Tuesday, October 27, 2015

RundgrenRadio tonight Tim Butler

ROCKTOBER SHOW 3 THIS TUESDAY 
http://rundgrenradio.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7d4ed23baaa8cae5fe511ba60&id=732a99cdf3&e=289ddd0f6f
DETAILS ON CALI GIG TICKETS!

RUNDGREN RADIO AIRS TONIGHT WITH SPECIAL GUEST TIM BUTLER
Tuesday 10/27 @ 8:30pm ET
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2015/10/28/rundgren-radio-with-special-guest-tim-butler-of-the-psychedelic-furs

Tim Butler is the bass player, and co-founder of the Psychedelic Furs. He is also the youngest of three brothers. His brother Richard, the eldest, is the lead singer of the Psychedelic Furs. Both brothers were also founding members of the alternative rock band, Love Spit Love.

Tim was largely responsible for The Furs bringing in Todd Rundgren to produce their hit album, Forever Now. In an interview in That Mag, Tim said, “My favorite album was the one Todd produced (Forever Now). If anyone could be called a musical genius, I think Todd is."


RUNDGREN RADIO TO PROMOTE TWO TODD RUNDGREN GIGS PLUS EVENTS THIS JANUARY! 

January 11, 2016 in Redwood City, CA at Fox Theatre (between San Fran and San Jose)!  Ticket details will  be announced during the show tonight - no worries this does not mean tickets go on sale tonight :-)Please do not call the venueOn January 10th, we will be presenting a double bill concert at Club Fox featuring Jill Sobule and Kasim Sulton!  If you are interested in attending these events and need a hotel room, please contact us immediately at doug@rundgrenradio.com.  We have a great chance to take over an entire hotel - 100% Todd fans! 

January 30, 2016 in Columbus, OH at Southern Theatre (same venue where we hosted the last Todd+Healing album show)!  Tickets are on sale NOW and it looks like this one will end up selling out.  On January 29th, we will be hosting a party at the group hotel featuring three different Todd/Utopia tribute bands - - - Secret Society, One World, and Love In AkronGroup hotel info is already available and tickets to the party are already on sale, info at:  www.ToddColumbus.com

SPIRIT OF HARMONY FOUNDATION NEW AUCTION UNDERWAY!

www.32auctions.com/SpiritOfHarmony2015  Auction is open NOW and bidding lasts until November 14, when the auction closes. Fabulous Todd/Utopia treasures and gift items! All paid-for-items will be shipped no later than November 20 - - - in plenty of time for the holidays!

AWATS LIVE DVD IS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

The Toddstore is now taking pre-orders for the Todd Rundgren A Wizard, A True Star album live DVD.  Due to demand they are making another run of these previously almost impossible to find DVD's.  DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE to own this important piece of Todd history! Order now at Toddstore.com. 


MORE TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED AND MORE ON THE WAY!

Dates will be in December of 2015 and then January and February of 2016!  The format will be "Evening With" also deemed "Fan Favorites" and will feature
Todd with a band consisting of John Ferenzik, Jesse Gress, Prairie Prince, and Kasim Sulton. 

One of the tour dates includes a stop at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA where the Todd+Healing DVD was filmed!  Tickets are still on sale for this show that will likely sell out so don't procrastinate too long if you want to go.

Another Todd gig was announced this week and it's location is in Burnside, MN with a presale happening on 11/2 on Ticketmaster.com.  We do not know the passcode but for most of the shows it has been toddster.

