All Music Guide for The New Cars

TR Live From Daryl's House, September 15 - http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/ - begins its one month airing online

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jonathan Wolfson – jonathan@wolfsonent.com, (818) 615-0499

FELLOW PHILLY SOUL LEGENDS DARYL HALL AND TODD RUNDGREN HARMONIZE ON A BRAND-NEW LIVE FROM DARYL’S HOUSE SEPT. 15
23rd edition of acclaimed web show features the duo performing an eight-song set of originals and classic covers, including songs by The Soul Survivors, Average White Band

NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2009—Both Daryl Hall and Todd Rundgren shared a love of the street-corner doo-wop harmonies and soulful R&B they grew up listening to from the groups in their hometown of Philadelphia, and now the two will join their equally distinctive voices for the 23rd and latest edition of the acclaimed, groundbreaking web series Live From Daryl’s House on Sept. 15 at www.livefromdarylshouse.com.

Says Daryl: “Todd and I grew up almost in the same neighborhood and as kids we listened to and were influenced by pretty much the same musicians that were part of the creation of the sound of Philadelphia.”

The two join forces on an eight-song set that includes Daryl Hall’s War Babies song “Better Watch Your Back” (a 1975 live version from London of the War Babies track is included on the Sony Legacy four-CD box set, Do What You Want Be What You Are, coming Oct. 13 – the original 1974 LP was produced by Rundgren) and “Wait for Me” (a fans favorite from their 1979 album, X-Static, also featured on the compilation). In addition, Daryl and Todd perform Rundgren originals “Sweet,” “Want of a Nail,” “Sometimes I Don’t Know What to Feel” and “Can We Still be Friends” and must-see versions of the Soul Survivors’ hit, “Expressway to Your Heart” and Average White Band’s “You Got It.”

"It was great working with Daryl again, bookending the 37 years since my producing War Babies," says Rundgren of the Live from Daryl's House experience.

Rundgren also produced the recent New York Dolls album, Cause I Sez So, on Rhino/Atco, 37 years after he did the honors on the mythic band’s debut. Four of his current first-ever A Wizard, A True Star performances were streamed on the web, with one being shot for a live DVD/CD. In addition, Rundgren just attended the opening of a Celebrity Spotlight Exhibit featuring highlights of his career in Cleveland on Sept. 7.

Past episodes of Live from Daryl’s House have featured a mix of well-known performers like Smokey Robinson, The Doors’ Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek, Nick Lowe, K.T. Tunstall, Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy, Finger Eleven’s James Black and Rick Jackett and the Bacon Brothers, along with newcomers such as Philly soul singer Mutlu, Canadian techno-rockers Chromeo, MySpace pop-rock phenom Eric Hutchinson, Cash Money rocker Kevin Rudolf, Wind-up Records’ Chicago rockers Company of Thieves, Bay Area singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson, Charlottesville, VA’s rising Parachute and Chicago rock band Plain White T’s.

Live from Daryl’s House started with Daryl’s “light-bulb moment” idea of “playing music with my friends and putting it up on the Internet,” and the show has subsequently been praised by such varied media outlets as Rolling Stone, Spin, Daily Variety, CNN, BBC, Yahoo and the influential Lefsetz Letter.

For a photo of Todd Rundgren and Daryl Hall from the episode, please click the link below:

Photo credit: Mark Maglio

Hi Res

Lo-Res

Rundgren Radio (Doug)

ToddFest/West

Todd Rundgren Connection

Larry Tagg - Larry Tagg (Nearly Human, the Individualist tour, Bourgeois Tagg) has a new web site focusing on his Civil War writings.

Roger Linder: In listening to AWATS on headphones, I was jarred to discover an apparent flaw during the medley. At 3:44 into the song the lyrics are:

Mistakes, I know I've made a few...

The universe is abuzz with the news that Todd will perform "A Wizard, A True Star" live for Rundgren Radio Birthday Bash II this coming Labor Day Weekend. Tickets will go on sale for this event-not-to-be-missed on Monday, May 4. The show will take place in the Akron Civic Theatre in Akron, OHio on Sunday, September 6, 2009. For the latest information, check out www.awatslive.com and keep an ear to RundgrenRadio.com.

Update: The new New York Dolls CD will be available in the UK on May 4, and in the US on May 5.

The New York Dolls' today confirmed the U.K. release date of Monday May 4th for their highly anticipated fourth studio album 'Cause I Sez So. The band has reunited with Todd Rundgren, producer of their influential 1973 debut. The new album will be released by Atco Records (U.S. release date is Tuesday May 5th).

The album was recorded at Utopia Sound Studio in Kauai, Hawaii, and features original Dolls David Johansen (vocals) and Sylvain Sylvain (guitar), plus Steve Conte (guitar), Brian Delaney (drums), and Sami Yaffa (bass). The album cover artwork is designed by Matt Taylor at Varnish Studio Inc, with photography by Max Lakner.

The 12-song track list features 11 original compositions, including the first single "'Cause I Sez So" and a new version of "Trash," which was on their 1973 debut album. "It was amazing working with Todd again, and I think we were able to evoke the special sound of our first album and drag it by the hair into the present," says front man Johansen.

Rundgren is currently touring Europe with his new album "Arena", and will play Norwich Waterfront (Saturday November 22) and London Kentish Town Forum (Sunday November 23).

James T. Flynn

Todd appeared on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman on December 22, 2008.

Strike (Brian Canfield)

Mercenary (Brian Canfield)

Afraid (Brian Canfield)

Gun (Brian Canfield)

I Think You Know (Brian Canfield)

Rundgren Radio

"Arena" is now available on Amazon.com

Burning Wood - by Sal Nunziato

The Spark of Life (Brian Canfield)

Todd Rundgren Arena - by ma4utopia

Todd Rundgren signs new deal with Cooking Vinyl...

For immediate release, London, England -

Todd Rundgren's new album, "Arena" has been licensed to Cooking Vinyl for UK release on Monday 29th September (the album will be released in North America by Hi-Fi Recordings on Tuesday 30th September).

"We are delighted to be releasing Todd's new guitar rock album in the UK," says Cooking Vinyl MD, Martin Goldschmidt.

The album will be followed by a UK tour in November, with Rundgren playing dates at Manchester Academy 2 (Nov 6), Edinburgh Picture House (Nov 7), Norwich Waterfront (Nov 22) and London Kentish Town Forum (Nov 23).

Former Utopia bass guitarist, Kasim Sulton, is confirmed to play guitar, keyboards and sing vocals on Rundgren's forthcoming American and European "Arena" tours. Sulton, who recently was the musical director for Meatloaf's North American and European tours, will join Rachel Haden (bass), Jesse Gresse (guitar), former Tubes drummer Prairie Prince and Todd Rundgren (vocals, guitar).

Blissland Gallery

The Ikon (Brian Canfield)

Lino Terlati's Special Interest

Mad (Brian Canfield)

It's a unique opportunity! The newly crafted Todd Bobblehead was fan-designed, approved by Todd and Michele and looks fantastic! The first (and possibly last) production is limited to only 500. The completed Toddlehead will be mounted on a silver base.

The Rundgren Radio allocation is now SOLD OUT and the only way now to get one of these limited to 500 Toddleheads will be at the merch counter at Todd shows. The Toddleheads are on their way to the USA and shipment to purchasers is expected by the end of this month or early August.

All profits from the sale of the Toddleheads will be going to the Rundgrens as a house warming gift!

The TR Connection has joined the Twitter Revolution! What's Twitter? It's an Instant Message-like update service that allows you to follow other folks and their activities/thoughts. TRC's Twitter will keep you up-to-date on site changes and important breaking TR news. Follow it now!

So, you want to celebrate Todd's 60th in a big way? Then celebrate it with Todd. See THE DETAILS

If you have some original music and would like it distributed on the Music ToddCast, please send it as an mp3 (or a link to an mp3) to music-podcast@TRConnection.com. In the subject line include "Music ToddCast" (exactly as capitalized) to ensure that it gets past my spam filters.

You can now also listen to the Continuous Music ToddCast Stream using any streaming audio player (iTunes and RealPlayer are two that are known to work) by using the following stream address: http://TRConnection.com:8000/TRCmusic

A review of Liars Live DVD by Boomer Media

Brent Bourgeois - Nearly Human, Bourgeois Tagg - A new Interview by retroDan

Gary Tanin writes:

Dear Friend;

In support of all the great press and airplay Fossil Poets has been receiving a new e-card sales promotion is beginning today.

We've made it easier than ever to get copies of Roger Powell's - Fossil Poets in CD or Limited Ed. Clear Blue Vinyl LP. There are even a few autographed vinyl copies still available!

Just click on this link: http://vividimagesdesign.com/fossil/

Webmaster,
Fossil Poets
MySpace : http://myspace.com/fossilpoets

An online interview with Michele debuted September 26, 2007.

Starting August 29, Doug is producing a new online talk radio show focused on Todd.

Host Channel: Todd Rundgren Talk Radio
Dial In Number: (646) 716-9262
Host URL: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt

This show is for Todd Rundgren fans. A good bit of the broadcasts will feature special guests that have some type of connection with Todd and fans will be able to call in and ask questions.

40 Years of Todd Rolling Stone Tribute Ad

I know it's only been a few short years since we pooled our efforts to celebrate 30 Years of Todd (the album). But since I discovered 2007 is the 40th anniversary of Rolling Stone Magazine AND the 40th anniversary of the birth of NAZZ, I am compelled to mark the occasion. As you no doubt recall, last time out we gathered enough fans and enough money to run a quarter page full-color ad in issue #965 of Rolling Stone. It would not have been possible without the support of each and every participant. So I will take this opportunity to say thanks once again for that great success.

This time, I believe it is possible to generate enough interest and enthusiasm to run a full page ad for 40 YEARS OF TODD. As before, a prize table will be set up for different donations amounts. And some great offers are being finalized as I write to you. However, a full page ad is a big goal, and funds are needed throughout the whole campaign to get to the finish line by the reserve date of October 12. That is the latest date to assure inclusion in the November special issue which will focus on the innovators in Rock history. In my book, that's a perfect fit for TR.

October is a long way off. However, it is a mistake to wait until then to opt in. It takes a bit of advertising and promotion to make this all happen. There are things to do right now to help this come about. First and foremost, Todd is on tour now. This means thousands of fans who might not hear about this project are congregated at venues across the country. The immediate need is for printing announcement post cards to send to all fans who are willing to get them to show locations. I have already produced an on-line PDF for any highly motivated fans to download, print, cut, and distribute. But it is more cost efficient and easier on everyone if I use some of the early proceeds to get a big run of cards made.

I guess I buried the lead, but the big news is at the start of this round in order to get the most fans involved as I can, I am only asking for a $5 donation to qualify for getting name listing in the ad. I am hoping the idea of doing this again with the goal of a full page ad is something you want to support and support early on.

Please visit www.toddata.com for all the details, and don't wait to send your contribution to TODD40@toddata.com via www.paypal.com. You may also mail check or money order to the address below. And also please consider printing and distributing post cards if you are going to see the Power TRio or the New Cars. As cliché as it sounds, this can't happen without the fans behind the idea.

Regards from Charlottesville,

Bill

TODD40
3445 Seminole Tr, Ste 275
Charlottesville, VA 22911

New to Todd Rundgren's Hot Toddies is the "New Cars Showroom" Check it out!

Michael Pluznick - Michael Pluznick Nearly Human

Doug Legacy - Doug Legacy A Capella 11 voice choir

Only Human (Rob Farrish)

Dr. Demento Archive links updated and corrected

Wolfgang's Vault offers concerts through their web site. TR's appearance at the Bottom Line in 1978 is available.

"New" music this summer

Todd Rundgren/Utopia: The Todd Rundgren and Utopia archive features approximately 2,000 never-before-released live recordings, demos, out-takes, and alternate versions from 1977 to 2000. It also includes a significant array of never-before seen video footage as well. Rundgren, both an accomplished songwriter and producer whose hits "I Saw the Light," "Can We Still Be Friends," "Hello, It's Me," and "Bang the Drum" vaulted him from a cult following to stardom, formed Utopia in the mid-1970s. The archive includes never before seen or heard rare audio and video performances from both Rundgren as a solo artist and Utopia. The first of these previously unreleased audio and video performances will be released in the summer of 2007.

Jay Laush, Lynnwood, WA notes

The "Baby Let's Swing" medley on the B-side of the "We Gotta Get You a Woman" single has a different mix than the album. After the "1-2-3-5" count-in, it starts immediately on "Laura I saw you open in LA", skipping the little Latin bit. Also, the transition into "The Last Thing You Said" is not so abrupt and even sounds like the pitches have been matched. Ditto on the change to "Don't Tie My Hands". It's almost like it was slopped together for the LP but someone put more work into the single, even if it was just a B-side. As much as everyone wants the "lost" Runt tracks to see the official light of day, I hope this version of the medley can see a digital release.

Chain Letter (Steven Britt)

any todd fans in prescott az. jfk jkshowlow@live.com

Ethel, the string quartet which toured with TR and Joe Jackson, have a new CD out. It's called "Light." People can grab it on iTunes, Amazon, or on the Cantaloupe site.

iTunes
Amazon
Cantaloupe site

I'm looking for Pam Snyder from St. Louis, MO. She moved to Seattle, WA about 16 years ago. I have been trying to track her down and haven't had any luck. Maybe you will.
Thanks,
Linda Brandt

Roger Powell's new collaboration Fossil Poets came out in Fall 2006. A feature article on the project can be found at OnMilwaukee.com Roger Powell Returns! is a new extensive interview from "Electronic Musician" on the "Fossil Poets" project.

The CD is now available for pre-order at http://www.disciplineglobalmobile.com/shop/

It's been around for a while, but not linked here before. From Rehearsals.com, three videos of the New Cars at work.

♫ The TR Connection Music ToddCast features original music by TR fans and those influenced by TR and Utopia. We are actively looking for artists who are willing to place their unrestricted (non-RIAA) music online to promote via this podcast.

If you are an independent TR-influenced artist and would like a track or two featured on the podcast, please write to music-podcast@trconnection.com.

A companion podcast, The TR Connection Music Sidecast, is under development and will go a bit further into depth about the tracks featured in the Music ToddCast. Watch for it soon!

Tom Dunlop writes:

I noticed the cover version section is missing a few things. Terry Hall does "I Saw the Light" on 'Laugh" from 1997. I think it may have been a single too, or at least it was a track on a single. Alison Krauss did "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" on "Forget About It".

Steven Tuttle - Ector Colliseum

From May/Jun '06 Being There - "Getting to Know: Todd Rundgren" a very nice overview of Todd's discography.

