The "almost" official blog for everything Todd Rundgren Related........................................................................................................................................................................... Please visit the sister facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Ma4utopia?ref=hl
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
presale for fans limited time Ventura AWATS show
Limited time --- Ventura AWATS tix for sale https://rundgrenradio.tix.com ! Get in on the action before they hit Ticketmaster this Saturday!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Concert Review: Philly pop stars rock hard at the Spectrum 10/24/09
http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20091024_Philly_pop_stars_rock_hard_at_the_Spectrum.html
Philly pop stars rock hard at the Spectrum
By David Hiltbrand
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
The best deal in town? Friday night's triple bill at the Spectrum: The Hooters, Todd Rundgren and Hall & Oates for an admission fee that maxxed out at $6. The deep discount reflected ticket prices in 1967 when the Spectrum first staged concerts.
This concert was billed as "Last Call," as a triumvirate of locally bred pop pastmasters bade an affectionate farewell to the soon-to-be shuttered venue.
The only way this show could have been more Philly-centric was if roaming PennDot crews had been blocking access to the concession stands.
The Hooters set a vibrant tone, from a coiled "Day by Day" to the gyrating tilt-a-whirl of "And We Danced". Frontman Eric Bazilian got a big reaction, during an earnest cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer," when he announced, "This one's for the Phillies."
The night represented the end of an era not just for the building (which will close after four Pearl Jam shows next week) but for the performers as well, all of them in the autumn of their careers.
This could be one of the last times any of them play in a vaunted arena setting. So the stage theatrics were dialed up appropriately with lots of hair tossing and fist pumping.
The real revelation was Rundgren who delivered a screaming, squalling broadside of acid rock. It was a thrilling aural flashback.
On songs like "Love in Action", "Strike" and "Couldn't I Just Tell You", he evoked a range of rockers, from Spirit to AC/DC to Robin Trower.
Performing in a two-tone poodle cut and pipe-stem black pants, Rundgren reminisced about his only previous appearance at the Spectrum, opening for Jeff Beck more than a quarter century ago.
Oddly, Rundgren's often brilliant chime-and-thunder set drew the most muted crowd response of the night. Maybe the audience was just pacing itself, saving its huzzahs for the headliners.
What can you say about the Hall & Oates revue? The hits just kept coming, from the puma prowl of "Maneater" to the jump-and-shout syncopation of "You Make My Dreams."
The simpler songs, like "She's Gone" and "Sara Smile" were the best showcases for Hall's supple and appealing voice.
But the group also sounded good when allowed some elbow room, as on a sprawling "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)". It featured an extended sax solo from Charlie DeChant who, even in an eye-popping cranberry suit, looks like Pierre Robert's father.
Unfortunately, the volume for Hall & Oates performance, particularly on the microphones, was boosted beyond the amplifiers' capacity. It saddled their sound with a stridency that belied the sweetness of the material.
After a brief intermission, the headliners returned with a remarkable bonus round, a stroll down the city's musical heritage trail.
First they brought our Charlie and Richie Ingui of the Soul Survivors for a raucous cover of their 1967 classic "Expressway to Your Heart".
After Bazilian and Rob Hyman of the Hooters joined the merrymakers, Hall enlisted Rundgren's help for a soul cavalcade, made up of "Back Stabbers", "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" and "Love Train".
Apparently drunk with its own power, the all-star band swung into "Disco Inferno" for a final encore. Maybe you had to be there.
Maybe you should have been there for this spirited revival meeting.
For many people in this city, the Spectrum wasn't a sports palace as much as it was rock n' roll church. On Friday, the high priests of Philly pop conducted some righteous last rites.
Philly pop stars rock hard at the Spectrum
By David Hiltbrand
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
The best deal in town? Friday night's triple bill at the Spectrum: The Hooters, Todd Rundgren and Hall & Oates for an admission fee that maxxed out at $6. The deep discount reflected ticket prices in 1967 when the Spectrum first staged concerts.
This concert was billed as "Last Call," as a triumvirate of locally bred pop pastmasters bade an affectionate farewell to the soon-to-be shuttered venue.
The only way this show could have been more Philly-centric was if roaming PennDot crews had been blocking access to the concession stands.