Todd is currently touring with Ringo Starr again this October with only 4 shows left and details are available from our tour page at http://www.rundgrenradio.com/todd-on-tour.html


"UP AGAINST IT" WITH TODD AND AN ORCHESTRA TO BE PERFORMED IN GRONINGEN (THE NETHERLANDS) ON FEBRUARY 19th OF 2016!
Tickets are on sale NOW and you can keep up with all the happenings on the Facebook event page ...

https://www.facebook.com/events/821492421266376/
 

KASIM SULTON CONCERTS IN NOVEMBER!
Info available at KasimSulton.com

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Todd Summer Camp 2016 announcement via ToddStore

Good Evening Toddstore Friends ..happy to let everyone know that there WILL BE a Summer Camp in 2016 ! Official announcement will be coming soon..as of now we can only tell you that it will be in August of 2016 and will be in the Eastern part of the U.S. ! We will bring you more info when we are given the go ahead !!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

RundgrenRadio Announcement / Party

ROCKTOBER SHOW 1 THIS TUESDAY 
http://rundgrenradio.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7d4ed23baaa8cae5fe511ba60&id=6ce448b86c&e=289ddd0f6f
DETAILS ON TWO RR PARTIES!

RUNDGREN RADIO AIRS TUESDAY AT 8:30PM ET
Tuesday 10/13 @ 8:30pm ET
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2015/10/14/rundgren-radio-rocktober-show-2-with-the-global-girls

Special guests The Global Girls!  Ashle Worrick and Grace Yoo will be joining us to discuss what's happening with them now and what it was like touring with Todd for the GLOBAL tour.

RUNDGREN RADIO TO PROMOTE TWO TODD RUNDGREN GIGS PLUS EVENTS THIS JANUARY! 

January 11, 2016 in Redwood City, CA at Fox Theatre (between San Fran and San Jose)!  More details will  be announced during the show tomorrow nightPlease do not call the venueOn January 10th, we will be presenting a double bill concert at Club Fox featuring Jill Sobule and Kasim SultonIf you are interested in attending these events and need a hotel room, please contact us immediately at doug@rundgrenradio.com.  We have a great chance to take over an entire hotel - 100% Todd fans! 

January 30, 2016 in Columbus, OH at Southern Theatre (same venue where we hosted the last Todd+Healing album show)!  More details will  be announced during the show tomorrow nightPlease do not call the venueOn January 29th, we will be hosting a party at the group hotel featuring three different Todd/Utopia tribute bands - - - Secret Society, One World, and Love In AkronWe are also hoping to announce on the RR show tomorrow night a special guest for this party! Group hotel info is already available and tickets to the party are already on sale, info at:  www.ToddColumbus.com.  Ticket info for the Todd gig will be announced tomorrow night.

AWATS LIVE DVD IS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

The Toddstore is now taking pre-orders for the Todd Rundgren A Wizard, A True Star album live DVD.  Due to demand they are making another run of these previously almost impossible to find DVD's.  DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE to own this important piece of Todd history! Order now at Toddstore.com. 


MORE TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED AND MORE ON THE WAY!

Dates will be in December of 2015 and then January and February of 2016!  The format will be "Evening With" also deemed "Fan Favorites" and will feature
Todd with a band consisting of John Ferenzik, Jesse Gress, Prairie Prince, and Kasim Sulton. 

One of the tour dates includes a stop at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA where the Todd+Healing DVD was filmed!  Congrats to our ticket winners for this gig, Gary Morlock and Jim Utopia!  Tickets are still on sale for this show that will likely sell out so don't procrastinate too long if you want to go.

Todd is currently touring with Ringo Starr again this October and that information along with some of the newly announced tour dates is available from our tour page at http://www.rundgrenradio.com/todd-on-tour.html


"UP AGAINST IT" WITH TODD AND AN ORCHESTRA TO BE PERFORMED IN GRONINGEN (THE NETHERLANDS) ON FEBRUARY 19th OF 2016!
Tickets are on sale NOW and you can keep up with all the happenings on the Facebook event page ...

https://www.facebook.com/events/821492421266376/
 

KASIM SULTON CONCERTS IN NOVEMBER!
Info available at KasimSulton.com

Monday, October 5, 2015

Rundgren Radio this tuesday.

Be sure to visit www.SpiritOfHarmony.org

ROCKTOBER SHOW 1THIS TUESDAY 
Rundgren Radio
DETAILS ON TWO RR PARTIES!

