Eighteen unearthed photos and videos shed light on 1970s arena rock veteran Boston’s nearly sold out End of the World tour stop at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Seen above, temporary rhythm guitarist David Victor casually leans back to do a little picking on his prized Gibson Les Paul during Boston’s June 30, 2012, concert at the family friendly outdoor venue. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
When veteran quintet Boston stampeded through South Georgia on their first tour in four years, fans were treated to a high octane concert streamlined with ‘70s and ‘80s classic rock radio staples. The third date of a 50-city summer tour which inexplicably skipped the West Coast, Valdosta’s family friendly Wild Adventures Theme Park hosted the rockers on June 30, 2012.
Led by guitar crunching wizard Tom Scholz on a vintage Gibson Les Paul, the band also featured guitarist Gary Pihl, who joined in 1985 and is the second most tenured member, drummer Curly Smith, vocalist Tommy DeCarlo, and two early twenty-tens additions — former bass player of Christian metal band Stryper Tracy Ferrie and rhythm guitarist-vocalist David Victor — he departed in the midst of Boston’s Heaven on Earth Tour in 2014.
DeCarlo, sporting a shaggy salt and pepper goatee, resembled original frontman and songwriter Brad Delp, who tragically committed suicide in 2007. Throughout the evening, he was obviously grateful to be onstage, shaking hands repeatedly with fans and demonstrating a humble attitude that other rock stars ought to emulate.
The trek was amusingly dubbed the “End of the World” tour. Critics and fans alike gave the shows two thumbs up. With no new album to support — Corporate America slipped out with scant notice 10 years earlier — the Wild Adventures setlist was greased like a well-oiled piston, focusing heavily on their first three multi-platinum albums distributed between 1976 and 1986 — Boston, Don’t Look Back, and Third Stage.
Par for the course, sixth studio album Life, Love & Hope was long in the works and ultimately dropped in December 2013. With the quality of Boston’s stage shows, let’s hope Scholz, a graduate of M.I.T. and the group’s resident creative mastermind, considers releasing a live album documenting the experience. Surprisingly, only sonically sub-par bootleg shows are available.
As a Boston concert first-timer, the song most deserving of an onstage rendition before Scholz calls it a day is “A Man I’ll Never Be,” which just missed the Top 30 in 1978. Composed by the meticulous multi-faceted musician and a mini operatic powerhouse for Delp, DeCarlo’s vocal dexterity is capable of pulling the feat off. Hang tight for a dozen Wild Adventures Theme Park snapshots unearthed of Boston in action.
The most iconic lineup Boston lineup is captured in a 1977 group portrait in New York City. Clockwise from top left are late frontman Brad Delp, bassist Fran Sheehan, lead guitarist-songwriter-producer-engineer Tom Scholz, guitarist Barry Goudreau, and late drummer Sib Hashian. Photography by Michael Putland / Getty Images
Lead singer Tommy DeCarlo poses triumphantly after “Party”, the climactic song of the evening during Boston’s June 30, 2012, concert at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
Cast in a black and white film noir filter, founding lead guitarist-songwriter-producer-engineer Tom Scholz plays solo notes on the neck of his iconic Gibson Les Paul 1968 “Mighty Mouse” electric guitar during Boston’s June 30, 2012 concert at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
Tracy Ferrie, former Fender bass player of Christian metal band Stryper, joined Boston for their End of the World 2012 tour and is still part of the classic rock quintet’s lineup. Ferrie, along with guitarist Gary Pihl in the background, is seen during Boston’s June 30, 2012, concert at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
Gary Pihl has been a mainstay of Boston’s lineup since contributing guitar licks to 1986’s “I Think I Like It” from their “Third Stage” album. The co-producer of 2002’s “Corporate America” record, Pihl is seen here on acoustic guitar between takes of Boston’s June 30, 2012, concert at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
Tom Scholz, the sole remaining founding member of Boston, and compadre David Victor, part of the quintet’s guitar triple attack between 2012 and 2014, don’t look back during Boston’s June 30, 2012, End of the World tour stop at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
Wearing a M.I.T., established 1861 gray cut-off T-shirt, sole Boston original member and mastermind Tom Scholz solos on his Gibson Les Paul 1968 “Mighty Mouse” electric guitar while Gary Pihl, who joined the arena rock act’s guitar roster in 1985, feels pretty satisfied during Boston’s June 30, 2012, End of the World tour stop at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
Come on baby, do the loco-motion with me! Tommy DeCarlo debuted onstage with Boston during the Brad Delp Tribute Concert held in the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 19, 2007. Here DeCarlo extends a fist towards Heaven during Boston’s June 30, 2012, End of the World tour stop at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Rhythm guitarist David Victor, whose Boston tenure lasted two years through 2014, strums a white Gibson electric guitar in the background. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
Guitarists David Victor and Gary Pihl let the good times roll at Boston’s June 30, 2012, concert at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Victor was part of Boston’s lineup between 2012 and 2014, while Pihl has been a mainstay since contributing guitar licks to “I Think I Like It” as featured on Boston’s “Third Stage” album in 1986. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
Wearing a M.I.T., established 1861 gray cut-off T-shirt, sole Boston original member and mastermind Tom Scholz closes his eyes while soloing away on his iconic Gibson Les Paul 1968 “Mighty Mouse” electric guitar during Boston’s June 30, 2012 concert at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
Wearing a M.I.T., established 1861 gray cut-off T-shirt, sole Boston original member and a very toned Tom Scholz closes his eyes while soloing away on his iconic Gibson Les Paul 1968 “Mighty Mouse” electric guitar during Boston’s June 30, 2012 concert at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
Lead guitarist-songwriter-producer-engineer Tom Scholz can also tackle organ and keyboards with aplomb during Boston’s June 30, 2012 concert at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Photography by Jeremy Roberts
On April 23, 1977, about eight months after the distribution of their self-titled debut album — lead single “More Than a Feeling” went Top Five — Boston recline on the wing of their tour plane in Roanoke, Virginia. Left to right are lead guitarist-songwriter-producer-engineer Tom Scholz, bassist Fran Sheehan, singer-rhythm guitarist Brad Delp, drummer Sib Hashian, and guitarist Barry Goudreau. Photography by Ron Pownall / Rock Paper Photo
Experience Boston’s ”Let Me Take You Home Tonight.” Written by Brad Delp, the classic rock ballad is the ultimate track on Boston’s self-titled debut, diamond-certified LP, dropped in July 1976 via Epic Records. Video + Music Credit: Sony Music Entertainment
Retro pop culture interviews & lovin’ someone fierce sustain this University of Georgia Master of Agricultural Leadership alum. Email: jeremylr@windstream.net
Retro pop culture interviews & lovin’ someone fierce sustain this University of Georgia Master of Agricultural Leadership alum. Email: jeremylr@windstream.net
