious goings on that people here PAYING TRIBUTE TO BRAD weren't aware of.
Why should we believe what you, whoever you are, are "publicizing" ? I'll just bet many people on the outside get 'what's between the lines of' Brad's grieving second 'ex-wife's words,' about as well as you do !
Gosh, I have looked at this in some depth and I don't see the evidence that you apparently have. I'm really really quite skeptical about this pronouncement that no one other than one Tom Scholz 'finally steamrolled Brad Delp, over 30+ years' (of what; emotional abuse ?) into an early grave.
"Caroline...Dig deeper into this story, it may get you are a Pulitzer." Now that is rich, John ! Can I call you John ? Until you give me permission I'll respectfully refer to you as Mr. Doe.
I know the real reason for Brad's suicide and its so sad. I learned this from a TRUE insider. but I promised to never tell.
OH, AND IT ISNT TOM.