RUNDGREN RADIO AIRS TUESDAY AT8:30PM ET
Tuesday 10/6 8:30pm ET
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2015/10/07/rundgren-radio-rocktober-series-show-1

We'll be announcing some or all of the details surrounding the two Todd Rundgren gigs we will be promoting. One gig is in Northern Cali (our first West Coast gig since 2009) on 1/11/16and the other is in Central OH on 1/30/16 and we will be hosting parties the night before both of these Todd gigs!  We hope to have other new Todd tour dates to share as well.  You'll also get to hear some rockin' Todd tunes!

AWATS LIVE DVD IS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

The Toddstore is now taking pre-orders for the Todd RundgrenA Wizard, A True Star album live DVD.  Due to demand they are making another run of these previously almost impossible to find DVD's.  DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE to own this important piece of Todd history! Order now at Toddstore.com.  


MORE TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED AND MORE ON THE WAY! 

Dates will be in December of 2015 and then January and February of 2016!  The format will be "Evening With" also deemed "Fan Favorites" and will feature
 Todd with a band consisting of John Ferenzik, Jesse Gress, Prairie Prince, and Kasim Sulton. 

One of the tour dates includes a stop at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA where the Todd+Healing DVD was filmed!  Congrats to our ticket winners for this gig, Gary Morlock and Jim Utopia!  Tickets are still on sale for this show that will likely sell out so don't procrastinate too long if you want to go.

Todd is currently touring with Ringo Starr again this October and that information along with some of the newly announced tour dates is available from our tour page athttp://www.rundgrenradio.com/todd-on-tour.html


"UP AGAINST IT" WITH TODD AND AN ORCHESTRA TO BE PERFORMED IN GRONINGEN (THE NETHERLANDS) ONFEBRUARY 19th OF 2016!
Tickets are on sale NOW and you can keep up with all the happenings on the Facebook event page ... 

https://www.facebook.com/events/821492421266376/
 

KASIM SULTON CONCERTS IN NOVEMBER! 
Info available at KasimSulton.com

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Rundgren Radio tonight

Be sure to visit www.SpiritOfHarmony.org

TODD's GOING BACK ON TOUR 2015 
http://rundgrenradio.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=7d4ed23baaa8cae5fe511ba60&id=a31a5cd3aa&e=289ddd0f6f
FIND OUT MORE TONIGHT ON RR

RUNDGREN RADIO AIRS TONIGHT AT 8:30PM ET
Tuesday 9/15 @ 8:30pm ET
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2015/09/16/rundgren-radio-y8bb6-post-show--todd-with-aso
Post Akron show - we will be discussing how Y8BB6 went in Akron, OH.  We will also be making announcements as usual and that includes Todd tour information!

IT'S NOT TO LATE TO GET YOUR TODD RUNDGREN'S ONLY SYMPHONIC CONCERTS OF 2015 T-SHIRT!
It's not too late to get your official Akron gigs t-shirt from the Toddstore.  Due to demand they are making another run of shirts.  Check it out on Toddstore.com.  Todd performed with the Akron Symphony Orchestra two nights in a row (Saturday 9/4 and Sunday 9/5).  


MORE TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED!
Dates will be in December of 2015 and then January and February of 2016!  The format will be "Evening With" also deemed "Fan Favorites" and will feature
Todd with a band consisting of John Fereinzik, Jesse Gress, Prairie Prince, and Kasim Sulton.   One of the tour dates includes a stop at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA and on tonight's show we will be discussing the 4 premium tickets we have to give away to some lucky fans!