In a couple of upcoming releases, TR's work is featured. On the "Bat Out Of Hell III" release from Meat Loaf (due out October 31), TR provided the vocal arrangements. On the Harry Smith 4-disc tribute (out October 24), TR duets with Robin Holcomb on "House Carpenter."

Time Heals (Brian Canfield)

Pretending to Care (Brian Canfield)

Vince Welnick died Friday, June 2, 2006

San Jose Mercury News

Brian Leonard notes: The final two notes of "Le Feel Internacionale", the end of Side 1 of the elpee, are missing on my CD (AWATS). (Is this the case for all CD pressings??)

Charlie Olver writes:
No - just the Rhino (US) and Castle (UK) ones. (Castle used Rhino's digital master for this album, although most of their Todd reissues were newly remastered.) There's an old ('80s) Dutch pressing on Bearsville that has the ending intact (and also has a gap before the beginning of what-once-was-Side 2); so does the Japanese mini-LP-sleeved remaster, which is still available. Incidentally, I'm not usually a sucker for these mini-LP-sleeve things, but this one is really nice - the cover is die-cut, and inside is the original inner-sleeve/lyric sheet, the Patti Smith poem insert, AND the postcard (the one that the names on the Todd poster were derived from)... all miniaturized (but printed very clearly). Let's hear it for attention to detail (Ra, Ra, Ra)!

Articles, Reviews and Interviews

• Dr Rock VS The Cars
• An Interview with the New Cars by Mitch Lafon on Classic Rock Revisited
• Uncut May 2006 has a brief blurb and notes UK release of new album on June 12.
• Review of the new Album
• Greg Hawkes Interview
• Recent TV Performances
• Retooled Cars debut new show, then hit Nokia

International Feel (Trace Reed)

John Glossenger
Copyright @2006

Todd's first recording
Rising from obscurity
He hints at genius

Influenced by blues,
Rock, pop and a capella
He finds his own style

Tuneful songs and an
Amazing stylistic range
Become his pattern

If you are lucky
Then you own the rare version
It has extra songs

A few lite rockers
But the best songs are ballads
Not afraid to feel

Twenty-five songs of
Love, loss, passion and humor
Todd's pop masterpiece

Sonic wunderkind
He played and sang everything
On seventeen songs

Some radio hits
Todd found a nation of fans
That he can't let down

Covers of soul songs
And many strange song fragments
What was he thinking?

Musical mindtrip
Cacophany and weirdness
Ahead of its time

Among the chaos
Astute listeners will hear
Some of Todd's best songs

Worlds of tomorrow
On two LPs worth of tunes
Only one pop song

Numerous song styles
Multi-colored recording
That matches his hair

Todd goes synth crazy
Another challenging set
For his diehard fans

Side one has exact
Copies of classic rock songs
Stunning mimicry

Why did he do it?
An impressive achievement
But kinda pointless

Side two is better
Six new rock, soul and pop songs
That are now classics

Concise and tuneful
My favorite Todd album
Pure pop perfection

Career summary
On this greatest hits album
Rundgren Comes Alive

Dark, deep, intense songs
Heal the wounds no one can see
Shine, you diamond, shine

Listen to the sound
Of Todd's new age trilogy
Feel that pulse, that pulse

Nine pop songs, my faves
Are Influenza, Drive, Chant
And Don't Hurt Yourself

Todd was surprised when
"Bang the drum" became a hit
In sports stadiums

All sounds from Todd's voice
Life is a wonderful thing
When Todd sings his heart

Pretending to Care
A seriously sad song
Yet so beautiful

The Lost Horizon
An ideal Todd knew was real
Now gone forever

Ten soulful pop songs
Live studio recording
Beauty in the world

Goofy cover art
Live audience recording
Please hold your applause

Interactive Todd
Another wacky concept
Taken to extremes

Pop, rap and techno
The sounds of 90's culture
All mashed together

Todd rants about war,
Sanity, morality,
And hypocrisy

Attention Dan Qualye
We've got yer famlee values
Right here, pal, right here

Broadway the Todd way
Sings all male and female parts
Demo recording

Released in Japan
Costs a bundle to import
Diehard fans only

Todd reworks his hits
In the bossa nova style
The tour was way cool

Promised in one year
Usual mismatch of styles
Three years to finish

Simply outstanding
Concept album about truth
His best since Hermit

When The Shit Hits The Fan/Sunset Blvd. (Trace Reed)

Parole (Brian Canfield)

Boat on the Charles (Brian Canfield)

Todd testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee

"Parity, Platforms, and Protection: The Future of the Music Industry in the Digital Radio Revolution "

Testimony of Todd Rundgren

Hearing on "Parity, Platforms and Protection: The Future of the Music Industry in the Digital Radio Revolution"

Before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary April 26, 2006 9:30 AM EDT

Additional photos and commentary in the TR Connection Forums (free registration required to view).

Chairman Specter, Senator Leahy and members of the Committee:

My name is Todd Rundgren, I am 58, and I am a professional musician. I have also been employed as a record producer, composer for film and television, technology spokesman and computer programmer. I am the designer and developer of PatroNet, an internet-based subscription service that allows audiences to provide direct underwriting of artists in exchange for insider information, direct communication, discounted merchandise and first-look experiences of the artists' work, all within a community structure.

This is my 40th year as a musician, and 18th year as an independent. I left Warner Brothers in 1998 with the conviction that the major labels were unprepared for, and were indeed hostile to the inevitable changes that digital technology would effect in the way that music would be created, marketed and experienced. I wasn't so prescient that I foresaw the rise of the internet, but I was convinced that I would be hindered in any attempt to use new developments to alter the ground rules.

One of the first cutting edge projects I was involved in concerned digital rights management, a concept that did not yet exist. I was hired by, ironically enough, the Warner Full Service Network, an interactive television pilot project that sought to merge video, computers and high-bandwidth home delivery. The plan was to create on-demand music services that could be navigated on one's home TV -- kind of like an iTunes for the early '90s. When it came time to plug the music in, everything I had suspected about the savvyness of the industry was crystallized. To a label, every one of the majors refused to consider the possibility of putting music they controlled onto a server. Ironically, even the music division of Warner Brothers would not cooperate, even though this was only a demonstration project.

Ever since then, the behavior of the majors has been that of a mindless parasite, contributing nothing, yet trying to get it's snout into the bloodstream of any new development. The knee-jerk justification is "protection of artists", which would more accurately be represented as the interests of highly bankable artists still under contract. For every one of those, there are a hundred with a lifelong bad taste in their mouths over the way they were treated when sales began to lag. I have striven to tie together the "replacement parts" an independent musician would need to build enough audience for a sustainable living. Amongst these is, of course, the internet and a raft of contractors who can press and distribute discs for you and, if you can afford it, take on the promotion and marketing normally provided by a label. The only problem is getting heard. Terrestrial radio, especially of the syndicated flavor, is not available to most artists even if they do have a traditional label deal.

I am opposed to any measures that would insinuate the major labels into an area that they have failed to husband, and to capitalize off of artists they have abandoned or never had any interest in. The myth that you could survive very long on record company advances has long been debunked. Players need to play to get paid and need audiences to play to. All the majors have ever done is try to claim the audience as theirs alone, and to lower expectations by exposing them only to the generally substandard product the majors begrudgingly underwrite.

Worse yet, across the board fee structures like those proposed discourage the exposure of new talent in deference to audience favorites as broadcasters try to recover those fees. And worst of all, syndicated radio, the majors partner in neglect, does not deserve exemption for the abysmal quality of product they deliver. The fantasy that this type of legislation helps music or musicians should be summarily exposed for what it is: yet another futile attempt to turn back the clock to the days when they were the sole gatekeepers to an artist's future.

Thank you for inviting me here to testify today. I would be pleased to respond to your questions.

• The US release date for the New Cars album has moved to June 6th. The UK release date is now June 12th.
• Check out Dave White's news coverage on New Cars on ClassicRock.about.com
• Blondie opening for The New Cars
• The New Cars ready to hit the road
• Rockline.com in the US features a New Cars news story
• Rock Ahead.net in the UK just ran this news story
• www.popmatters.com is interviewing Greg and Elliot this week, so look out for the interview in the next two weeks.
• Classic Rock magazine interviewed Elliot and Todd for a 6 page feature on the Cars/New Cars. Look out for the feature on UK newsstands on May 3rd. The piece is written by Greg Prato of Billboard.com and AllMusic.com.
• Wave Magazine in San Jose, California just interviewed Todd and will be running their New Cars interview in three weeks
• Playlouder.com in the UK recently interviewed Greg Hawkes. Stay tuned for the interview.

ML Dumka writes:

My wife is a romance novel fanatic and I am a Todd Rundgren fanatic. Our obsessions crossed paths when she recently read a book called "Hello It's Me" by Wendy Markham. Todd and his song are mentioned on the third page, setting up the title and plot for the story.

by The TRC Scouts

The press conference starts with the New Cars logo on the pull down screen. Upon entering we see about 50 seats with representative names taped to the chairs. It was assigned seating but as close as 9:50 a.m., the seats are not all filled. Empty seats such as Hustler, LA Weekly, Tabloid City, & Rock City News to name a few, are empty, but they start to fill as the time gets closer to the 10:00 a.m. hour.

At the press table, the promoter name tags are in order from left to right: Hits, Ticketmaster, Emusic.com, William Morris Agency, 10th Street Entertainment, VH1 Classics, House Of Blues, Rolling Stone.

At 9:55 a.m. the promo video teaser we've all been seeing on the internet flashes on the screen! Then the old cars tune "Drive" starts playing in it's entirety over the speakers, and I suddenly realize it's Kasim on lead vocal. Brilliant.

Roy Trakin, Senior Editor of Hits Magazine (honoring and hosting this press conference) starts the show saying we are having a very historic event this morning. Talks about the New Cars CD and the track songs and that we have top gun promoters with us today.

Roy then introduces Jeff Varner, the General Manager from 10th Street Entertainment. Jeff states a few comments: Having Todd involved as well as Prairie and Kasim has helped make this a super group. They are striving for doing something different and unique and speaks of their pioneer efforts from the past.

Eric Sherman from VH1 Classics is next and tells us that their involvement is demonstrating multi-platform. Tour spots on the station, promoting both the New Cars and Blondie, with interviews of a Blondie special as well. They are also pursuing wireless platforms so VH1 Classics can be viewed from anywhere.

Suddenly the VH1 Video splashes on the screen with "Not Tonight" and is played in its entirety. You won't be disappointed in Todd's performance in this video!

The next promoter to speak is Alex Hodges, the Executive VP of House Of Blues Concerts: Alex commented that when he was informed about the New cars he said 'it's about time'. People want to see this music live and he feels that this package with Blondie is a fantastic package. When they got a glimpse back in January in Burbank, CA they all thought it was fantastic. People go away from live shows with memories and a great feeling - the live experience is totally unique.

Brad Goodman from William Morris Agency tells us they were responsible for bringing Todd into the mix. The bottom line for WMA is that's it's about the songs, the music and the live experience. The concept was sold when they heard the live CD -- there's pent up demand for The Cars music and coupling with Blondie, it just puts it over the top. WMA felt the timing was right to re-establish this band. The band hasn't toured in 17 years - with 6 "top 10" singles and returning with new hits fans will again be able to experience this band in concert, as a live experience

David Packman from Emusic.com lets us know that this site is the number one online site for downloads of independent bands (and the number two site for music downloads after iTunes). He recognizes that TR has been instrumental and a pioneer in the digital music landscape. Emusic is very happy to be involved in this project and comments that this is the first time music downloads will be offered in conjunction with concert ticket sales.

Ticketmaster is up next and Vito Iaia (pronounced Yah-Yah) wants us to know that if you buy tickets from them, they will throw in a New Cars membership and a digital music album (10 songs from Blondie and the New Cars) to download from Emusic. You will get a membership and song downloads with each ticket purchase - for example, buying 4 tickets means 4 memberships and 4 digital albums. This concept allows the concertgoer to sample the music before the live show. This tour is standing out because it is the first time TM is assisting in enabling the delivery of digital music to the ticket consumer. They are excited to call this a one-stop shop.

Next up is David Wild, contributing editor from Rolling Stone. He (painfully) admits he has no financial stake in the New Cars but is endorsing this new group with much praise and then proceeds to tell us that his first concert was the Cars. He then tells us his third concert was Utopia. He's embarrassed to say he felt this would never work and because he didn't have the idea himself, it's very easy to be cynical since he is an aging rock critic. When he received a sample of the reformation, he was stunned at how well it works -- that these new parts soup up the Cars and make it really remarkable. He also comments on the charisma that will be added to this group with Todd, Kasim and Prarie on board.

Roy Trakin breaks in to tell us that as we speak, tickets are now on sale, pre-sale that is, on Ticketmaster and VH1.com (note: we've heard you don't need a pre-sale code to buy these tickets).

Questions start to emerge from the press but from where I am sitting, I can't hear anyone. Only a few had a microphone brought to them. The ones who didn't, just shouted out from their seat too quickly before Roy could get over to them with the mic. Those were the questions I couldn't hear, but I could clearly hear the answers. Here are just a few:

Q: Why do you think so many bands are reuniting?
A: Every fan remembers their first show and their last show. The impression of the live performance contributes to the phenomenon of recreated bands.

Q: What can we expect ticket prices to be?
A: Don't have info here, and prices will vary with venues, but you can expect tickets to run $50-75.

Q: Will Todd be singing any of his songs?
A: Yes, he will be playing two or three of his own songs.

Q: Are there any plans for a tour in Australia?
A: Nothing's out of the question. The tour will start in North America.

There are more questions, but I couldn't hear them. It's now 10:40 and the industry speakers leave the table. The New Cars nametags are being arranged on the table as the band enters the room. Photographers run to the corner (stage left) to take pictures as the band approaches the table. They are then asked by Roy Trakin to step to the other side of the table (stage right) so the press on that side could also get shots. They oblige. Then they take their seats.

They sit in order from left to right: Prairie Prince, Elliot Easton, Todd (OH), Greg Hawkes, and Kasim Sulton.

The questions start once they take their seats but once again, from where I'm sitting, I cannot hear the press questions unless they have a microphone brought to them. Here's a few I caught:

Q: Are you guys loving each other up there?
A: Todd replies: "Can't you feel it?"

The next question asked why the remaining two original band members (David and Ric) did not reunite with them and Elliot replies that they weren't interested in participating and Ric's least favorite thing is performing. However they did say that both Ric and David have been supportive.

