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Barry Goudreau Print E-mail

ImageNov 29, 1951 

Playing since he was 11, Barry Goudreau was an accomplished guitarist by the time he entered Boston University to study Geology. In the early '70's, he was playing in a band that practiced in an MIT fraternity house. They ran an ad for a keyboard player, which Tom Scholz answered, and a close friendship between he and Barry was born. Goudreau played lead guitar on several of Tom's early demo recordings, and found vocalist Brad Delp in the mid 70's. When Scholz's final demos won a contract with Epic Records in 1976, Barry was Tom's first and immediate choice to join the new band. Barry recalls, "In the early days of the band we had a tremendous camaraderie. It was more fun than you can imagine. At the same time there was tremendous pressure as well. At first all we hoped for was to sell enough records to continue with a musical career." Those hopes manifested into a collective 25 million albums between Boston and Don't Look Back. Goudreau's incredible leads can be heard on "Longtime," "Used to Bad News," "Let Me Take You Home Tonight," and "Don't Look Back." Tom says, "When Barry and I played those harmony parts or battling guitar leads, it felt like we were connected by a "Vulcan mind link." He adds, "I've never seen anyone so dedicated to honing his physical skill with guitar. Watching TV or hanging with some friends, Barry always had his SG in his hands, playing unplugged, silently conditioning his reflexes. He had lightning speed."

Following two tours and two albums with BOSTON, amidst turmoil with the band's managers and record company, Barry and Tom went their separate ways. In 1980, Goudreau released Barry Goudreau with singers Brad Delp and Fran Cosmo, which reached #88 on the Billboard charts. In 1984 he launched Orion The Hunter, joined by Cosmo and Delp again. In 1991 he formed RTZ (Return To Zero), once again with Delp singing lead vocals, releasing a self-titled album the following year. His most recent effort with Brad was in 2003, the self--titled Delp and Goudreau, a release that really showcases their talent.

After Tom Scholz's remastering of the first two BOSTON albums in March 2006, he and Barry reinstated contact after 25 years, rekindling a friendship neither had forgotten. Barry continues to perform on occasion in small venues in the greater Boston area. In the winter months he takes to the ski slopes whenever possible, and during the summer, he hits the water in his Formula powerboat. Barry and his wife live on the north shore of Boston with their son and daughter.

 
Fran Cosmo Print E-mail

Fran Cosmo
Fran Cosmo
In the early '90's when Tom Scholz was ready to lay down vocal tracks for Walk On, Brad Delp was not available for the project, so Fran Cosmo stepped up to the plate, or the mic in this case, and started his journey with BOSTON. Tom says, "Fran has a really good ear for recorded and live sound." Fran sang most of the vocals on that album, and has toured with the band in 1995, 1997, 2003 and 2004, trading off vocals with Brad. Cosmo also sang with Delp on "Higher Power," off of 1997's Greatest Hits, and several songs on Corporate America. Scholz remembers, "Fran was fun to play with on stage after Walk On was released, he was a second voice that could sing harmony with Brad and a capable guitar player." Jeff Neal says, "As if one phenomenal vocalist in the band weren't enough, Fran is an amazing talent in his own right... and a seasoned pro. I really enjoy playing with him on stage. There are a lot of moments in the show where we feed off each other's energy. Behind the scenes, he completely keeps me in stitches with his antics and sense of humor, which is much appreciated considering the stress that naturally exists dealing with life on the road. Not only is he a great singer and musician, but just a great guy to hang with."

Gary Pihl describes him this way, "Fran's an easy going guy with a big heart. Nothing seems more important to him than family and friends. A great guy to have on your side, or in your band! He was born with such musical instinct. You can't learn it. You can't teach it, he's just got it. But Fran is one of those guys who is never happy with their performance. He always wants to make it better. He'll have an incredible night, the crowd is jumping up and down for him and he'll turn to us and worry, "Did I sound OK?" Fran doesn't have a technical background but if he says he's hearing something wrong with a speaker on the other side of the stage, we go check it out. He's got super hearing. Dogs ask him, 'Did you hear something?'"