Todd will also be touring with Ringo Starr again this October and that information along with some of the newly announced tour dates is available from our tour page at http://www.rundgrenradio.com/todd-on-tour.html


"UP AGAINST IT" WITH TODD AND AN ORCHESTRA TO BE PERFORMED IN GRONINGEN (THE NETHERLANDS) ON FEBRUARY 19th OF 2016!
Tickets are on sale NOW and you can keep up with all the happenings on the Facebook event page ...

https://www.facebook.com/events/821492421266376/
 

KASIM SULTON CONCERTS IN NOVEMBER!
Info available at KasimSulton.com


INTERESTED IN OWNING SOME GREAT TODD RUNDGREN PHOTOS?


Visit Hillage.Photoshelter.com/gallery-list
Password is SOHF2015 (case sensitive all upper case).

You can purchase 5 X 7 photos for $20.00 , 8 x 10 photos for $35.00 plus shipping to your home for $4.00. The site will be open for a very limited amount of time - maybe another week.  Over 700 photos!

FANS INFLUENCED BY TODD ARE PUTTING OUT THEIR MUSIC WITH NEW CD's!
Brian Grace has released a new CD titled, Streets of San Francisco, and it included a guest appearance by Prairie Prince!  For more info, email Brian at bngrace@gmail.com.  You can read about the CD here ... http://therockrag.com/taking-it-to-the-streets/.  Brian performed live with the Love in Akron band at the recent RR Y8BB6 party.

Jens Trode's first album, International Deal, is now available and includes guest appearances by Prairie Prince and Kasim Sulton! You can read about the CD here ... http://www.thewhig.com/2015/09/10/kingston-musician-fulfils-his-dream
  and purchase it here ...  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jenstrode

Monday, September 14, 2015

Tour dates

AN EVENING WITH TODD RUNDGREN - WINTER TOUR 2015 - 2016
Dec 9, Wed Detroit, MI - The Fillmore (pre-sale 9/16)
Dec 10, Thu Northfield, OH - Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park Hard Rock Live (pre-sale 9/16)
Dec 18, Fri Montclair, NJ - The Wellmont Theater (pre-sale 9/16)
Dec 19, Sat New York, NY - Gramercy Theater (pre-sale 9/16)
Dec 20, Sun Chester, NY - Sugar loaf Performing Arts Center (on sale 9/18)
Jan 8, Fri Scottsdale, AZ - Talking Stick Resort (on sale 9/18)
More Tour dates To Be Announced Shortly!


Todd Rundgren with Ringo and his All Starr Band 2015



Todd Rundgren with Ringo and his All Starr Band - Autumn Tour 2015
Oct 9, Fri Vancouver, B - Queen Elizabeth Theater
Oct 10, Sat Penticton, BC - South Okanagan Events Theater
Oct 12, Mon Edmonton, AB - Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Oct 13, Tue Calgary, AB - Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Oct 14, Wed Regina, SK - Brandt Theater
Oct 16, Fri Minneapolis, MN - The State Theater
Oct 17, Sat Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
Oct 18, Sun Detroit, MI - Fox Theater
Oct 20, Tue Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
Oct 21, Wed Montreal, QC - St. Denis Theater 1
Oct 23, Fri Boston, MA - Wang Theater - Citi Performing Arts Center
Oct 24, Sat Mashantucket, CT - Fox Theater
Oct 25, Sun New Brunswick, NJ - State Theater
Oct 27, Tue Pittsburgh, PA - Heinz Hall For The Performing Arts
Oct 28, Wed Baltimore, MD - Modell Performing Arts Center@ The Lyric
Oct 30, Fri Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theater
Oct 31, Sat Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theater

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Labor Day SPECIAL CONCERT Akron Civic Theatre Todd Rundgren with the Akron Symphony Orchestra


September 5 - September 6
Sep 5 at 8:00pm to Sep 6 at 11:00pm
Show Map
Akron Civic Theatre
182 S Main St, Akron, Ohio 44308
BOTH CONCERTS WILL FEATURE SOME SONGS TODD HAS NOT PERFORMED WITH AN ORCHESTRA YET - OVER 10 NEW SONGS TOTAL FOR THE TWO CONCERTS! DIFFERENT SET LIST EACH NIGHT!