Q: For Todd: Who initially contacted you and what was your first response?
A: Todd answers: The first Car that I talked to was Elliot. Although I was aware of the fact that there was a rumored reunion of the Cars, I certainly had no idea that I'd be a part of it originally. But when Elliot approached me and the realities of what the line up was going to be I was intrigued by the idea, and we took several necessary steps to find out whether it was viable, including playing together, go figure, and nothing went wrong during the course of that so here we are. It's evolved more or less naturally at least in terms of the internal dynamic of the band. We are familiar with each others work from years of listening to each other and from playing on stage with each other. There was nothing particularly strange about the idea, it was all in the execution.

Q: With the new lineup do you think you can be as popular or more than the original Cars and do you think as the New Cars, you obviously have an older fan base, do you think you win over a younger fan base as well?
A: Greg answers: It's been brought to our attention again and again how many current bands have been influenced by our music and I find that very encouraging. As far as the bigger band than the original I don't think that's really upper most in our minds, the point of it really is to create something new it, and this is a starting point but we have some very creative people in the band, and a great songwriter in his own right is Todd, and there'd be no point to have somebody like Todd in the band if all we were going to do for the rest of our careers is just rehash the hits. The whole point of it is it's a new band and a new line up with new influences brought into the music, and we'd like to think this is our band, our version of it in the 21st century.

Q: And do you think there will be a younger fan base as well?
A: Greg replies again: Well it will be nice wouldn't it? There's nothing calculated about it. Hopefully they'll hear our music and relate to it. Perhaps by listening to some of the bands their listening to and hearing some strains of our music they might be encouraged to do some archeological and see where some of that came from.

Greg answers another question about the band's new name. He says the point of calling it a variation on the name is to avoid any misleading, any confusion as to the fact that this is a new band with some new personnel. Todd chimes in... "and we had lots and lots of alternatives to choose from as well....including the Hybrid Cars, CarTopia, Funny Cars, Nazz Car, Reincarnation...." Lots of audience laughs....

It's 10:50 a.m. and the band leaves the table so they can get ready to perform for us. While we are waiting, Roy Trakin announces that he has a surprise for us. Suddenly on the big screen emerges Debbie Harry from Blondie for a live feed to answer questions that Roy is asking. She talks about being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and how exciting that is. She also mentions how difficult it's been with her prior band mates suing her and how unpleasant that has been. She also tells us that this will be the last tour for the band. They weren't expecting to tour again after their last tour in December, but when they were approached to double bill with the New Cars she couldn't pass up such a great opportunity. After this tour, Blondie and her mates will continue to do music but in their own entities and evolve into new adventures. She mentions that a solo career for her is very real possibility, though she doesn't discount the possibility that Blondie (the band) may do some recording in the future as well.

• Just What I Needed
• Let's Go
• Candy-O
• Not Tonight
• Let The Good Times Roll

In addition to the press, a number of lucky winners of radio station promotions were also present at the House of Blues for this press conference and premiere New Cars performance. Around me were a number of Todd fans, including Monica Eakin and Johnny Kuhar - lucky 106.5 radio station winners who were flown in from Cleveland, Ohio! Here are some TR fan comments:

I'm really excited to see this performance!

I didn't know what to expect and thought it was all pretty cool to see Todd perform in another light! !

Great that he's back out [on tour] again! !

The performance was awesome - I might become a New Cars fan! !

They rocked! !

So there you have it - the tour dates are up, presale tickets are available now, general tickets available on Saturday.

See you at the shows!

Report for New Cars Press Conference

TRC scouts were at the House of Blues bright and early on Tuesday, March 14 for the New Cars press conference and performance.

About the performance...Todd looked and sounded great! His voice and style fit right in with the original Cars songs to create a hybrid that fans from both sectors are sure to enjoy!

More information is available in the full report, but here are some highlights to whet your whistles....

• The New Cars are Todd Rundgren (vocals, guitar), Elliot Easton (guitars, vocals), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), Kasim Sulton (bass, vocals), Prairie Prince (drums).
• North American tour dates start on May 12.
• You can expect to hear The Cars big hits, new music by the New Cars, as well as some of Todd Rundgren's music.
• Advance tickets (I'm told no code is needed) are on sale now, general ticket sales go on sale on Saturday, March 18.
• If you purchase tickets through VH1classic.com or Ticketmaster.com you'll receive a email code for a free 10 song download of New Cars and Blondie songs.
• Ticket purchases through Ticketmaser will also include a one year Easy Rider membership with the New Cars' official fan club. This will allow access to New Cars website, email update and message board, along with options to buy VIP packages and other perks.
• You can join the New Cars fan club without purchasing tickets at www.thenewcars.com

New Cars/Blondie promo E-card

Rumored reports of a Genesis reunion are also debunked and explained.

Some general reaction and commentary to the New Cars reunion can be found on Curlio.com.

New Cars Web Site

A featured article in Billboard is also online.

Deaconlight

The long-awaited/expected collaboration of Todd and Donald Fagen is about to bear fruit. On March 14 (a familiar date for another TR event) will see the release of Donald Fagen's latest solo effort "Morph." Digital retail versions will also include a bonus track of a TR-produced/Al Green-penned "Rhymes" which also features Todd in some capacity. News releases don't give much detail about how to acquire it otherwise. The specific quote is

According to Warner Bros. VP of marketing Eric Fritschi, the label will sweeten the pot for digital retailers by offering "Morph" with a bonus cover of Al Green's "Rhymes," produced by and featuring Todd Rundgren.

Michael Cotten writes:

I'm producing a documentary about my band The Tubes. I interviewed Todd, Michelle and Kasim Sulton for the film. I have a website, http://thetubesproject.com with a trailer and picture of Todd in the "production photos" section. I thought Todd/Utopia fans might be interested.

Bag Lady (Brian Canfield)

Forget All About It (Brian Canfield)

But Not Tonight

New Cars teaser video

Contest

One Concert Date Announced?

Back Of Your Mind (Brian Canfield)

See What You Can Be (Brian Canfield)

Open My Eyes (Brian Canfield)

Hang On Paul (Brian Canfield)

Who's That Man? (Brian Canfield)

Long Flowing Robe (Brian Canfield)

Bleeding (Brian Canfield)

Letters Don't Count (Brian Canfield)

The Ballad (Denny & Jean) (Brian Canfield)

Wailing Wall (Brian Canfield)

Hope I'm Around (Brian Canfield)

Chain Letter (Brian Canfield)

Get Ready To Rock reviews Todd's new Best of Live album and Liars Live DVD.

Another note from Moogy:

Friends, Toddheads, Utopians! I come to praise Todd, not to bury him!

I got kind of over excited when I read no more Utopia ever from Todd. and I did say some things in the wrong way. Two things first -

First thing- I certainly do owe an apology to Kasim. He's a good guy and we've recently done shows together in the Utopian spirit. When I said that Todd and Kasim were disrespecting themselves and their fans by shelving the Utopia reunion permanently, I made a big mistake. Kasim, as he has told me on many occasions, would love to do a Utopia reunion (with or without me). It has nothing to do with Kasim because it's Todd's decision. Kasim sang and wrote Utopia's biggest hit, "Set Me Free" and he'd love to get back to that music, if only for one tour.

Kasim, please accept my apology. If we Utopians up here in the Ikon make mistakes, and we do....please forgive us. (or in this case...me)

Second thing - I think it's fine that they're doing the Cars - Unfortunately Todd seemed to be saying that they would be doing that instead of a Utopia reunion. So I, like many of his fans, was hostile to the Cars thing. The truth is Todd could still do a Utopia reunion. No matter how many rock tribute bands or Dinosaur reunion bands he plays with.

So it's not an either/or thing. And for Todd to imply that somehow that a Utopia reunion is a money loser is, I feel, wrong. I think fans would flock to the shows. And to whatever DVD/CD came out of it would probably have more than respectable short and long term sales.

When I said that Todd is disrespecting himself by permanently dumping the Utopia reunion - I only meant this - That the musical legacy Todd and the Utopians created was a rich one and one worthy of revisiting. And he should give that Utopian legacy the respect it deserves. It was his baby.

When I said "Todd should take a chill pill and cool out" - How long can he stay mad at Willie? I played with Willie for a year or two and hung out with him often. He's a mellow fellow. The last Utopia reunion was in 1990. It's been 15 years. Bury the Hatchett, Todd.

For that matter, whatever problems Todd and I had back in the day...... It was 25 years ago.

Dust in the wind, OK? .... Our problems were settled decades ago (literally). Time to bury that hatchet too. I too, would like to be part of the reunion that will now never take place, unless the fans make it happen.

Once in the early daze of Utopia when we were recording one of our 15 minute songs, I asked Todd if it shouldn't be more commercial. He said to me "It isn't about how many records we sell, it's about creating a band that will influence music and that people will long remember."

I think we Utopians and Todd especially, accomplished that.

Gentle prodding sometimes works.... so why not start a quiet revolution? Whisper, "Utopia now, Utopia now, Utopia now!"

Utopian Salutations,

Moogy Klingman
www.moogymusic.com

I hope this doesn't escalate into a "Melody Maker" incident, but here's

Moogy's response to Todd's recent letter

It was announced and anticipated that there would be a Utopia tour next year and now that's permanently put off for a Cars tribute band. No wonder some TR/Utopia fans are pissed off.

Some of us believe that Utopia was a band of musically significance and influence and that it's legacy and legend spread far beyond it's record sales. To have Todd and Kasim dump a Utopia reunion so they could make a few more dollars doing essentially a Cars tribute band, seems not only to disrespect their fans, but also seems to show disrespect for themselves and their musical legacy.

It assumes that Utopia's music and legend are far less important then making a few more bucks doing a sound alike band of Cars hits.

Maybe they should work it out to do both. What if John Lennon were still alive and he and Paul had a shot at doing a Beatles reunion and say they never got paid what they were due as Beatles. Suddenly on the eve of a promised tour, someone is putting together a "Culture Club" reunion tour with just the drummer (no boy george) and Lennon and Mac decide to sing Culture Club songs under the name "Culture Club" instead cause the tour may pay a few dollars more.

That's what this feels like.

Obviously Todd and Kaz get along. So probably Todd is still mad at Willie? I spoke to Willie a few years back and he definately wanted to reform the group at least for a tour or record. So TR should take a chill pill and cool out.

And oh yes. I want in on the Utopia reunion. My keyboard chops are up and as a founding member, I'm willing to let begones be begones and let's get back to the music. And If Todd is worried about losing money working with a band that's not the Cars, I'll work cheap. I did way back then in Utopia as well.

The question is would a reunion of the Cars without the folks who sang the songs - Ocasic and Orr - be seen as a real reunion at all - or just another tribute band with Todd as the major draw? If so, might not a real reunion of a real band that did the music back then draw even more people and more respect? I think so.

So my opinion is that Todd would make more money and get back to his legacy with a Utopia tour of real Utopians rather then a tribute band doing Cars hits. Or he and Kas can do both. He's worn many hats in the past. Why not the future?

Utopian Salutations,

Moogy Klingman
www.moogymusic.com

Brian Ungaro writes:

Watching an ER rerun on TNT -- Anthony Edwards is driving with his daughter. "Hello, It's Me" is on the radio. His daughter, making a face, asks what he is listening to and he says, "Todd Rundgren, I like this!!"

'Todd Rundgren Liars Live'

Includes Rare Performance Of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

Sanctuary Visual Entertainment UK is pleased to announce the Monday January 30th 2006 release of Todd Rundgren Liars Live, the state-of-the-art concert DVD - produced, edited and mixed by in 5.1 Surround Sound by legendary singer/songwriter, Todd Rundgren.

Liars Live was filmed in concert on June 9th, 2004 at 'The Empire Centre at The Egg' (aka The Centre For Performing Arts) in Albany, New York, and features two hours' worth of material totaling eighteen songs; eight taken from his critically acclaimed 2004 Liars album, including 'Soul Brother' and a haunting cover of George Harrison's 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', both of which also appear on newly released 'Best Of Todd Rundgren Live' album.

The DVD includes an additional 40 minutes worth of special bonus features including a scrapbook and an exclusive Video Diary filmed on location during the Liars' Japanese leg of the tour.

On a recent episode of "The Office" on NBC, Steve Carrell's character sings "I don't want to work, I just want to bang on this mug all day."

Worldwide Epiphany Pearl White And Tiffany Worldwide Epiphany Audrey (daughter of E.J. Haas)

In a press release from the UK, Peter Noble writes:

London, England -

Castle Music will release the electrifying new live album from one of music's greatest singer/songwriters and performers, Todd Rundgren. Entitled 'Best of Todd Rundgren - Live', and digitally remastered by Rundgren himself earlier this year, the album includes 13 of his best songs culled from the Rundgren archives over various tours from 1979 to 2004. The album will be released in North America by Sanctuary Records on Tuesday November 15, 2005, while Castle Music via Sanctuary will release the album in the UK and the rest of Europe Monday November 21, 2005.

The album includes two recent live tracks recorded during 2004's Todd Rundgren & The Liars tour - 'Soul Brother', originally released on 2003's critically acclaimed 'Liars' album, and a stunning rendition of George Harrison's 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', both of which will be included on the forthcoming "Todd Rundgren and the Liars - Live" DVD (the latter released in the US on Tuesday November 29, 2005, and released in the UK/Europe early 2006).

From the UK, Michael and Veronica Brown give us episode #1 of "A Brief History of Todd," which will be a monthly feature on the TRConnection ToddCast. The episode is titled "Jazz to Grunt."

Liars LIVE is now available at Amazon.com for pre-order. Release date is set for November 29, 2005.

Greetings from the Will Powers Institute.

We're happy to announce the re-release of the 1983 album, Will Powers Dancing for Mental Health in CD format. This new CD package comes complete with credit to Todd (who mixed the album, co-wrote one of the songs and sings with the chorus on many of the other songs) for his participation. To purchase the Will Powers Dancing for Mental Health CD go to:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/willpowers

Thanks and remember - Where there's Will, there's a way!

Adam Curry played the TR Connection ToddCast promo on his Daily Source Code podcast on October 11, 2005.

Two new ToddCasts by ToddMaster Linder are available at the ToddCast page featuring the new occasional segment "What's the TR Connection?" Check it out, but be warned, the latest is not a family-oriented show.

According to an entry on TRBazaar.com:

"Best Of Live" to be released 11/15/05

Notes: This CD is a collection of 11 classic Rundgren tracks stretching over a 25 year peiod from 1979 to 2004. The most recent tracks are "Soul Brother" (from "Liars") and a cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." The rest are 100 per cent Rundgren classics. Hear 'em and weep as the crowd goes wild to "Real Man," "Love Of The Common Man," "I Saw The Light," "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference," "Can We Still Be Friends," "Something To Fall Back On," "Hello It's Me," and "Love Is The Answer" - generally, some of the greatest songs ever written.

A recent interview with John Ferenzik is on Mizar 5.