The Hooters set a vibrant tone, from a coiled "Day by Day" to the gyrating tilt-a-whirl of "And We Danced". Frontman Eric Bazilian got a big reaction, during an earnest cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer," when he announced, "This one's for the Phillies."
The night represented the end of an era not just for the building (which will close after four Pearl Jam shows next week) but for the performers as well, all of them in the autumn of their careers.
This could be one of the last times any of them play in a vaunted arena setting. So the stage theatrics were dialed up appropriately with lots of hair tossing and fist pumping.
The real revelation was Rundgren who delivered a screaming, squalling broadside of acid rock. It was a thrilling aural flashback.
On songs like "Love in Action", "Strike" and "Couldn't I Just Tell You", he evoked a range of rockers, from Spirit to AC/DC to Robin Trower.
Performing in a two-tone poodle cut and pipe-stem black pants, Rundgren reminisced about his only previous appearance at the Spectrum, opening for Jeff Beck more than a quarter century ago.
Oddly, Rundgren's often brilliant chime-and-thunder set drew the most muted crowd response of the night. Maybe the audience was just pacing itself, saving its huzzahs for the headliners.
What can you say about the Hall & Oates revue? The hits just kept coming, from the puma prowl of "Maneater" to the jump-and-shout syncopation of "You Make My Dreams."
The simpler songs, like "She's Gone" and "Sara Smile" were the best showcases for Hall's supple and appealing voice.
But the group also sounded good when allowed some elbow room, as on a sprawling "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)". It featured an extended sax solo from Charlie DeChant who, even in an eye-popping cranberry suit, looks like Pierre Robert's father.
Unfortunately, the volume for Hall & Oates performance, particularly on the microphones, was boosted beyond the amplifiers' capacity. It saddled their sound with a stridency that belied the sweetness of the material.
After a brief intermission, the headliners returned with a remarkable bonus round, a stroll down the city's musical heritage trail.
First they brought our Charlie and Richie Ingui of the Soul Survivors for a raucous cover of their 1967 classic "Expressway to Your Heart".
After Bazilian and Rob Hyman of the Hooters joined the merrymakers, Hall enlisted Rundgren's help for a soul cavalcade, made up of "Back Stabbers", "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" and "Love Train".
Apparently drunk with its own power, the all-star band swung into "Disco Inferno" for a final encore. Maybe you had to be there.
Maybe you should have been there for this spirited revival meeting.
For many people in this city, the Spectrum wasn't a sports palace as much as it was rock n' roll church. On Friday, the high priests of Philly pop conducted some righteous last rites.
VIDEO:"Love Train" performed by Hall and Oates, Todd Rundgren, Soul Survivor, and the Hooters
"Love Train" performed by Hall and Oates, Todd Rundgren, Soul Survivor, and the Hooters at the Last Call performance at the last week of the Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA 23 OCT 2009.
Friday, October 23, 2009
awats ticket info
In case you missed it somehow, Todd will be taking his "A Wizard, A True Star" live in its entirety to the West Coast this December!
12/1 San Francisco
12/2 Sacramento
12/4 Los Angeles
12/5 Ventura
More details available on http://www.facebook.com/l/16eae;AWATSlive.com.
TICKETS GO ON SALE TODAY FOR THE SACRAMENTO GIG!
http://www.facebook.com/l/16eae;WWW.TICKETS.COM AT 10AM PST.
TICKETS GO ON SALE TOMORROW FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO GIG!
http://www.facebook.com/l/16eae;WWW.CITYBOXOFFICE.COM AT 10AM PST.
On-sale dates for the rest of the shows will be announced on http://www.facebook.com/l/16eae;RundgrenRadio.com's weekly show this Tuesday. Show begins at 5:30pm CST.
12/1 San Francisco
12/2 Sacramento
12/4 Los Angeles
12/5 Ventura
More details available on http://www.facebook.com/l/16eae;AWATSlive.com.
TICKETS GO ON SALE TODAY FOR THE SACRAMENTO GIG!
http://www.facebook.com/l/16eae;WWW.TICKETS.COM AT 10AM PST.