Prior to BOSTON, Fran had been in several bands, one being Orion the Hunter. Currently, Fran is touring and recording with Cosmo, a band he created with his son Anthony. Fran lives in Upstate New York with his wife and daughter.

 
Anthony Cosmo Print E-mail

Anthony Cosmo
Anthony Cosmo
Anthony Cosmo, a native of Utica, NY, is consumed by music. Throughout his life, it seemed like he always had a guitar in hand; it was a common bond between he and his father, Fran Cosmo. Also proficient on the piano and bass guitar, Ant spends most of his time writing and recording music in his home studio. How Anthony went from his home in Upstate New York to a nationwide tour with one of rock music's most iconic bands is really a story of natural talent meeting incredible timing. Fran had been touring with Tom, and introduced him to Ant's music during a break. Scholz liked what he heard, and ended up including 3 of his songs, "Turn it Off," "Stare Out Your Window," and "Cryin'" on BOSTON's last release, Corporate America.

After Corporate America was released, Anthony toured with BOSTON in '03 and '04, lending his skillful guitar work to their big stage sound. Tom says, "Ant is an excellent, self-taught rock guitarist, he has a really nice touch. He had very creative, uniquely original ideas, that's the whole reason he got to play on stage with BOSTON." Gary Pihl adds, "The story I heard was, Fran had always told Anthony not to worry about being in local bands and doing low paid gigs, just write songs. So Anthony's first appearance with a live band was with us at the Fiesta Bowl. What a way to start your career! Anthony is a terrific singer/songwriter. When I first heard "Turn it Off," I thought, 'What a cool song, the chord progression is so unique and unexpected, I could have never written a song like that.' His voice is so flexible he can jokingly mimic his dad, but it sounds awesome! Just as uncanny as when Brad sings Amanda as Bob Dylan." Jeff Neal has this to say, "I'd consider selling my soul to the devil if I could have some of his musical talent and proficiency at writing. Ant has an uncanny knack for hearing great hooks and melodies. Both he and Fran were quick to take me under their wing when I first joined the band. They kind of showed me the ropes so to speak, and by their reaching out, it really showed me a great deal about their character." Although Ant has over a dozen and a half guitars, he has a penchant for his Les Paul standard electric and J 45 acoustic guitar, also by Gibson. His first guitar is a 24 year old Vantage Avenger which is now mounted and framed in a curio box in the musician's home.

Currently, he continues to write and produce music, and tours with the band COSMO. He also is pursuing a solo career with ATOM, another outlet to showcase his prolific songwriting. Anthony's music combines many different elements and influences from the last 30 years that he calls, "A global sound." Anthony lives in Upstate New York.

 
Fran Sheehan Print E-mail

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Fran Sheehan March 26th, 1949. (Bass, Percussion, Backing Vocals Live)

Despite the fact that Fran contributed the least to BOSTON's success, he actually had arguably the most musical experience prior to joining the group. He had been playing gigs with his father at age 5, and he majored in Vocals at the New England Conservatory Of Music.

But Fran dropped out of school to pursue a dream in rock and roll. Instead, he ended up playing a lot of weddings. However, Fran did meet up with John "Sib" Hashian, which led to him joining BOSTON.

 
Sib Hashian Print E-mail

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John "Sib" Hashian August 17, 1949 (Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals Live)

Sib had been playing drums since elementary school, though he had no formal training. He played in various bands with Fran Sheehan, and later met Tom Scholz through Fran. Sib played on Barry Goudreau's 1980 solo album, and also particpated in early sessions for Third
Stage (before being replaced by Jim Masdea).

Sib has owned/operated a record store in Danvers, Massachusetts (called "Soundwaves), and at one point he owned a chain of tanning salons throughout the Boston area. His current business endeavor is a small music store Sommerville, Mass.,
called Holland Street Music.