October is looking to be a banner month for the ToddCast. No fewer than four separate podcast projects are being readied for distribution. Several are being serialized for distribution over several weeks or months, so plenty of content will be available. Be sure that you visit The ToddCast to listen directly, and consider the opportunity to subscribe so that future ToddCasts are delivered directly to your own Mac/PC. You can subscribe.

It's Not That Easy (Austin Shields)

When I Pray (Brian Canfield)

The TR, Utopia and Nazz sections.

Hi, Kelley Arnold and all,

I attended the Todd get-together in 1987, and someone gave me a recording of "God And Me," which at the time I thought was my Last Chance. If anyone would like to correspond and reminisce, give me a hello.

Aloha, Stewart Moser

"Give Them Love, Give Them Bread", the first-ever TR-ibute cookbook, is proud to announce the first-ever USPS official TR postage stamp!! Depicted on the stamp is a pastel drawing of the Todd lp cover by Todd's late father, Harry Rundgren (who was not only a phenomenal artist himself, but just happened to be color blind!).

The TR-ibute cookbook project began as a way to support PatroNet directly. Todd, as well as members of his family, friends, musical associates and fans have collaborated to bring you their favorite recipes and artwork presented in a unique Rundgrenesque style.

Run, don't walk, to http://www.cafepress.com/trcookbook for your one-stop source for holiday gift giving and the perfect postage to adorn those cards and packages!

Brian Ungaro writes: I just got back from a Royal Caribbean cruise on the "Voyager of the Seas". One of their show presentations was the theme of "Music of the 50's, 60's and 70's".

"We Gotta get You a Woman" was worked into a melody sequence.

Richard J.Atkins writes:

LIARS is named on Neilpeart.net as a must-listen. Check the "Bubba's Book and Music Club" link (top right) under "Listening." There's TR - first artist named!

Scott writes:

Todd is in Guitar Player magazine in a ad for Babicz guitars. The Sept. 05 issue. Page 162 i believe.

Jeff writes:

Rick Springfield just released an interesting compilation of remakes, ("songs he wished he had written"). Titled "The Day After Yesterday", Rick's website is offering a limited edition version that offers a bonus track: Todd's Love is the Answer!! Haven't heard it yet, but it should have made the cd!!

As many already know, Luther Vandross died on July 1, 2005. Luther toured briefly with Utopia as a background singer in 1975.

Influenza (Brian Canfield)

2005

w/ Joe Jackson and Ethel

• US Leg (finished May 2005)
• European Leg (May 30 - Jul 5, 2005)

w/ Hall and Oates

• US Leg (August 23 - September 2, 2005)

Shine (Brian Canfield)

If you're interested and want to provide an "audition tape" (actually an MP3 of you doing what you think might be good content) please let me know. If you put together some material and would like to upload it to the TR Connection FTP service, please send it, via ftp to ftp.TRConnection.com, using

Username: anonymous
Password: Your e-mail address

Place files in the incoming/ToddCast directory and follow up with an E-mail message (to ToddCast@TRConnection.com) to let me know they are there.

or alternatively, send a URL (not the file itself) where your MP3 file may be picked up to ToddCast@TRConnection.com

Mailing lists have been set up for additional information/discussion. Please join if interested.

• The ToddCast Announcement List
• The ToddCast Discussion List
• The ToddCast Producers List (Approval required. Request to join only if you're serious about being an active participant in the development of ToddCast productions)

I Don't Want To Tie You Down (Brian Canfield)

Wed., June 15 was the first of 2 shows celebrating Casey Fox's 15th anniversary on WORT. Jeff'weavil'Gauss provided a TR report. from Jeff'weavil'Gauss:

That was MUCH FUN-I am pleased to be a part of such an elaborately diverse gathering of die-hard musicheads ...and even greater to know I am still "Guilty Pleasure's Todd Rundgren correspondent"

We began with the ever-classic Love of the Common Man off Faithful vinyl, Casey IS Captain Analog, and then chatted about the current tour, mainly about Joe, over much of the rest of that side (skipping and all :)

We naturally dove into a current show-5/21/5 Redwood City, CA- for the closer, While My Guitar Gently Weeps from (thanks LISA). Besides being a great example of the shows 'encore set', Casey is a big Beatles fan and had a guest on earlier (Jim Birkenstock) that spoke of the Fab Four.

Next we segued into the most recent release's closer, Liar, to show musical diversity and promote the most recent release.

Finally we rapped up over most of the rest of Faithful side two by speaking a bit of Liv and her "spiritual father", the origin of the name The Nazz, and Todd's upcoming tour plans with Hall and Oates and Donald Fagen.

Overall we filled about 22 minutes of airtime with TR!

THANKS CASEY and CONGRATS on 15 YEARS!

Baby Let's Swing/The Last Thing You Said/Don't Tie My Hands (Brian Canfield)

From: Kari Pearson
Subject: Roxy shows 1978 and 1979
Date: Sat, 14 May 2005 02:17:05 -0700

Kari
wrenella@hotmail.com

Hawking (Brian Canfield)

This news from Noble PR, Todd's PR firm in the UK:

A full page colour interview with Todd Rundgren hit the UK newsstands Friday in the June 2005 edition of Classic Rock magazine. Todd mania continues to sweep the UK.

Please note - Todd's big interview in the Liverpool Echo newspaper was published today (Friday April 29th) and has just gone live on the icLiverpool website. The interview was conducted by Peter Grant, who recently interviewed Lou Reed for us for the same newspaper. You can read the "new" Liverpool newspaper Todd interview here -

Please note, there is a lot of media interest in Liverpool for Todd, as the latter cites the Beatles as a major influence on his music.

Todd and the gang took some time out from the tour to appear on Late Night with Conan O'Brien Thursday night, April 28, 2005.

US and UK Press on the 2005 tour:

• Todd Rundgren talks to Dr. Rock on Playlouder.com (UK)
• Todd Rundgren talks to the Sunderland Echo newspaper for the Sage Gateshead gig on June 6th
• BBC Radio Bristol - Gig Preview for the Bristol Colston Hall Concert on May 31st
• BBC Radio North Yorkshire - Gig Preview for the York Opera House Concert on June 2nd
• Leicester Mercury and
• Sunderland Echo
• England expects, Todd (ic Liverpool)
• Throw away that old Cliché
• Total Music Magazine

The Waiting Game (Brian Canfield)

Change Myself (Brian Canfield)

Fill 'er up with Ethel

Ethel is a 21st-century realisation of the classical string quartet model featuring uptown and downtown performing stalwarts Ralph Farris, Dorothy Lawson, Todd Reynolds, and Mary Rowell. Their credentials read like a who's who of classical, contemporary, and popular music. From the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Steve Reich Ensemble to the Sheryl Crow Band and the Roger Daltrey Band, Ethel brings together a vast spectrum of performing and recording experiences. They have performed on Joe Jackson's "Night and Day II" album, and Todd Rundgren wrote a piece of music for them in 2000.

Unencumbered by convention, genre or style, the tastes, talents and experiences of these four musicians come together to create a flexible entity that is committed to exploring new possibilities in string quartet performance. Their debut album has been critically acclaimed by John L.Walters of the Guardian newspaper.

"I wish there were more rock bands that played like Ethel," says Walters. "What you get from Ethel is the sense of the performers participating in the act of making a living, breathing music that brings the format back into contemporary life and culture while remaining an acoustic string quartet."

Phillip Ballou, background vocalist on Another Live, died March 19, 2005 http://www.davidlasley.com/PhillipBallou.html

TR waxes lyrical to 'Get Ready To Rock' about the forthcoming US and European Tour
http://www.getreadytorock.com/rock_stars/todd_rundgren.htm

Press release - March 11, 2005

Joe Jackson and Todd Rundgren today announced details of their forthcoming UK and European Tour. The internationally renown-recording artists and singer/songwriters will undertake a joint solo tour where they will be backed by US string quartet, Ethel.

Tickets go on sale Friday March 11 at 9am for the following 8 UK concerts: Portsmouth Guild Hall (Monday May 30), Bristol Colston Hall (Tuesday May 31), York Opera House (June 2), Leicester De Montfort Hall (Friday June 3), Carling Apollo Hammersmith, London (Sunday June 5), Newcastle The Sage (Monday June 6), Edinburgh Usher Hall (Wednesday June 8) + Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (Thursday June 9).

Todd, Joe and Ethel will also be performing concerts in Holland, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. The above listed press release web page/link will be refreshed daily with the latest tour developments.

---

A new label deal with Sanctuary promises some major content over the next three years, including DVD/CD of the upcoming TR/Joe Jackson tour and new studio album in 2006 or 2007 and a 30th anniversary Utopia tour next year (Can it be true?)

The Hollywood Reporter

Liars on Vinyl

• http://www.forcedexposure.com/labels/earmark.italy.html

From: paul stringer stringpr2000@yahoo.com
Subject: Janine From NJ

Janine,

We met at one of Todd's solo shows. It was at Toad's Place in New Haven CT on 8/1/02. I always regretted not asking you for an email address or phone number.

We seemed to really click that evening, with our mutual interest in Todd, as well as playing music ourselves. If you remember me fondly, as I remember you, send me a line. If not, well...

Paul From New York

The IMDB has a comprehensive listing of Todd's TV and film appearances.

From: Chuck Colson
Subject: Long lost friends

Way back when the Nexus published Utopia Times, I did alot of buying and selling Todd items and all the while creating some very nice friendships. Now that I moved 5 miles south of Lancaster, Pa. in the small village of Willow Street, Pa. I have lost touch with these people. I would very much like to hear how you are and what you're up to now. These people are David Gay from Tennessee, Merf Sohmers (did I spell that correctly?) from Connecticutt, Liz Wilkinson (I believe) from the great state of Texas and Bob Stanislowski from San Fransisco. I can't forget about Deron Bissett from Austin (Mr. Information). I learned alot from you all and although our friendships were through letters in the mail or a conversation over the phone, they were meaningful. Please drop me a line if you see this and tell how you're doing. Contact me at ccolsonjr@comcast.net or call me at (717)464-8800 I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Chuck Colson 505 Woodhall Dr. Willow Street, PA 17584

From: CMNDCR in Jacksonville
Subject: Looking for someone/anyone!

I am looking for one or more TR fans here in the Jacksonville area. I know there has to be someone besides me here, because he does and has played concerts here! I am looking forward to his concert in April, and would love to meet up with some others going. I thought it might be a little early to start asking around, but what the heck! CMNDCR@AOL.COM.

Greg Hamby - nandghamby@snet.net

Lookin' for Lenny

When I was living in Philly in the late 80's the only place to buy CD's was at the CD store on Lancaster Ave, Ardmore, I think. Anyway, the guy who ran the store was named Lenny, esteemed Todd fan and all around good egg. I lost track of him when we moved from the area in '90. Lenny if yer out there, or if you know where he is, give me a shout!

Walton O. Walker:

Rick Andrews, do you remember me? I was your 15 year old Assistant Manager at Record Town in Northline Mall in 1973. We've been to so many Todd shows, but never together and we lost touch years ago. Write me if you want to catch up sometime. waltonowalker@hotmail.com.

Former Utopia synthesist "M. Frog" Labat released a couple of post-Utopia solo albums plus did some session work with John Holbrook (AKA Brian Briggs). He's reportedly in France, recording church organs in the great cathedrals of Europe.

Liars make several End-of-year lists

• The Oregonian's TOP 10: The year's best in pop and jazz.
• Rolling Stone's Critics' Top Ten Lists (Greg Parto has Liars as #5)
• "Stood Up" recently made #29 on WTMD's (Towson,MD) top 89 songs of the year.

Me and Todd" is Jeff'weavil'Gauss' contribution to TR fandom, and highlights photos of fans with Todd.

http://www.cafepress.com/trcookbook

After looking over "Give Them Bread" for a few days and salivating I decided to make something. Trying to choose which recipe to cook first is no easy task. Everything in that book looks really tasty. Well after some heavy contemplation and deep meditation I decided to try Todd's "Worlds Best Chicken." Let me tell you this recipe alone is worth the price of the book. If you want some savory....herb.....fall off the bone.....melt in your mouth chicken, whip this up. It's easy, and when you invite Todd over for dinner you will be able to make something he is gosh-dang-guaranteed to like. In fact this chicken is so good I have another batch in the oven right now. The smell of roasting chicken is wafting through my entire house. Man does it smell good. - Jack Keske, San Diego, CA

Got my copies today! Great job! Glad to see so many contributions. I was expecting a plastic-spiral bound book, but this is much better. My wife (the non-Todd fan) was even impressed - and wants to contribute to Volume 2!!

What a great Christmas gift for all your semi-Todd-fan friends! And for those relatives that you never know what to buy - they won't have this! I am going to have a couple of surprised friends this year at Christmas - I usually send them Todd DVDs or CDs, this year they're getting cookbooks!

If people reading this havent picked up a copy (or more), what are you waiting for?! Do so - as a Todd fan (and assuming you actually EAT!) it's a must! Where else will you ever see a recipe for a hamster smoothie?! - Mike Birch, Methuen, MA

Just want to let you know I absolutely love the cookbook! I received my two copies last week (one's for my mom). You and Lys did a wonderful job on it...You should be very proud! Thanks again! It was great idea and I'll enjoy it for years to come. - Cindi DeCotis, Niskayuna, NY

Just wanted to tell you that I received the 2 copies of the Cookbook yesterday, and it's a blast !! I love the witty way you tied in Todd's album names with the food subject matter !! You and Wendy did a fine job !! - Cherry Rayden, Brooklyn, NY

'Give Them Love, Give Them Bread'. . . . . .
gives both casual and competent chefs a quality source of great ideas for new dishes. While the stimulus for publishing this cookbook seems to have been to bring the greater Todd Rundgren community together by providing a vehicle for sharing great recipes, the book succeeds quite nicely when considered alongside mainstream cookbooks. There are a number of reasons for this, but they can all be distilled into the phrase, "The Devil Is In The Details."

A collection of recipes from a variety of sources does not a great cookbook make, without an attention to detail. The details in this cookbook have been addressed carefully:

[1] the Typeface was chosen to be easy on the eyes,
[2] the Font size was chosen to be easily readable by the average person at a reasonable distance, in my case nearly feet,
[3] The paper is a heavier-duty paper that promises to stand up to the natural wear-and-tear that a cookbook inevitably suffers,
[4] The text is not packed tightly on the page, which further enhances readability and also allows personal notations to be added easily,
[5] In addition to the Table of Contents listing chapters at the beginning of the book, there is a compete, well-organized index in the back that lists each recipe several times by each major keyword (for instance, "Salmon in Crock-pot" is listed in the S's, the C's and the F's (for fish)), and
[6] Only rarely does a recipe require a page to be turned in order to get to the end. Recipes are organized into chapters, making it easy to find appropriate dishes when planning a meal. Of course, the chapter names were selected to have special meaning to the TR community, but many of them are just as meaningful to the general population, for example: "Runt" contains recipes for kids, "Initiation" comprises appetizers and dips, "One Long Year" catalogs crock-pot and slow-cooked dishes, and my favorite, "Liars" offers lots of sinfully-sweet desserts about which we can lie about having eaten later! In all, 22 chapters containing well over 200 recipes make this tome a weighty entry into the cookbook field, and it weighs in at only 13.82716 ounces (392 grams).