TICKETS GO ON SALE TOMORROW FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO GIG!
http://www.facebook.com/l/16eae;WWW.CITYBOXOFFICE.COM AT 10AM PST.
On-sale dates for the rest of the shows will be announced on http://www.facebook.com/l/16eae;RundgrenRadio.com's weekly show this Tuesday. Show begins at 5:30pm CST.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
AWATS CALI TICKETS SALE DATES
Todd Rundgren "A Wizard, A True Star" Live in California on-sale ticket dates announced
Pop/rock icon Todd Rundgren will perform his entire "A Wizard, A True Star" album live for the first time ever on the West Coast beginning December 1st, 2009. Ticket sales information was announced on RundgrenRadio.com's weekly show last night.
Todd Rundgren during an AWATS Live performance 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 21, 2009 – RundgrenRadio.com announced the on-sale dates and pricing for tickets to two of the four Todd Rundgren "A Wizard, A True Star" Live concerts they are presenting this December in California.
The first ever USA West Coast Todd Rundgren AWATS Live concert will be held on December 1st, 2009 in San Francisco at The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre returning him to where he recorded his album "2nd Wind" in 1991. Three more West Coast concerts will follow including Sacramento at Crest Theatre on December 3rd, Los Angeles at The Orpheum Theatre on December 4th, and Ventura at the Majestic Theatre on December 5th. Todd will be accompanied by an all-star band consisting of Jesse Gress, Greg Hawkes, Prairie Prince, Ralph Schuckett, Bobby Strickland, and Kasim Sulton. Each concert will feature an opening set of some of Todd Rundgren's other works followed by an intermission.
Tickets for the Todd Rundgren AWATS Live concert December 1st in San Francisco will go on sale this Friday, October 23rd, at 10am PST at http://www.CityBoxOffice.com. Tickets are priced at $65 and $75 each. Seating capacity for The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre is 962.
Tickets for the Todd Rundgren AWATS Live concert on December 2nd in Sacramento will go on sale this Thursday, October 22, at 10am PST at http://www.Tickets.com. All tickets are priced at $73 to commemorate the year the album was released, 1973. Fans are being encouraged to wear '70's attire to the concert. Seating capacity for the Crest Theatre is 975.
On-sale ticket dates for the Los Angeles and Ventura Todd Rundgren AWATS Live concerts will be announced on the next RundgrenRadio.com show next Tuesday night beginning at 5:30pm PST.
Information concerning all of the upcoming Todd Rundgren AWATS Live concerts in California is available at http://www.AWATSlive.com.
Todd Rundgren has only performed the "A Wizard, A True Star" album live in its entirety seven times and all of those concerts took place in September of this year. The first ever performance was presented by RundgrenRadio.com in Akron, OH and was sold out with over 2400 fans in attendance.
The first seven Todd Rundgren AWATS Live performances included multiple costume changes by Todd and some of his most avid and long term fans deemed the concerts "best ever" in their reviews.
Todd Rundgren's "A Wizard, A True Star" was listed in the 2006 musical reference book, “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die”. In 2003, British music critic Barney Hoskyns wrote in MOJO magazine, "Rundgren’s 'A Wizard, A True Star' is simply the greatest album ever made”.
Todd Rundgren has released over 30 albums either as a solo artist or with his bands Nazz, Utopia, and The New Cars while producing acclaimed, successful records for artists as diverse as Badfinger, Meat Loaf, Grand Funk Railroad, the New York Dolls, and XTC.
Pop/rock icon Todd Rundgren will perform his entire "A Wizard, A True Star" album live for the first time ever on the West Coast beginning December 1st, 2009. Ticket sales information was announced on RundgrenRadio.com's weekly show last night.
Todd Rundgren during an AWATS Live performance 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 21, 2009 – RundgrenRadio.com announced the on-sale dates and pricing for tickets to two of the four Todd Rundgren "A Wizard, A True Star" Live concerts they are presenting this December in California.