The Todd Rundgren with the Akron Symphony Orchestra will be Rundgren's fourth and fifth symphonic concerts in North America. The concerts are being held on September 5th and 6th of 2015 at the Akron Civic Theatre in Akron, OH. The set lists will feature some of the songs Todd has performed with orchestras in the past as well as 14 new songs total for the two concerts. Special guest performers include Kevin Ellman (drums), Jesse Gress (guitar), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), Kasim Sulton (bass and background vocals), Michele Rundgren (background vocals), and Mary Lou Arnold (background vocals). The orchestra conductor for both concerts will be Jacob Sustaita.

TICKETS:

Saturday, Sept 5:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/05004EBB9B882DCD
Sunday, Sept 6:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/05004EBB9B8C2DD5

Video: Woody Truckstop 1966 Thats right , You're wrong

Sunday, August 23, 2015

searching for "A Face to a Name", directed by Douglas Sloan soundtrack by Todd Rundgren.

Anyone able to find the short documentary video  "A Face to a Name", directed by Douglas Sloan  soundtrack by Todd Rundgren. a beautiful haunting tribute to 9/11.   Also know to Todd Rundgren fans as a "A Wall in NYC" it seems to have disappeard from the internet.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Todd to play the "All Along the Moontower : Austin Gets Psychedelic" festival

freedomsummer
 

ALL ATX presents
All Along the Moontower: Austin Gets Psychedelic

ALL ATX presents All Along the Moontower: Austin Gets Psychedelic, a concert bringing together some of Austin's finest musicians to showcase the '60s and '70s psychedelic era. 
KLRU is proud to be the presenting station and will tape the show for national distribution later this fall. Proceeds benefit future nonprofit ALL ATX Music Factory and Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM)
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Doors 6pm | Show 7pm
ACL Live at The Moody Theater310 W Willie Nelson Blvd (map)
http://www.klrusupport.org/page.redir?target=http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/880395&srcid=47033&srctid=1&erid=5894570&trid=7e13d400-0c02-477f-bb56-21130d1fb2b8
FEATURING Todd Rundgren | Hayes Carll | The Black Angels | Max Frost | David Grissom & Mike Cross | Israel Nash | Patrice Pike | Ian Moore | Gina Chavez | Bubble Puppy | Big Cat (ft. Malford Milligan and Dave Sebree) | Water & Rust

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Todd Rundgren Akron Orchestra Aug. 31, 2013 - ANOTHER LIFE

Toddstore giveaway contest is on.....

 https://www.facebook.com/thetoddstore/photos/pcb.970474016328445/970473206328526/?type=1&theater

Good Day Toddstore Friends ! It's Giveaway day at the Toddstore ! We are giving away a FREE Toddstore Mystery Box ! The box contains over 100.00 worth of Toddstore merch & goodies ! All you need to do is like the photo of the Mystery Box , leave a comment and share it on your page ..easy peasy ! Good Luck ! http://toddstore.bigcartel.com/

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

ToddFestWest Update


Excitement is rising as the next ToddFest/West in less than two months away!

Yes, ToddFest/West is returning after a one year hiatus on Saturday, September 19, 2015 and will see its return at the home of Lanette Waters-Atwood in Concord, California (San Francisco Bay Area). Debbie Sommer and Roger Linder are the Fest's organizers, as they have been since beginning this back in 1995. This is a special year celebrating the 20th anniversary (17th Fest overall.) To see the entire history of ToddFest/West, visit the site at http://ToddFestWest.com.

The Fest is free to all attendees, although everyone is encouraged to bring food to share.

If you'd like to come, please RSVP to RSVP2015@ToddFestWest.com. You can also RSVP by visiting the Eventbrite site at https://eventbrite.com/event/17040768397/ and make an optional donation to help underwrite some of the costs.