 
Jim Masdea Print E-mail

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Growing up in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, near Boston's inner city, Jim Masdea lived in a house that shook with the rumble of passing commuter trains. Dealing with the drama of urban survival, no one would have predicted that someday he would be close friends with MIT grad Tom Scholz, who had had the luxury of a good home and successful, educated parents.

Self taught and immersed in Rock and Roll music at an early age, Jim was happy playing drums in capable local rock bands by the time he started high school. When Jim serendipitously answered an ad for a band that Barry Goudreau and Tom Scholz were playing in, the stage was set for a relationship that would eventually change all of their lives. That band quickly dissolved, but the musical connection turned into a close friendship between Scholz and Masdea.

Jim was the drummer for several unsuccessful attempts at bands formed to play songs live, and even more attempts at recording them in Scholz's commercial studio. When Tom gave up on these approaches and went 'underground' to his basement studio, he invited Jim to be the only other musician he would work with. Masdea played the drums on every demo recorded by Scholz, and together they developed the drum arrangements for most of the music heard on BOSTON's debut album.

At the insistence of management, Masdea was eventually replaced for the recording of the debut album tracks, but the drum parts for many of the songs were reproduced note for note from the demo tracks that Jim played. At Scholz's insistence, Jim played drums for 'Rock and Roll Band' on that album, and several years later Tom invited him back to record drums for much of BOSTON's Third Stage, and the amazing 1987 stadium tours that followed. In addition to playing with BOSTON, Jim has been involved in diverse enterprises, including building and operating a bakery, and captaining a commercial yacht.

 

 
Doug Huffman Print E-mail

ImageDoug lived in northern California and started playing with the drums when he was 14. School-buddy guitar players made up his "formal training" as they played weddings and private parties. Just out of high school, Doug started a band with some players he knew were serious. They called themselves "A Euphonious Wail", wrote their own songs, and secured a record deal with MCA Records. They released their first album in 1973 and toured as the opening act for Black Sabbath, Bloodrock, and Steppenwolf. Before they started their second album, their guitar player decided rock and roll life wasn't for him and he quit. "We offered the job to a guitar/vocalist guy named Sammy Hagar, but he didn't want to play guitar anymore, he just wanted to sing, so we sent him packin'!! Too bad... he really missed an opportunity there!" It was around that time that Gary Pihl noticed what a great singing drummer Doug was. Gary tried to get Doug to consider being front man for his band Crossfire. They also tried to hire Sammy Hagar but Sammy had put his own band together by then.

In 1975, Doug landed a gig with a guy making a comeback by the name of Link Wray. He'd had a single back in 1957 called "Rumble" in which he introduced the "power chord" to rock music. "Although the gig lasted only six months, it was an honor to work with a living legend."

From 1976 to 1982, Doug worked with "Pacific Coast Highway", another songwriting/touring band playing festivals and small venues up and down the West coast. 1983 found him moving his family to Eureka Springs, Arkansas where he started playing in musical theater. "This was totally different from anything I had done before and it prepared me for a life-changing event... the call to audition for "Boston" !"

"Early in 1987, I got a phone call from Gary Pihl saying that Boston waslooking for a singing drummer to do an up-coming tour and asked if I would consider auditioning! I was told to learn 4 songs verbatim and that a plane ticket would be in the mail for me. I learned the tunes, then packed my autograph book and my camera! Hey, I knew I would never get the gig, but I really wanted to meet the guys from one of my all-time favorite bands !"

"I flew there, I flew back... I flew there again, I flew back. Each time I went, I worked with a different bass player (a position that was open as well). Finally, on my fourth trip, I was there with bassist David Sikes, who I'd auditioned with one time before. When we saw each other, we both thought, "maybe we're the ones!?!" Excitement turned to jubilation when, after a few hours of playing, we were asked to do the tour!"

"The six-month tour turned into years of fun, adventure and friendship with Tom, Brad, Gary, Dave, and a fantastic crew of forty-some-odd guys and gals."