The first ever USA West Coast Todd Rundgren AWATS Live concert will be held on December 1st, 2009 in San Francisco at The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre returning him to where he recorded his album "2nd Wind" in 1991. Three more West Coast concerts will follow including Sacramento at Crest Theatre on December 3rd, Los Angeles at The Orpheum Theatre on December 4th, and Ventura at the Majestic Theatre on December 5th. Todd will be accompanied by an all-star band consisting of Jesse Gress, Greg Hawkes, Prairie Prince, Ralph Schuckett, Bobby Strickland, and Kasim Sulton. Each concert will feature an opening set of some of Todd Rundgren's other works followed by an intermission.
Tickets for the Todd Rundgren AWATS Live concert December 1st in San Francisco will go on sale this Friday, October 23rd, at 10am PST at http://www.CityBoxOffice.com. Tickets are priced at $65 and $75 each. Seating capacity for The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre is 962.
Tickets for the Todd Rundgren AWATS Live concert on December 2nd in Sacramento will go on sale this Thursday, October 22, at 10am PST at http://www.Tickets.com. All tickets are priced at $73 to commemorate the year the album was released, 1973. Fans are being encouraged to wear '70's attire to the concert. Seating capacity for the Crest Theatre is 975.
On-sale ticket dates for the Los Angeles and Ventura Todd Rundgren AWATS Live concerts will be announced on the next RundgrenRadio.com show next Tuesday night beginning at 5:30pm PST.
Information concerning all of the upcoming Todd Rundgren AWATS Live concerts in California is available at http://www.AWATSlive.com.
Todd Rundgren has only performed the "A Wizard, A True Star" album live in its entirety seven times and all of those concerts took place in September of this year. The first ever performance was presented by RundgrenRadio.com in Akron, OH and was sold out with over 2400 fans in attendance.
The first seven Todd Rundgren AWATS Live performances included multiple costume changes by Todd and some of his most avid and long term fans deemed the concerts "best ever" in their reviews.
Todd Rundgren's "A Wizard, A True Star" was listed in the 2006 musical reference book, “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die”. In 2003, British music critic Barney Hoskyns wrote in MOJO magazine, "Rundgren’s 'A Wizard, A True Star' is simply the greatest album ever made”.
Todd Rundgren has released over 30 albums either as a solo artist or with his bands Nazz, Utopia, and The New Cars while producing acclaimed, successful records for artists as diverse as Badfinger, Meat Loaf, Grand Funk Railroad, the New York Dolls, and XTC.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
BOOK: A Dream Goes on Forever- The Continuing story of Todd Rundgren VOL. 2 The Utopia Years by Billie James
ok drum roll... the book will be available DEC 15 from golden treasures publishing
hardcover and softcover 394 pages with b & W photos throughout plus 12 pages photo section.
golden treasures
po box 601
Bentonville AR 72712
479-795-4209
fax 479-795-4158
www.goldtrespub.gemm.com
hardcover and softcover 394 pages with b & W photos throughout plus 12 pages photo section.
golden treasures
po box 601
Bentonville AR 72712
479-795-4209
fax 479-795-4158
www.goldtrespub.gemm.com
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
west coast and europe band line up announcement
Todd Rundgren's all-star band line-up for the British Premiere of "A Wizard A True Star" on 6th February 2010 at the HMV London Hammersmith Apollo includes former members of Utopia, The Cars and The Tubes.
The line-up consists of Todd Rundgren (vocals, guitar), Jesse Gress (guitar, vocals), Greg Hawkes (keyboards, vocals), Ralph Schuckett (keyboards, vocals), Prairie Prince (drums), Bobby Strickland (saxophone, vocals) and Kasim Sulton (bass, vocals).
More info: http://www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/meanfiddler/Todd_Rundgren_wizard.htm
Jesse Gress (guitar) tours and records with Todd Rundgren and the Grammy-nominated Tony Levin Band. Greg Hawkes is the famed keyboardist and co-founder of The Cars (1977-1987). Prairie Prince (drums) has been a founding member of art-rock band The Tubes since 1969.
Ralph Schuckett was a member of the band Utopia and played keyboards for the band from 1972 to 1975. He appeared on the albums 'Todd Rundgren's Utopia' (1974) and 'Another Live' (1975).
Bobby Strickland played saxophone and toured Rundgren's albums 'Nearly Human' (1989) and '2nd Wind' (1991). Kasim Sulton (bass) was member of Utopia and has worked with Meat Loaf, Joan Jett, Patti Smith, and Hall and Oates.
