Six years ago, some teachers came to see me at Methuen High School (where I was a first-year teacher after a seventeen-year stint at Lawrence High) to tell me about this Beatles tribute band that I would probably enjoy seeing. That was my introduction to BeatleJuice and the beginning of a brand new love affair.
The auditorium was full, the anticipation was high, and my family and I did not know what to expect. Some people, who looked like stagehands, were walking around the stage adjusting this and that, then left. Finally, the band was announced, the "stage hands" appeared, and the concert began. Brad told us the obvious, "We don't look like them," and they didn't. But, definitely, they sounded like "them." As a result, my family and I became huge fans, to the point that I added this page to my Web site.
In six years, I missed only two concerts. One when my husband was in the hospital for open-heart surgery; the other this year when I was on board a cruise ship bound for the Caribbean. Little did I know that I may never have the opportunity to see the band again.
I have a lot of fond memories over the years. But the sweetest are the ones from the last two times I attended a Beatle Juice concert in Methuen.
In 2005, I went to the concert with my daughter, Lisa. Although her favorite type of music is Hip-Hop, she is an avid Beatles fan. At the end of the concert, we were determined to get the autograph of each member of Beatle Juice and to have a chat. We decided to talk to Brad last since there was a major crowd around him. My daughter started our chat by telling Brad how much she loved his singing but especially how much she loved his hair begging him never to cut it. As a result Brad gave her a big hug. We talked about everything from the Beatles to education. As we were chatting, people kept on coming up asking Brad for his autograph. Some brought with them albums or CDs of Boston. Brad dutifully signed them, said a few words, allowed pictures to be taken, but continued his conversation with us. Finally, I noticed that, besides the band members and their families, we were the only ones left in the auditorium. I decided that it was time to let Brad go home. We said good-bye, he gave me a big hug and gave an equally big hug and a kiss to Lisa. When we were outside the building on the way to the car, Lisa asked me why people were bringing Boston CDs and albums for Brad to sign. I told her that Brad was the lead singer of Boston. "You mean," she exclaimed, "I was kissed and hugged by a celebrity!?!"
The following year (2006), I went to the concert with my husband. Lisa was sick and could not go with us. At the end of the concert, I went to deliver a message from Lisa to Brad. He remembered us and was pleased to see me and hoped that Lisa would be well soon. I could not resist telling him about our conversation in the parking lot the year before. He laughed, gave me a big hug, and told me to deliver it to Lisa.
Brad Delp was a man with a big heart, a beautiful soul, and a wonderful smile. He gave of himself to all of us both as a member of Boston and as a member of Beatle Juice.
We thank you for the memories, for the music, for being who you were. We will miss you terribly.
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