His close friends are trying to honor that and focus on Delp's life and music tomorrow.

"I want to try to keep this all upbeat," said former Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau, who split from the band in 1980, and who is married to Micki Delp's sister. "Putting the show together's been a real balancing act, and we're so close -- so close -- so we want to make sure that it goes off without a hitch."

Last fall, Scholz and Delp were the only original Boston members in a five-person lineup that played a Doug Flutie tribute at Symphony Hall. The same lineup rehearsed a few times in the months after that in anticipation of a summer tour.

Scholz, in an e-mail excerpt provided to the Globe, wrote to Delp on Jan. 4 to tell him the nascent touring plans could be scrapped easily "if it's not what you want to do." But Delp seemed to be looking forward to playing with Boston in the summer and, according to the excerpts, wrote back to Scholz to request a day or two off for his wedding around Aug. 18.

Scholz said he replied to congratulate Delp and tell him that he himself had just gotten engaged, with plans for an immediate wedding in Florida.

"Talk about coincidences. I'm [sic] couldn't be happier for the both of you (and us)!" Delp typed in a Jan. 7 reply, provided by Scholz. "Have a wonderful trip, and an even better honeymoon, and we'll get together when you get back."

Bill Faulkner, an old friend who would have conducted today's wedding ceremony, said Delp would have had mixed feelings about the tribute concert. "He would never, ever want to be a bother or cause for anyone to go out of their way," Faulkner said.

But Delp would have liked that the concert will benefit causes he cared about, including music education, vegetarianism, and antiviolence, said Faulkner. He also would have liked the Boston reunion.

"He thought it would be great if it happened, but I'm not sure he totally believed it would," Faulkner said.

Joan Anderman contributed to this report.

By Eric Moskowitz, Globe Staff  |  August 18, 2007

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