Todd Rundgren performs the British Premiere of "A Wizard, A True Star" HMV London Hammersmith Apollo on Saturday 6th February 2010.
Box Office: 08700 603 777. Book Online: www.seetickets.com
For interview opportunities, review tickets and photo passes, contact:
Peter Noble at Noble PR Consultancy Ltd: 0207 272 7772, peter@noblepr.co.uk
The line-up consists of Todd Rundgren (vocals, guitar), Jesse Gress (guitar, vocals), Greg Hawkes (keyboards, vocals), Ralph Schuckett (keyboards, vocals), Prairie Prince (drums), Bobby Strickland (saxophone, vocals) and Kasim Sulton (bass, vocals).
More info: http://www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/meanfiddler/Todd_Rundgren_wizard.htm
Jesse Gress (guitar) tours and records with Todd Rundgren and the Grammy-nominated Tony Levin Band. Greg Hawkes is the famed keyboardist and co-founder of The Cars (1977-1987). Prairie Prince (drums) has been a founding member of art-rock band The Tubes since 1969.
Ralph Schuckett was a member of the band Utopia and played keyboards for the band from 1972 to 1975. He appeared on the albums 'Todd Rundgren's Utopia' (1974) and 'Another Live' (1975).
Bobby Strickland played saxophone and toured Rundgren's albums 'Nearly Human' (1989) and '2nd Wind' (1991). Kasim Sulton (bass) was member of Utopia and has worked with Meat Loaf, Joan Jett, Patti Smith, and Hall and Oates.
Todd Rundgren performs the British Premiere of "A Wizard, A True Star" HMV London Hammersmith Apollo on Saturday 6th February 2010.
Box Office: 08700 603 777. Book Online: www.seetickets.com
For interview opportunities, review tickets and photo passes, contact:
Peter Noble at Noble PR Consultancy Ltd: 0207 272 7772, peter@noblepr.co.uk
updated AWATS west coast show information
visit: www.awatslive.com
West Coast AWATS gigs announced! Ticket sales date info coming soon! We're looking at 3-5 days or so (todays's date is 10/13). NO presales have been announced.
December 1, 2009: Palace Fine Arts Theatre, San Fran, CA
December 2, 2009: Crest Theatre, Sacramento, CA
December 4, 2009: Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
December 5, 2009: Majestic Theatre, Ventura, CA
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre tickets will be available on: cityboxoffice.com
Crest Theatre tickets will be available on:
tickets.com
Orpheum Theatre tickets will be available on:
Ticketmaster.com
Majestic Theatre tickets will be available on:
Ticketmaster.com and https://rundgrenradio.com/tix.com
West Coast AWATS gigs announced! Ticket sales date info coming soon! We're looking at 3-5 days or so (todays's date is 10/13). NO presales have been announced.
December 1, 2009: Palace Fine Arts Theatre, San Fran, CA
December 2, 2009: Crest Theatre, Sacramento, CA
December 4, 2009: Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
December 5, 2009: Majestic Theatre, Ventura, CA
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre tickets will be available on: cityboxoffice.com
Crest Theatre tickets will be available on:
tickets.com
Orpheum Theatre tickets will be available on:
Ticketmaster.com
Majestic Theatre tickets will be available on:
Ticketmaster.com and https://rundgrenradio.com/tix.com
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A FAN IN NEED OF TRANSPORTATION TO OCT 18TH SHOW
I need transportation from Paramus, NJ to Bayshore, LI for the Todd concert on 10/18. (And back of course.)
If anyone is going from this area please let me know.
My e-mail address is sunflower3455@gmail.com.
If anyone is going from this area please let me know.
My e-mail address is sunflower3455@gmail.com.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
here are the dates for the Cali AWATS shows
West Coast gigs announced! Ticket information coming soon!
