What we think of as the classic lineup of “Boston” – Tom Scholz, Brad Delp, Barry Goudreau, Fran Sheehan and Sib Hashian – only existed in that lineup and format for Boston’s first two albums, the self-titled debut LP (1976) and Don’t Look Back (1978). As far as Tom Scholz is concerned, the band was really Scholz and Delp, with Goudreau, Hashian and Sheehan hired as sidemen, and the picture of the five-man band on the album covers a requirement for the LP’s release.

It’s now 1986, and Boston has released their third LP, “Third Stage.” The lineup still contains Delp and Scholz, as well as drummer Jim Masdea (who also played drums on the group’s song “Rock and Roll Band” from the first LP). Gary Pihl replaced Goudreau on guitar, and there were some other studio musicians involved.

By 1994, Brad Delp has left the band to join Goudreau and other musicians in the studio band RTZ. Goudreau also worked with Delp and Fran Cosmo on the 1980’s-era Orion the Hunter LP (which contained the hit “So You Ran”). Meanwhile, Cosmo is hired by Scholz to be the lead vocalist in Boston, and can be heard on the LP Walk On in that capacity. Cosmo also signs on the song “Higher Power” from Boston’s Greatest Hits LP.

Delp returned to Boston for the 2002 Boston album Corporate America, joining Cosmo on vocals. Cosmo’s son Anthony also played on that Corporate America album.

Sadly, Delp has passed away, and Cosmo is no longer working with Boston. Boston’s lead vocals are now maintained by Tommy DeCarlo and former Stryper frontman Michael Sweet.

The issue involving former members of Boston announcing that they ARE former members of Boston has been a legal issue for years. As far as Tom Scholz is concerned, those performers are sidemen and hired employees, not official band members. Essentially, for all intents and purposes, Tom Scholz is to Boston what Alan Parsons is to the Alan Parsons Project.

A copy of my original Goldmine cover story for Boston, written in 1997, is archived at Boston’s fansite, gonnahitcharide.com.

http://www.gonnahitcharide.com/walkon/articles/magazines/54-engineered-for-success

Dude, old Gail has her knickers in an unnecessary twist. From the standpoint of honest journalism for public consumption, if Fran ever sang lead for Boston, he is a former lead singer; the contractual specifics between Fran and Tom Scholz are what would truly “confuse the readers,” to borrow Gail’s phrase. Maybe he was not the best-known lead singer, but nonetheless…if Gail and Tom Scholz wanted to go to the mattresses, they’d have to prove that you harbored active malice toward Boston (the band, not the city) when you referred to Fran as you did. Let’s put it this way: Google “Fran Cosmo, lead singer” and see what comes up. It looks like Gail could work every day from now until Doomsday to try to stop every reference to Fran as the band’s “former lead singer.”

I guess the Boston people have been having so much fun suing each other over the years that they want to spread the joy.

The rock world is full of bullies, Kev. I’ve got a few funny stories, and I bet J Eric does, too.

Anyway, you should be invited to introduce one of the bands at an Alive at Five fight, what with all the buzz you’ve generated for the mediocre, beer soaked, summer concert series.