Editing Boston (band) (section)

===Solo projects and CBS lawsuit (1979–1985)===
In late 1979, Scholz began writing new material, but Boston's former co-manager, Paul Ahern, argued that according to an agreement Scholz had signed years earlier with Ahern, Ahern owned a percentage of all songs Scholz wrote from that point on.<ref name="Ahern vs. Scholz"/> Delayed further by the dispute, Scholz suggested that in the meantime, the individual members should work on whatever other projects they might be considering.
Goudreau then decided to record a solo album that featured Boston members Delp, who contributed vocals and co-wrote songs on the album and Sib Hashian, and which was recorded with the help of Paul Grupp,<ref>{{cite web |last=Grupp |first=Paul |title="Paul Grupp – Discography Credits ("worked with")" |url=http://paulgrupp.com/worked_with_credits.html |access-date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> an engineer and producer familiar with Scholz's studio techniques.<ref name="bostonorghistory"/> The album, released in 1980, was titled ''[[Barry Goudreau (album)|Barry Goudreau]]'' and featured the minor hit single "Dreams". Tension arose when [[CBS]]'s marketing connected Goudreau's solo album to Boston's signature guitar sound, despite Scholz not having played at all on this album.<ref name="officialdlb"/><ref name="officialb">{{cite web |url=http://www.bandboston.com/html/album1_html.html |title=Official Boston Website – Boston |last=Scholz |first=Tom | website=bandboston.com | access-date=August 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608015621/http://www.bandboston.com/html/album1_html.html |archive-date=June 8, 2012  }}</ref> Scholz objected to the ad copy, but it became irrelevant when [[Epic Records|Epic]] dropped promotion on Goudreau's album citing lack of interest. After a meeting with Scholz, Goudreau was fired from the band in 1981. Brad Delp, at the same meeting voiced his disapproval and told Scholz that he was quitting Boston but that he would record and complete the tour for that album. Goudreau then formed [[Orion the Hunter (band)|Orion the Hunter]]. After the tour for "Third Stage" ended in 1988, Delp teamed up with Goudreau and recorded the ''[[Return to Zero (RTZ album)|Return to Zero]]'' LP

While Scholz and Delp were recording new material for the third Boston album, CBS filed a $60 million lawsuit against Scholz, alleging breach of contract for failing to deliver a new Boston album on time.<ref name="bostonorghistory"/>

During this same period, Scholz founded his high-tech company [[Scholz Research & Development]] (SR&D), which made amplifiers and other musical electronic equipment. Its most famous product, the [[Rockman (amplifier)|Rockman amplifier]], was introduced in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockman.fr/Products/List.htm |title=SR&D Rockman products list |website=Rockman.fr |access-date=February 19, 2012}}</ref>

The legal trouble slowed progress toward the completion of the next album, which took six years to record and produce. Joining Scholz in the album's development again were Delp and Jim Masdea.<ref name="officialts">{{cite web |url=http://www.bandboston.com/html/album3_html.html |title=Official Boston Website – Third Stage – 1986 |last=Scholz |first=Tom | website=bandboston.com | access-date=August 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608015731/http://www.bandboston.com/html/album3_html.html |archive-date=June 8, 2012  }}</ref> In 1985, guitarist [[Gary Pihl]] left Sammy Hagar's touring band to work with Scholz as both a musician and an SR&D executive. As CBS v. Scholz played out in court, CBS opted to withhold royalty payments to Scholz, hoping to force him to settle on unfavorable terms.<ref name="bostonorghistory"/>

The lawsuit's first round was eventually decided in Scholz's favor, and Scholz moved the band to [[MCA Records]].<ref name="bostonorghistory"/>

The CBS case took seven years to run its course, and in April 1990, Scholz won.<ref name="bostonorghistory"/>