December 1, 2009: Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco, CA
December 2, 2009: Crest Theatre, Sacramento, CA
December 4, 2009: Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
December 5, 2009: TBD
December 1, 2009: Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco, CA
December 2, 2009: Crest Theatre, Sacramento, CA
December 4, 2009: Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
December 5, 2009: TBD
Friday, October 9, 2009
west coast gigs for AWATS announced
RundgrenRadio.com announces Todd Rundgren AWATS gigs on the West Coast
Pop/rock icon Todd Rundgren will perform his entire "A Wizard, A True Star" album live for the first time ever on the West Coast beginning December 1st, 2009 in San Francisco, CA followed by 3 other CA gigs. Tickets will be sold on ticketmaster.com.
Todd Rundgren during "A Wizard, A True Star" live in Akron, OH 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 09, 2009 – RundgrenRadio.com will be officially announcing on their weekly online radio show this Tuesday night that they have booked four more Todd Rundgren AWATS gigs and this time they will all be on the West Coast. The first ever USA West Coast Todd Rundgren AWATS gig will be held on December 1st, 2009 in San Francisco at The Palace Theatre of Fine Arts returning him to where he recorded his album "2nd Wind" in 1991. Three more West Coast gigs will follow including Sacramento at Crest Theatre, Los Angeles at The Orpheum Theatre, and a city still to be determined. More information will be available soon at www.AWATSlive.com.
Todd Rundgren has only performed the "A Wizard, A True Star" album live in its entirety seven times and all of them took place in September of this year. The first ever performance was presented by RundgrenRadio.com in Akron, OH and was sold out with over 2400 fans in attendance.
The AWATS performances included multiple costume changes by Todd. He was accompanied by an all-star band consisting of Jesse Gress, Greg Hawkes, Roger Powell, Prairie Prince, Bobby Strickland, and Kasim Sulton. Many of Todd's most avid and long term fans deemed the shows "best ever" in their reviews.
A Wizard, A True Star - - - The title of Todd Rundgren's 1973 solo album aptly sums up the contributions of this multi-faceted artist to state-of-the-art music. As a songwriter, video pioneer, producer, recording artist, computer software developer, conceptualist, and, most recently, interactive artist (re-designated TR-i), Rundgren has made a lasting impact on both the form and content of popular music.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rundgren began playing guitar as a teenager, going on to found and front The Nazz, the quintessential `60's cult group. In 1969, he left the band to pursue a solo career, recording his debut offering, the legendary Runt. But it was 1972's seminal Something/Anything?, on which he played all the instruments, sang all the vocal parts, and acted as his own producer, that catapulted Todd into the superstar limelight, prompting the press to unanimously dub him 'Rock's New Wunderkind'. It was followed by such landmark LPs as The Hermit of Mink Hollow and the above mentioned A Wizard, A True Star, as well as such hit singles as I Saw The Light, Hello It's Me, Can We Still Be Friends, and Bang The Drum.
In 1974, Todd formed Utopia, an entirely new approach to the concept of interactive musicianship, and embarked on an extensive round of touring and recording. Standout Utopia offerings included Oops! Wrong Planet, Adventures in Utopia, and Oblivion. Along the way, Utopia combined technical virtuosity and creative passion to create music that, for millions, defined the term "progressive rock."
Rundgren's myriad production projects include albums by Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, Psychedelic Furs, Meatloaf, XTC, Grand Funk Railroad, and Hall And Oates. Rounding out his reputation as rock's Renaissance Man, Rundgren composed all the music and lyrics for Joe Papp's 1989 Off-Broadway production of Joe Orton's Up Against It (the screenplay commisioned by The Beatles for what was meant to have been their third motion picture). He also has composed the music for a number of television series, including Pee Wee’s Playhouse and Crime Story.
In 1998 Todd debuted his new PatroNet technology which for the first time allows fans of a musical artist to subscribe directly to the artist’s musical output via the Internet. This caps a long history of groundbreaking early multimedia "firsts", including:
• 1978: The first interactive television concert, broadcast live over the Warner/QUBE system in Columbus, Ohio (the home audience chose each song.in real time during the concert by voting via QUBE’s 2-way operating system).
• 1978: The first live nationally broadcast stereo radio concert (by microwave), linking 40 cities around the country.
• 1979: The opening of Utopia Video Studios, a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art facility. The first project produced by Todd there is Gustav Holst’s The Planets, commissioned by RCA SelectaVision as the first demonstration software for their new videodisc format.