Scanning through the book is a real visual treat. Artwork abounds throughout, giving a lively, happy, feel to the book, and there's plenty of humor as well. So, Whether you are "into" Todd or not, 'Give Them Love, Give Them Bread' is a real gourmand's treasure. The receipt from www.cafepress.com describes the book as, "Manual/Large Paperback-7.5 x 9.25, Perfect-Bound, 220 pages." But I think there's more perfection here than just in the binding. - Grady Moates A member of the TR Community

http://www.geocities.com/wendys_world@sbcglobal.net/GTLGTB.htm

Todd was a featured keynote speaker at the "Billboard 2004 Digital Entertainment Conference & Awards" on November 4, 2004 in Los Angeles.

Karen Pals attended and prepared this report on his comments.

For you gearheads out there interested in the technical aspects of Todd's Liars touring equipment, look no further than the October 2004 issue of Front of House and the article by Bill Evans, Todd Rundgren and the Liars: A Triumph of Cobbled-Together High Tech. For scans from the magazine itself, see Page 1, Page 2. Special thanks to Darnelle Corbett for the article.

Uncut in the UK lists Liars as #19 in the top 100 albums of 2004. The TR-Produced Straight Up from Badfinger ranks as #17 in the top re-issues of the year.

Ruth Karch writes:

I saw a one-woman show last night about a flight attendant called "Around the World in a Bad Mood," written and performed by Rene Foss. The show, which was highlighted throughout with music, concluded with a TR's "Bang the Drum."

Jason Thompson's PopMatters review of "Liars"

Press coverage from the Portland Tribune.

What starts out to be a review of Bjork's newest, really turns into a laud for Todd's A Cappella.

A 5.1 DVD-Audio mix of "Liars" is out. Todd did the mix in April, 2004. One source is DVD4Music in the UK.

Reviews: http://trconnection.com/todd/review/dvd/liars

An extremely detailed and informative technology article about the production that goes into the Liar's tour.

Scanned concert reviews from the UK - Financial Times, The Observer The Independent on Sunday, The Sunday Express, The Times and finally, Todd Rundgren's "Liars" album is voted in the Top 10 Best Albums in this month's reader's poll in Mojo magazine.

Latest coverage from the UK

• Get Ready to rock review
• Bristol Evening Post (Scanned article)
• City Life (Scanned article)
• Manchester Evening News (Scanned article)

[Updtd annoncement with photos and TRB CD re-relase info] Twenty-five years after Todd Rundgren produced the Tom Robinson Band's second studio album, "T.R.B. Two", Rundgren and Tom Robinson will be reunited in London, England at BBC 6 Music digital radio on Thursday July 15, 2004.

Utopia Live in Boston 1982 (released in the US July 27, 2004) is reviewed.

Venue magazine in Bristol just published this full page interview with Todd Rundgren. The interview was done by Campbell Stevenson, who originally reviewed the "Liars" album for the Observer newspa per in the UK back in April.

An interview with Todd that was just published in The List magazine in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

A preview of Todd's tour published in the Wolverhampton Express and Star on July 2nd.

Fan alert! - Todd is being interviewed in Amsterdam today by British journalist Tony Quinn. The interview will be published in the Independent newspaper in the UK on Wednesday July 14th. It's going to be a major two-page colour feature and for those of you who c an't buy an original copy of the paper, click on to the Independent newspaper's website, as the feature/interview will be online in the entertainment section at 7am on Wednesday July 14th onwards - www.independent.co.uk.

Major feature with pictures in "Classic Rock" Cover Table of Contents Page 1 2 3 4 5 6

KPRI Authentic Rock Lifetime Achievement Award

More scans from the UK:

• Todd is interviewed by FIREWORKS magazine. Page 1 2 3
• Birmingham Evening Mail newspaper. It's a preview of TR's forthcoming concert at the Birmingham Symphony Hall in the UK on Wednesday July 14th, 2004.
• Todd Rundgren is included on page three of the Times Newspaper's "Click It" Technology computer supplement. Page 1 2 3.
• This feature/interview is a preview for the Birmingham concert on Wednesday July 17th at the prestigious Birmingham Symphony Hall.
• Todd Rundgren was interviewed for the Lancashire Evening Post in England on June 25.
• Here's a full page ad for TR's London gig that was just published in this week's Time Out magazine.
• Here's a Todd competition and concert ad in this week's Venue Magazine (Bristol).
• Todd on the front cover of "What's On in London" magazine (article)
• Ken Kessler on Rundgren in this month's "Hi-Fi News" magazine (cover)

Classic Rock magazine ran a spectacular 8 page deluxe A-Z feauture on Todd in their August 2004 issue. To order the magazine online: http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/.

More news from the UK:

'Computer Music' magazine in the UK just published a 2-page interview with TR. Cover Page 1 Page 2

Three of Todd's US gigs have just been reviewed by Paul Lester in the new July 2004 edition of UNCUT.

The magazine hit UK newsstands June 3rd. Reviews Uncut Recommmends

From June 3 "Bristol Evening Post", an interview with Keith Clark. Page 1 Page 2

See also http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,12102,1235548,00.html

In the Times newspaper, a feature about the seminal pop group Sparks, who, are performing as part of Morrissey's Meltdown music festival at London's Royal Festival Hall. If you go to the second paragraph, there is a reference to TR as Sparks first record producer in the guise of "the eccentric rabbit-boy Todd Rundgren."

Mojo features a new photo of Todd on his current US tour as the lead image on their concert listing page (out this weekend).

Hi-Fi Choice magazine have just published a double page spread interview with TR about music and technology.

Total Music magazine, a new magazine that is given away free at all Virgin Megastores in the UK, went Todd crazy in their current issue with Alanis Morrissette, citing Liars as one of the best albums of the year, raved on about the TR DVD Box Set from BMG, and even ran a photo of Todd and listed all his July concert dates.

Todd was interviewed an Austin's KGSR on May 25, 2004. Three parts (1, 2, 3) from the interview are available on their web site. Todd also mentions that the tour will have a couple of Japan dates in October.

Todd also gushes over the TR Connection in part 3 :) .

More scans

• Scotland on Sunday
• Uncut feature on New York Dolls pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
• Short Liars ad
• Classic Rock Tour Schedule
• Special Uncut CD featuring Afterlife - front back
• DVD Review - Uncut
• In Todd We Trust - Uncut
• Uncut Recommends "Liars"
• UK Tour Ad 1 2 3

In Todd We Trust Again from The Scotsman

Todd was interviewed on the Richard Allinson Show on BBC Radio 2 on Tuesday April 20, 2004. You can listen to a stream of it here

The Australian Financial review gives Liars Ten Stars in its CD review.

From: Frank Delle

WMMO in Orlando (www.wmmo.com) has played Truth.

Classic Rock will be running a feature on the Promowest Pavilion show in Columbus, OH (April 14) and is soliciting high-quality photos for publication in the piece. If you have some good shots to consider, please contact me . Do not send the photos themselves, just let me know what you've got. The photos must be 300dpi resolution and at least 1000x1000 pixels in size.

A recommendation from Gavin:

While I have been listening to and lovin' "LIARS" ....I recently came across a cd well worth discovering and listening to if you are into melodic but quirky pop.

It's called "SKYMEADOWS" by "THE PEARLFISHERS"... A British band...I believe.. and the brainchild of musician DAVID SCOTT.

He is obviously influenced by BEN FOLDS/PREFAB SPROUT and throw in a little BURT BACHARACH and of course...our hero...Todd.

In fact, track 2 is a catchy little number entitled "TODD IS GODD!" Worth checking out!

It's released on MARINA RECORDS and was released in Oct. 2003.

Todd was in the Studio LIVE for the 2PM Broadcast on May 7, 2004. For a limited time, the show will be online at http://wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/episodes/05072004

Preview of Todd Rundgren U.K. 2004 Tour
Date: Tue, 4 May 2004 15:40:10 +0100

For Immediate Release
*********************

The mobility is a byproduct of Rundgren's use of LED (light emitting diode) lighting, which is believed to be a first for a rock 'n' roll performance. LED lighting is used all the time in trade shows, illuminating products on display. It emits very little heat. Not only this, but because of the compact nature of this technology, the whole production can be carried in a small trailer!

Phil Little writes:

Kim Wilde does a very good version of Todd's song, "Lucky Guy" (from the "Hermit Of Mink Hollow" album) on her album, "Close". IMHO, she really makes the song sound like it should sound.

Guitar June 2004 - Cover, Page 1, 2, 3
Q - June 2004 - Album review

The Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday, April 28, had Todd and the band as the musical guest. They performed "Soul Brother." Download or Stream it or View it.

The Letterman Show is always aired a day late in Europe on "ITV 2". This week's appearance will be aired on ITV 2 on Thursday night/Friday morning at 1.55am, and then repeated at 5.10am.

Washington Post (Free registraton required)

Daily Tar Heel Rundgren sees the light on LP ****

WORT fm 89.9 Madison, WI
GUILTY PLEASURES (VINYL GESTALT) 8-11pm
Wed., April 14 2004 w/ Jeff'weavil'Gauss

i was invited into the studio to join casey for his excellent show - guilty pleasures. casey fox, madison's king of vinyl, played a very interesting set to lead in to

liars,

which we featured as the new disc at nine.

how much i lied - elvis costello
liar - three dog night
*martin balsam from 1000 clowns*
little lies - fleetwood mac
*jim carrey from liar liar*
generals and majors - xtc
*ron liebman from slaughterhouse 5*
masters of war - bob dylan
*bill cosby from himself*
it's a sin to tell a lie - steve goodman
liar, liar - castaways

*=bits from movies that all pertained to liar(s) on one level or another.

not only did this theme fit in with todd's new release but it all seemed to make big sense considering last night's presidential address.

around 8:45 i heard him mention (on my way to the studio) that "our todd rundgren correspondent is on his way to the station with tonight's new disc at nine" so i felt as if casey had loaded the bases with these tunes and my introduction and i just needed to step up to the plate (wearing my new rundgren junkies baseball jersey) and i'd knock at least one in.

well, this was a homer...a grand slam

we began with a small intro/interview in which we spoke of when the album was released, the covers - the us/uk cover had casey cracking up, the great press it's been getting, the tour which just started here in the midwest, and the cover again - as he was still laughing.

then we kicked into the opening of the disc with
truth/sweet/happyanniversary

we then dropped in with a short interlude that began with casey saying,
"men are stupid,
women are evil..." and then i filled in the rest as we read the set (so far) backwards. the mentioned lyrics allowed a great spot to tie into michele (the inference to the household in the chorus) so i plugged her upcoming show in milwaukee next week.

we spoke a bit more of the tour then as we prepared for the onslaught of the closing stretch:

living/godsaid/liar

then followed as we layed down the message heavy.

we spoke more of this amazing album and tour as we wrapped up the disc and the evening's theme to make room for over an hour of some of the finest vinyl tunes from the great band

TRaffic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

the entire show seemed as thematic, congruent, and cohesive as todd's new masterpiece,

liars

unfortunately, they/we do not have sTReaming internet (yet)

http://www.wort-fm.org/

some may recall wort-fm from the 3 hour todd special casey, george quinn, and i did in '99

what a great evening! i sure wish there were more stations like this around the country

Sound-on-Sound May 2004 - Cover Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review With 'Liars,' Rundgren returns to his old honest sound
Philadelphia Inquirier "Ever the maverick"

Mojo May 2004 Interview/article and "Liars" review
Observer Music Monthly - Helplessly Devoted
Sunday Express - Return of the Wizard Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
Mowing the Lawn, and other holy sacraments
OK! - Hot Stars
Independent 4/3
Daily Telegraph
The Independent On Sunday

David Kulczyk, who interviewed Todd about "Liars" also did this August 2001 interview with Kasim.

Todd Rundgren and the Liars Tour started April 8th!

Kennedy Street by arrangement with The Agency Group Limited today announced two new dates to Todd Rundgren and the Liars July 2004 UK European Concert Tour. The tour marks Rundgren's first live concerts in Britain in 10 years (since 1994's 'No World Order' tour).

Subject: Entertainment, Weakly...

The April 16th issue of Entertainment Weekly on page 79 has a review of Liars by Marc Weingarten, who gives it a disappointing C+ rating and says: "Rundgren has been woodshedding it with high technology for too long. On his latest, a state-of-the-world address (guess what state it's in), he drowns decent melodies in a miasma of digitized keyboards and electronic drum sounds that are as strident as his screeds. It sounds hermetic, as if Rundgren's a crank who locked himself into his home studio and threw away the key."

Friday April 9, 2004
Daily Express
Rock critic: Marcus Dunk

"Ten years since his last release, musical nomad Rundgren returns with a daring record that veers from electronica through to soul and back again. Although such jumping between styles could be annoying, Rundgren's solid songwriting allows him to pull it off."

Michele's comedy tour is about to get underway. For the latest on her tour dates, see http://www.michelerundgren.com/tour.htm.

Chicago Sun-Times - Hello, it's Todd, with first new disc in 10 years

Live Daily - Todd Rundgren mounts tech-savvy tour to support 'Liars'

All Music Guide - review

Uncut - Q & A

Maximum Ink - Interview (now complete)

The Music Index Review of Liars and interview.

Get Ready to Rock ***** review and alternate site for previous interview

Todd Rundgren - Man of Integrity - From the Scotsman

Amazon.co.uk review "Liars": http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001MXT14/026-6091192-8005257

Steve Rudd's 5-Star Review of "Liars" http://www.geocities.com/kidjuxta/toddrundgren

MusciOMH.com: http://www.musicomh.com/albums2/todd-rundgren.htm

The Observer: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestcds/story/0,12102,1171259,00.html

HMV UK: http://www2.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=165576

Live Daily: http://www.livedaily.com/news/6232.html

Look's like it's been around for a while, but a virtual newsreel on Todd can be found at the Todd is God Blog Spot. Nice job, Scott!

Congratulations to Mike Shell and Jon Sympson, the winners of the contest!

These scans of reviews from the Times, Independent they are a bit large to help with online reading.

