The new book, Power Soak: Invention, Obsession, and the Pursuit of the Perfect Sound by Brendan Borrell, unveils the dramatic, inside true story of how MIT engineer Tom Scholz built the signature sound of arena rock and engaged in a bitter war with the most powerful figures in the music business. Scholz, who created Boston’s explosive, clean style for hits like “More Than a Feeling” in his basement, saw his studio inventions influence bands like Journey and Def Leppard. However, when he refused to deliver the album ‘Third Stage’ until it met his exacting standards, CBS Records chief Walter Yetnikoff declared war, leading to cutoff royalties, lawsuits, and the splintering of the band.
The battle for the long-awaited album escalated as rival power brokers Irving Azoff and David Geffen raced to pry the record loose, resulting in one of the last blockbusters of the classic-rock era. Drawing on thousands of court filings and new interviews, journalist Brendan Borrell details how Scholz fought back against the major-label power structure. The book positions Scholz as a figure who helped arm artists with new tools in their struggle for creative control, making Power Soak a must-read for fans of music history and business drama.