• 1980: Creation of the first color graphics tablet, which was licensed to Apple and released as The Utopia Graphics Tablet.
• 1981: Time Heals, the first music video to utilize state-of-the-art compositing of live action and computer graphics (produced and directed by Todd), becomes the second video to be played on MTV (after Video Killed the Radio Star).
• 1982: The first live national cablecast of a rock concert (on the USA Network), simulcast in stereo to over 120 radio stations.
• 1982: The first two commercially released music videos, one of which was nominated for the first-ever Grammy awarded for “Best Short Form Video” in 1983.
• 1992: The release of “No World Order”, the world’s first interactive record album on CD-i. Also the first commercially available music downloads via CompuServe.
• 1994: The release of “The Individualist”, the world’s first full-length Enhanced CD.
• 1995: The world’s first interactive concert tour.
• 1998: Launched PatroNet, the world’s first direct artist subscription service
Todd's "A Wizard, A True Star" band lineup will include some of the members from his former bands Utopia and The New Cars. The all-star band lineup for the "A Wizard, A True Star" performances include: Todd Rundgren, Jesse Gress, Greg Hawkes, Ralph Schuckett, Prairie Prince, Bobby Strickland, and Kasim Sulton.
Guitarist Jesse Gress tours and records with Todd Rundgren and the Grammy-nominated Tony Levin Band.
Greg Hawkes is the famed keyboardist and co-founder of The Cars (1977-1987).
Drummer Prairie Prince has been a founding member of art-rock band The Tubes since 1969.
Keyboardist Ralph Schuckett was a member of the band Utopia and played keyboards for the band from 1972 to 1975. Ralph has composed music for hundreds of TV commercials.
Saxophonist Bobby Strickland played and toured for two of Todd's albums and is currently with the Gary Cambra Band.
Bass player Kasim Sulton, was member of the band Utopia and has worked with other artists including Meat Loaf, Joan Jett, Hall and Oates, Patti Smith, and Patty Smyth.
# # #
Pop/rock icon Todd Rundgren will perform his entire "A Wizard, A True Star" album live for the first time ever on the West Coast beginning December 1st, 2009 in San Francisco, CA followed by 3 other CA gigs. Tickets will be sold on ticketmaster.com.
Todd Rundgren during "A Wizard, A True Star" live in Akron, OH 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 09, 2009 – RundgrenRadio.com will be officially announcing on their weekly online radio show this Tuesday night that they have booked four more Todd Rundgren AWATS gigs and this time they will all be on the West Coast. The first ever USA West Coast Todd Rundgren AWATS gig will be held on December 1st, 2009 in San Francisco at The Palace Theatre of Fine Arts returning him to where he recorded his album "2nd Wind" in 1991. Three more West Coast gigs will follow including Sacramento at Crest Theatre, Los Angeles at The Orpheum Theatre, and a city still to be determined. More information will be available soon at www.AWATSlive.com.
Todd Rundgren has only performed the "A Wizard, A True Star" album live in its entirety seven times and all of them took place in September of this year. The first ever performance was presented by RundgrenRadio.com in Akron, OH and was sold out with over 2400 fans in attendance.
The AWATS performances included multiple costume changes by Todd. He was accompanied by an all-star band consisting of Jesse Gress, Greg Hawkes, Roger Powell, Prairie Prince, Bobby Strickland, and Kasim Sulton. Many of Todd's most avid and long term fans deemed the shows "best ever" in their reviews.
A Wizard, A True Star - - - The title of Todd Rundgren's 1973 solo album aptly sums up the contributions of this multi-faceted artist to state-of-the-art music. As a songwriter, video pioneer, producer, recording artist, computer software developer, conceptualist, and, most recently, interactive artist (re-designated TR-i), Rundgren has made a lasting impact on both the form and content of popular music.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rundgren began playing guitar as a teenager, going on to found and front The Nazz, the quintessential `60's cult group. In 1969, he left the band to pursue a solo career, recording his debut offering, the legendary Runt. But it was 1972's seminal Something/Anything?, on which he played all the instruments, sang all the vocal parts, and acted as his own producer, that catapulted Todd into the superstar limelight, prompting the press to unanimously dub him 'Rock's New Wunderkind'. It was followed by such landmark LPs as The Hermit of Mink Hollow and the above mentioned A Wizard, A True Star, as well as such hit singles as I Saw The Light, Hello It's Me, Can We Still Be Friends, and Bang The Drum.