'Passing the Acid Test' - Gavin Martin hails the return of rock's maverick maestro

Todd was interviewed live on BBC on the Johnny Walker Show March 31, 2004 at 6:20pm GMT on BBC Radio 2 (England's national radio station). he was online for about 30 minutes.

He spoke of the new CD, Nazz, Patronet, and announced the London date on July 15. More European dates will be announced soon.

For those of you who never heard the Todd/BBC Radio 2 interview, click on this link and activate the interview online - it is now archived for everyone to listen to!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/walker/

VH1: http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/rundgren_todd/artist.jhtml

by Geof O'Keefe

A Todd-fanatic friend and I got together to have our own little listening party to the Japanese import that I'd just received. Coincidentally, we had also obtained a US copy the same day, so we could compare the covers and so on.

We decided to listen to the Japanese import, just because it came out first, Japanese pressings are always rumored to sound better (which in reality isn't always the case) and so on. When I put the disc in, it showed the total time as 73:35 , a nice long album.

We listened to it, stopping track-by-track to review each song. The overall feeling after it was over: a masterpiece, combine today's technology and modern sound with the chord changes, melodies and background vocals of old Todd. It is truly a Todd solo album and I even wish he hadn't brought in the two extra players on two songs. Todd couldn't have ripped out a nice guitar solo on "Anniversary" himself instead of having a guest slide player? That in general was the only VERY slight disappointment: the lack of any real killer Todd guitar solos. I'm sure they'll be there in concert, and hopefully a live CD/DVD will be in the works for this upcoming tour...

Anyway, after my friend left, I decided to pop in the US version just to compare the sound and was stunned when the time counter showed the disc as being 74:20 in length, :45 seconds LONGER than the Japanese version! What on earth could account for this large a discrepancy? My first guess was that maybe one track faded out a lot longer. I had noticed as we listened to the Japanese version that a number of the songs had rather abrupt fades...so, I decided to go through each disc and jot down the times to each song and was again stunned to discover that the individual song times did not match up on a SINGLE song, and that on the US version eight songs were longer, the most striking being the twenty-four second difference of "Past" at 5:55 on the Japanese CD vs. 6:19 on the US.

So, I began listening to the US version and here is the difference in a nutshell: On the Japanese CD, the songs are all individual. They fade out to silence and then the following song starts clean after a second or two. On the US edition, the album flows a la No World Order or A Wizard, A True Star, with the songs either directly connected or cross-fading into one another.

Here then is a track-by-track comparison of the albums and what you'll hear if you select a single track to play:

What baffles me is why the US version wasn't given the separated track edition. This version as released in this form will severely hamper radio airplay chances for many of the tracks because - and this comes from a former DJ myself - DJs hate dealing with crossfaded intros and outros. You want a clean start and finish to the track. You don't want to push the "play" button and hear the tail end of the previous track!

If Sanctuary is smart, they will service a promo of the separated-song edition to US radio.

The biggest question of all: why was this done in the first place? Was one of these pressings a mistake? I certainly think the US edition has some indexing mistakes on tracks 4 and 14, but the album definitely flows better as a seamless masterpiece. Only Todd, his management or Sanctuary can answer this one...

The lyrics are now up for all of "Liars."

Sanctuary Music Group wants to keep you informed on upcoming TR releases and Billy "Ant-Bee" James (author of the great TR biography A Dream Goes On Forever) is working with them to contact fans. If you'd like to join Sanctuary's mailing list, please send an e-mail to Billy at

Tom Wolfe writes:

I've been a huge Todd fan and actually worked with him on Dumb & Dumber (I was music consultant). I just finished a cd that was produced by Andy Chase (Ivy, Tahiti 80) that I think would be of interest to Todd fans.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/buva

John Kinsey writes:

Greetings. I'd like to draw your attention to a CD I've just released entitled Twisted Roots. TR is one of my musical heroes and I think this influence comes through strongly in my work. Blaise Barton, who has engineered for Bob Dylan among other artists, has called it an album of "heartbreaking music." You can check out the record online at www.cdbaby.com/johnkimsey.

Japan	US/UK

I just heard the new album and it is really phenomenal. Very spiritual, electronic and is kind of like a full circle to Initiation/Real Man and Todd era. A stunning, powerfully emotional and beautiful piece of work. Makes David Bowie's last album seem really lame. Liars is the album everyone has been waiting for and for anyone who felt that One Long Year fell short, Liars will blow their minds. Lyrically, it's a work of art, and the vocals are incredible. I've only heard it once but once you get halfway through the album, Todd hits you with three killer tracks, and as you progress with the songs, everything suddenly becomes very clear - we're all liars but we're all too afraid to admit it.

TODD RUNDGREN
"Liars" (CDA)
Catalog Number: CRCL-7717 Price: Yen- 2476, US$(23.21)
Todd Rundgren's 18th solo album is the first studio album in nearly three years. Advanced release in Japan. Track listing courtesy HMV Japan (site mostly in Japanese):

1	Truth
2	Sweet
3	Happy Anniversary
4	Soul Brother
5	Stood Up
6	Mammon
7	Future
8	Past
9	Wondering
10	Flaw
11	Afterlife
12	Living
13	God Said
14	Liar

CD Japan also has information in English.

Michele debuted two tracks from Todd's Liars CD on her weekly radio show broadcast 2/13/2004. The tracks were "Happy Anniversary" and "Soul Brother."

Brian Little: From the first Nazz CD, a definite cough on When I Get My Plane at 0:28 & a maybe cough (something) on See What You Can Be at 1:57.

Larry E. Brooks writes:

Todd [was mentioned] on "E" channel on the program "Rock Star Daughters." BeBe talks and thanks Todd concerning Liv's childhood.

Joseph Ugalde writes:

The current issue of RS list their Top 500 Albums of all time. S/A comes in at 173.

---

Michele Rundgren - Michele is Todd's wife, but she has long been a backup singer and dancer for many of Todd tours, dating back to the A Cappella tour.

Michele kicked off her standup comedy career and has her web site at http://www.michelerundgren.com/.

jmhouse write:

Just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know that on select aircraft you can hear Utopia performing Can We Still Be Friends from the Silverline KSAN release.

Pretty cool, they are even listed in the United in flight magazine.

Carol D'Amico writes:

Joe Jackson did a cover of 'Couldn't I Just Tell You' on his latest cd 'Volume 4' as an import only. It's an incredible version, I must say! It really rocks

Bob Michael writes:

Mandy Moore has a cover of Can We Still Be Friends on her new CD Coverage (which is all covers).

Kelley Arnold:

Anyone from Austin, TX get-together - 1987

I am looking for anyone who attended the Todd get-together we had in Austin, Texas in 1987. The only names I recall are Mary and Alan Elsen and a red-head named Melissa who we called "Lizzy-Strata" and an awesome woman from Houston named "Mott". I had moved back to NY in Aug 1987 and lost touch with them, but am now living in the south/midwest again and would love to hear from them. Thanks!

TODD RUNDGREN ! is a portion of ACTIVE HEALING ! by Les Eames.

Many readers will be saddened to learn of the death of Ian MacDonald, the music journalist most famous for the brilliant "Revolution in the Head", an analysis of all the songs of The Beatles.

Mr MacDonald was also a champion of Todd's music, and reviewing the re-release of "Todd" in the UK's Uncut magazine 4 years ago, he called it:

...the tragic-transcendent "Todd", Rundgren's only clear-cut masterpiece. One of the towering works of the Seventies, this double-album goes against the grain of its self-adoring glam-rock era by resurrecting the global idealism of the late Sixties counterculture. Haunted by his predecessors' failures, Rundgren presents a vision of hope shaded with a melancholy perhaps partly induced by his Ritalin come-downs, yet braced by determination and his finest assembly of songs: work of depth, passion and confrontational engagement inhabiting an astounding synthesised sound-world wherein wit, anger, sadness, avant-garde sonics, and lyrical beauty co-exist in mature balance. Few records can plausibly be called great. "Todd" is pre-eminently one of them.

Three and a quarter minutes into 'Heavy Metal Kids', something happens which you don't hear much any more: an eruption of musical feeling so passionate that it rocks you right back on your heels ..... all hell breaks loose, bassist John Miller busting out of the riff into raging double-time while Kevin Ellman switches both sticks to his snare-drum, driving the coda to self-immolating consummation under Rundgren's demented lava-spewing guitar. All the expressive power of modern rock explodes in this mad minute - all the feeling, the ambition, the frustration, the megalanova mind-detonating excitement. Future generations will, one trusts, look back and recognise that, in moments like this, rock expressed crucial aspects of being alive in the late 20th century which classical music either gave up on or lacked exponents talented enough to capture and reproduce.

It could'a been yours. The Sacramento Bee reported the sale of a house in Folsom, CA at 340 Rundgren Way - $320,000.

Rolling Stone #930 - 9/4/2003 - Pg. 140 - In a review of the soundtrack for "Camp": "...and Todd Rundgren's gospel-style "The Want of a Nail" becomes a roof-raiser."

A "testimonial" from Todd is to be found in a new Spinners retrospective CD box set.

Stewkey's Live Radio Interview on Saturday, July 26th!

The radio station's promo:

WFMU Radio
Bob Brainen's Show
Sat. July 26, 2003 7-9 P.M. E.S.T.

Special Guest: Stewkey Antoni-lead vocalist and keyboard player of The Nazz.
The Nazz were a legendary late 60's Philly quartet who's guitarist and main songwriter was Todd Rundgren. We'll be reminiscing about the old days with Stewkey and also talking about the new days and some upcoming gigs that he has.

Broadcasting at 91.1 in the NYC area.
In the Hudson Valley at 90.1
Live airstreams, and archives at: www.wfmu.org

Jeff'weavil'Gauss notes:

LiveDaily article about bootleg series and Todd's touring activities.

John Branning wrotes:

I just saw an ad on IFC for a new movie called "Camp", which features a cover of "The Want Of A Nail" on the soundtrack, and also uses that track in the ad.

John Branning writes:

I just saw an ad on IFC for a new movie called "Camp", which features a cover of "The Want Of A Nail" on the soundtrack, and also uses that track in the ad.

And in the rousing, soulful finale of the film, "The Want Of A Nail" - the kids explode with a hard won sense of self-esteem, while remaining unsentimentally realistic enough to recognize how precarious those victories are:

"For the want of a nail, the shoe was lost For the want of a shoe, the horse was lost For the want of a horse, the rider was lost For the want of a rider, the message was lost..."

Unfortunately, the site completely fails to mention that the song is written by Todd Rundgren.

Hiroshi Kawauchi's Japanese Fan Club "One World" has a new URL.

Howard Stern 6/26/2003
A listener writes:

Did you happen to hear Howard Stern this morning???

Lots of Todd stuff, very funny though some was not nice but still the whole crew knew alot about OH.

From: Don MacGillivray

Re;Re-Rundgrenized, I know you'll be hearing of other covers or the same ones over and over but here's my two cents

Exile's first album on Wooden Nickel in 73 had two! Todd covers, "Devil's Bite" and J.O.V. Producer was Bill Traut which may have had something to do with it!!!! All the best - Don in Vancouver

Todd Rundgren's Hot Toddies - Re-Rundgrens is a thorough list of Todd's remakes and covers, songs done by him originally by other artists and tunes other artists have done of his. Happy GROKing!

Columbia House Flyer - 0307-INS-800
"WAREHOUSE BLOWOUT" advertises "Bat Out of Hell" (produced by "Todd Rungren") for $.99 and Splender's "Halfway Down the Sky" for $3.99 (they got Rundgren right on that one).

The Onion A.V. Club

...more great stuff! - Jeff Gauss

Came across this interview today, if you're interested... - Jim Young

Found a great interview in "the Onion A.V. Club" on 5/21/03. - Linda Probst

Six Feet Under - HBO - 5/11/2003

Others may already have sent this, but at the end of last nights riveting episode of "Six Feet Under" on HBO, the star of the show is sitting in his wifes abandoned car at the beach (we are led to believe she has offed herself)....and he is listening to the cassette left in her car stereo....playing "I saw the light"....they lyrics of which were particularly appropriate for the story line in that episode. - Eric Lund

Don't know if you caught it or not but last nights episode of HBO's Six Feet Under featured "I Saw The Light." Episode 37 "Death Works Overtime." They played two thirds of the song during the last scene and over the credits. Very nice. - George Crandall

just wanted to let you know that "i saw the light" was played at the end of six feet under on hbo last night. it was found in the car of a woman who is missing ... always good to hear a todd song ... - Ruth Karch

One of my favorite and most enduring features in Utopia Times was where fans sent in the discovered mention of Todd in the print media or on the radio or TV. Send your items to .

Sara in New York:

Mike from England, this is Sara from New York. We met last year at the Abbey Road show in Atlantic City and at Toad's Place in Connecticut. You were on a Todd vacation and I was celebrating my birthday. I guess we should have exchanged last names. I would be so pleased to spend some time to hear a little talk about what's been on your mind. Please drop me a line. Thanks, Sarajane from Chester, New York

Kasim sings lead and plays bass on two tracks on the new CD from Pushing Red Buttons available from TRBazaar.com.

theLogBook.com jumps into Todd's back catalog and reviews A Capella and The Very Best of Todd Rundgren.

Edward Rudy:

I'm looking for "Al K. Trazz," a member of a Houston,TX band called the Plastic Idols from the late 70's. I have recordings of them and I'm trying to get permission to put it out. The other band members have lost contact with him. I'm told he is a Todd Rundgren fanatic. Is there any way you could post a message that we are looking for him?

Toby Thomas of Silver Moon Music has recently debuted Silver Moon Radio. At any one time there will be up to 65 songs in rotation, many which will be todd-related and rare/obscure. Toby recently placed a Gary Windo song there as well as the Joe Jackson "CWSBF" cover. Expect to see a Billy Bragg cover of JOV soon. In additon, tunes from the three Medicine Park releases (Grok This!, Meet Me At The Other Side and Starflower) will be showcased. Tune in!

Vonda Shepard covers "Can We Still Be Friends" on "Ally McBeal: For Once In My Life" out on Epic in 2001.

War Babies - Hall and Oates

Todd Rundgren's Sounds of the Studio, a part of Todd Rundgren's Hot Toddies, has a number of WAV files and other media as well.

Todd Rundgren's Hot Toddies is heavy on the flash, graphics, animations, video clips, wav sounds etc.

I get a lot of TR questions, and sometimes I don't know the answer (or complete answer). But I know the information is out there in fan land. If you have answers, please let me know, or contact the questioner directly.

If you've got questions, send mail to . They'll be posted to TR Connection Forums along with any answers that can be found. If you've got answers, then send to or reply directly in the forums.