In addition, we are honoring our late friend Lani Hanson Nelson with the opportunity to contribute to Lani's Spirit Fund, which will benefit Todd's Spirit of Harmony Foundation. Please see the ToddFest/West site for additional details.

Finally, Todd will be performing in our area in upcoming Global shows:

Wed 7/29/15 Grass Valley, CA The Center For The Arts

Thu 7/30/15 Napa, CA City Winery 2nd Show
Fri 7/31/15 Reno, NV Harrah's Reno Convention Center
Perhaps we'll see you there!​


Roger D. Linder, The TR-i Fan Formerly known as RDL22
Antelope, CA
http://RoCeMaBra.com/roger
http://twitter.com/rdlinder
Facebook: http://facebook.com/rdlinder

WARNING POSSIBLE SET LIST SPOILER for Akron Orchestra show

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2015/07/22/rundgren-radio-with-special-guest-paul-ferguson

click on above link to listen to last nights show.

spoiler alert... spoiler alert... spoiler alert
WARNING POSSIBLE SET LIST SPOILER 
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 Based on commentary from the RR guest last night it appears that “Compassion", "I Can’t Stop Running" and/or "Just One Victory” have a high probability of being some of the songs for the Akron concerts that TR has never performed with an orchestra in the past

Monday, July 20, 2015

Toddstore Mystery Box offer


In case you missed it yesterday ! For a very limited time ..Toddstore Mystery Box !!
http://toddstore.bigcartel.com/products
Good Morning and happy Sunday !
As a special Thank You to all of our amazing customers / Todd Fans , we are offering for a limited time only ..a Toddstore Merch Mystery Box !!
The box will contain over 100.00 worth of Toddstore goodies from the past few years including 1 shirt , 1 dvd , 1 cd , TR guitar picks , a piece of Toddstore jewelry ..and a couple other little Toddstore items from our archives !
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PURCHASING !
You will choose Size and Ladies or Men ONLY !
NO SPECIAL REQUESTS for certain items ! No returns or complaints because you didnt get what you want !
We promise to fill your box with Toddstore happiness ..you will feel like it's Christmas in July !
wink emoticon
Toddstore Mystery Box is 40.00
All items will ship Priority Mail in the U.S. for 13.00
International Shipping is 20.00
Email us with any questions before you buy !
Thank You !!

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Dam funk on Rundgren radio to Night

Special guest Dam Funk tonight on Rundgren Radio at 8:30pm ET. www.blogtalkradio.com

Only two Todd with an orchestra concert in the world in 2015 are this Labor Day weekend in Akron, OH. Two different set lists and over 10 songs TR has never performed with an orchestra! THE Todd concerts of the year! www.RundgrenWithASO.com
==============================================

Todd with orchestra live

http://www.rundgrenwithaso.com/

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Pre-order the amazing Todd magazine: summer issue coming soon.

http://toddfan.com/product/pre-order-the-summer-issue-of-toddfan-magazine-coming-out-in-mid-july/

Pre – Order the SUMMER ISSUE of TODDFAN Magazine coming out in mid-July! The Summer Issue is Completed! Editors are checking it out... going over it, and soon it will be going to print! Everyone should have it in their hands my mid- July! I just have to say I'm really impressed with this issue! Not only whats inside, but I think the cover is the best one so far!Thom Jennings outstanding interview with Willie Wilcox and the whole thing is packed full of concert reviews and fan stories. Starting with this issue we will also be bringing you more stories on the moral imperative of music education... teaming up with Spirit of Harmony Foundation. In this issue is a really cool story of 6 year old Beatles fan King Tobias who with the help from Todd, meets his idol Ringo Star Backstage by SOHF staff writer Sara Stromseth-Troy. For the fans that are not already subscribed here is a link to get just the Summer Issue... Don't want you to miss this one!