"When we finished the fourth album, "Walk On", in June of 1994, Tom wanted to make some changes in the line-up and I was asked to step down. We're all still friends... no hard feelings. Tom Scholz is a fabulous human being with a vision of how and what he wants the band to be. There have been even more changes in personnel since I left, but that's what makes Boston "contemporary". They're not your typical "classic-rock" band. It was the experience of a lifetime and I miss their smiling mugs! (here's to you, Brad)"

In December of 1995, Doug and some friends started a country music theater in Branson, Missouri. It's a great show with some incredibly talented musicians that continues today. In June of 2005, Doug's parent's declining health prompted Doug and wife, Valerie, to move to Oregon to care for them. Although he lost his parents, Doug stayed on there with Valerie, enjoying each other and the beautiful Southern Oregon coast.

 
Curly Smith Print E-mail

Born in the Big Sky country of Montana, but raised in Arkansas, Curly Smith had rhythm spoon-fed into his being from living next to railroad tracks.  The thundering trains mesmerized the young boy, who started beating on pots and pans to accompany the sound of the railroad cars lumbering by.  Whenever he had the opportunity, Curly would cross the tracks and soak in the sounds of the gospel music emitted from the church nearby.  He says that these memorable childhood experiences laid the foundation for his quest for a musical career.

Curly started playing guitar, drums and singing by the time he was 12 years old and picked up the harmonica at 14.  Prior to his 20th birthday, he began classical piano lessons, adding yet another instrument to his growing repertoire.  Working in various bands in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, he honed his skills before joining Jo Jo Gunne in California, an offshoot of the classic rock group Spirit.  Jo Jo Gunne had a top 40's hit entitled "Run Run Run and toured extensively in the USA and Europe."  After Jo Jo Gunne, Curly started doing session work as well as producing for a variety of artists in Los Angeles and London, including Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Monkees, John Waite, Andy Taylor (Duran Duran), Steve Jones (Sex Pistrols), Rick Springfield, Willie Nelson, Ron Wood (Rolling Stones), Dickie Betts (Almond Brothers), Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Ian Hunter, Jay Ferguson (Spirit), Gary Myrick and the Figures, Russ Ballard (Argent), Steve Cropper (Booker T and the MG's), Bonnie Bramlett (Delaney and Bonnie), Brian Wilson, Ray Manzeric and Robbie Kreagor (The Doors), Terry Nunn (Berlin), The Bangles, David Lindley, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood and Billy Burnette (Fleetwood Mac), Belinda Carlisle, Bette Midler and a host of others.  He is one of a few drummer's who has the distinction of having played for and side by side with The Who's Keith Moon.  Curly attributes this period of time with honing his craft and fine-tuning the various styles of music he played, from rock to pop and rhythm and blues.

Curly believes that the universal sound lies within each and every one of us, stating, "We are all inextricably woven into the sound fabric of this planet. We have just forgotten how to listen.  It is literally all around us.  Our world is imbued with the spirit of music and the inspiration of creativity."  During the '90's, Tom Scholz of BOSTON wanted to tap into Smith's talents, and invited him to tour with the band.  Curly was a welcome addition to the band, toured with them and had a memorable guitar/ drums jam with Tom Scholz on the '97 tour.  He also played an incredible harp solo on BOSTON's Greatest Hits song, "Higher Power" and co-wrote with Tom Sholtz on the Corporate America CD."

In Sedona, Arizona, where Curly lives, he released his first solo effort entitled Cool Blue Cosmic Gem, an ethereal compilation that was composed, arranged, performed, produced, engineered and mixed himself.  Tom Scholtz has named it one of his top ten favorite CD's of all time. Curly's latest hard rock CD entitled Rough House, was also written and recorded in Arizona. He went back to his roots for this one; utilizing his hard rock, blues and gospel influences. This record is innovative, a rock and roll archetype, imbued with edgy, from the gut vocals, kick-ass guitars, thunderous bass and pounding drums. Rough House is raw and real, a deliberate contrast by the artist to deviate from much of the new computer driven rock CD's that are out there today. No experience necessary -just turn up the volume and let it roll over you.

