Tom Scholz returned to his boyhood home in Watertown MA the other day, a local television crew following his every step, from the basement where the band began to the kitchen where his father and he spoke of the future. The band Boston has a very interesting backstory, so let’s share the details. Lead guitarist and founder Ton Scholz went to MIT and was fascinated with rock and roll. Although he was a trained classical pianist, he picked up a guitar in his off hours while working for the camera giant Polaroid.
Tom wanted to test various guitar pedals and sound but needed to have a band to do it, so he turned to guys he knew from MIT, Jim Masdea and Barry Goudreau. Brad Delp would eventually join the band, and Tom began to write music – remember, all this to test and sell his guitar pedals and technology – he had no real interest in being a rocker until girls started showing up at the gigs, and Epic the label offered to sign them.
Tom Scholz still tours with the group he formed in 1976, Boston, although none of the original members are in the band, and sadly Brad Delp took his own life a few years ago.