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Todd Rundgren Talks Eric Clapton's Psychedelic Gibson SG, Changing Influences and More


avatar

http://www.guitarworld.com/dear-guitar-hero-todd-rundgren-talks-eric-claptons-psychedelic-sg-changing-influences


Dear Guitar Hero: Todd Rundgren Talks Eric Clapton's Psychedelic Gibson SG, Changing Influences and More

He’s a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer who’s had his own hits and worked with such artists as Cheap Trick, Sean Cassidy and Meat Loaf, but what Guitar World readers really want to know is…
A lot of what I’ve heard of your new album, Global, is heavily electronic, like your last album, State. Are you moving away from the guitar with your new music? — Craig Williams
A lot of it depends on what kind of show I’m doing. When I play with Ringo’s All-Starrs, I get to play a lot of guitar for a good part of the year; it’s not lead guitar in that context, though.
I guess it depends on how motivated I am to write songs with the guitar when it comes time to make an album. I think about what I need to do for a live performance and I tailor it to that presentation. This live show I’m currently doing doesn’t really involve a lot of other players, so I imagined myself as more of a frontman and singer rather than a guitarist.
How did you come to own Eric Clapton’s psychedelic SG known as the Fool? Did he ever want to buy it back? — Norman Staller
I have the feeling that Eric had given that guitar up, because it went through a number of hands before I got it. I think he gave it to George Harrison, and I’d heard that Paul Kossoff from Free owned it, too. I got it from Jackie Lomax, who was signed to Apple. This was when I was up in Woodstock working with the Band.
The guitar was in horrible shape at the time. The paint job was all flaked off because they never put a sealer on it. It didn’t have the original tailpiece, the neck was a mess at one point, the headstock snapped off. I did a lot of work on it. I played it for decades, and I owned it until the mid Nineties. I owed the IRS a lot of money, so I auctioned it off. But I did get to play it onstage with Ringo—with Jack Bruce, we did “Sunshine of Your Love,” which I thought was appropriate.
What is your most prized guitar, and why? — Sally Foote
I’ve put a lot of karma into Foamy, that green Fernandes guitar I’ve been seen with so often. It’s still my main guitar when I go out with Ringo. Whenever I do solos, or if I do something especially heavy or twinkly, I use that one. It gets a good range of sounds, particularly with my Line 6 equipment. I would miss that one if it disappeared.
Your recent collaborative album with Hans-Peter Lindstrøm & Emil Nokolaisen,Runddans, was done by sending files back and forth between Hawaii and Oslo. Do you find spontaneity in that kind of arrangement? — “Big” Bob MacAdoo
There is spontaneity because you’re not there to witness the evolution of music at the other end. This project went through so many versions and iterations, so I never knew what I was going to get. At one point, it was all one song that ran for an hour and a half. It was always interesting when I’d get something new, but sometimes it took months before that would happen. So it always felt fresh to jump in and contribute. I’d do my thing, send it back, and then a couple of months later, I’d get another version of something. You can’t help but feel spontaneity with a process like that.
What makes you always want to try new stuff and keep pushing the envelope? Genre-wise, you seem to do it all. — Kevin Pasternak
I bristle when people refer to me as a “rock star.” I’m not a star; I’m a musician. Way back when, I wanted to know how music worked and how to play instruments. I started on the guitar, and as soon as I had access to a piano, I learned how to play that—and I went from there. Some people come to the realization that they want to get into music to live a certain lifestyle: They want to be in a band and play a certain kind of music, have fun, get paid, get laid—the musician’s lifestyle.
My commitment to music was different. It’s what I wanted to do, and I knew that I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else. I suppose the continued exploration of that is simply because I get bored playing the same thing all the time. [laughs] Let’s change it up.
I saw a video on YouTube of you playing a fantastic guitar solo on the song "Black Maria." How do you rate yourself as a soloist, and who were your inspirations solo-wise? — Edie Sancore
There was a time when I rated myself, but I was pretty young then. At a certain point, you realize that there are so many ways to play guitar and so many other great players out there, so it becomes a fool’s errand to put yourself in competition with everybody else. I just try to sound like myself.