Todd is listed as having a "Musical Cameo" in the film (now available on video) Elvira's Haunted Hills. Has anybody seen it?

Chrome Oxide - Music Collectors pages - Nazz

Patronet subscribers may recall that Todd created a film song called "A Wall in NYC" which was available via the Interocitor's "Sty." What they may also wonder is whatever happened to the film. I think I found it, though I don't know if anyone can obtain it. Check out the description for A Face to a Name which was featured 2002's Woodstock Film Festival.

ToddRundgren-GroknRollUtopia is for admirers, supporters, aficionados, devotees and even fanatical fans of Todd Rundgren. Talk about Todd's musical contributions, his bands, cohorts and colleagues.

From: Rick M.

Last night at the Moogy/Nazz show, Moogy mentioned that Guns and Roses is doing a cover of "Dust In The Wind" on their new album. Here is the link to hear the track. http://www.mygnr.com/next/next.html (i couldn't play the file so i hope it's not a mistake)

From Chris Mohammed (age 15):

I was looking at the latest re-mastered edition of Peter Gabriel's 'Security' CD (in the UK it was simply called Peter Gabriel 4.) In one of the photos on page 6 (middle photo) you can see in the background Utopia (1982) hung up. It seems as if Gabriel and his band (of that period) were fans of the album!

From: Rick M.

Raging Slab does an impressive job with "Little Red Lights" on their latest cd. Here's the link.

http://www.ragingslab.com/content-tracklisting.html

The calendar isn't particularly new (it's been a front page fixture for several years) but I thought it needed its own section, and I had an album name I hadn't used yet. Watch for a facelift in the near future.

• This Month in Utopia Calendar

From: Bryan McMahon

A rock band called from Ireland, Future Kings of Spain, have recorded "Love Of The Common Man" as a bonus track on their debut CD single. You should check it out. It rawks!!! I hear they're in a New York studio at present recording their debut album.

Todd Wallpaper

If you'd like to contribute to this new section, please send your wallpaper files to .

Chuck Wiggins writes:

I noticed the caveats on running NWO interactive CD under newer versions of windows. Just thought I'd let you know that it seems to run fine under Windows XP. I just had to set the Properties/Compatibility setting for NWO.EXE to "Windows 95"

From Hardygirl66:

I am a HUGE Shaun Cassidy fan and I have a petition page to get his music (including WASP that Todd produced and wrote songs on) on CD. Would you mind putting my link up?

HardyGirl's SHAUNSHINE Site: http://shaunshine.homestead.com/Shaunshine.html

Willie's now working for USA Network in New York City (Manhattan) and lives in New Jersey. His web site is WillieWilcox.com

Jeff Bruno

John Glossenger

Fair Warning (Victor Levi)

Initiation (Victor Levi)

Eastern Intrigue (Victor Levi)

La La Means I Love You (Victor Levi)

Ooh Baby Baby (Victor Levi)

I'm So Proud (Victor Levi)

Does Anybody Love You? (Victor Levi)

Sometimes I Don't Know What To Feel (Victor Levi)

Never Neverland (Victor Levi)

From the Moondogs web site:

JANUARY 2002: The Moondogs look set to be the next band to appear on Detour Records At The BBC series. Detour Rds are also in discussions with the band to re-release their album plus all of their singles and up to 10 unreleased tracks. This would be the first official release of the album [produced by Todd Rundgren] that was originally released on Sire Records in Germany only. The band are also looking to play a show in the UK next year, possibly at the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool.

Todd's new song Afterlife is now available for download on the Listening Station and in the Sty for Patronet members.

Many know of connections with David Bowie and Tin Machine, but did you know about their pre-Runt foray with Tony and the Tigers?

Rick is a drummer trying to get a Todd tribute band together in NYC. Interested? Contact him at melara@un.org.

The awizard list is an announcement-only list. Messages sent by members are not accepted for direct posting. You may still subscribe to this low-volume list. Please see Awizard Redux for important information.

Bryon Thompson writes:

Todd's natural sense of melody and musical originality has always been an inspiration and has influenced my own writing/arranging. Here is my instrumental guitar music site for your review: http://www.bthompson.net/cd

Todd's music has inspired several pieces of my original artwork as well: http://www.bthompson.net/fine_art/digital.html

Paradise Gained / Rack Job 2 - The Interactive CD-R

Available now from Mike Adrian, it's a hand-numbered limited edition (100 pieces) CD-R with 1170 different files consisting of mp3s, midis, a video of the Nazz, a program to create Todd slide shows with supplied mp3 songs, and an HTML auto start index for use with your browser to view the CD-R as a web page. Plus over a thousand scans from Todd's career, as far back as Woody's Truck Stop to the present. Mike will be donating the profits to a local charity for children with heart and lung problems. $20 plus $4 for Priority 3 day shipping in the USA for a total of $24 will cover all shipping and the CD-R. Any overseas orders please contact Mike in advance about shipping. This project has taken him 2 1/2 years working almost every night to complete. In addition, Lin Sprague has spent countless hours with the HTML work. For ordering information contact Mike at MA4UTOPIA@AOL.com

Robert Le Plar writes:

I am the vocalist, guitarist & songwriter in the UK based band kodeine. We have just released our debut album on Candyfloss Music. I am a massive Todd fan and I think there will be quite a few other fans out there who will enjoy what we do (bits of Todd, Bowie, Prefab sprout - melodic songs with some cool grooves etc). We have our own website at www.kodeine.co.uk and could do with all the help we can get! There are 30 sec audio clips available for the whole album amongst the usual biog, interview, pics etc.

A new Kasim interview is available from Highwire Daze.

Todd has a couple of appearances in VH1's Behind the Music - 1972. Behind the Music is regularly rerun, watch for a repeat.

Call It What You Will I believe this guy is falling on my head I believe the sky is falling on my head Jeremy Frey

Anthony Mortimore offers up "todd rundgren-music*alch^e^my-intr@ctive~rock^genuis>"

Kasim's New official site, KasimSulton.com, is now open.

Hank Webb offers an alternate view:

As a long time fan of Todd and his body of music, I have amassed a large collection of his material, and in many varying forms. I have had a nagging question about one piece in mind, and were wondering if you could help me clear it up. It concerns the album Runt, and the material therein. Many reference books and supposed authorities conclude that the 12 track master with the song "Hope I'm Around" erroneously on side "a" and "Say No More" etc. on side "b" is the original first pressing. I take issue with that assumption, since 11-20-70 is etched in each trail off on my copy. The copies I have, that are 10 track masters, claimed to be second pressings by many authorities, have a 6-6-70 or 6-8-70 mastering date in the dead wax. That would be a clear indication to me that the 10 track master would be the original release, as they are also very abundant. However what would be the real reason for the mix-up in the later pressings, that contain 11 or 12 tracks? I also have an 11 track copy with a June side "a" and a November side "b" (on the hybrid copy the November date is 11-23-70, and is very clearly that, with the standard June stamper on side a.) Hence "Say No More " is on it, but not "Hope I'm Around". Can you shed any light on this matter for me?

Stewkey collaborated with Otto Capobianco to form "Crazy." Their five-song CD features a remake of "Hello It's Me." It can be ordered for $7 + S&H. Call (215) 742-8412 or email grnsinger@aol.com for ordering info.

T R Black

Almost too obvious to mention: On the Something/Anything "Hello It's Me", at 2:57, Todd seemingly stumbles over the word "I'll", and he sings "Come....around to see you once in awhile" This was issued as the single and became the "hit" version. (T. Storm Hunter)

The fanmail posted here is no longer being forwarded to Todd. Subscribers to Todd's Patronet Service (www.patronet.com) now have the ability to message Todd directly. If you wish to share your Fan Mail to Todd with other fans, you can through this Fan Mail page.

Todd's song "Bang The Drum All Day" was featured on the 2/28/2001 episode of "Ed" on NBC. In recent times, it has popped up on a number of TV commercials in the US and Canada (Toyota commercial).

Try your hand at some TRivia and Toddally Terrific TR-ivia

Former Utopia drummer Kevin Ellman now has his own web site, www.kevinellman.com

John Powhida

Trey Sabatelli toured with Todd as part of the Power Trio Tour in 2000. Trey is also a member of the Tubes.

Tianne's art work

Parody Lyrics from ToddFest/West 2000

• I Eat Finger Lickin' KFC by John Heslin, Ron Hromoko and Kurt Scheinpflug
• Smoke Grass (cuz I like it) by John Heslin, Ron Hromoko and Kurt Scheinpflug
• Open My Thighs by John Heslin, Ron Hromoko and Kurt Scheinpflug

Bill Bricker is currently working on a project to bring TODData online. http://www.toddata.com/.

(The following was adapted from pre-launch press materials from PatroNet)

Todd's TR-i.com site is all new, with some cool Flash animation.

Download the Interocitor (PPC Mac and Windows versions) at Patronet.

Kaz breaks foot, is this far behind? by David Weesner

A number of photos from The Power Trio Tour 2000.

Todd appeared on CNBC's "Power Lunch" on June 21, 2000. In addition to performing "I Hate My Frickin' ISP" with the trio, former Utopia drummer Kevin Ellman (now a CNBC guest financial analyst) joined Todd and Kasim on a rendition of the Ikon (short version). Todd was frequently mentioned throughout the two hour show, and several of the normal commentators were listed as possible former members of Utopia. A Unique Event!

A review of sorts on why "No World Order" is a failure.

The New America - Bad Religion

Got a beef with your ISP? In Todd there's a champion! by David Yaun

IndividuaList is another post-awizard list discussing Todd and other topics. To subscribe, send an e-mail to individualist-subscribe@egroups.com

If you've got extra tickets for one of Todd's shows that you must sell or give away, or need tickets to a sold out show, drop a line to and I'll list it here.

TR BAZAAR.COM is dedicated to carrying the most complete selection of Todd Rundgren CDs and videos.

Former Utopia bassist John Siegler came out of a group called "Air" and has most recently been involved in musical scoring with a co-credit on the Pokémon theme.

Former Utopia keyboardist Ralph Shuckett has had a long musical career, beginning before his stint with Utopia (a group called Jo Mama), and continuing as a soundtrack composer in Pokémon: the First Movie.

Todd appeared on Craig Kilborn's "Late Late Show" on May 2, 2000 and performed "I Hate My Frickin' ISP." He was also sporting a new guitar. It seems that it was a Yamaha AEX502 since named "Percy."

Lyle Workman (Nearly Human and 2nd Wind as well as Bourgeois Tagg) has a new web site as well as a new CD Tabula Rose.

John Ferenzik (the Individualist, With A Twist) John's got his own site now at http://www.ferenzik.com and a great new CD - "House of Boris."

Two Todd tunes are prominently featured in the movie "The Virgin Suicides": "A Dream Goes On Forever" and "Hello It's Me."

Todd appeared on "Politically Incorrect" on Tuesday, April 25, 2000. A transcript is available.

New pictures are being added all the time.

Bootleg Newton has some live material online

Top Ten Encounters - Minus Todd by Jim Boda

Top Ten Encounters by Jim Boda

The TRUTH about The 12 Days of Christmas by Bill Bricker

And a new take on the 1974 Todd poster by yours truly.

Lion Keezer's 7th Heaven in '97 site for the 1996-1997 New Year's celebration.

1995

The Individualist Tour
• Palo Alto, CA by Michael Coxe (Jun 8, 1995)
• Santa Cruz, CA by Ed Grieze (Jun 10, 1995)
• House of Blues, LA, CA by Ron Hromoko (June 12, 1995)
• Irving Plaza, NYC by Josh Chasin (August 27, 1995)

Scott F. Kenward submitted these photos from the July 29, 1995 concert at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg, FL.

Nancy Mearkle has a tour photo from the Cleveland show.

TR and crew made a few year-end appearances, including Chicago on New Year's Eve 1995/96. Check out the action courtesy of Lion Keezer! This is the ultimate concert review and should not be missed!

1994

European NWO Tour
• 10/6/94 set list and review by Tony Brown
• 10/7/94 mini-review by Steve Burdett
• 10/7/94 mini-review by Darren Lawrence

Rundgren plays it straight with Cleopatra deal

MusicStack

Can you answer this one?
I was born in Pennsylvania in 1948. My first band was a bar band called Woody's Truck Stop. But you probably remember me as a member of a group that I formed in Philadelphia in 1967 that was named after a Yardbirds song. After three years of limited success, I left this group for a solo career, but formed another group in 1974. I had a Top-5 hit in 1973 with a remake of a song first released in 1969 by the group I formed in Philadelphia. During the 70s, 80s, and 90s, I was a producer and engineer, and provided vocal and instrumental tracks for many famous artists.

Ebay.com Auction Search:

BMI Film and Television Award

The UnHerd -- Larry Hoppen, co-founder of ORLEANS (and the voice of their megahits Still the One, Dance With Me, Love Takes Time etc.) has co-produced a CD with David Sancious (veteran of Springsteen's E-Street Band, and more recently Sting's quartet). Together with Tony Levin (bass with Peter Gabriel, King Crimson etc.) and drummer Terry Silverlight, they cut 8 tunes of Larry's, plus Todd Rundgren's Pretending to Care & the Beatles' No Reply in Woodstock, NY where all but Terry live. All sales profits and 100% of Larry's publishing royalties are being donated to Sunshine For HIV Kids Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation which Larry and wife/Physician Assistant Patricia started in 1993 to help HIV-positive children and their families. The CD will be released on national and international scales as soon as possible. The CD is Larry's first release apart from Orleans in that band's 25-year history and has been met with universally enthusiastic praise (from fans, newcomers, radio and press) both for the fine pop music and the larger purpose of the project.

"the Individualist" was released in the US as an Enhanced CD.

GB Online has "HTMLized" Temporary Sanity.

You'll also find information about it in the Enhanced CD Database.

Here's the track listing (enhanced with Randy Walter's beautiful impressions extracted from "Puzzle".

1. Tables Will Turn
2. If Not Now, When
3. Family Values
4. The Ultimate Crime
5. Espresso (All Jacked Up)
6. The Individualist
7. Cast The First Stone
8. Beloved Infidel
9. Temporary Sanity
10. Woman's World

Take a look at Brett Bayne's initial "Individualist" comments. Eric Arnum has written a review of TR's CD+ demo from the Macintosh New York Music Festival session held on July 20, 1995.

