“If there is anyone who understands technical problems, it’s me!” Those were the approximate words of Tom Scholz when I told him that my once trusty digital voice recorder had failed. “I guess you will just have to do it the old fashioned way, pen and paper.”
With that, I grabbed a three ring notebook and scribbled as fast as I could, trying to stay focused on the fact that on the other end of the phone was a guy I had admired most of my life. As I reached for the pen and paper, I told him in all sincerity that I had worn out many record needles spinning Boston’s eponymous debut.
Scholz’s mastery of the recording studio is matched by his interviewing style. Scholz is clearly an artist that still loves his craft, none of his answers are canned, and he accepts compliments with grace.
My first question was a selfish one. I mentioned that I had recently reviewed Boston’s latest album, “Life, Love & Hope” and I wondered if he read reviews.
“I don’t read reviews or pay attention to reviewers. On this record my wife was the only one that made any comments during the recording process.” There was much more, too much to quote verbatim, but in essence, Scholz said he likes to work alone and trust his instinct. The “Corporate America” album involved other producers and writers and Scholz related he didn’t like the process as much.
That led me to inquire about Boston, the band.
“At the core, it has been me and Gary Pihl for a long time. Over the years I have managed to always have a great collection of musicians to work with, and Gary and I have surrounded ourselves with people we like to play with. I look at it like the Boston Symphony Orchestra. They always have a great collection of musicians, even if they change over the years.”
I reminisced with Scholz about the first time I saw Pihl live with Sammy Hagar. For years Pihl and Hagar toured and recorded together, and while Hagar and Pihl’s onstage chemistry was spectacular, it was nothing compared to how well Pihl and Scholz’s styles blend together.
I mentioned this to Scholz, and told him that I had seen Pihl with Hagar but was in awe the first time I saw Pihl with Boston on the first night of the “Third Stage” tour in Rochester, NY.
“You were there? That was a really special night for all of us. We hadn’t played live in years and the audience’s response was amazing.”
I can’t even begin to count how many times I have asked artists about particular shows and they have virtually no memory of it. Once, an artist told me their only memory of playing the first Woodstock was, “it was a mess.”
Scholz and I shared memories of the evening like we attended the show together. The date was June 14, 1987, I still remember the whole setlist. “We did the entire ‘Third Stage’ album that night for the first time.” Scholz remembered, and then he even remembered details about the inside of the arena itself.
That led to a discussion about the current band, and I told Scholz that they have been getting excellent reviews.
“That 1987 lineup was special and we were on fire that tour, but I agree, the group I am working with now is great and we are putting together a tour for 2014. I should contact my agent and see if we can play the Rochester War Memorial again.”
After getting lost in reminiscing about one of my favorite concert memories, we finally got to “Life, Love & Hope.”
Boston has had its share of great singers including the late Brad Delp and Tommy DeCarlo. “Life, Love & Hope” features the premier of a new vocalist on the track “Love Got Away.”
“I don’t know who told him he could sing!” Scholz joked.
For those not in the know, “Love Got Away” is Scholz’s debut as a Boston lead vocalist. It is a powerful track, and while Scholz may not have the vocal chops of Delp or DeCarlo, sometimes the best way to express the right emotion in a song is to have the writer sing it. “It was a very personal and emotional. If I wanted it to work, I had to sing it.”
In spite of the sadness associated with a love lost, Scholz told me the song was about his current wife, and that the albums final track “The Way You Look Tonight” offers the happy ending to the story. It gave me whole new perspective on the song and the album.
We ended with a question about record producers. Scholz had once cited Todd Rundgren as one of his favorite record producers. Considering the fact that Rundgren worked by himself on many of his recordings and produced other artists, I asked Scholz if he considered producing other artists as well.
“I don’t think anybody else could put up with the way I do things. I have to try all kinds of things and end up with all of these variations. I don’t think most people take it as seriously as I do, and 99% of what I do only gets heard by me.”
The rest, that gets enjoyed by music listeners like me.
Before I said goodbye, Scholz said, “If you need to verify quotes or need anything else, just let us know.”
My final thoughts on Tom Scholz are fairly simple. I know he is a genius, I know his music very well, and I have read about him being a supporter of causes I believe in. Inasmuch as I am disappointed I don’t have a recording of my interview with Scholz, like the night of June 14, 1987, my interview with Tom Scholz will be a cherished memory.
We would like to thank Gail Parenteau from Parenteau Guidance for setting up the interview with Tom. We also would like to personally thank Bob Summers of Bob Summers Photography for the photos for the interview. For more information on the new Boston “Love, Life & Hope,” please go to: Boston.