In 1974, Todd formed Utopia, an entirely new approach to the concept of interactive musicianship, and embarked on an extensive round of touring and recording. Standout Utopia offerings included Oops! Wrong Planet, Adventures in Utopia, and Oblivion. Along the way, Utopia combined technical virtuosity and creative passion to create music that, for millions, defined the term "progressive rock."
Rundgren's myriad production projects include albums by Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, Psychedelic Furs, Meatloaf, XTC, Grand Funk Railroad, and Hall And Oates. Rounding out his reputation as rock's Renaissance Man, Rundgren composed all the music and lyrics for Joe Papp's 1989 Off-Broadway production of Joe Orton's Up Against It (the screenplay commisioned by The Beatles for what was meant to have been their third motion picture). He also has composed the music for a number of television series, including Pee Wee’s Playhouse and Crime Story.
In 1998 Todd debuted his new PatroNet technology which for the first time allows fans of a musical artist to subscribe directly to the artist’s musical output via the Internet. This caps a long history of groundbreaking early multimedia "firsts", including:
• 1978: The first interactive television concert, broadcast live over the Warner/QUBE system in Columbus, Ohio (the home audience chose each song.in real time during the concert by voting via QUBE’s 2-way operating system).
• 1978: The first live nationally broadcast stereo radio concert (by microwave), linking 40 cities around the country.
• 1979: The opening of Utopia Video Studios, a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art facility. The first project produced by Todd there is Gustav Holst’s The Planets, commissioned by RCA SelectaVision as the first demonstration software for their new videodisc format.
• 1980: Creation of the first color graphics tablet, which was licensed to Apple and released as The Utopia Graphics Tablet.
• 1981: Time Heals, the first music video to utilize state-of-the-art compositing of live action and computer graphics (produced and directed by Todd), becomes the second video to be played on MTV (after Video Killed the Radio Star).
• 1982: The first live national cablecast of a rock concert (on the USA Network), simulcast in stereo to over 120 radio stations.
• 1982: The first two commercially released music videos, one of which was nominated for the first-ever Grammy awarded for “Best Short Form Video” in 1983.
• 1992: The release of “No World Order”, the world’s first interactive record album on CD-i. Also the first commercially available music downloads via CompuServe.
• 1994: The release of “The Individualist”, the world’s first full-length Enhanced CD.
• 1995: The world’s first interactive concert tour.
• 1998: Launched PatroNet, the world’s first direct artist subscription service
Todd's "A Wizard, A True Star" band lineup will include some of the members from his former bands Utopia and The New Cars. The all-star band lineup for the "A Wizard, A True Star" performances include: Todd Rundgren, Jesse Gress, Greg Hawkes, Ralph Schuckett, Prairie Prince, Bobby Strickland, and Kasim Sulton.
Guitarist Jesse Gress tours and records with Todd Rundgren and the Grammy-nominated Tony Levin Band.
Greg Hawkes is the famed keyboardist and co-founder of The Cars (1977-1987).
Drummer Prairie Prince has been a founding member of art-rock band The Tubes since 1969.
Keyboardist Ralph Schuckett was a member of the band Utopia and played keyboards for the band from 1972 to 1975. Ralph has composed music for hundreds of TV commercials.
Saxophonist Bobby Strickland played and toured for two of Todd's albums and is currently with the Gary Cambra Band.
Bass player Kasim Sulton, was member of the band Utopia and has worked with other artists including Meat Loaf, Joan Jett, Hall and Oates, Patti Smith, and Patty Smyth.
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Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
RundgrenRadio Tonight > guest host Mrs. Rundgren and Pippi
Special guest hosts tonight on RundgrenRadio.com! Michele Rundgren and The Pipster will be giving Doug & Mel the night off and causing a ruckus. Even Kasim's going to be in on the fun. 8:30 pm ET.
www.rundgrenradio.com
www.rundgrenradio.com
Monday, October 5, 2009
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