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Once I received the phone call and met up with Boston, we did a short rehearsal for "More Than a Feeling" and "Peace of Mind." I had also sang a couple [at the tribute concert], as well as other local fans and bands from Boston.

So how did a single show lead to you officially being invited into the band?

Sweet It was just an incredible night and I can't really explain it other than the fact that the band and I really hit it off together. I'm officially part of the band now and I'll be touring with them starting June 6. Just to clarify, I'm not the lead singer of Boston. I'm one of the singers, switching it up with [local fan and artist] Tommy DeCarlo, but I'll also be playing guitar throughout the set.

Boston's always been a band with various vocalists.

Sweet In the early days, it was Brad who primarily sang, though over time, the band has relied on other vocalists too. I view this as an incredible opportunity. The group Boston is full of amazing people, and I'm blessed to know them!

Were they been familiar with your time in Stryper, especially with all of your band's mainstream success?

Sweet I know that Kim purchased Reborn, and though she had heard of us, she really hadn't gotten into us until that record. She started listening to that and was really impressed, so then she started playing it for Tom and he was also very impressed with it. Here I am talking with Tom Scholz, who's part of the band that released the biggest selling debut album all time [with over 18 million in sales], and someone that had been such a big influence on my music, inviting me to come sing with him—if you could've seen my face!

Boston is a band that rarely tours, and given the loss of Brad, it looked less likely that the band would continue. What do you think inspired their return to the road?

Sweet [At the time of the tribute concert], there was no plan to continue on. It was just going to be a one time benefit show. But I think the band received enough feedback from fans to continue, and I look at it as a way of honoring Brad. He was, in my opinion, one of best vocalists of all time and a one of a kind person. None of us are trying to be Brad or fill his shoes, but the group wants to go out and continue to honor him and the music.

A lot of classic rock bands like Journey, Styx and Queen are still touring these days without the original lead singers, and still drawing sizeable crowds. How are they able to pull it off without the star power?

Sweet Because I think the songs have touched so many lives. You remember first and foremost the songs, at least speaking for myself because that's how my mind works. When I'm humming the melody, I'm not necessarily remembering all the members and what each guy did. I think it starts there, and in the case of Boston, these songs are all over radio even today—they've become quite powerful. There's always going to be some fans who don't want to accept change, but for whatever reason, there are also a lot of people out there who want the group to carry on. As far as press with Boston, it's been a very positive response. We've gotten a lot of offers for shows and there seems to be a real excitement for this tour.

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