 
David Sikes Print E-mail

ImageDavid Sikes spent the first four years of his life near his birthplace of Cambridge, England, until his family relocated to California. David's interest in music began much in the same way that many of the youth of his generation had... with his exposure to the Beatles. Learning trumpet and French horn in elementary school, he also played a mean air guitar and sang along to his favorite bands. He got his chance to rock as a sophomore in high school, when some friends invited him to join their band. They were in need of a bass player, so David saved his money, bought one, and taught himself how to play by listening to his favorite records and picking the notes up by ear.

A music major in college, David received some formal training, studying music theory, playing in the orchestra, and learning to play several other instruments. David bounced around the San Francisco club scene during the early eighties, playing with a number of bands that had some local popularity. During this time, he was asked to audition for Aldo Nova. Aldo Nova's first album made it into the top 10 selling albums in the year of its release and the band toured for 10 straight months, opening for Sammy Hagar (where he met future BOSTON band mate Gary Pihl), Cheap Trick, Hall and Oates, Rainbow, and Journey among others.

After finishing the band's second album and tour, David decided it was time to move on, and eventually joined the Los Angeles band Guiffria for their second album. At this point, David reconnected with Gary Pihl, who called David a while later with an offer of an invitation to audition for Boston's bassist. A big fan of the band, David jumped at the chance to play with Tom, Brad and the others. Excited about the opportunity, the busy integrated style of bass playing was right up Dave's alley. He explains the process of getting ready for his first BOSTON tour, "First off, I studied the songs on my own, and probably had the bass parts down in 2 weeks or so. One of the things I had to do was buy a 5 string bass because so many of the songs on Third Stage had the E string tuned lower than a standard pitch. Playing a bass with 5 strings was a bit of an adjustment. What was more difficult was playing the bass and singing, there was a lot going on in some of those parts. I can't tell you how long that took because it was a gradual process of working with Brad and Doug on my own and rehearsing with the band. My memory is that we rehearsed for a full 2 months before the Third Stage tour. At the point that we played our first show, I felt I really had it all down." Sikes played with BOSTON from 1987 to 1997, performing on four tours.

Sikes had the reputation of being quite a practical joker on the road. One day, it caught up with him, as Gary Pihl explains, "David was walking over some cables right behind the stage during soundcheck on our '97 tour. He slipped and fell onto his bass guitar. A tuning peg from the bass jammed into his skin about an inch from his eye. He was rushed to the hospital and got about 5 stitches to close the wound. We thought we'd have to cancel the show but he came back to the venue like a trooper, ready to do the concert. While he was at the hospital, Brad heard about the accident and that Dave wasn't in a life threatening situation. So as a joke, Brad outlined an image of Dave's body and the bass guitar on the ground with white tape at the spot where Dave went down, just like a police crime scene. We were all rolling with laughter but Dave wasn't amused when he saw it. But that's rock and roll, you get about one minute of sympathy then no mercy."

Credited on Walk On and Greatest Hits for songwriting and vocals, Sikes also assisted on production on the vocal arrangements for several songs on Walk On. "He was an asset in the recording of the album Walk On," says Scholz.

Trading in rock and roll after BOSTON's 1997 tour for the rewarding world of family life, David lives near San Francisco with his wife and two sons, where he owns a thriving insurance agency. On making the shift, he says, "I have been a musician all my adult life, there were a lot of ups and downs. I have never liked the business of music and there is no way to escape it if you rely on it for your living. The single biggest reason for me though, were my two sons who were growing up and I was missing large chunks of their childhood. My children deserved to have a dad that was around." He continues to play for enjoyment, and has participated in charity concerts over the years with musicians from Huey Lewis and the News, Night Ranger, and Tower of Power.

 

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