More Than a Feeling

Zoo Freaks, get ready to vibe with some cosmic trivia about "More Than a Feeling" by Boston, the ultimate anthem spinning on THE ZOO today! This track, the lead single from their 1976 debut album Boston, was a labor of love for mastermind Tom Scholz, who spent five years perfecting it in his Watertown, Massachusetts basement studio. Scholz, a gearhead with a knack for innovation, built his own recording equipment and played nearly every instrument on the track, with drummer Sib Hashian laying down the beats originally crafted by Jim Masdea. The song’s iconic guitar riff, inspired by The Left Banke’s "Walk Away Renee," has a haunting similarity to Nirvana’s "Smells Like Teen Spirit," a connection Kurt Cobain himself nodded to by opening Nirvana’s 1992 Reading Festival performance with a snippet of "More Than a Feeling." Fun fact: the song’s emotional core comes from a fictional Marianne, named after Scholz’s older cousin, who he had a childhood crush on—she was reportedly miffed about being called “older” when they reconnected years later!

Another wild story comes from the song’s political brush in 2008, when Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee used it for his campaign, prompting a fiery response from Scholz. He wrote an open letter, shared widely on platforms like X, demanding Huckabee stop, clarifying that neither he nor Boston endorsed any candidate. Scholz, an Obama supporter, was particularly irked by former bandmate Barry Goudreau’s appearances with Huckabee, emphasizing that he, not Goudreau, played all the guitars on the track. On a lighter note, fans on Songfacts share personal tales, like one from Charlotte, NC, claiming Scholz wrote the song about a Marianne he dated, who tragically passed young due to drugs—though Scholz himself says it’s more about universal loss than a specific romance. The song’s universal appeal is undeniable, covered by everyone from *NSYNC to Nirvana, and even popping up in films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Now, let’s rewind to how Boston got their start. Tom Scholz, the brains behind the band, wasn’t your typical rock star. A graduate of MIT with a master’s degree, he worked as a product development engineer at Polaroid in the late 1960s, tinkering with music on the side. Scholz started writing songs while at MIT, but it was in his basement studio in the early 1970s that he began crafting the demos that would become Boston’s debut. Teaming up with singer Brad Delp, whose soaring vocals defined the band’s sound, Scholz recorded six songs, including "More Than a Feeling," and sent them to every label imaginable. After rejections from giants like RCA and Atlantic, Epic Records finally bit in 1975. Scholz, ever the perfectionist, tricked Epic into thinking the band was recording in a fancy LA studio, when really, he was laying down tracks at home with a $100 Yamaha acoustic guitar. When the album dropped in 1976, it exploded, selling 17 million copies in the US alone, making it one of the best-selling debut albums ever. Boston’s blend of classical influences, 1960s pop, and Scholz’s innovative Rockman gear created a sound that’s still instantly recognizable.

For Zoo Freaks who want to dive deeper, connect with Boston on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans can also join the conversation at dedicated sites like The Band Boston Fan Site, which offers tour info, lyrics, and forums, or thirdstage.ca, a treasure trove of band news since 1999. On Facebook, groups like the Boston Fan Group are buzzing with devotees sharing memories and updates. So, crank up "More Than a Feeling," let those air guitars rip, and keep it freaky, Zoo Crew!