Barry Goudreau

  • Barry Goudreau - Barry Goudreau [Portrait / Epic  NJR 36542] (August 1980)

Also Appears On

  • Boston - Don't Look Back [Epic Records  FE 35050] (2 August 1978)
  • Orion The Hunter - Orion The Hunter [Portrait Records BFR 39239] (1984)

Biography

Barry Goudreau (born November 29, 1951) is a musician, best known as one of the original guitarists for the rock band Boston.

Goudreau had developed a musical interest at an early age and got his first guitar, an acoustic which he borrowed from a friend, at age 11. He began taking lessons and by age 13, joined his first band, the ''Tornadoes''. At age 15, he joined another band with future Boston drummer Sib Hashian. They would often play at night clubs, sometimes seven times a week. Later, he met up with Brad Delp and Fran Sheehan, both future members of Boston. He auditioned for Delp's band, but didn't make the cut.

When he went to college at Boston University, he sought to get a degree in Geology. He tried to put music aside to focus on school, but he soon met up with Tom Scholz who was right across the river at MIT.

Goudreau worked with Tom Scholz and Brad Delp as early as 1969 on an initial set of demo tapes, where he performed all of the rhythm and lead guitar work. These early attempts to attract record label interest did not succeed.

Later, Scholz re-worked and re-recorded some of these demo songs and wrote several new songs for a second set of demo tapes, this time with Scholz performing all of the guitar, bass and keyboard parts. This second demo set won a recording contract with Epic Records.

In late 1979, Scholz became involved in legal and contractual battles with the band's manager, and later with CBS. Thereafter, he informed the members of Boston that he would not be working on Boston material for at least a year and that they should feel free to do solo projects.

Goudreau worked with Tom Scholz and Brad Delp as early as 1969 on an initial set of demo tapes, where he performed all of the rhythm and lead guitar work. These early attempts to attract record label interest did not succeed.

Later, Scholz re-worked and re-recorded some of these demo songs and wrote several new songs for a second set of demo tapes, this time with Scholz performing all of the guitar, bass and keyboard parts. This second demo set won a recording contract with Epic Records.

In late 1979, Scholz became involved in legal and contractual battles with the band's manager, and later with CBS. Thereafter, he informed the members of Boston that he would not be working on Boston material for at least a year and that they should feel free to do solo projects.

In 2003, Goudreau and Delp teamed up for their independent recording of Delp and Goudreau. The single ''It's What You Leave Behind'' received limited radio airplay.

In 2005, Goudreau and the members of RTZ released two CDs of songs that were earmarked for the never-realized third RTZ CD. The albums were released in the USA on Briola Records as Lost in America and Found in America. Goudreau continues to perform with Sheehan and Hashian in small, local venues in the greater Boston area, and also continued to perform with Delp until his death in 2007.

On October 16, 2007, Goudreau released one final song with Delp on vocals titled ''Rockin' Away''. According to Goudreau, ''Rockin' Away'' was written in the summer of 2006 for the 30th Anniversary of the release of the first ''Boston'' record. It was the last song that Brad and I wrote together. In it, Brad reflects on how he became involved in music, and thanks his many fans for their years of loyalty. It was my hope that the song might lead to a rekindling of my relationship with the band. Unfortunately it did not.'' The song was a minor hit in early 2008, charting up to #18 on the America's Music ranking of rock radio airplay.

Goudreau occasionally sits in with James Montgomery and was a member of Ernie and the Automatics with Sib Hashian, Tim Archibald, Brian Maes, Michael Antunes and ''car guy'' Ernie Boch, Jr. Ernie and the Automatics has disbanded.

After Delp's death, the remaining RTZ members reunited to record ''Set The Songbird Free'', which was written by Brian Maes. ''We wanted this to be a tribute to the love and respect that we all share for our bandmate and friend Brad,'' recalls Maes.

In 2007, Goudreau appeared with presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee at campaign stops in Iowa, and the Boston song ''More Than a Feeling'' was played at these appearances. This caused Scholz to complain that the song was played without permission, and because of Scholz being opposed to Huckabee's positions, he didn't want any implication that Huckabee was endorsed by Boston.

Goudreau now lives in Swampscott, Massachusetts with his wife Connie, son Sean, and daughter Michele. Connie's sister Micki was married to Delp in 1980 and they had two children, but divorced in 1996.

Goudreau was a member of Ernie and the Automatics along with Hashian. Their debut album Low Expectations was released on February 17, 2009.

On February 25, 2012, Goudreau played a three-hour set with Sheehan and others in the ''All Star Jam'' to benefit the Sydney and Berne Davis Art Center in Ft Myers Florida. [wikipedia.org]