Parody Lyrics from ToddFest/West '99

• Appliance by Ron Hromoko, John Heslin and Kurt Scheinpflug
• Real Fan by Ron Hromoko, John Heslin and Kurt Scheinpflug
• Love With A Condom, Man by Ron Hromoko, John Heslin and Kurt Scheinpflug
• Todd 'n' Ringo by Ron Hromoko, John Heslin and Kurt Scheinpflug
• Chunky Guy by Ron Hromoko, John Heslin and Kurt Scheinpflug
• Kurt by Ron Hromoko, John Heslin and Kurt Scheinpflug
• Just One.. Hickey by Ron Hromoko, John Heslin and Kurt Scheinpflug

Real Man (Trace Reed)

You Left Me Sore But yet I know no Dr. Otis could cure what you gave to me But yet I know no doctor or nurse could cure what you gave to me Audrey (at 8 years old; daughter of E.J. Haas)

One More Day (No Word) (Trace Reed)

Breathless (Trace Reed)

Torch Song (Trace Reed)

You Left Me Sore (Trace Reed)

Sweeter Memories (Trace Reed)

Todd's Patronet environment is called the Interocitor. For a bit of background on the original Interocitor, from the movie "This Island Earth", visit "The Interocitor".

I Saw The Light (Trace Reed)

Saving Grace (Trace Reed)

Song Of The Viking (Trace Reed)

Saving Grace (Victor Levi)

The Verb "To Love" (Victor Levi)

I Think You Know (Victor Levi)

An Elpee's Worth Of Tunes (Victor Levi)

Zen Archer (Victor Levi)

Just Another Onionhead (Victor Levi)

You Don't Have To Camp Around (Victor Levi)

Song Of The Viking (Victor Levi)

Autographs

Steve Graham adds:

Most of the tracks marked "no difference" actually are different mixes. This is sort of referred to, I believe, in the notes on the inner sleeve of the "official" version, which say: "Remixed at Record Plants in N.Y. and L.A. and RE-REMIXED at Jack Clement Studio in Nashville".

There are several versions of the "official" pressing, some of which might possibly be bootlegs -- those are on really horrid vinyl, were not cut at "Sterling", and have the grooves spaced differently, ending farther away from the label. And there are versions on the Ampex and Bearsville/Ampex labels.

Half Twisted (June 1999)

The Utopia Redux tour version of One World was made available as a QuickTime Movie on the Apple QuickTime 1.5 Developer's CD-ROM. Alas, over the years my copy has disappeared (though it's found on the Utopia Redux DVD, so I'm not too broke up about it.) I've collected a few shots sampled from the video available as GIFs and JPEGs.

Kenny Stevenson's "Todd IS Godd" site has now been resurrected. It's a snapshot as of August, 1997.

CNN _ Rundgren catches the bossa nova beat - Feb 2,1998

Todd appeared on ABC's "Politically Incorrect" on March 17, 1999. A transcript is available.

Launch has a good resource on Todd as well as Nazz and Utopia.

Ringo's All-Starrs (February/March)

Todd's New Year's Eve show was in Hawaii.

1998

Channel Surfing with Todd Rundgren - November 1998
• Channel Surfing Tour reviews and photos

I Saw The Light (Lin Sprague)

Sons of 1984 (Lin Sprague)

This was culled from Ray Coleman's biography on John Lennon. It originally appeared as a letter to Melody Maker magazine (date unknown to me). The original 11/1973 interview with TR that provoked John Lennon's response also appeared in Melody Maker. [thanks to Bill Piekarski for corrective information and to John Heslin for a transcription of the original interview]

John Lennon's reply to an interview conducted by Melody Maker with American singer-writer Todd Rundgren in which he criticized John and the Beatles.

Rundgren: all or nothing

by Ailan Jones
Melody Maker 11/73

"John Lennon ain't no revolutionary. He's a f------- idiot, man. Shouting about revolution and acting like an a__. It just makes people feel uncomfortable.

"All he really wants to do is get attention for himself, and if revolution gets him that attention, he'll get attention through revolution. Hitting a waitress in the Troubador. What kind of revolution is that?

"He's an important figure, sure. But so was Richard Nixon. Nixon was just like another generation's John Lennon. Someone who represented all sorts of ideals, but was out for himself underneath it all."

No doubt about it, this kid is really heavy.

Todd Rundgren is fast becoming an anachronistic satellite burning through the stagnancy currently afflicting so much of rock.

Dreams

In the face of the post-Woodstock Nation collapse of dreams and ideals, most rock 'n' rollers have backed themselves into creative cul-de-sacs.

Not Todd. He seems to have committed himself to a one-man campaign against all that inertia schmaltz and seems intent on blasting his way out of the hole that rock seems to be determined on burying itself in, with both barrels blazing.

No half measures: it's all or nothing with Todd. And if he goes down, he'll sure as hell go down fighting.

With his last couple of albums, "A Wizard, A True Star" and "Todd," both classics, he's taken it upon himself to attempt, in no uncertain way, to change the whole consciousness of the survivors of the Woodstock Nation.

"I guess a lot of people thought 'Something/Anything' was an overtly self-conscious effort to make the ultimate solo album, because they figured it must have taken a long time to make. But I breezed through it, man.

Mind

"It's really surprising, when you go into a session with musicians and you have something specific in mind, it can take you all day to get them to play it. And when the specificity of the material is that acute then obviously the arrangement of the material becomes more important... "

And you end up playing two thirds of it yourself. Utilizing the sounds of the instruments and not wasting your own time and the times of other musicians. But what kind of reaction did that album receive in the States?

"'Something/Anything' was like my artistic validation in the States. Everybody liked the songs so much that it really established my artistic identity. But in certain terms, it misled a lot of people.

"Because if anyone picks up one of my albums and says that's their favourite album, that might as well be the only album of mine they ever hear.

"Because I don't make records according to a style. I make records according to a need."

Would you therefore care to elucidate on the mental evolution - the need - behind "A Wizard, A True Star"?

"I had a good analogy for that album yesterday. The 'Wizard' album was a picture of the average brain at work. Now there's a distinction between the brain and the mind. Because the mind tells the brain what to think.

"And the average person's brain resembles the clutter of the 'Wizard' album. In fact, that was my brain, until I cleared it all out. That was my first stream of consciousness album.

"It's not supposed to have a concept other than a picture of the average brain at work. The subsequent albums were more like organizing the brain, so that you can bring some inspired thought through it.

"People don't usually think inspired thoughts because they're usually too preoccupied with the immediate things that clutter up their brain.

Smash

As a personal statement, it was quite a provocation, wasn't it? Not what you might call Easy Listening. More like some sort of psychic collage of erupting brain patterns.

"That was it, man. A deliberate provocation. It came out of a certain sense of being cornered stylistically. A lot of people were just presuming that I only wrote 'Hullo, It's Me' - 'I Saw The Light' type songs.

"whereas, I had originally been into a hard rock/heavy metal style. The reason I did both was that when I started the Nazz, I had this thing about being eclectic.

"Like the Beatles had no style other than being the Beatles. So the Nazz used to do, like heavy rock, and also these light, pretty ballads with complex ballads.

"And at the time that was something that people just didn't do. You were supposed to have an easily associable style.

"And that's always been part of my problem. I've always had this incongruity of style and influence.

"A lot of people still find it remarkable that I have a penchant for the conventional and pretty and the weird and abstract. That's because I don't make divisions in terms of music. I never have.

"If I hear something I like, that's it. It's mine. The thing about music is that if you're a good listener you can go window-shopping and own everything you see."

Follow

His dissatisfaction with the attitudes adopted by other contemporary figures - Lennon, for example - became obvious with "Rock and Roll Pussy" written for Lennon, and a searing indictment of rock's so-called revolutionaries.

Todd's World View, became apparent on that album. The "Todd" double album epic carried that vision even further, and here was Todd cutting himself to the bone to communicate the urgency of that vision.

He emphasized, with the last side of that album, the need to reorganize the shattered dreams of the sixties and start out all over again.

"I don't think that my attitude is unique, man. Everybody is dissatisfied with it all. But so many people are so cynical, thinking that there's nothing that can be done about it. I don't believe that.

"I don't see any point in accepting the fact that the world might blow up tomorrow, and not doing something about it. That's a selfish attitude.

"It might blow up, but there's no point sitting around worrying and waiting for it. Are you gonna stop it happening by WORRYING about it?

Exist

"The truth is there. I believe that it's my responsibility to stand by it, and not be a pussy. Not punk out when it looks unfashionable to stand by those ideals."

That is, surely, an isolated position to maintain?

"At this point, I may think that. But I know for a fact that there are a lot of people that feel the same way as I do, but they're so afraid of looking like asses.

"All it takes is for one person to risk making a fool of himself and everyone'll do it. I'm having a great time. I'm more commercially successful than I've ever been.

"My personal life is at a new high. My outlook on existence is at a new high..."

If The Revolution comes, can rock 'n' roll, as a form, contribute to, or even precipitate a confrontation?

"It can, sure. But a lot of people want to see it happening in a very obvious way. That's because they don't think well enough. I think there is a revolution happening, but the people who are so frustrated that they go out and act violently are the people who don't believe that it's gonna happen.

"There the ones who're afraid that it won't happen. Force it to happen, you know, and that is because their belief isn't basically strong enough, and because they're basically weak people.

Face

"But Christ is a household word. So is Ghandi, Buddha, and Confucius....

"You have to understand violence to make adequate use of it. There is that degree of frustration in everybody, which can be manifested in violence. Something happens, and the people suddenly feel like being violent.

"That's because they don't understand violence. They don't understand its use, disuse or misuse. In the long run there's no such thing as good or bad.

"But there are in human terms things that are desirable and undesirable. All things have their function and violence has it's place.

John Lennon's letter to Todd

Couldn't resist adding a few "islands of truth" of my own, in answer to Turd Runtgreen's howl of hate (pain.)

Dear Todd,

I like you, and some of your work, including "I Saw The Light", which is not unlike "There's A Place" (Beatles), melody wise.

1) I have never claimed to be a revolutionary. But I am allowed to sing about anything I want! Right?

2) I never hit a waitress in the Troubador, I did act like an ass, I was too drunk. So shoot me!

3) I guess we're all looking for attention Rodd, do you really think I don't know how to get it, without "revolution?" I could dye my hair green and pink for a start!

4) I don't represent anyone but my SELF. It sounds like I represented something to you, or you wouldn't be so violent towards me. (Your dad perhaps?)

5) Yes Dodd, violence comes in mysterious ways it's wonders to perform, including verbal. But you'd know that kind of mind game, wouldn't you? Of course you would.

6) So the Nazz use to do "like heavy rock" then SUDDENLY a "light pretty ballad". How original!

7) Which gets me to the Beatles, "who had no other style than being the Beatles"!! That covers a lot of style man, including your own, TO DATE.....

Yes Godd, the one thing those Beatles did was to affect PEOPLES' MINDS. Maybe you need another fix?

Somebody played me your rock and roll pussy song, but I never noticed anything. i think that the real reason you're mad at me is cause I didn't know who you were at the Rainbow (L.A.) Remember that time you came in with Wolfman Jack? When I found out later, I was cursing cause I wanted to tell you how good you were. (I'd heard you on the radio.)

Anyway, However much you hurt me darling; I'll always love you,

J. L.

30th Sept. 1974

The Handsome Devils - Hello People

Brad Page

John Heslin

New York Dolls

We're An American Band - Grand Funk Railroad

Just what you've always wanted, your very own way to proclaim yourself to the world: "I am a Todd Rundgren Fan!" And you can do it by registering yourself in "The International Todd Rundgren Fan Database." See the Frequently Asked Questions list for additional information.

Brad Page and his band Ten Story Love have a new Todd-influenced CD

Halfnelson

Badfinger - Straight Up

Why hasn't Todd yet been featured on VH1's "Behind The Music". Perhaps if his story was a bit more like this "transcript" offered by David Yaun he would be!

New sounds have been added recently.

NAZZ "RETROSPECTIVE FORESIGHT" LP

Wilson and Alroy's Record Reviews covers most of the Nazz/TR/Utopia releases.

Lin Sprague's Todd Rundgren Related Stuff

Johanthan Risen also hears Todd sniff between verses (as if he had a cold) at 0:27 on "Does Anybody Love You" (A Wizard, A True Star).

Jeffrey Bergman

"Singring" guitar solo

December 1, 1998 - Todd was on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show".

Todd appeared on ABC's "Politically Incorrect" on Friday November 6, 1998.

Lysistrata.mid

October 29, 1998 - Todd made a presentation at "New Minds Fall Series Conference" (San Francisco). Here's a report from Wired News.

This is becoming quite the international page. As of October 27, 1998 we've had accesses from the following 89 countries:

Argentina (ar), Aruba (aw), Australia (au), Austria (at), Bahamas (bs), Bahrain (bh), Belarus (by), Belgium (be), Bermuda (bm), Bolivia (bo), Bosnia-Herzegovina (ba), Brazil (br), Bulgaria (bg), Canada (ca), Chile (cl), China (cn), Colombia (co), Costa Rica (cr), Croatia (hr), Cyprus (cy), Czech Republic (cz), Denmark (dk), Dominican Republic (do), Ecuador (ec), Egypt (eg), Estonia (ee), Finland (fi), France (fr), Georgia (ge), Germany (de), Great Britain (UK) (gb), Greece (gr), Guam (US) (gu), Guatemala (gt), Guyana (gy), Hong Kong (hk), Hungary (hu), Iceland (is), India (in), Indonesia (id), Iran (ir), Ireland (ie), Israel (il), Italy (it), Japan (jp), Korea (South) (kr), Kuwait (kw), Latvia (lv), Liechtenstein (li), Lithuania (lt), Luxembourg (lu), Macau (mo), Macedonia (former Yugo.) (mk), Malaysia (my), Malta (mt), Mexico (mx), Moldova (md), Morocco (ma), Netherlands (nl), New Zealand (nz), Norway (no), Pakistan (pk), Peru (pe), Philippines (ph), Poland (pl), Portugal (pt), Romania (ro), Russian Federation (ru), Saudi Arabia (sa), Singapore (sg), Slovakia (Slovak Rep) (sk), Slovenia (si), South Africa (za), Soviet Union (su), Spain (es), Sweden (se), Switzerland (ch), Taiwan (tw), Thailand (th), Trinidad & Tobago (tt), Turkey (tr), Ukraine (ua), United Arab Emirates (ae), United Kingdom (uk), United States (us), Uruguay (uy), Venezuela (ve), Yugoslavia (yu), and Zimbabwe (zw).

And to carry on that International Feel, here's a Todd Bio in Spanish provided by Inaki Prieto.

Photos by Hiroshi Kawauchi

Chain Letter (Rob Whyte)

Take The Hand (Andrew Rogers)

Only One Winner (Andrew Rogers)

Hello It's Me (Andrew Rogers)

A Dream Goes On Forever (Andrew Rogers)

Hello It's Me (Andrew Rogers)

It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference (Andrew Rogers)

Cold Morning Light (Rob Whyte)

Couldn't I Just Tell You (Andrew Rogers)