Boston Hires New Front Man-Found On MySpace

New trend in the music biz; ’70s bands hiring new lead singers off of internet sites.

First we had Journey finding their new front man, Arnel Pineda, through YouTube and now, Boston has picked up Tommy DeCarlo on the strength of his MySpace tracks.

DeCarlo, 43, who up until recently was working as a credit manager at his local Home Depot, put MP3’s of himself singing Boston songs in tribute to original lead singer Brad Delp, who committed suicide last year, on his MySpace page. A fan contacted DeCarlo and suggested he send it to the band’s management.

Now, that’s just got to be a kick in the ass for a 43 year old guy. How much fun would it be to walk up to your supervisor at Home Depot and say: “Hey, I’m going to need some time off because, I will be on tour with Boston.”

Within days, Boston guitarist Tom Scholz was sitting at home when he heard something strange coming from his wife’s computer. “I asked her whether it was us playing live and she said, ‘It’s some guy in North Carolina singing your songs,’” says Scholz. “I said to her, ‘I know Brad’s voice, and that’s Brad.’ She turned it up, and it was only when I heard the backing track that I knew it wasn’t us.”

As much as DeCarlo’s MP3’s impressed Scholz, it was his live audition that really blew him away. “During rehearsals, it can get downright eerie,” says Scholz. “I forget it’s not Brad. It makes me feel like someone was at work up there.”

You know, when a publicist sets out to promote a band, they want a story to tell. And there’s no better story than, everyman makes good. So, from a P.R. standpoint, it’s a smart move for a band needing a singer. Journey is all over the place now, getting face time they haven’t had since the early MTV days.

So, keep those chops up, 40 something singers, and keep the rock and roll dreams alive.

Tommy DeCarlo with his new band.