Everybody for a while patterned themselves after George Harrison, and so did I. He played such concise, accessible and memorable solos that worked perfectly with any song. After I while, I started listening to the Yardbirds—they expanded the guitar solo in both length and character. Jeff Beck became my idol at that point. I wanted to play like him, which is another fool’s errand, because nobody plays like Jeff Beck. Then when I heard Eric Clapton with the Bluesbreakers, I said, “I wanna play like that guy, and if I can’t, I’ll kill myself.” I tried and got technically close, but I got distracted by other players. I think, in the long run, I do something that’s derivative, but it’s sort of my own style.
Some of your songs like “Bang on the Drum All Day” and “Hello, It’s Me” have been used for commercials and by sports teams. Have you ever heard a song of yours used in a certain way and went, “Ouch. I don’t like that”? — Hugh LaRose
There was a time when I thought that the way I heard a song was the only way it was supposed to be. The Isley Brothers did a version of “Hello, It’s Me,” and at first I thought, Wow, that’s weird. The more I heard it, I felt it was just as legitimate as mine. I’ve heard songs of mine and didn’t even know what they were at first. I was in a supermarket once and I heard Hal Ketchum’s version of “I Saw the Light.” I said, “I know that song, but that’s not me.” It took me a minute to figure out what it was, a country version of my song. I like what other people do with my stuff—and, of course, there’s royalties. [laughs]
I’ve always loved Utopia’s Beatles-influenced album Deface the Music. During any of your tours with Ringo, did he ever bring it up? — Michael Drewber
I brought it up to him during the first tour I did with him, I think, in 1993. He seemed amused by the idea, but I don’t think he went out and listened to it. I’m not sure if he even listened to the Rutles. He gets assaulted with so much Beatles stuff, and I think he’s pretty tired of talking about it. I read the interview he did with Rolling Stone, and I think the interviewer was petrified to even bring up the Beatles.
Is there anybody you would have liked to have produced, or is there anybody you still want to get in the studio with? — E.L. Ashton
I’ve always felt that it was dangerous for the producer to take the lead in forming a relationship to make a record. It’s a big responsibility being in the producer’s chair, and sometimes you can be at odds with an artist. They want to do what they want, but sometimes you have other ideas about how to make their music better. So in that regard, I’d rather have an artist come to me and ask me to help instead of the other way around.
That said, there have been some opportunities I wish I could have taken advantage of and some I wish could have come to fruition. The Talking Heads asked me to produce them, but I was already committed to the Tubes. They ended up hiring Brian Eno, which was kind of a turning point for them. I heard from Pete Thomas that I was on the list to produce Elvis Costello, and Pete Townshend told me that I was under consideration to produce the Who. I would’ve done those records in a second.
I love your production of Grand Funk’s We’re An American Band, but please tell me it wasn’t your idea for them to pose nude on the inside sleeve of the album. — Bobbi Fenton
Did they do that? [laughs] Wow, Okay. I wasn’t in charge of the packaging; in fact, that was all done before I even got involved. The management team and Lynn Goldsmith, the photographer, were in charge of building the band’s image. All of that stuff had to be done long before we even went into the studio. So no, I can’t claim any credit for that one.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to your younger self just starting out in the Sixties? —Danny Dameo
“Don’t take it all so seriously. Everything’s gonna work out.” But maybe the fact that I took it seriously is why it worked out. You know, I got lucky, and you can’t advise against luck. I was in a certain point at the right time, doing the right thing. We couldn’t capitalize on it the way we wanted, but it did take me from amateur to professional status.
What I did was, I never waited for something to happen—I just went out and did it. I didn’t wait for acclaim or affirmation or anything like that. I always kept myself busy and wrote music. Some people think that success only comes through the front door, so they’re waiting at that door. Truth is, sometimes it comes in the back door, so don’t worry about it. Just keep busy and do what you’re meant to do. If you do that, it’ll all come together.